By Coastal Angler Staff
As Boston Harbor comes alive for summer, a new state-of-the-art marina awaits boaters in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Marina owners Chuck and Ann Lagasse are excited to welcome the boating community to their latest waterfront destination.
The new Charlestown Marina offers 250 single and double loaded slips now open on Pier 8 and another 150 planned for Pier 6 by May 2016. The marina can accommodate vessels of 25 feet up to 400 feet for seasonal and transient docking.
Amenities at the new marina include a hybrid steel and concrete breakwater with sustainable wood decking to reduce wave and wake motion, metered electrical service up to 200 amps, and water connections.
Additional amenities include all new bathrooms, shower rooms, laundry facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, paid parking on site, and professional management with security staff and cameras.
The Navy Yard is also home to Pier 6, Boston’s newest authentic seafood restaurant. The renovated space features three levels of dining, a rooftop deck and stunning waterfront views.
“One thing we’ve learned is that the New England boater is looking for a sophisticated experience,” said Ann Lagasse. “We are hoping to raise the bar in Boston Harbor with top-rate amenities and a prime location.”
The new marina is in walking distance to great restaurants and shops in Charlestown, the North End and downtown, as well as historic sites including the USS Constitution Museum, Bunker Hill Monument, and the Freedom Trail.
Chuck and Ann Lagasse began their career in the marina business 35 years ago in Newburyport. In 2007, they purchased and revitalized the Boston Yacht Haven Inn & Marina in downtown Boston.
When Pier 8 in Charlestown went up for sale the couple saw a great opportunity. The former owner was an out-of-state New York resident who had done little maintenance over the years. When the property was condemned and he was forced to sell, they purchased the property in October of 2014.
The Lagasses were attracted to the potential of this historic area and its prime location, as well as its increasing residential growth and young demographic. The federal government has spent considerable money on cleaning up the harbor and the Lagasses felt this area of the waterfront had been underserved.
They also knew extensive work was needed and everything would have to be demolished and rebuilt. Having previously worked with Boston Bridge and Steel of East Boston to restore the Boston Yacht Haven Marina, they knew they had the team to do it.
The first step was to completely remove the old docks and piles which was accomplished in October and November. Working through the winter and spring with hard hat divers and construction over and in the water, Boston Bridge & Steel workers built the new steel breakwater structure with concrete ballasts.
The $18 Million project included 900 feet of custom-fabricated steel breakwater, 139 24- inch steel pilings and hundreds of feet in finger floats- all finished in Boston Harbor by local workers. More than one million pounds of super-strength steel was trucked in from Alabama. Custom steel pilings were fabricated to accommodate climate–change related sea level rise.
As part of the marina revitalization project, the Lagasses are working with the City and local community on the restoration of the Harborwalk along the Charlestown waterfront. They are also working with a landscape architect to redesign the public areas in and around the piers.
According to Chuck Lagasse, this was a unique and challenging project, but they are thrilled with the results and the positive reception they are receiving from the neighborhood and beyond.
“There has been a lot of emphasis on the economic development of the waterfront and a growing interest in boating activity on the Harbor,” said Chuck Lagasse. “The City of Boston is embracing the new marina and the dynamic rehabilitation of a vibrant boating community in Charlestown.”
For more information about the new Charlestown Marina please visit www.charlestownmamarina.com or call (617) 242-2020.