July Night in Menemsha Bight

July Night in Menemsha Bight

Thursday, August 23, 2012

New Bedford Harbor - Gifford Street

So, where can you moor or anchor in New Bedford Harbor?  There is a link to the New Bedford Harbor Commission under the links section and you can see the official policies.  There is a map under the anchoring section that does a nice job showing general parameters within the harbor.  When you enter the harbor, if you round Palmer Island, which is on your left, a cove is formed by the island, the back of the hurricane barrier and the commercial docks.  This area is generally known as the Gifford Street mooring area.  There is an established mooring field here that has grown in size recently and may be modified again in the future due to the fact that the Cape Wind Project intends to use the abandoned commercial pier area to construct a large staging area for its windmill turbines on their way to Nantucket Sound.  Most of the moorings in this field are private, individual moorings.  Bayline Boatyard (which is located at Gifford Street, in back of the public parking lot) has moorings there as well that they rent to transients.  I believe Whaling City Moorings and Launch have a few for rent there too.  You will see boats anchored on the edge of the field and they don't appear to be bothered by the harbor patrol.  I have anchored there and was not bothered.  Check your chart regarding depth and obstructions in trying to find a location.  By the way, the Whaling City outfit is the only one I know that provides a regular launch service in the harbor.  You don't have to be on one of their moorings.  They'll come get you anywhere for a price.  Whaling City has other rental moorings in the harbor other than at Gifford Street.  Bayline used to be located years ago on Pope's Island, further up the harbor.  It is busy, well regarded yard.  A lot of boats are stored there in the winter and their facilities are supposed to be top notch.  They are frequently called on to use their rigs for over the road boat transportation, as they've got gear that many other marinas don't have.  Bayline accesses the harbor through the town parking lot and uses the town ramp and dock at Gifford Street.  Anyone can use these facilities, so if you need a ramp, or a place to park, pick up someone, or drop someone off, it is a good spot.  The moorings at Gifford Street are pretty well protected and it is relatively quiet there.

 

You are a long dinghy ride from downtown proper.  If you dinghy into the Gifford Street dinghy dock, other than Bayline, there is nothing for you to do really.  You will be in an old section of town with abandoned mills.  No showers, no stores, no bathrooms, no shelter.  If you are adventurous, there is a public fish market that is open certain days to sell fresh fish off the boats on or about Blackmer street, which is walkable.  There is also a Pricerite that you can walk to by walking up Gifford Street to JFK and then walking north on JFK to its intersection with South Street.  This is an excellent grocery store for price and variety.  It has got food that caters to local ethnic populations and that makes it fun and different from run of the mill Pricerites.  It is the first grocery store that I've been to for a while that has security guards - so, that adds to the experience. 

As I said, this is a working class, somewhat depressed area of town, so if you are looking for a tiki bar and someone to exchange your burgee with, it is not going to happen at Gifford Street.  If this type of neighborhood turns you off (and that's okay), don't judge New Bedford by it.  The city has a lot more to offer, so give it a chance.  Dinghy or take the launch to the docks further up the harbor.  Call a taxi and get a ride into town.

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