2008 MARBLEHEAD BOATING CENTER

A Dry-sailing area and organization for all boaters, racers and sailors
who don't have access to a yacht club hoist or commericial hoist.

Located in the area formerly known as Parker's Boatyard, the Marblehead Boating Center is a not-for-profit organization. The entry to the boat yard is from Redstone Street off of Gregory St, in Marblehead, MA. One driveway is between #1 and #3 Redstone st. and the other driveway is between #3 and #5 Redstone St.

There is a hoist capable of launching an Etchells and a J-24, as well as smaller boats. At this time, there is not a launching ramp at the Boating Center but a town ramp is about 10 minutes, trailer-towing distance, away. There is about 2.5 feet of water at the hoist for a normal low-tide.The average tidal range is 8.5-11.0 ft. Etchells sailors say that they can launch or retrieve their boats for 60% of the tide range. J-24s and Sonars have enough water under the hoist for seventy-five per cent of the time. Rhodes 19s can launch for about 5/6 of the tides except for the moon-low tides. Vipers can raise their keels and launch at will.

This is not your elegant yacht club. There aren't any polished bars or bathrooms with showers. There isn't even a lean-to rain shelter. The area has a porta-potti-in-a-booth, a cold water tap and electrical outlets. Sometimes the tap has a hose attached or you can bring your own hose. But for many sailors, it is how they can afford to sail and race their boats. The Marblehead Boating Center is much more affordable than the yacht clubs or the commercial hoists.

A full dry-sail membership in the Boating Center is $625 for 2008; there will be a surcharge for the lower yard. Please check the 2008 information segments. There are other types of boat storage memberships possible. Compare that to the $3000 memberships fees and costs for dry-sailing priviledges at the big clubs. The full dry-sail membership covers unlimited use of the hoist, porta-potti, water tap, and storage for your boat. There is a dock located in deep water. There is room between the dock and moored boats to permit boats to raft to the dock three boats deep. It not uncommon to find ten boats tied to the dock in the morning or the evening after racing. People use the dock for rigging and unrigging boats. They will also drink beer on their boats at the dock, after racing.

The Marblehead Boating Center is officially open from June 15th, through the middle Saturday in September. For 2008 the lower yard and hoist will be open and accessible all year. The upper yard will be accessible by June 15, 2008. However, no one may block access to any other boat in the yard. The access time is parallel to the MRA racing season. Before the opening and after the closing dates, the Town of Marblehead rents the area to the Marblehead Trading Company for winter boat storage.

Beginning in Winter, 2004, the Marblehead Boating Center rented the lower section of the boat yard. The lower area adjacent to the hoist, was filled all winter, with assorted one-designs, on their trailers. The members got winter storage and the Boating Center received rental fees. Also, it meant that Boating Center members didn't have to clear their boats from the lower yard in early September; and that Boating Center members could use the hoist before Memorial Day weekend.

This site will seem very boring. We don't have new photos every week. The Boating Center doesn't sponsor a fishing tournament, or sailboat races. This site is just boring information that doesn't need updating more than once or twice each year.

updated: May 14, 2008