Winthrop Waterway and Public Landing Regulations
With another boating season now upon us, the Winthrop harbormaster’s office would like to remind boaters of the town’s waterway regulations.
All vessels habitually moored in Winthrop waters must display a valid Waterway Usage Decal on the port bow, aft of the registration number, and a valid Excise Decal on the port side transom. All moorings must be registered with the harbormaster each year, and must display a valid Mooring Decal. Vessels under 12 feet are exempt from the Waterway Decal.
All vessels moored in the town waterways must be registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or be a U. S. documented vessel and have paid excise tax in the Commonwealth and waterways fees in the town. Out of state registered vessels are subject to Massachusetts boating laws and are allowed to remain 60 days before leaving Commonwealth waters. Vessels intending to visiting for more than two weeks should inform the harbormaster of their presence in the town waters. All private marinas and yacht clubs must maintain a list of visiting vessels and communicate this information to the harbormaster.
Failure to obtain and display the waterway and/or excise tax stickers may result in a $75 per day fine per missing sticker.
Additionally, boaters are asked to remember the following safety regulations:
No vessel shall operate at a speed which shall cause a wash or wake that may endanger other property or life. In no event shall any boat exceed a speed limit of six knots in posted areas.
Water skiing is only allowed off of Front Beach (Winthrop Shore Drive) and Yirrel Beach (Shirley Street). Water skiing shall be prohibited within one hundred fifty (150) feet of bathers, divers, piers, wharves, floats, moored or other boats, or of any shore. No person shall operate a boat towing a water skier in navigable channels.
No person shall operate a motorboat (a boat with machinery) within 150 feet of any beach or designated swimming area except at headway speed.
Personal watercraft shall not be operated at other than headway speed within 150 feet of any moored or anchored boat or vessel, swimming area, dock or float.
No person shall operate a vessel or watercraft of any kind in a reckless, careless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, safety or property of any person.
No person shall operate any vessel on the town waterways while under the influence of intoxicating alcohol, narcotic drug, barbiturate or marijuana.
The operator of any vessel on the town waterways shall provide a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device, types I, II or III for each person aboard such vessel. (CMR 207.15).
Airport Security Buoys. No vessel or watercraft should go between the security buoys and Logan airport. This policy is strictly enforced by Homeland Security and the town harbormasters.
The discharge of oil, sewage, garbage, rubbish or other debris from boats on the town waterways is prohibited.
Unmuffled noise from engines, both inboard and outboard, and all amplifying systems, radios and similar devices shall be controlled and reduced to minimum volume when within the vicinity of any pier, floats, anchorage or inhabited areas.
Compliance with these regulations by all boaters will lead to everyone having a safe and enjoyable boating season for all, and avoid the need for violations to be issued. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
SARNO TO SPEAK AT WINTHROP LIBRARY
Local Author and Photographer, Darryl Sarno will be speaking at the Winthrop Public Library.
In his book, “Special Airline & Aircraft Visitors: Unique airport sightings of New Englandâ€, Mr. Sarno has documented the arrival of many planes to Logan Airport more than 20years. The book includes more than 150 photos and lists of unusual sightings at other New England airports.
Come to hear about his experiences.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Winthrop Public Library.
Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments. Free program.
Winthrop Public Library 2 Metcalf Square or call 617.846.1703.
BOSTON HARBOR SWIM IS JULY 13
Make a splash in the fight against cancer and support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) at the 22nd annual Swim Across America Boston Harbor Swim on July 13. This 22-mile open-water swim relay fundraiser begins at 7 a.m. from Rowes Wharf behind the Boston Harbor Hotel.
Swimmers of all levels are welcome to take part in this exciting relay and swim in Boston Harbor alongside Olympic swimmers Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Doug Gjertsen, Alex Meyer, and Eric Wunderlich. A minimum fundraising pledge of $2,000 is required to participate.
Swim Across America (SAA) is a non-profit organization that runs events from Boston to San Francisco to support cancer research at the country’s finest hospitals and institutions. At SAA, money raised locally stays local, ensuring that swimmers know their efforts will benefit their communities directly. Proceeds from the Boston-area swims benefit the David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic at Dana-Farber, where experts help pediatric cancer survivors with an array of issues, including long-term effects of treatment, social and psychological concerns, and the risk of second cancers. Proceeds also benefit the continued research of David Sweetser, MD, chief of medical genetics at MGHfC. Sweetser is focused on identifying novel and non-toxic therapies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Funds additionally support programs such as art and music therapy and child life services that enhance the quality of life for the hospital’s youngest cancer patients.
To register, learn more, or support a swimmer, please visit www.swimacrossamerica.org/boston.