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Cape Cod Boat Ramp Directory
CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY
CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Prince Cove Marina and Ramp Comments: Also serving the south side of the town is the Prince Cove Marina and Ramp. Although many folks consider this a resident-only facility, it is open to the public. It is a long run from Prince Cove to Nantucket Sound due to long stretches of no-wake zone. Location: 235 Cedar Tree Neck Road in Marstons Mills. Fees and Parking: Featuring a single ramp and a floating dock, the fee to use this ramp $16 for vehicle/trailer per day and $8 for a vehicle only per day; seasonal passes are also available for $150, but they sell out quickly. There are dedicated vehicle/trailer spots that are resident-only, but there are approximately 18 vehicle/trailer spots for non-residents, as well as vehicle only parking. The marina staff does a great job of making spots available for non-residents in the marina parking lot for a fee during the season, which runs from May 15 to Columbus Day. Fuel: No fuel is available here. Additional Information: Prince Cove provides access to the Three Bays region of Cotuit and Osterville, which during the spring and early summer has very good striped bass fishing and schools of bluefish are also found inside during their spring run, particularly in the early morning and evening. The Three Bays see a substantial amount of boat traffic during the summer and the water gets very warm and murky, pushing the bass and blues into open water, with mainly scup and small fluke found inside. Gary Brown Launch Facility Newly constructed in 2011, this is the only municipal ramp that services Lewis Bay/Hyannis Harbor; it is approximately a ten to fifteen minute run to Nantucket Sound, with a no wake zone extending from the ramp to just outside the point at Kalmus Beach. This ramp can be busy during weekends in the summer and negotiating Hyannis traffic with a boat trailer can also be a challenge. There are no restroom facilities at this facility. Location: Located at 147 Lewis Bay Road, this facility has a wide, single lane ramp with a floating dock and a bulkhead where boats can tie up if the float is occupied. Fees and Parking: There is no fee to use the ramp and on site parking for 12 to 13 vehicle/trailer combinations, as well as six vehicle-only spots and handicapped parking. In addition, the town has an agreement with the Steamship Authority to use their Off-Site Parking Lot for approximately two-dozen vehicle/trailer combinations. This lot is about a two or three minute walk back to the ramp. Fuel: Hyannis Marine provides fuel service in the harbor and there are a number of marinas that provide boat repair service, although many of them are private.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Additional Information: The Town of Barnstable also has two marinas in Hyannis Harbor, Bismore Park and Gateway Marina, and both offer transient slips is you prefer to launch your boat and keep it in a slip during your stay. The cost of a transient slip for all of the Town of Barnstable marina facilities is $2.75/foot per day from May 1 to October 31 and $1.50/foot per month from November 1 to April 30, with an electric hook-up costing $7.25 per day where available. Ockway Bay Ramp Comments: Has an unmarked gravel and sand parking lot and features a long, steep drop to the water. The ramp is in fair condition and does have a float/dock, but Ockway Bay is a very shallow body of water and it is very easy to ground a boat at any time other than an hour or so either side of high tide. Ockway Bay leads into Popponesset Bay farther to the south from Mashpee Neck. Location: Off Great Neck Road. Parking and fees: No fees charged but restricted to residents only from late June until Labor Day. Due to the restrictions on parking in the lot, it is not uncommon to see vehicle/trailer combinations parked along the shoulders of Great Neck Road. Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions nearby. Saquatucket Harbor Ramp Comments: One of the largest ramp facilities on the Nantucket Sound side of the Cape. The single, cement ramp has a courtesy float and is closed from midnight to 4 AM. It is useable at all tides, with the channel at six feet a low tide, and provides excellent access to Monomoy and its famous rips, with a number of charter boats, head boats, and a ferry to Nantucket and sightseeing boats based in the harbor. There are transient slips available that feature electricity and water. Location: Off Route 28 (Main Street). Parking and fees: The parking area to the east can handle approximately 100 vehicle/trailer combinations while the west side parking lot has 150 spots for vehicle only parking. Parking is open to residents and non-residents alike, with a $10 daily fee or a $100 seasonal fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Fuel and provisions: There is no fuel in Saquatucket Harbor, but it is available in Allen Harbor located to the west at Allen Harbor Marine and Harwichport Boat Yard, which also offer Marine Services. (Allen Harbor has a new, single concrete/asphalt ramp that has no tidal issues. There is parking for 20 vehicle/trailer combinations and they are available only for those who have purchased seasonal passes.) Hemenway Landing
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Comments: Used mainly by clammers and other folks who want to access the backside of Nauset Beach. The upper part of the ramp is paved and useable at high tide but the lower portion is mud/sand, making it best used by boaters who are looking to launch small aluminum boats, kayaks and very small skiffs. It is about a half-mile ride out to Nauset. Location: End of Hemenway Road, off Route 6. Fees and parking: No fee charged; parking for approx. two-dozen vehicles/trailers. Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions on site; many gas stations and stores on nearby Route 6. Rock Harbor Ramp (Eastham) Comments: Superior to the Orleans ramp on the opposite side of Rock Harbor, with access to Cape Cod Bay, due to deeper launch area useable at all stages of the tide. Paved single ramp. Special note: due to the extreme tidal variance on the Cape Cod Bay side and a shallow entrance to Rock Harbor be sure to time launch and retrieval to higher stages of the tide within 2 ½ hours of high tide. Location: Off Dyer Prince Road. Fees and parking: No fee charged; paved lot with parking for 50+ vehicles/trailers. Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions available on-site. West End Boat Parking Lot/Ramp Comments: The Town of Provincetown has one public ramp, the West End Boat Parking Lot/Ramp with a very unique parking situation: you must disconnect your trailer, which you can leave in the lot at the ramp for free for up to 24 hours, from your vehicle that you must park in one of the metered lots in town. There is no float at the ramp and you must arrive early to get one of the half dozen spots reserved for trailers. The ramp is located in a residential section of town, making it even more of a challenge to negotiate the narrow roads of Provincetown. Location: Off Commercial Street (near West Vine Street). Fees and parking: Special regulations, see above. Fuel and provisions: None available at ramp but many gas stations, convenience stores and marine supply stores nearby. Meetinghouse Pond Town Landing Comments: Paved single ramp with dock. Approximately a half-hour ride at no-wake speed to Pleasant Bay and open water from this facility. WWW.SALTYCAPE.COM Powered by Hogy
CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Location: Off Barley Neck Road. Fees and parking: No fee charged. Parking for approx. 20 vehicles/trailers. Fills early in the summer. Fuel and provisions: None available at ramp but many gas stations, convenience stores and marine supply stores nearby. River Road Ramp Comments: The River Road ramp is concrete with shoulders on both sides and a float/dock; it is approximately a half-hour ride at no-wake speed to Pleasant Bay and open water from this facility. Location: End of River Road. Fees and parking: No fee charged. Parking for approx. 10 vehicles/trailers. Available parking fills early in the summer. Fuel and provisions: None at the ramp but fuel and provisions readily available nearby. Cover Road Ramp Comments: Provides access to Nauset Harbor. Single, concrete/pavement ramp with curbs on both sides and a dock. Transiting the Nauset Estuary requires local knowledge as the bars and shoals are subject to constant change; it is about a 20 to 25-minute ride to the opening in Nauset Beach, which is a challenge to navigate due to the bars, surf, and currents. Location: End of Cove Road. Fees and parking: No fees charged. Parking for approx. 18 vehicles/trailers. Fuel and provisions: None at ramp but fuel and provisions available at multiple locations on nearby Route 28. Rock Harbor Ramp (Orleans) Comments: Shallow draft boats only. Difficult to use at low tide. Location: Bay View Drive, off Rock Harbor Road. Fees and parking: No fee charged; parking for approx. half dozen vehicles/trailers. Lot is often filled with vehicles belonging to holders of dock mooring spaces at the town bulkhead. Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions available on-site.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Uncle Freeman’s Landing Comments: Located on Bass River, this is a double, concrete ramp that has a float/dock. Location: End of Uncle Freeman’s Road. Fees and parking: Parking for eight vehicle/trailer combinations and three vehicle-only spots. There is no fee for use of or parking at this facility. Available parking fills early in the summer. Bass River Beach Comments: One of the challenges facing folks who use the ramps in Bass River is the long stretches of No Wake zones, which makes the facility (double concrete ramp with floats/docks) at the Bass River Beach, run by the Town of Yarmouth Department of Natural Resources, the most convenient since it is closest to Nantucket Sound. There is a bathhouse open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Location: Off South Street. Fees and parking: Ample parking for approximately 65+ vehicle/trailer combinations, this facility can handle boats up to 30-feet, according to staff members. Fuel and provisions: Fuel and marine services available nearby at Bass River Marina and Ship Shops Marina. Provisions available at many nearby convenience stores and businesses. Horsefoot Cove Ramp Comments: Located on the south side of the town of Dennis with access to Bass River and the Nantucket Sound side of the Cape. Single concrete ramp. Location: Off Route 28 (Main Street). Fuel: Fuel and provisions available at many nearby gas stations and convenience stores. Fees and parking: No fee charged, paved lot for about a dozen vehicles/trailers. Fills early in the summer. Sesuit Harbor Ramp Comments: The largest, and certainly one of the best facilities that empties into Cape Cod Bay (or the north side of the Cape), is located in Sesuit Harbor and is run by the Town of Dennis Harbormaster. The unique feature of Sesuit Harbor is there are ramps on the west and east sides of the harbor, with ample parking on both sides. Both ramps are in good shape, with the west side ramp having a significant drop-off at the end, although it is marked. The east side ramp is a double ramp, while the west side can be considered a wide, single ramp.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Locations: Off Sesuit Neck Road (west side); off Cold Storage Road (east side). Fees and parking: The west side has parking for approximately 40 vehicle/trailer combinations in a gravel lot off the main paved lot (which is reserved for slip and mooring customers) and is for residents in season, while the east side has a slightly larger, paved parking area for approximately 50 vehicle/trailer combinations. Parking fees for the east side are $8 daily Monday to Thursday and $10 from Friday to Sunday and holidays. The west side parking fee for vehicle/boat trailers is $10 Monday to Thursday and $15 from Friday to Sunday and holidays; the vehicle only fee is $8 Monday to Thursday and $10 from Friday to Sunday and holidays. Fuel: Fuel and provisions available on the west side at Sesuit Harbor Marina on west side. Additional information: The west side of the harbor features a restaurant, restrooms and showers. The harbormasters’ office is also located on the west side and there are transient slips available. Wellfleet Town Ramp Comments: The Town of Wellfleet has one of the largest marina facilities on Cape Cod Bay, including a double ramp with a courtesy float/dock nearby. The ramp is very steep, with the Harbormaster reminding folks to keep their safety chains attached when launching or pulling. The area needs dredging, making the ramp unusable at low tide; boaters are advised to plan on launching or returning an hour and a half either side of low water. It is five miles from open water to the L-pier following the federal channel and there are also private navigational aids. The Harbormaster requires anyone using the ramp to file a float plan with his office that includes name, vehicle type and plate, vessel name, and destination to assist in locating a boater in case of an emergency. There are transient slips available as well as moorings and electricity is available. Location: Off Commercial Street. Parking and fees: Parking lot accommodates 60 vehicle/trailer combinations and has 400 vehicle spots. The parking fee is $10 per day and a seasonal pass is available for $164. Fuel and provisions: Marine services are available at adjacent Bay Sails Boats and Wellfleet Marine Corporation, with fuel available. Provisions available in town nearby. Pamet River Town Ramp Comments: Located just inside the mouth of the Pamet River and due to an ongoing schedule of dredging maintenance provides easy access to the Cape Cod Bay through a well-marked channel. There is a double, divided concrete ramp with floats/docks. This ramp is busiest during the summer season and can fill quite rapidly during holidays and weekends. If the commercial striped bass fishing is good around Provincetown, or there is a push of bluefin tuna in the area, the parking lot can be filled before first light. Location: End of Depot Road. WWW.SALTYCAPE.COM Powered by Hogy
CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Parking and fees: Parking for 32 vehicle/trailer combinations and 20 unattached vehicles. The cost of parking is $10 and is open to both residents and non-residents. Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions available at ramp. Sandwich Town Ramp and Marina The Town of Sandwich staffs and maintains the marina and ramp facility at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal and it is one of the best run on the Cape. With parking for about 100 vehicle/trailer combinations, the double ramp is staffed on weekends and at other times, such as when weather or other conditions will require a large number of boats to be pulled out of the water. At these times, one lane is reserved for boaters who are launching while the other is for those retrieving their boats, making for a smooth flow of traffic. Between the last week of June and the first week of September is the busiest time, with weekends and holidays especially active. It is not uncommon for the main lot to be filled at these times or during the fishing season such as the second or third week of May when the mackerel are running off the east end. From three or four in the afternoon until 8 PM on Sundays can be very busy as weekenders look to pull their boats. There is also a three or four-day period in the spring and fall when ramp availability is limited due to the launching and hauling of larger boats that are stored in the main parking lot. Transient slips with electricity available at the marina. The ramp is highly tidal with a foot drop-off at the end, but it is clearly marked. As is the case with many facilities on the Cape, the pad can become slippery and a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Location: Off Freezer Road. Parking and fees: Large paved lot but can fill on busy summer days. The daily fee to launch and park is $10 and a seasonal pass is available for $100. Fuel and provisions: Fuel available at town marina dock, provisions and marine supplies available nearby. Great River Ramp Comments: The asphalt/concrete ramp pad is very short with a marked drop-off and it does have a float/dock. It is a No Wake zone inside Great River and just outside until you reach the Waquoit Bay main channel and this is strictly enforced. This ramp is a popular spot for kayakers and anglers looking to access the entrance to Waquoit, which is a popular albie and bonito spot in late summer and early fall. Location: Off Great Oak Road. Parking and fees: No fees charged but restricted to residents from late June until Labor Day. It has an asphalt parking lot with 11 spots for vehicle/trailer combinations.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions nearby. End of Mashpee Neck Road Ramp Comments: The ramp is a combination of asphalt and concrete, with a float/dock, and is useable at all tides, although Popponesset Bay is very shallow at this point and a moon tide can provide challenges in the form of bars and shoals that you can fetch up on. Although Popponesset Bay has good fishing in the spring and early summer, including some good worm hatches, most folks are headed for Nantucket Sound, which is a good ride away due to No Wake zones. Location: End of Simons Narrows Road. Parking and fees: No fees charged. On street parking for vehicle/trailer combinations and approximately six vehicle-only spots in a small lot adjacent to the ramp. Fuel and provisions: No fuel or provisions nearby. Child’s River Ramp Comments: The ramp is constructed of concrete slabs that are misaligned and is in very poor condition, with a significant drop-off at the end that can catch a trailer axle. It is very popular with kayak anglers and boaters who want to access the beach and shellfishing at the east entrance to Waquoit Bay. A long ride in a no wake zone is required to reach the waters of the Sound. Location: Off Route 28 in the Waquoit section for Falmouth, next to Bosun’s Marine Falmouth. Parking and fees: The reason this ramp remains very popular in spite of its poor condition is the very large gravel parking area, which can accommodate many dozens of vehicle/trailers and single vehicles. No fee is charged. Fuel and provisions: Fuel available at adjacent Bosun’s Marine and both fuel and provisions available at many nearby stations and stores nearby on Route 28. Green Pond Ramp Comments: A wide, single concrete ramp that features a pier on one side. The run to Nantucket Sound is shorter than from the Falmouth Inner Harbor ramp, but the parking is more limited. Location: Off Menauhant Road, East Falmouth. Parking and fees: No fees charged; parking for 19 vehicles/trailers. Fuel and provisions: Fuel available at adjacent Green Pond Marina. Falmouth Inner Harbor Ramp
