After thirteen years of cruising our 36’ sloop, “Salty Spouse” up and down the East Coast my wife, Inza and I have just about seen it all when it comes to harbors. When it comes to passing judgment on a harbor, we recognize that Mother Nature started the process of its creation and then mankind came along and embellished it, for better or worse. So exactly what, in our opinion, makes for an ideal small boat harbor?
First, it should be about one mile long, ½ mile wide, with its axis oriented about 45 degrees to the prevailing wind. In addition, it should provide shelter from the storm winds, NE, NW and SE on the East Coast. This size and orientation facilitates both shelter as well as a variety of recreational uses. The entrance should be wide and deep enough to provide unstressful passage by cruisers, and should also include shoals or jetties to break up waves trying to enter. The limits of those shoals or jetties should be well marked, preferably by charted lights, buoys or daymarkers. Once inside, there should be no obstructions such as rocks and wrecks lurking below the surface. Three or four foot shoals are OK provided they are marked so as to avoid embarrassing visiting boaters. The shoreline should be lined with a mix of tall pine and hardwood trees which extend done to the water’s edge providing both scenery and shelter. The bottom needs to be anchor friendly at those locations one would wish to drop the hook. A small beach near the entrance available to both locals and visitors to use would be great.
Nearly every decent harbor, geographically, has had a village or town build up around it. The exceptions are remote islands, or those places where public or private ownership has seen fit to restrict development. Every good harbor should have at least one marina, and also provide free public docking for short periods of time. Time limits in force should be clearly posted to avoid inadvertent violations. There must be a balance between the space allocated to docking and mooring and that available for other uses. Nothing is more disheartening than to come into a harbor that looks attractive on the chart, only to find it filled wall to wall with docks, moorings and pot buoys. The place is no longer a harbor; it’s a parking lot for boats.
Once ashore, an attractive, well maintained village is a real asset. A mix of cottages and larger homes along the shore line adds to the scenery. Signs and a welcome centerin town facilitate a visitor’s understanding of the history of the place, and can transform a walkaround from merely exercise to a delightful experience. Periodic activities or festivals create a welcoming atmosphere in town, and lead to cruisers planning their schedules accordingly. There should be at least two eating establishments available within walking distance of the docks or landing, (competition helps maintain quality). Fuel, water, ice and light grocery shopping round out the basics.
Spotting an ideal harbor is not rocket science. Just look around on any sunny weekend. Do you see canoers and kayackers paddling the shore, families towing their kids on tubes, small sailboats tacking back and forth, larger sailboats and powerboats passing in and out, watermen tending to their calling? If so, you’ve arrived, enjoy your stay. By the way, know any nearby harbor that fills the bill?