Frequently Asked Questions

Is my mooring permit at risk? Can I lose my permit? Yes, all mooring permits are at risk for failure to use and/or pay the mooring permit fee (annual deadline March 15th), failure to have the mooring inspected, or for infractions such as missing numbers. Should the mooring inspection not be completed annually, or the boat owner fail to use the mooring for a minimum of thirty (30) days during the boating season, the Harbormaster may cancel the mooring permit and reassign the permit to the waiting list the following year.

How, where and when must the mooring be inspected? You are responsible to have an out-of-the-water mooring inspection annually. The deadline for inspection is December 31st. Mooring inspection may be arranged with the MSA.

Under the Harbor Management Plan, mooring permits for any moorings that are not inspected by December 31st will automatically be forfeited back to the Town and shall be reassigned by the Harbormaster to the next person on the waiting list.

I may not be using my mooring this season, can I still take a year off? No, the new plan requires a use-it-or-lose it standard which is different then in the past. You can no longer lend your mooring to someone from the waiting list. You must use your mooring at least 30 days during the boating season or you will forfeit your mooring permit. You must notify the Harbormaster when your boat has arrived at the mooring at which time the harbormaster or MSA will place the transom sticker on the boat hull and record the time-on date.

Is this plan forever or will it change again? Like all Town of Harwich regulations, this is a living document and may be amended to suit the concerns of citizens as needed. The Board of Selectmen voted these latest Harbor Management Plan effective February 9, 2004. As part of their advisory role to the Board of Selectmen, the Waterways Commission regularly reviews the Plan and submits proposed changes and recommendations to the Board for their consideration. The Board may also revisit any portion of the plan if it appears that portions of the Plan do not seem to be effective or is not equitable.

I use to rent a mooring from the Boat Yard but now I get the permit directly from the Harbormaster. Do I still have to rent the mooring tackle from the boat yard? No, no one is beholden to the boat yard for anything except services rendered. However, if you wish to rent the mooring tackle from a boat yard, etc. instead of owning it, this option is your prerogative.

Is there a cap on the fees that the MSA can charge? While there is not a "cap" per se, the Board of Selectmen reviews the proposed charges to be levied by the MSA to ensure that the fees are commensurate with the services rendered and to ensure that "price gouging" does not occur. The MSA will be able to provide mooring customers with a fee schedule so they can anticipate these costs.

I am worried that the mooring servicing agent will not treat me fairly on a mooring position and may not charge me the same rate that he charges others? The MSA must provide the Harbormaster with a mooring plan that shows the positions of moorings, associated channels and the protection of access to private docks. The MSA will be required to lay out this plan to accommodate the swing and draft requirements of each vessel. It is in the best interest of each mooring permit holder to contact the MSA to give them the information they need to place your boat in the best possible position that will be satisfactory to both concerns. The MSA is expected to treat everyone fairly with respect to fees and charges and they will be able to provide mooring customers with a fee schedule so they can anticipate these costs.

I have my name on the waiting list for additional moorings and a boat slip for other boats I have or want is that OK? While the Harbor Management Plan does not encourage this practice, you may have your name on more than one waiting list. However, the Harbor Management Plan limits the total number of vessels that one may have at town slips or moorings to a total of two boats (two holes in the water). Therefore, if you already have two boats on town permits and receive another offer from the waiting list you want to accept, you must give up one of the other permits.

I am worried that with taking the mooring out of the water annually that my spot will get taken by another boat? It is in the best interest of each mooring permit holder to contact the MSA to give them the information they need to try and place you in the best possible position that might be satisfactory to you. However, be advised that due to draft requirements of the overall fleet, this might not always be accommodated.

Since I will no longer be able to park at the boat yard, what will I do with my car and dinghy? This is an important issue and one that is likely to become a problem since displaced boaters from the boat yard rental fields will have to depend on the limited Town parking situation at the Town Landings. The hope is that not all boaters will go boating at the same time. Dinghy space is critical and more people will have to rely on leaving a dinghy at the Town dinghy float in Wychmere or Saquatucket Harbor or on the beach at Allen Harbor or at the base of Larson Park. There is no security planned for dinghies.

I just received the slip rental form for a visitors space at the Marina. This season it looks like I'll be paying more than double. Am I reading this right? Yes, the Harwich Board of Selectmen instituted a new Harbor Rate Fee Schedule on January 26th and raising nightly rates to market value and going further by setting a rate minimum for all overnight berths of $75 (electricity not included). Therefore if any vessel is under 38' it will pay $75. Visitor Rates

I use to be one of the boat yard mooring rental customers, but now I am getting the permit from the town. My boat is co-owned, but now you tell me the vessel must be solely registered in my name. How come? This is not new. In brief, the harbor management plan requires that all boats that are state registered must be wholely owned by the mooring permit holder. Alternatively, vessels that are documented (USCG registration)must be 51% owned by the mooring permit holder. Therefore, all registrations including those of vessels coming to the open mooring field from former rental moorings or from newly assigned moorings (former boat yard moorings) will be checked for ownership.

Are there any plans to increase the number of recreational slips in the harbor? If so, what size and when? The Waterways Committe has a project in its plan to add boat slips at the south face of the Allens Harbor parking lot. This would be achieved by adding a bulkhead and dredging. Approximately, eight to ten Mediteranean style slips could be added here. Because of the expense of this project it remains to be approved by the Capital Oulay Committee and added into the captial outlay plan. Most likely, these would become charter boat berths. There are no other plans for a second expansion of Saquatucket Marnina.