Harboring: Chatham

The summer-long mission of the Harboring series is to visit every SE Massachusetts port that we can. Today, we went to Chatham.

Chatham is Shark City, but that's no problemo if you're shooting from shore or off a dock.

I'm after prey, just like the shark. I just prey on boats and harbors and scenery.

The sign says nothing about eating mussels or taking pictures.

We're mostly here to scope boats, anyhow...

They have working boats as well as pleasure boats.

This boat can't go down with five barrels on him, he can't!

Many trips in expensive sailboats end up on this beach, pulling a dinghy ashore.

I'm not sure what purpose it serves being here, but it sure does make for a pretty picture.

OK, maybe not for him.

The seas were various degrees of choppy as we worked our way around town.

Boat garage, in background.

We favor boat names here, and note that this is an alteration of how James Bond orders his drinks.

Cutest boat in the harbor.

I got in just ahead of a minor storm, but not in time to line this boat name up with threatening skies or big waves.

If you get two of those boats with the goalposts and space them apart 100 yards, you could play boat football and even kick field goals.

A little bit of fishing boat, some Old Glory, the Atlantic Ocean... what's not to love?

Chatham has a lot of boats. I went to the Orleans Yacht Club, asked why they had so few boats, and the lady said "Go visit Chatham."

Ol' Toothy gets some press...

He's very confident and much less menacing in Shark-Friendly environments.

Monomoy, as you know, means friendship.

No shortage of charming old docks, either...

See?

Her work is done for the day, but she doesn't look like she rests much.

One of our hosts...

God was pretty good to Chatham when Aesthetics were being discussed.

Another host...

You know that they only keep this boat around because they know it looks cool.

I got down at water level for this shot, but forgot to make it level in general.

This article needed one outflow pic.

This looks like it has been about to be put in the water for 40 years.

1974 Bronco

A quick trip to the beach never hurt anyone.

They build these oceanss right up to the marsh, huh?

If you can't afford a cabin cruiser, get a skiff and put a sleeps-two cooler in it.

It catches pizza and newspapers.

Not a bad place, if you can swing it.

Obligatory shell driveway

The porch ain't much, but the view rules...

The Chatham Shellfish Company in the background.

Thanks for having us, Chatham!

Harboring: Hyannis Port

Hyannis Port gets the duke today in our Harboring series.

Hyannis Port has a big rep, but a small harbor. HP only has 115 residents, so Proportion enters the equation.

I was kind of hoping for more Sea Cadillac-type boats. 

Wealhy people tend to have more of a sailboat harbor than a Fairhaven-like working harbor. There weren't many tuna boats parked docked at the Hyannis Port Yacht Club.

I was expecting more than one pier. Subtlety is good, but I'm not expecting it from Hyannis Port. At least one Kennedy should own a Superyacht.

I was going to sneak over and get a pic of the Kennedy Compound, but I think I have a warrant and didn't need to bump heads with a very influential family over what would have been a pic as blurry as this one. On the other hand, if you are going to get busted for trespassing, you may as well do so at the infamous Kennedy Compound.

I refer to my cottage as a "Compound" at times. It is 484 square feet.

They probably pulled the boat this high up to keep it from the tide... but it is fun to imagine that some Kennedy whelp made a navigational error and just walked home after.

Thanks for having us, Hyannis Port!

Haboring: Harwich Port

Harboring goes to Harwich Port.

 We had three harbors in town to choose from, so we chose to start at Saquatucket.

Sasquatucket, Wychmere and Allen are the three harbors in Harwich Port's "Three Harbors, One Port" nickname.

Good harbor space on southern Cape Cod is rare, and the waiting list at this harbor is 12-15 years... which is about the last time they painted this boat, now that you mention it.

They have about 200 slips here, and they fetch a pretty penny for them. Cape Cod yachty life don't come cheap, player...

Saquatucket has plenty of working boats.

I'm guessing that's the difference between tides in these parts. I'm not sure. I sank the only boat that I ever owned, and am not the go-to guy in this situation.

Well, if you're gonna break a part of the boat...

A nice shot of the Rose Of The Winds, also known as a Compass Rose. 

The view exiting Saquatucket Harbor... sweet house, btw

I never trust aqua boats, I always suspect a Dolphins fan. This paranoia only increases when you factor in Cape Cod's tourist, washashore and snowbird populations.

"Rod Holster" sounds like that Putin/Trump joke that Colbert made a few months ago.

The good part about upper decks is that you can vomit down onto the captain if he drives so poorly that you get seasick.

History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man.

Harwich has more three-story-high boats than most harbors, and I go to a lot of harbors.

This may be the actual shack that Captain Bob worked out of.

US warships should have goofy names now and then... "USS Neurotic" and so forth.

Yankee I is probably out, and you notice the empty berth next to Yankee II... but "What happened to Yankee I?" comes to mind even before I consider getting on the boat.

There is a certain utilitarian beauty to "boat, motor, steering wheel... done" boat styles.

The Harwich Harbormaster has an open-door policy.

They kind of need a third and maybe a fourth flag. This isn't a ghetto town either, they really have no excuse.

That's more like it... after Saquatucket, we headed to Wychmere.

We also checked out Allen Harbor

You gotta get in where you fit in at Harwich Port.

Sea Win wins so much you'll get sick of winning, but you'll keep winning.

"Ah, the ladies, Chief... they hate you goin' out, but they love you comin' in."

The basic path out to sea... our pictures are 100% landlubber and will be for some time.

When your seawall needs a seawall in front of it...

The true players dodge the marsh-side dock.

Ready to get some fish...

Those houses probably go for one, maybe two hundred thousand or so.

After this, you're at sea...

This boat was actually asking me to get her in the water. Sadly, it isn't mine.

Person who knows why... please use the comments feature below.

Random Harwich Port Boat Names:

Debbie's Rival... 

Nothing says "Flop City" like a sweet boat in friggin' Harwich Port.

My lawyer's boat.

If a ship captain goes through too many Brown Eyed Girls, comparisons to Bluebeard may arise.

No idea

I had to explain to my co-pilot that day, who is ten, that Lovely Rita was a meter maid.

The only Jennifer I know, who actually can fight well, isn't Domme at all, so it was unnecessary for me to steal this boat to gain her approval.

I'd like to sail with this guy.

Thanks, Harwich!