Vineyard Haven is a busy commercial port with the main ferry terminal for the island, several full-service marinas and boatyards, barge terminal, and lots of local boats on moorings. The waters are very well charted and marked with numerous aids to navigation that make the approach easy, even in poor visibility. The main thing to keep in mind is that large car ferries run frequently between Vineyard Haven and Woods Hole, following closely to the major buoys R2, N4, and N6. There is deep water near the buoys and just outside the ship channel, and that is the place to be in the fog.
A lot of boats will be heading to the inner harbor inside the breakwater where you will find numerous moorings (call the harbormaster), several commercial marinas, a public dock, and other facilities. There is a public dinghy dock slightly northwest of the Steamship Authority ferry terminal. From there it is a short walk to Stop & Shop, the post office, and numerous shops and restaurants. Local buses stop right there and tickets and day passes are available in the ferry terminal.
The harbormaster’s office is located in Owen Park on the west side of the harbor, where there is a dock (check depths when approaching) for temporary tie ups (for a fee), pumpout, water, showers, and trash disposal. Ask the harbormaster if you need advice or assistance. The crowded dinghy dock at Owen Park is less convenient to most town services and tends to be full of local boats.
There is a good anchorage with limited room on the opposite side of the harbor and to the east of the light on the end of the breakwater, extending northeast towards the R2 daymark on a pole indicating the channel for the Lagoon Pond Bridge. Holding is good and protection is good in summer winds from the south, but the area is very exposed in a hard northerly blow. Depths shoal off towards shore, so approach cautiously.
In northerly blows boats often anchor in the northeast part of Lagoon Pond, and there are many other possible anchorages along the shores of the pond. There is a good place to land a dinghy near the public boat ramp on the causeway southwest of the bridge. It is a short walk or bicycle ride to town from there.
The entrance to Lake Tashmoo is shoal and shifting, though it was dredged recently. In recent years there has been better water closer to the breakwater and beach along the northeast side of the channel, with shoaling to less than 6 feet just inside. Approach slowly and cautiously, especially if your boat draws more than 4 feet, and try to time it to arrive with a rising tide and plenty of extra water.
Anchorage room is now extremely limited now that the main open area in the south of the pond is a protected eel grass bed. There is a public landing on the east side of the harbor, towards the south, where you can obtain water, leave trash, and park the dinghy for a pleasant walk into town. You may see the harbormaster patrolling with the pumpout boat, and they might be able to assist you in finding a mooring for the night.
Harbormaster: VHF Channel 09, 508-696-4249
Pumpout, Water, Trash, Showers: Owen Park Pier, Harbormaster VHF Channel 09, 508-696-4249
Fuel:
Prime Marina Vineyard Haven 508-693-4174
Tisbury Wharf 508-693-9300
Harbor Information: Tisbury Waterways
Lagoon Pond Bridge: Call the bridge tender on VHF 16 or 69
May 15-September 15 the bridge opens during the following periods. During other times of the year the bridge will open by making an appointment 24 hours prior. The bridge tender will try to group waiting boats together to minimize the number of openings. Except during periods of slack tide there is a strong current under the bridge that can slew your boat to one side or the other, so be prepared and stay in the middle of the channel. Boats traveling with the current have the right of way. The bridge tender can advise on the state of the tide and current under the bridge. In 2022 the channel had at least six feet of water at low tide.
8:15-8:45am
10:15-11am
3:15-4pm
5-5:45pm
7:30-8pm
In an emergency after hours call the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center at 508-693-1212. This number is for emergencies only.
Dock Space and Moorings:
Gannon & Benjamin 508‐693‐4658
Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard 508-693-0400
Prime Marina Vineyard Haven 508-693-4174
The Black Dog Wharf 508-693-3854
Tisbury Harbormaster VHF Channel 09, 508-696-4249
Tisbury Wharf 508-693-9300
Vineyard Haven Marina 508-693-0720
Boat and Engine Repairs:
Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard 508‐693‐0400
Gannon & Benjamin 508‐693‐4658
Prime Marina Vineyard Haven 508-693-4174
Chandleries:
Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard 508‐693‐0400
Prime Marina Vineyard Haven 508-693-4174
West Marine 508‐693‐2906
Sail Repair:
Sperry Sails 508‐693‐3312
Restaurants, Lodging, Shopping and more:
Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce 508-693-0085
Liquor:
Jim’s Package Store in Oak Bluffs 508-693-0236
Our Market in Oak Bluffs 508‐693‐3000
Tony’s Market in Oak Bluffs 508-693-4799
Vineyard Wine and Cheese Shop in Oak Bluffs 508 693 0943
Laundry:
Airport Laundromat 508‐693‐5005
Wash Ashore in Oak Bluffs 508-696-6999
Pharmacies:
Leslie’s Drug Store 508‐693‐1010
Vineyard Scripts 508-693-7979
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