Boaters can do a lot of things after tying up at Constitution Marina: walk next door to the 305-foot USS Constitution that first launched in 1797, step onto the Freedom Trail for a stroll through the landmarks of the American Revolution, or take the kids to the pool and ask if they’ve ever heard anyone say, “One if by land, two if by sea.”
“We have the history of Boston,” says Tom Cox, the marina’s general manager and co-owner, “and during this celebration of 250 years, you can sit here at our pool and look out over the river where Paul Revere once rowed.”
As the United States celebrates its anniversary, there’s no better time to cruise to Boston—a city steeped in history that has evolved into one of New England’s most welcoming and sophisticated destinations for boaters. For years, Boston’s harbor was among the most polluted in the country, with then-Vice President George H.W. Bush calling it the “dirtiest harbor in America” in the 1980s. But since then, a multibillion-dollar rejuvenation has taken place, with people once again swimming and fishing. Today, Boston’s coastline is rated among the cleanest urban beach networks in the United States.
“It’s gone through this renaissance,” Cox says. “Now, it’s a destination akin to Newport and Nantucket. Boaters want to come here because we offer more than those places.”
Cox, along with Peter Davidoff, Constitution Marina’s president and co-owner, are both avid boaters themselves with significant local knowledge. Davidoff’s father helped to create a marina on Lewis Wharf in the 1960s. It was a smaller setup, taking around 15 boats. In the 1970s, the location moved to what is now Constitution Marina, a nearly 300-boat facility that welcomes transient cruisers not only to the facility, but also into the beating heart of the community on the city’s waterfront.
“One of the nice things about Boston is that the city brings all walks of life together,” Davidoff says. “Boating in Newport and Nantucket is perceived as very high-end, a lot of rich people. Boston is different. We have those people, but also the blue-collar people. Some of them live at our marina on their boats.”
In fact, Cox adds, Constitution Marina is home to the largest liveaboard community in all of New England. “I think that speaks well not just of Constitution Marina, but also of Boston as a whole,” he says. “They don’t even need a car because everything is so walkable from right here. You can walk to a restaurant, to a game, wherever.”
And there is, indeed, a whole lot of “wherever” to explore on and around Boston’s waterfront. Constitution
Marina is right next door to the home of the USS Constitution, the historic ship also known as “Old Ironsides” that launched in 1797 from Edmund Hartt’s Shipyard in Boston. It’s open today for tours alongside the USS Constitution Museum.
“If the Constitution were any closer to the marina, he’d be renting space from us,” Davidoff says with a laugh. “The U.S. Navy keeps that boat pristine. She’s one of our active warships for the United States, the oldest commissioned warship in the world and the tallest of tall ships.”
Constitution Marina is also about a 10-minute walk from TD Park, home of the NBA’s Boston Celtics and NHL’s Boston Bruins, as well as a healthy schedule of arena concerts and shows. A 15-minute walk from the marina puts boaters pretty much anywhere downtown, Davidoff says. Visiting cruisers can take in as much or as little American history as they fancy, from the Old North Church where colonists looked to see if it was one lantern or two, right over to Faneuil Hall, where George Washington toasted the nation on its first birthday.
Of course, there’s also the fun of cruising around Boston Harbor, something that Constitution Marina’s co-owners also can help visitors navigate with local expertise. Cox himself owns a fleet that includes a Hudson Force 50 sailboat, a 35-foot Island Gypsy trawler and an O’Day 23 keelboat, while Davidoff has a Jeanneau 51 monohull. They regularly cruise around the harbor and its 34 nearby islands, making the most of the protected areas.
“Even if it’s still blowing like stink outside with 4- and 5-foot seas, it’ll be flat as a pancake inside, and you can anchor out at one of the islands or tie up and go to a restaurant,” Cox says. And that’s just in the Greater Boston area. A day sail will take cruisers to well-known Massachusetts ports such as Marblehead, Salem and Gloucester, all of which played their own roles in the earliest years of the United States of America.
The historical evolution as a region with seafaring at the fore is why Boston proper feels more like an old European harbor town than, say, an organized grid like the one in Manhattan, says Cox.
“We have old cow paths and one-way streets that are kind of narrow,” he says. “Boston is a terrific city for its ancient charm, culture, restaurants and education. We say come by boat. You’re better off without a car. Walk around the city and enjoy everything that’s here.”
Davidoff and Cox are both planning to watch the tall ships come in for the celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Davidoff plans to anchor out, while Cox intends to watch from the marina. After that, they may grab a bite to eat at one of the newer spots right near Constitution Marina, such as Prima Boston, where Cox loves the steaks and pasta.
“Another of our favorites is the Warren Tavern that’s been around for hundreds of years,” he says. “Dr. Warren was one of the patriots who fought at Bunker Hill, which is within sight of us here at the marina.”
Transient boaters receive a welcome packet that includes restaurant discounts, information about the nearby Museum of Science and more. Some boaters stay for a few hours, others for a few days or a few weeks. The marina is about a hundred yards from a dog-walking park, for cruisers traveling with four-footed family members, and there are about eight boats that can be rented overnight like B&Bs, including for other family members.
“A person with a 25-foot boat will put their relatives on one of our bed-and-breakfast boats, and then they all go off exploring,” Cox says. “My relatives love to sit on the B&Bs and watch the boats go by. The lights of the city are just fantastic.”
Offerings and docks are continually upgraded at Constitution Marina, Cox says, but service doesn’t change. It may not be what folks in this centuries-old city think of as historical, but it does go back a long, long time. “We’ve had the same philosophy for years,” Cox says. “We make it fun for people to enjoy their boats. That’s what we do more than anything else.”
This article was originally published in the August 2026 issue.
