Boston - Advice Needed

[Doc_Vegas]

Hello Folks:

It looks like we will be relocating to Boston in 2010. Thanks to the help of this site, we bought our boat nearly a year ago and LOVED everyone minute.

First, as we are looking for housing in the Boston area, any recommendations for "boating" locations? We looked at Hingham and Scituate and both seemed great. I will be working near Harvard Medical School (Longwood Medical Area), hope to have a reasonable commute.

Second, is it worth relocating our boat, or should we sell and get a new one eventually? We have no trailer, so we would need to pay a company to ship it to our location in Boston.

Third, what would it take to make it "salt" ready? This boat has only been in Lake Mead its entire life.

Thanks!

 

[rolmops]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

The sort of boat you need in Boston is a salt water one.
That means a minimum 19 footer preferably 22 or 23 with an outboard or at the very least an I/O with a heat exchanger.If it is fresh water that you are after than Quabbin reservoir is where you want to go,but it has a 20 hp limit.
Unless you have a boat big and strong enough to be in Boston Harbor (the Atlantic Ocean) you would be wise to sell your boat and buy another one in Boston that is more in tune with the local needs.

 

[QC]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

Hey rolmops, good to see you over here. Actually Doc is already in a 27 foot Maxum Cruiser. For salt. closed cooling would be best and I don't recall if that boat had it.

My guess is that those types of Cruisers are not as popular as the they are on the big rivers and lakes, but I could be wrong . . . I would think something a little larger with some more beam if you are going to keep her slipped, but I don't know what the conditions are like outside of the harbor.

 

[lucky7]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

so are you going to be teaching at hms? there are several marinas just south of boston, if you are looking for a single family i would say check out the upper cape. for city living check out rowes wharf.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

If you want to keep doing the lake thing come to Winnipesaukee, it's 2.5 hours north of Boston. 25 Miles long by 9 or 10 miles wide, over 200 islands, lots of open space, but too busy on summer weekends. There is also Moosehead Lake in Maine.
The boat season in New England is short compared to Mead, unless you are a rough tough outdoorsy type and can do colder weather.

 

[Doc_Vegas]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

Thanks guys! We are heading to Boston in early 2010 regardless. I am joining the School of Public Health faculty. Pay is terrible, cost of living even worse, but a unique opportunity for certain.

Keep the advice coming, please! At current, we will probably try to sell the Maxum here at Mead and hope to get another boat in the future, but it is heading into fall and the economy in Vegas is among the worst in the nation. That was the reason I thought it may be good to bring it along.

I do not think the Maxum has external cooling, it seems to just push the ambient water through the motor, is that ill advised for marine waters?

Thanks

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

your Maxum would be fine in the ocean. I'm jealous, we talk about boston alot around here lol. Good luck on your venture, I agree I don't think you would get anywhere near what you would deserve for yours here.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

The problem with a raw water intake is that you would be running salt and other minerals right through your engine block giving the potential for severe electrolysis and unless you clean out and flush your engine cooling system after every use, the block would be junk before too long.Another problem with salt water is the damage it does to the manifold.
There are boat hulls that have a fully closed cooling system with a radiator like grid of pipes in the hull in very close contact with the water.That would be ideal.The next best thing is a manifold mounted heat exchanger.
As for the boat itself,high gunwales are a must and a system of drain holes that can drain the water that an incoming wave carried on board as fast as it came in. Bilge pumps are nice but they have nowhere near the capacity needed for an unexpected hosing caused by a big wave.(BIG boats make BIG waves)
One of our board members (Fly Rod) is a charter boat captain in Gloucester,MA.We also have "Ezeke" who lives and boats on Cape Cod.Send a PM to one of those guys and you will get some real good info.
Having a boat in Boston has great opportunities in store. You can run out to Stellwagen Bank to watch hundreds of whales or fish for cod and haddock.How about a run to Province Town on Cape Cod?
Good luck with your move.

 

[pduquette]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

Rolmops is right on . There are few Big lakes in Mass , Long Pond in Lakeville 1700 ac ; South Watuppa Lake in Dartmouth 1250 ac; and Webster Lake (The lake with the words longest name) Webster 1400 ac . The first two are 20' or less deep -< Mostly Less >- and mostly rocky .
Salt water berthing offers you the most options to play/fish/cruise . There are a lot of marinas to choose from , from life styles of the rich + famous living - to the local fishing / charter boat / every day good ol boy level .
Fishing ? Sure ! Cod , flounder , Bluefish , Stripers , all size tuna , many shark .......Big Sharks-not just dogfish
peter

 

[lucky7]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

what will you be teaching? my wife is an alumni. upgrading to a closed cooling system is what you would need to do to your boat if your going to keep it in the salt. between that and shipping, it might be better to sell yours for whatever you can get and spend the winter shopping for a more suitable boat out here.

 

[rweboard67]

Re: Boston - Advice Needed

well if the commute was not a priority, i would say move to so.new hampshire, you will get more bang for your buck, most people who live in these areas are from mass and do the commute to boston in 40-45 minutes. there is just about a lake in every town and a short ride to the salty..