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Merrimack River No Wake Zones (not just Newburyport)
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NOAA chart 13282 or maptech chart of merrimack river and P.I sound will have it. The chart will have a smaller chart on it that will bring you to Haverhill. I have some at Hudsons $20.95
Untill now I have never looked at a chart to see where the no wake zones are. I just assumed they would be on it. Sorry about that. If you do get the Noaa or maptech charts then maybe you could go to the Harbor master of the area you are in and have him mark it down for you. And if you wait a few more years with all the people anchoring in the river the entire thing will be no wake.
pretty much the whole way down river once you get to McKenzie's landing is no wake
then you can run from the ice breaker down joppa flats till the next no wake bouy, in a smaller boat I used to run the back channel down past high rock (1/2 tide +) if there are no boats anchored up back there, and from the Rocks village down to merrimacport is no wake due to the river being narrow and all the docks etc..
...from the Rocks village down to merrimacport is no wake due to the river being narrow and all the docks etc...
I don't believe that is correct. There is a posted no wake zone about 100 yards on either side of the Rocks Village bridge, but otherwise you can run at speed thru that stretch.
I seem to recall that there is a good-sized sailboat on a mooring in the Merrimac stretch that has a home-made no-wake zone sign, but I always ignored that.
From memory, I think that upriver from Rock's Village you can run full out all the way to Abbott's Marine and then it is no wake past Kazmeira Marina until you are past the Route 113 bridge. From there you can run full tilt up to Crescent Yacht Club in downtown Haverhill.
Downriver from Rock's Village, there is a no wake zone around Davy Jones Marina in Amesbury and then again along the stretch from Hatter's Point, Mackenzie's and Larry's marinas all the way to the Chain Bridge, although I have seen people run on plane under the 95 bridge. Not sure about that.
The stretch behind Eagle, Carr and Ram islands can be run at speed until you come out at the mooring field near Cove Marina.
People go full speed under the 95 bridge all the time, not sure why--clearly a "Slow 5MPH" sign posted on the bridge. I'm under the impression that it's no wake from Mackenzie's all the way to Joppa, unless you take the back side around Carr and Ram Islands. Bottom line, you are responsible for your wake, so if you are unclear and making a wake might cause an issue...then go slow.
FYI - The West Newbury "Marine Patrol" are a bunch of major
league PITA's. They'll pull you over anywhere and read you the
riot act regarding speed/no wake zones even if there is nothing
officially posted as such within a mile. I was heading up river
and hit the gas when well passed the last NW zone by the old
Hat Factory in Amesbury. 1/2 a mile later this wanna be Rambo
has me pulled over ragging me about how my wake is causing
damage to boats you can barely see. Keep in mind that at 40 MPH
my boat throws about a 4 inch wake and I was well off of the
shoreline. I told him to either write me up or leave me alone.
He left. Going up the river to Haverhill is not worth the time or gas.
__________________ Never Underestimate The Power Of A Large Group Of Stupid People
I know merrimacport is not "posted' but there are docks and boats on moorings on both sides of the river through there and people have never been happy with boats blasting along in there I live near where that sail boat is moored down past rocks village and it has always been a battle to get people to slow down.. also the West Newbury harbor master is a nut.. he was kicked out of Salisbury
fyi - the west newbury "marine patrol" are a bunch of major
league pita's. They'll pull you over anywhere and read you the
riot act regarding speed/no wake zones even if there is nothing
officially posted as such within a mile. I was heading up river
and hit the gas when well passed the last nw zone by the old
hat factory in amesbury. 1/2 a mile later this wanna be rambo
has me pulled over ragging me about how my wake is causing
damage to boats you can barely see. Keep in mind that at 40 mph
my boat throws about a 4 inch wake and i was well off of the
shoreline. I told him to either write me up or leave me alone.
He left. Going up the river to haverhill is not worth the time or gas.
agree that it's not worth the hassle...people upset by boat wakes that live on a river are the same as people that buy a home next to the train tracks and get upset when the whistle blows!!
As always, enforcement officers fail to prioritize. No wake issues create less bodily harm than children without pfds, people riding on the bows of boats with feet dangling, jet skis coming too close or cutting through boats rafting and jumping wakes, boaters failing to yield right of way, and boats overtaking that never signal their intent.
FYI - The West Newbury "Marine Patrol" are a bunch of major
league PITA's. They'll pull you over anywhere and read you the
riot act regarding speed/no wake zones even if there is nothing
officially posted as such within a mile. I was heading up river
and hit the gas when well passed the last NW zone by the old
Hat Factory in Amesbury. 1/2 a mile later this wanna be Rambo
has me pulled over ragging me about how my wake is causing
damage to boats you can barely see. Keep in mind that at 40 MPH
my boat throws about a 4 inch wake and I was well off of the
shoreline. I told him to either write me up or leave me alone.
