Eisboch wrote:
**** repost to get rid of original OT subject header ****

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...

Eisboch wrote:

How was your trip? Did you get to tour Old Ironsides?


And for a city of 3-million or so people- there aren't that many boats
in Boston. When one visits 500,000 population Seattle (1-2 million
metro area) there are boats *everywhere*. Looked like nowhere nearly as
many permanently moored boats, per capita, in Boston....but that's just
an informal impression


Like Shortwave mentioned, Boston harbor has few private marinas. There's
one next to the USS Constitution called, appropriately, "Constitution
Marina" that we used to visit on day trips or weekenders on the boat coming
up from Scituate. The northeast in general has a shortage of slips and
moorings available and the waiting time to get one can be years.

Scituate harbor has a town operated marina plus 3 or 4 smaller private ones.
For years there was also a boatyard called "Youngs" that had storage and
repair facilities. It closed down and a private developer bought the land
from the owner for something like $2-3 million, intending to develop it as
an additional marina with modern facilities, clubhouse and a restaurant. It
became quite the political battle because the town wanted the land. They
fought the poor guy tooth and nail over permits, conservation issues and
generally made it impossible for him to proceed. This went on for a couple
of years. He finally threw in the towel and withdrew his permit
applications. The town ended up offering to buy the land from him - at a
loss for him as I understand. The town then issued itself the permits
necessary to begin construction a new, town operated marina.

I made a small investment in the marina when the developer bought it and was
raising money for it's construction. The investment return included a
guarantied slip for the Navigator once the marina was finished and was
predicated on him getting the permits. He was (is) an honest man. When it
became apparent that the town would not issue him the permits he returned my
investment in full with a letter of apology.


Sounds like you had a busy visit to Bean Town.

Note to JiminFL ... Scituate has changed big time since you were up here,
both physically and in atmosphere.
For boaters, it has been downhill since Elmer retired. They are now talking
about issuing parking permit stickers now, with preferential parking for
town residents only. Also, a surcharge for slips for non-residents with
townies going to the top of the waiting list.

Eisboch


A consideration of the moorage situation in Boston is a real eye opener
for a left coaster.
We're probably 20-30 years behind out here in the Pacific NW, but
skyrocketing shoreline values and taxes will almost certainly make any
use except high density residential or commercial economically
impossible before another two generations go boating. Pretty sad. If
I'm personally still boating in 20 years (hope to be), it's less likely
I'll be boating in 30. Guys my age may dodge the bullet out here, but
we should be concerned for the younger people who will follow.