Minots Ledge Light (42°16’11″N., 70°45’33″W.), 85 feet above the water, is shown from a gray conical tower on Outer Minot. A mariner-radio-activated sound signal at the light is initiated by keying the microphone five times on VHF-FM channel 83A.. This ledge, which uncovers 3 feet, is about 6 miles southeastward of Point Allerton and 1 mile north-northeastward of Strawberry Point, the northeastern extremity of Scituate Neck. Outer Minot is the outermost of the visible dangers off the entrance to Cohasset Harbor.
Submerged rocks and very broken ground, on which the sea breaks in heavy weather, extend more than 1 mile northeastward and 2.5 miles eastward of the light. This area should be avoided.
Numerous rocks and ledges extend westward and southward from the light across the entrances to Cohasset Harbor. East Shag Rock, 7 feet high and marked by a buoy, and West Shag Rock, 6 feet high, are the most prominent southwestward of the light. Shifting boulders are reported on the shoal just eastward of Barrel Rock (42°15.5’N., 70°47.1’W.), marked by a daybeacon.
Stellwagen Ledges, consisting of rocks awash and covered, extend 3.8 miles south-southeastward from Davis Ledge to Tar Pouch. Some of these ledges lie over 1 mile from shore and are covered 5 to 16 feet in surrounding depths of 4 to 9 fathoms. Most of them are unmarked. Strangers should keep over 3 miles from shore.
Davis Ledge, covered 15 feet and marked by a lighted gong buoy, is about 0.4 mile eastward of Minots Ledge Light. Tobias Ledge, about 0.25 mile eastward of Strawberry Point, is marked by a daybeacon. Tar Pouch, covered 14 feet and marked on the northeast side by a buoy, is about 1 mile northeastward of the entrance to Scituate Harbor.
Scituate Harbor, about 4 miles southeastward of Cohasset Harbor, is used mostly by yachts and fishermen and occasionally as a harbor of refuge by draggers.
Cedar Point, on the north side of the harbor, is marked by a concrete lighthouse tower maintained by the Coast Guard. The harbor is partially protected by breakwaters. The north breakwater extends about 300 yards southeastward from the southeast extremity of Cedar Point. Scituate North Jetty Light 2A (42°12’11″N., 70°42’47″W.), 23 feet above the water, is shown from a white skeleton tower with tankhouse and a red triangular daymark on the seaward end of the north breakwater. The south jetty extends about 100 yards northward from the southern point of the entrance. A lighted gong buoy, 0.7 mile eastward of the north breakwater, marks the approach to the harbor.
On the high land about 2 miles westward of the entrance to Scituate Harbor, there is a conspicuous high tower with pointed top that is visible many miles from seaward.
It is reported that the bar at the entrance breaks entirely across the channel at low tide and in heavy weather. The most unfavorable weather is from the northeast. The outer harbor is free of ice most of the winter
Coast Guard:
Coast Guard Station Scituate is located at the entrance to Scituate Harbor. The station is a seasonal station open during the summer boating season.
Channels:
A dredged channel leads westward between two breakwaters into Scituate Harbor, thence turns southwest and south terminating in an anchorage basin adjacent to the Scituate waterfront; the channel is marked by buoys.
The Scituate Harbor Yacht Club is on the west shore of the harbor, about 0.5 mile westward of the jetty light where water and berths are available. Varying depths of 3 to 8 feet are reported throughout the harbor and anchorage areas; refer to the chart and Local Notice to Mariner’s for depth and channel conditions. Southward are the Satuit Boat Club and the Satuit Waterfront Club. Between them, there are two small-craft launching ramps and a marina where a service float, gasoline, diesel fuel, water and ice, are available. The Scituate town pier is on the west side of the harbor, about 0.6 mile above the jetty light; sewage pump-out is available. Another marina with several floats is close southward of the town pier; electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice and sewage pump-out are available. A large parking lot is at the marina. A public dock and a small-craft launching ramp are just southward of the marina.
A boat storage yard, at the head of the cove at the southeast end of the harbor, has a 10-ton marine railway that can handle craft up to 30 feet in length for hull and minor engine repairs. Electricity, water, ice and some marine supplies are available at the service float, which has a reported depth of 6 feet alongside.
Marine supplies, tackle and most services are available at the marinas and the boat storage yard. Groceries and lodging are available within walking distance.
On the south side of the entrance to Scituate Harbor is a bluff known as First Cliff. A similar formation, known as Second Cliff, is about 0.6 mile south of the entrance.