He left. Going up the river to Haverhill is not worth the time or gas.
I'll go one step furthur and say that West Newbury Law Enforcement of any kind are, in my opinion, poorly trained, poorly led and are a disgrace to the town. Do I sound bitter?
I'll go one step furthur and say that West Newbury Law Enforcement of any kind are, in my opinion, poorly trained, poorly led and are a disgrace to the town. Do I sound bitter?
I don't know about bitter, but they're a real bunch of Barney Phifes.
__________________ Never Underestimate The Power Of A Large Group Of Stupid People
Massachusetts boating regulations require that boats operate at no more than headway speed when within 150 feet of a marina, boat launch or float, within 150 of a swimming area, or within a marked channel unless otherwise posted (Massachusetts Environmental Police 1999). Often defined as “no wake zones”, these areas are illustrated in Figure 21 and 22 (NOTE: 150 feet from all shoreline is mapped as the no wake zone in these figures. However, the 150 foot regulations only apply in the areas described above). In addition to state designated no wake zones, local harbor masters designate additional areas that they enforce (Figure 21, 22).
massachusetts boating regulations require that boats operate at no more than headway speed when within 150 feet of a marina, boat launch or float, within 150 of a swimming area, or within a marked channel unless otherwise posted (massachusetts environmental police 1999). Often defined as “no wake zones”, these areas are illustrated in figure 21 and 22 (note: 150 feet from all shoreline is mapped as the no wake zone in these figures. However, the 150 foot regulations only apply in the areas described above). In addition to state designated no wake zones, local harbor masters designate additional areas that they enforce (figure 21, 22).
I have seen marina residents knocked off their feet by wakes hitting docks. Boats damaged by being pushed partway up on docks and /or into utility posts. I have personally been nearly capsized along with my small children while approaching my moored boat in a inflatable tender by a boater that was oblivious to the damage that his wake was causing. Our moored boat nearly rolled on top of our tender. It was very frightening.
Most people are considerate, but some will ignore no wake areas or think that just because there is no sign its ok to speed through. Some do this at night when they think no one will see them. Unaware that many people sleep aboard their boats at night. The same damage can happen at night as during the day. We see you. Why anyone would want to speed through the Merrimac in the dark of night is beyond me. I have seen some pretty large logs and other debris move in the river with the tides, accidents waiting to happen.
A good rule is to just not create a wake when approaching ANY marina or mooring area regardless of an official no wake sign or not. Start slowing down well before the Marina not partway through it. Beyond safety and damage control, there are also environmental reasons to obey no wake areas. Some Merrimac river banks are washing away. This can be seen clearly along Maudsley Park and area along the town of Merrimack.
If you need to get out there fast, launch your boat closer to the mouth of the river, or dock it at marina with less river to travel to the ocean. Otherwise give yourself time, slow down and enjoy the scenery on the way. The Merrimac is a truly amazing and beautiful river to spend some time on. Don't ruin it for the people who do appreciate it
I have seen marina residents knocked off their feet by wakes hitting docks. Boats damaged by being pushed partway up on docks and /or into utility posts. I have personally been nearly capsized along with my small children while approaching my moored boat in a inflatable tender by a boater that was oblivious to the damage that his wake was causing. Our moored boat nearly rolled on top of our tender. It was very frightening.
Most people are considerate, but some will ignore no wake areas or think that just because there is no sign its ok to speed through. Some do this at night when they think no one will see them. Unaware that many people sleep aboard their boats at night. The same damage can happen at night as during the day. We see you. Why anyone would want to speed through the Merrimac in the dark of night is beyond me. I have seen some pretty large logs and other debris move in the river with the tides, accidents waiting to happen.
A good rule is to just not create a wake when approaching ANY marina or mooring area regardless of an official no wake sign or not. Start slowing down well before the Marina not partway through it. Beyond safety and damage control, there are also environmental reasons to obey no wake areas. Some Merrimac river banks are washing away. This can be seen clearly along Maudsley Park and area along the town of Merrimack.
If you need to get out there fast, launch your boat closer to the mouth of the river, or dock it at marina with less river to travel to the ocean. Otherwise give yourself time, slow down and enjoy the scenery on the way. The Merrimac is a truly amazing and beautiful river to spend some time on. Don't ruin it for the people who do appreciate it
Great one and done post from last year. Please tell us what else you whine about.
__________________ 2003 Boston Whaler 255 Conquest w/ twin 200 HPDI's
I've never been a racist. I don't like the white half either.
Merrimack River No Wake Zones (not just Newburyport) 
Please tell us what else you whine about. 