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Comments: A newly rebuilt wide, single concrete ramp that features a pier on one side. This is the best quality ramp and launch in town and as such is popular and the lot fills quickly every day in the summer. Location: Off Scranton Avenue. Parking and fees: No fees are charged for the use of any ramps in Falmouth. Parking for approx. two-dozen vehicles/trailers. Fuel and provisions: No fuel available at the launch but many gas stations and stores nearby; fueling docks on either side of the harbor near the ramp. Wilbur Park Boat Ramp Comments: The Wilbur Park facility features a single, hard surface ramp that was recently built and has floats/docks and parking for 14 vehicle/trailer combinations and six vehicles. It is best for boats in the 17 to 23-foot range. It has a picnic area and a fishing pier, along with portable toilet facilities from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The one disadvantage of this facility is that it takes about one hour to reach open water/Nantucket Sound, but many anglers find the fishing to be quite good in the Bass River itself. Location: Off Highbank Road. Fees and parking: No fees charged for the use of ramps and parking at the ramps in the Town of Yarmouth. Fuel and provisions: No fuel available at the ramp; fuel and provisions available nearby. Mitchell River Ramp Comments: The only other ramp in Chatham that is available to the public in season is the Mitchell River Ramp. This ramp is very steep and slippery; in addition, a boat must be able to clear the bridge (clearance is approximately 11 feet at low tide and 6.67 feet at high tide). This ramp launches into Mitchell River, which empties into Stage Harbor. Location: Bridge Street. Fees and parking: There is very limited parking, approximately four in the dirt lot, as well as parking along Bridge Street and there is no permit required. Fuel: Fuel, water and marine service located at Stage Harbor Marine, across bridge. Barn Hill Ramp Location: End of Barn Hill Road, off Route 28.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Fees and parking: The single ramp, which was rebuilt recently and features a bulkhead and a floating dock that will accommodate up to four boats, and parking are open to the public without charge. There are 10 spots for vehicles/trailers and 12 for vehicle only, including handicapped parking. There is also additional parking along Barn Hill Road. Fuel: Fuel, water and marine service available nearby at Oyster River Boatyard and Stage Harbor Marine. Additional information: Restaurants and convenience stores can be found on nearby Route 28, including Larry’s PX, a local institution at the corner of Route 28 and Barn Hill Road that features breakfast at 5 a.m. Ryders Cove Ramp Comments: Congestion can be a problem here during commercial striped bass and bluefin tuna season. Location: At the end of Ryders Cove Road. Fees and parking: Chatham requires non-residents to get a “ramp use” permit from the Harbormaster’s Office to use this single ramp from July 6 to September 30, but there is no onsite non-resident parking at any time in the adjacent parking lot. Non-resident parking is limited to parking along Old Comers Road, with some folks carrying a bike in their vehicle to make what can be the long trip back to the ramp a bit shorter. Fuel: Fuel for sale at Ryders Cove Boatyard adjacent to the ramp. Additional information: Ryder’s Cove Boatyard features a ship’s store, service technicians seven days a week, ice and snacks for sale, and transient dockage. Monument Beach Marina and Ramp Comments: Because the Monument Beach ramp does not have a float, if launching alone, a boater must either pull his or her boat up on the beach next to the ramp or motor over to the float adjacent to the harbormaster’s building, thereby tying up the ramp with their vehicle/trailer. It is very important to secure your boat to the beach in the former scenario as the combination of wind and tide have been known to cause boats to float away. Bourne enforces the “no power load” law very strictly and that makes the Monument Beach ramp a challenge since you must swing your vessel around jetties on both sides of the ramp by using a long bow line and it is a fairly long way from the end of the jetties to where your trailer will be in the water. Location: 22 Emmons Road off of Shore Road in Monument Beach.