Boating near Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge (population 122,588, US Census Bureau 2025 estimate) ranks #50 of 1,041 US cities over 40,000 people for boating access in our data, with a score of 76.6 out of 100.
| Within | Marinas | Boat ramps | Pump-out stations | Named lakes / waterways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 miles | 66 | 183 | 33 | 3 |
| 50 miles | 118 | 555 | 55 | 25 |
How the score works: method and limits. Counts depend on how well each state's public data covers its facilities.
Marinas near Cambridge
Full lists: Marinas in Massachusetts
Boat ramps near Cambridge
Full lists: Boat ramps in Massachusetts
Pump-out stations near Cambridge
Full lists: Pump-out stations in Massachusetts
Main waters near Cambridge
- Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (USACE lake/river recreation project; about 18.6 mi to its center point)
- Sudbury Reservoir (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 936 acres; about 20.5 mi to its center point)
- Lake Cochichewick (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 549 acres; about 22.7 mi to its center point)
Waters named on nearby ramp and pump-out records: Boston Harbor (3), Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (1), Charles River Basin (1), Charles River (1), waters surrounding Long Wharf in Boston (1), South Shore, Boston (1), Winthrop, and East Boston (1), Revere (1).
Boat types for local water (general guide)
A general guide derived only from the kinds of water named above, not advice for any one lake or bay. Check local rules, depth and conditions.
- Coastal bays, sounds and harbors: Center console (under 30 ft), Bay boat, Dual console, Sailboat (monohull), Express / cabin cruiser, Flats boat / skiff
- Inland lakes and reservoirs: Pontoon / tritoon, Bowrider / runabout, Ski / wake / surf, Bass boat, Fish and ski, Personal watercraft
- Navigable rivers and canals: Aluminum fishing, Jon / utility / hunting, Pontoon / tritoon, Jet boat
Massachusetts rules for boat owners
| Registering agency | Massachusetts Environmental Police (Office of Law Enforcement) |
| Registration | <16 ft $44; 16-25 $66; 26-39 $88; 40+ $110; title $27.50; renewal: 2 years |
| Title | yes for boats 14 ft or longer that use or are designed for a motor |
| Boater education | Any person of at least 12 years of age and less than 16 yoa, operating a motorboat without adult supervision. PWC users 16 and 17 years of age. (PWC's cannot be operated by youth less than 16 yoa). [per USCG-hosted NASBLA state survey; survey date not shown, may be outdated]; ages 12-15 operating a motorboat without adult supervision; 16-17 for PWC [per USCG-hosted NASBLA survey; may be outdated] |
All Massachusetts boating rules and sources · Check the rules for your boat (checked 2026-10-24; confirm with the agency)
Guides and calculators
- True cost of ownership calculator · Shop by monthly payment · Lender matcher · Insurance matcher
- Launching and retrieving at a ramp · Trailering basics · Docking basics
- Registration, titling and documentation · Boater education by state · Fishing licenses by state
- Required safety equipment · Clean boating and invasive species · Hurricane prep for boaters
Ask about a boat near Cambridge
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Method and limits
Score = 100 × (0.40 × marinas + 0.35 × ramps + 0.15 × pump-outs + 0.10 × named lakes/waterways), each as log(1 + count within 25 miles) divided by log(1 + the highest count among all 1,041 cities). Population: US Census Bureau Vintage 2025 subcounty estimates (Cambridge city, GEOID 2511000); location: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap and state and federal open data; coverage differs by state. Built 2026-11-02.
Some marina, ramp and pump-out data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL).