Marine / Nautical Information

Quissett Harbor is one of the loveliest on the Cape, canopied with big oaks and elms. Boaters come here to relax and enjoy the peace. Many of the boats you see anchored in the cove either belong to residents of the stunning houses on the hills surrounding the cove, or are being restored in the Quissett Harbor Boatyard. At the north side of the head of the harbor, follow the walking trails through the Cornelia L. Carey Bird Sanctuary to the Knob for a wonderful outlook from at the end of the point.

From the north and west, the approach to Quissett Harbor is straightforward, as there is deep water up to the harbor’s entrance. Stay about 500 yards off shore and you should have no problems. Look for the Knob (unnamed on the chart), a prominent, wooded peninsula on the north side of the harbor. You’ll enter just to the west of the rocks at the end of this point.

The entrance to Quissett Harbor is marked by flashing nun #2. The channel is marked with nuns and cans. Please take notice of the "go slow" buoy.  For your safety and the safety of others, headway speed only. Stay midchannel, keeping the greens close to port, you’ll avoid the half-tide rocks that are visible most of the time. The inner harbor, past green can #7 is quite deep: 16 feet (mlw). There are moorings and transients available from Quissett Harbor Boatyard. QHBY can be reached at 508.548.0506. The designated anchorage is just south of red nun #6 in the outer harbor. Anchoring is prohibited in all other areas of the harbor.

The inner harbor is well protected from the infamous southwesterlies blowing across Buzzards Bay. It’s a good place to hole up, or just to rest and enjoy the calm. When you think of Quissett, think of rocks, lots of rocks. You’ll see a fair number of rocks lining the shore, but don’t worry, there’s at least 8 feet of water (mlw) in the channel.

Reprinted with permission from Maptech Embassy Guides.