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Fees and parking: The parking fee and permit structure is a bit complicated for non-residents, who may purchase a non-resident permit for $30 that “allows the holder to use and park at any of the ramps in town, including the Monument Beach facility; the holder ‘must show proof that they are temporarily domiciled in Bourne for at least 30 days and provide verifiable documentation (contract, lease, rental agreement, etc.) stating the same’ or possess a current Town of Bourne Mooring or Shellfish Permit.” Individuals holding a One Week ($40) or Two Week ($60)Temporary Permit may only use and park at the Monument Beach facility; the holder “must show proof that they are temporarily domiciled in Bourne for at least 30 days and provide verifiable documentation (contract, lease, rental agreement, etc.) stating the same” and provide any other necessary documentation if requested. Parking for vehicle/trailer combinations is located in a dirt/sand lot and there is a large, paved vehicle only lot. Fuel: Gas available at adjacent Monument Beach Marina. Additional information: Privately leased/town owned Monument Beach Marina includes a dock with 61 slips, a gasoline pump, 35 moorings, private bathrooms & showers and public bathrooms. Adjacent to the Marina are a public beach, a permitted parking area and the public boat ramp. Taylor Point Marina Comments: The largest public facility in the town and although very popular, parking and access is hardly ever a problem. Location: 4 Wright Lane in Buzzards Bay, off Main Street. Fees and parking: Featuring a double ramp with floating docks on both sides, there is a $10 per day vehicle/trailer fee in season; $200 seasonal passes are available. There is parking for approximately 60 vehicle/trailer combinations, but the town has access to a number of off-site spots that are close by, making a wait a rarity even during the busiest summer days. Fuel: The Taylor Point Marina conveniently located off of Main Street, Buzzards Bay, includes 148 slips, a gas dock with gasoline, diesel and a sanitary pump-out station, private bathrooms & showers, and a marine store. Public restrooms available May 1 to October 31. Additional information: The ramp at this facility is the only entirely public ramp in the Town of Bourne. It is in excellent condition and well-protected from wind and tide. Transient slips are available at both the Taylor’s Point and Monument Beach Marinas; more information including availability and rates can be obtained by calling the Marina Manager’s office at 508-759-2512. Barnstable Harbor
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY Comments: This popular ramp is on the Cape Cod Bay, or north, side of the town. One of the busiest facilities on the north side of the Cape, particularly on summer weekends and holidays, on many days all parking spots are filled by 8 a.m. Location: Off Route 6A, 329 Millway Road in Barnstable Village. Fees and Parking: A single ramp with a long float that can handle more than one boat, there is a $10 vehicle/trailer fee on weekends and $8 per weekday, as well as a seasonal pass that costs $100. The season generally runs from May 15 to Columbus Day and there is a portable toilet available during this time. The parking lot can accommodate approximately 34 vehicle/trailer combinations and there are no vehicle-only spots, although folks launching a car top boat (canoe, kayak, etc.) may park at the facility. Fuel: Available at adjacent private marinas. Additional information: This ramp is most often called the “Blish Point” ramp as it is built on the point of the same name. This season, according to the Harbormaster’s office, there should be additional staff available to help with maintaining the flow of boat traffic since there is only one float and it is a challenge when there is no real sense of who is next in line to launch or retrieve their boat. It is not uncommon to have to wait and circle outside the float to get a spot if you are looking to haul out; patience is absolutely the key at Barnstable.
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CAPE COD BOAT RAMP DIRECTORY
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