Massachusetts Pilot Notes
Buzzards Bay, South Shore
Pocasset/Red Brook Harbor:
41 41N, 70 37W (see chart next page)
Cuttyhunk Harbor Waypoint
Waypoints
Bassetts Island Buoy 2
Middle Ground Buoy MG
41 40.78N, 070 38.68W Red
41 26.4N, 70 55.7W Nun
nun.
w/ red/green bands.
Pilotage: The channels around the N and S
East Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy CH
sides of Bassetts Island are extremely narrow.
There is 6ft depth at mid-channel, but shoals
41 26.6N, 70 53.4W Mo (A) W. 5M Red/White
expose at low water on either side. Entrance
stripes with red topmark
should be made during the day in good light
Hazards: Enter during daytime with clear only.
weather. Canapitsit Channel should not be
Anchorage: Little room in either harbor
attempted without local knowledge. Buoys
due to moorings.
are often dragged off station by strong cur-
Dockage/Moorings: Several marinas and
extensive mooring fields in both harbors.
rents and heavy seas. With S winds, heavy
seas will break across the channel.
Facility Location Phone VHF
Brewer Fiddler’s Cove Marina Megansett Harbor/Fiddler’s Cove 508-564-6327 10
Parker’s Boat Yard Red Brook Harbor 508-563-9366
Kingman Yacht Center Red Brook Harbor 508-563-7136 71
Buzzards Bay, North Shore
Dockage/Services: Transient dockage and
moorings are available. Most supplies and
Tides p. 381, Differences p. 522
services are more than a mile from the harbor.
Currents p. 576, Differences p. 694
Waypoint
Nye Ledge Lighted Bell Buoy 1
Sippican Harbor, Marion
41 37.0N, 70 46.2W Fl G 4s 6M Green
Pilotage: Follow the buoyed channel W of
Ram Island into the harbor. Shoals extend out
from the island, and the passage between Ram
New Bedford/Fairhaven: 41 38N, 70 55W
Pilotage: New Bedford harbor is a well pro-
Island and Meadow Island is unnavigable.
tected harbor located on the N side of Buzzards
Dockage/Services: Transient dockage and
Bay. A marked channel passes through a nar-
moorings are available from marinas in the
row hurricane gate. From the SW, an approach
harbor. Most supplies and services are within channel begins at Dumpling Rocks.
walking distance of the harbor.
The approaches are littered with rocks and
Waypoint
shoals. Pay close attention to the chart, and
respect buoys to avoid all dangers.
Lighted Buoy 2, off SW side of shoal
The Hurricane Barrier is a dike crossing the
41 39.7N, 70 43.6W Fl R 4s 4M Red entrance to the harbor with a 150ft wide gate.
The gate remains in the open position at all
Mattapoisett
times unless a hurricane or similarly heavy
Pilotage: Use caution approaching from
weather threatens. The closing of the gate is
the SW and respect buoys. Shallow, rocky announced well in advance, on VHF 22A.
ground extends well off of Mattapoisett The barrier makes New Bedford a particu-
Neck.
larly well-protected harbor.
60