Manchester Harbor has experienced a great deal of positive change over the past 13 years. This includes the introduction of shallow water moorings in 2015, conversion of many single point moorings to double point moorings with no swing, some with a float to accommodate additional vessels, and the reduction in the number of moorings in a dangerously overcrowded harbor.
Benefits include an end to vessels swinging into each other and an opportunity in the future to add back some of the moorings I have removed due to the overcrowded mooring fields. We are actively managing the moorings.
Equally important is the improvement in navigation, especially in front of the boat yards. Manchester Marine (MMC) has the same 12 mooring locations that have been in place since at least the 1970’s. Ten of those are now bow and stern with a float in-between. I initially approached MMC seven or eight years ago about converting to a double-point mooring system along the channel, but the company chose not to do so at that time. The current conversion was required by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as part of another project at MMC.
Concern that MMC would be able to rent these moorings seasonally was expressed to the Harbor Advisory Committee (HAC) and Select Board (SB). In order to determine whether Manchester is in compliance by allowing this activity, the Harbormaster’s office reached out to state officials for an opinion. The Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) saw no issue with the practice and the town’s legal counsel has advised that Manchester is not in violation of the MA Attorney General’s opinion regarding waitlists and mooring assignments. The MA Inspector General has also ruled that there is no violation. The moorings may be rented to individuals from the harbor waitlist. It is important to note that this conversion results in a smaller harbor footprint used by MMC.
Our waitlist is long, it takes 15-20 years to get a mooring in Manchester. First moorings are typically in the outer harbor, Area 7, and you then put your name on the “move in” list for an inner harbor mooring. Moorings are reassigned for specific reasons such as death, improper use, or non-payment of fees.
As one can imagine, there are not a lot of turnovers.
During the pandemic there was a surge in demand for moorings. Moorings can be passed to children but no other relatives. This is a Massachusetts state rule, and not a town regulation.
If you have more than one child, put them on the waitlist! Every name on the electronic waitlist is also in a ledger at the Harbormaster’s office and open for review any time.
Many folks have taken advantage of the transparency and openness of access to the harbor data by coming to the office with their questions and concerns. I encourage more people to come and get information, after all, the data is yours. Anyone can be informed about past data, and future plans to make informed opinions about any aspect of your harbor.
As a public servant I take my role as harbormaster seriously. Access to the data input has been under my sole control for more than 13 years. This means that all scrutiny of the data is on me. This was the intention. A transparent system for which one person has accountability. Manchester Harbor is beautiful, the residents and boaters have really done remarkable work to ensure the waterfront continues to be vibrant and well maintained. The harbor is a tremendous asset to the community without being a burden to the taxpayers. It is my hope that nothing stops the thoughtful effort that you all have invested into the ongoing success in the management of your harbor.
Come and visit, ask questions.
Bion Pike is Manchester’s Harbormaster
