Kingman Yacht Center Marina. Photo/Kingman Yacht Center

In terms of protected harbors, you would be hard-pressed to find a better one than Red Brook, tucked in behind Bassetts Island in Cataumet (a village of Bourne) in the southwest corner of Buzzards Bay. Located between Wings Neck and Scraggy Neck, Red Brook Harbor serves as a convenient stopping point for cruisers passing through Buzzards Bay and a great place to catch one’s breath either before or after navigating the Cape Cod Canal.

Of course, many boaters choose to stay here all season, especially given the top-notch service and accommodations of the harbor’s largest full-service marina: Kingman Yacht Center. Kingman has it all, from deep-water slips and moorings to haulout, service and fuel. Plus, it’s home to The Chart Room restaurant—a Buzzards Bay boater’s institution!

Just south of Kingman is Parker’s Boatyard, a smaller full-service yard that’s been around since 1948. Parker’s normally has around 20 transient moorings, as well as transient dockage. It sells both diesel and gas, ice, CNG and has an on-site ship’s store.

Many Red Brook sailors love the harbor for its easy access to Buzzards Bay and its predictable southwesterlies, while fishermen appreciate its proximity to the Elizabeth Islands, Martha’s Vineyard and Vineyard Sound, as well as the offshore waters south of the islands. Of course, the inshore fishing in Buzzards Bay can be outstanding as well, especially in the early season. Another draw for folks who keep their boat in Red Brook is that it’s located closer to the Bourne Bridge, so midsummer traffic is less of an issue.

One of the natural highlights of Red Brook is Bassetts Island, a barrier island that’s open to the public and frequently the site of beach parties and raft-ups. Bassetts is easy to reach via dinghy, skiff, kayak or small sailboat from several points in the harbor, and offers a long, sandy beach and great swimming (but no public restrooms). If you don’t like crowds, plan your trip here on a weekday, and beware the poison ivy that grows thickly just beyond the dunes.

About the only knocks against Red Brook are the long no-wake zone and its winding channel. Be sure to stay inside the buoys, as the channel is bordered closely by shoal water, plus a few rocks to make things interesting.

In terms of anchorages, there are at least three excellent spots in the harbor, as long as you find room.

An aerial view of the harbor. Photo/Kingman Yacht Centeryes

GETTING THERE

Boaters new to Red Brook Harbor are best off passing around the southern end of Bassetts Island, as there are less rocks, turns, and current to contend with. MLW in the channel is seven feet.

From the south, head for R N “2” off Scraggy Neck, then turn due east to pick up RG N “ER” (Eustis Rock).

From the Cape Cod Canal, round Wings Neck and head for RG N “ER”.

From RG N “ER” turn southeast and pick up GC “1” and the channel, which curves sharply as you round the broad sand flat off the southern tip of Bassetts. Do not stray from the channel, as it’s bordered by shallows on either side, plus a few notorious rocks. Follow the channel north along the east side of Bassetts and then around the sharp dogleg east and into Red Brook, where you will see the large buildings of Kingman Yacht Center dead ahead. The Chart Room and transient dockage is located just north of main buildings. Parker’s Boat Yard is just south of Kingman.

DOCKAGE, ANCHORGE & RAMPS

In addition to Kingman Yacht Center and Parker’s Boat Yard, there are three protected anchorages in Red Brook Harbor: one is tucked into the eastern shore of Bassetts in 9 to 13 feet of water; another is in the small cove on the north side of Bassetts in 7 to 14 feet of water, and there’s a third shallow-water anchorage inside Hen’s Cove in 5 feet of water. If winds are from the east or due north or south, you can also anchor along southwest side of Bassetts, in 5 to 8 feet. All of these spots have sand/gravel bottom.

There are no state ramps on Red Brook Harbor. Barlow’s Landing, in the eastern end of Pocasset Harbor, has a good town ramp with floats and a dinghy dock, but is for stickered residents only. There is a 15-minute tie-up limit.

A second, very small ramp is the Red Brook Harbor Boat Ramp located at Parker’s Boat Yard. This is also a town ramp, and there is only space for two vehicles