A Boater's Paradise - Pilots Point Marina

Story and photos by Jim Murtagh

Sprawling beside the Patchogue and Menunketesuck Rivers, Westbrook’s Pilots Point Marina is a boater’s paradise. A pair of swimming pools, a putting green, and a restaurant accentuates the lush amenities that are offered on the impeccable grounds of this full service family oriented marina. Three separate boatyards provide a total of 862 slips for powerboat and sailboat enthusiasts with accommodations comparable to a four-star resort.

Don Mikalsen, who has managed various aspects of the boatyard for the past eight years, points out that unlike marinas in Mystic and Essex which naturally attract guests because of their proximity to prime tourist attractions, Pilots Point takes a slightly different approach. Mikalsen says “We have to make the marina the destination.”

With 45 dock staff at the ready, and a crew of 70 in the boatyard, the marina takes exceptional care of it patrons, whether it’s filling gas tanks, repairing a damaged prop, or helping sailors bring their vessel back to the dock after a day on the Sound. A full calendar of activities for children and adults, cable TV at every slip, and 50 acres of marshland to explore, make it so patrons never have to leave the marina, except to go out on the water of course! “You need a car to get to work, but you don’t need a boat, so going to the marina on the weekend has to be a good experience” says Mikalsen.

Pilots Point Marina serves as the headquarters for Brewer Yacht Yards which consists of 21 marinas and 12 yacht brokerage offices spread along the New England Coast between New York and Maine. Centrally located along the shore of Long Island Sound, the marina is ideally situated for boaters in New York and New Jersey that want to sail eastward out of the Sound toward Block Island. Many members drive up on Friday evenings and depart on Monday morning, making it feel like a long weekend, and avoiding Sunday night traffic.

A classic cabin cruiser lies snugly in her slip.

The marina runs a very popular junior sailing and racing school for youths between 8 and 18 years of age. The week-long sessions take sailors through every aspect of sailing and prepare them to be responsible and safe seafarers. “A good indication about the success of the sailing program is that kids come back every year.” Some students eventually go on to become instructors at the school, and Mikalsen says “It’s like they grew up with the sailing school.” There are also adult and family sailing programs.

Each time Mikalsen starts talking about the historical boats that have made port in the yard for repair or overhaul, his eyes light up and he sports a big grin. Clearly, he has a fondness for nostalgic sailing vessels, and proudly he says “In terms of restoring old or wooden boats, we have become one of the highest regarded yards in the country.” He rattles off the names of vessels such as the Ticonderoga and the Neith, and mentions the Blackwatch restoration project. He explains how each boat has a unique personality, and that it is important to keep these boats alive; as if they were human. Working on such prestigious boats is a testament to the quality of the shipwrights at Pilots Point.

While crews have been working extra hard for the past few weeks making sure that all the boats are prepped and ready for the summer season, Mikalsen says “People think July and August is the busiest time for a marina. Well, it is for the dock staff, but it is the slowest time for the guys working in the yard. Nobody wants to give up their boat.” especially when the boating season lasts just a few months.

This season, rising gas prices are definitely going to be a topic of dockside conversation. Sailboaters may not suffer from the sting of high fuel prices, but powerboaters are going to notice the extra dollars each time they pull up to the pump. Mikalsen offers this advice to boaters who may be hesitant to untie from the dock. “Write down all your boating expenses from last year including the monthly boat payment, insurance, fees for winter storage, slip fees for the summer, etc. Then put down how much you paid for gas, and you will realize that fuel cost was not a big factor. If you’re going to have the boat, use it! 90% of the cost is there anyway.”

A 35-ton travel lift makes easy work of transporting this boat across the marina.

Recognizing that sailing can be difficult for people with special needs, the marina actively supports the Special Olympics Sailing Team and the Sail Connecticut Access Program, by donating boats and dock space. Both programs are designed to get people to focus on their abilities rather than be limited by disabilities. By adding a special access ramp that maintains a constant low angle to the dock regardless of the tide, and installing a mechanical chair lift, the marina makes it easier for wheelchair bound sailors to get on the water.

On a typical sailboat, the crew constantly shifts from one side of the boat to the other to act as human ballast. For individuals with restricted mobility, sailing presents a challenge, so Sail Connecticut Access provides modified sailboats that have pivoting seats which allow the crew to move freely as the boat tacks. It is a goal of Sail Connecticut Access that people with special needs get to be skippers and not just passengers.

On June 30 at 7:00 p.m., Pilots Point Marina and Sail Connecticut Access will host the renowned Shifty Sailors for a fundraising concert. The shanty group, which hails from Washington State, is known for their extensive collection of seafaring songs and promises an evening of nautical mayhem. Tickets are available at the marina and all proceeds benefit the Sail Connecticut Access Program.

For additional information about the benefit concert, or to learn more about Pilots Point Marina call: (860) 399-7906 or visit them on the web at: www.byy.com