Boating

Why Osterville Is a Boater’s Paradise

Osterville’s unique geography — with East Bay, West Bay, North Bay, and access through Nantucket Sound — makes it especially favorable for boating of all kinds. Its protected harbors, varied water depths, and boating infrastructure have long made it a center for sailing, rowing, kayaking, and power boating. The Crosby family’s boatbuilding legacy adds a strong maritime DNA: the Crosby Yacht Yard is often cited as the oldest continuously operating wooden boat yard on Cape Cod.

Boat Launches & Access

East Bay Road Boat Launch
Located at 230 East Bay Road. Great for trailers and shallow-draft boats.
Resident beach/boat ramp sticker required.

West Bay (Bay Street) Launch
A small ramp on Bay Street, ideal for shallow-draft boats. Parking requires a
Barnstable sticker.

Bridge Street Ramp
Modest ramp and dirt parking, best for smaller boats.

Other “Ways to Water”
The Town of Barnstable maintains additional small access points and footpaths
to the water throughout Osterville. These are perfect for kayaks, canoes, and
dinghies.

Crosby Yacht Yard Marina
Full-service marina with dockage, fuel, and boatyard services.
(Private arrangements required.)

Activities on the Water

Sailing
Osterville is home to the famous Wianno Senior sailboat, designed here in 1913. The Wianno Yacht Club on West Bay remains an active hub for racing and sailing programs.
(Private club, membership required.)

Kayaking & Paddlecraft
Calm bays and estuaries make Osterville ideal for paddling. East Bay and West Bay offer scenic routes; watch tides and boat traffic in summer.

Rowing & Dinghies
Smaller boats, skiffs, and traditional catboats are a common sight in Osterville’s harbors and inlets. Osterville offers lovely paddling routes. A popular route—starting from Dowses Beach—is to cross East Bay and follow the Centerville River.

Osterville’s Maritime Legacy

The Crosby family began building boats here in the late 1700s and are credited with designing the iconic Cape Cod Catboat.

The Wianno Senior, a 25-foot gaff-rigged sloop, was designed specifically for sailing on Nantucket Sound and is still raced today.

Osterville

With its sheltered bays, world-class marina, and living boatbuilding history, Osterville truly is a boater’s paradise — blending old Cape Cod charm with every modern convenience for life on the water.