Welcome to Osterville, MA

Small-craft facilities are on either side of the channel north of the highway bridge. Berths, moorings, electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, marine supplies, a pump-out station and storage facilities are available. Marine railway to 40 feet, lifts to 70 tons, and hull and motor repairs are available on the east side of the river with an approach depth of 7 feet and alongside depth of 13 feet reported in 2009. Lifts to 75 tons and hull, engine, and electronic repairs are available on the west side with an approach depth of 5 feet and alongside depth of 6 feet reported in 2009.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
West Bay, on the north side of Cotuit Anchorage and 19 miles west of Stage Harbor, has a jettied entrance about 150 feet wide and is the approach to the village of Osterville, on the east side of the bay. A private light marks the end of the east jetty. A seasonal lighted bell buoy about 1 mile southeastward of the entrance marks the approach. Private seasonal buoys mark the channel through West Bay. In 1981-2001, a depth of 2.9 feet was available in the entrance channel, thence 6 feet to the highway bridge. The channel is subject to shoaling, and strangers should obtain local information before entering the bay.
Little Island, about 1 mile northward of the entrance to West Bay, separates West Bay from North Bay to the northward. In 1981, a reported depth of 5 feet was available in the narrow channel eastward of Little Island into North Bay. Strangers should obtain local information before navigating in North Bay, which has depths of about 6 to 17 feet. The harbormaster can be contacted for local information on moorings and berthings; telephone 508-790-6273. A 6 mph speed limit is enforced in Cotuit, North, and West Bays by the Barnstable harbormaster and police.
The highway bridge across the channel between Osterville and Little Island has a 31-foot bascule span with a clearance of 15 feet. Advance arrangements for bridge openings can be made through the Department of Public Works.