It is hardly a contest.  The favored way by more than a hundred fold and more, is that boaters along the eastern Connecticut shoreline prefer to own their own boats, rather than rent them.

Take for example the very modest boat rental program at the Brewer Pilots Point Marina in Westbrook.  Whereas there are literally hundreds of slips for boat owners keeping their own boats at this marina, there are only two boats that are available for rent at the marina.

Brewer’s Boat Rental Plans

That’s right, amidst hundreds of boat owners renting slips at the marina, Brewers offers only two boats that are for rent.  They are:

• a 24- foot Key West, center console, motor boat
• a 24-foot Sea Ray Sundeck motor boat.

To rent these boats, Brewers has set up a Brewer’s Boating Club, which offers boat renters a number of rental options.  The top of the line of these plans are the Skippers Plans, which offer peak season boat usage, and which vary in price from $3,775 to $5,375 depending on boat usage.  Next, down the line is the Captain’s Choice Plan for $6,295, which offers “Nearly Limitless membership features,” with “weekend reservation privileges… ”

Then there are the club’s Weekday Plans, including a Windward plan for $4,095 a season, and a Weekday Per Diem Membership Plan, which offers a 5-hour weekday usage for $395.

The complexity of these varying plans is challenging.  However, Kit Will, Brewer’s personable, Pilots Point Sailing and Charter Director can explain it all.  He can be reached at 860-575-8329, and at kwill@byy.com

One of the points that Kit Will makes is that belonging to the Brewers Boating Club is, “a good stepping stone to boat ownership.”  He, himself, is a professional boat captain, who has over 25,000 miles of off-shore racing experience.

Pilots Point Marina’s Kit Will aboard a 24 foot Key West center console, motor boat for rent

A Simpler Boat Renting Option

Certainly, a far less complicated way to rent a motor boat along the Shoreline can be found at the Westbrook Marine Center, located at 533 Boston Post Road in Westbrook.  The co-owner of the operation is the affable Tasha Cusson, who owns it with her husband.  The advantage of renting a boat here, according to Tasha, “is that you just get in and go.”

The boats offered for rental at the Westbrook Marine Center are:

• an 18 foot May-Craft Skiff, which has a five person capacity, and which is powered by a 90 horsepower outboard motor with a fuel tank of 42 gallons
• a 20 foot Hydras Sports Vector, which has a passenger capacity of six persons and is powered by a 225 horse power engine with an 85 gallon fuel capacity.

Westbrook Marine Center’s 20 foot Hydra-Sport Vector motor boat for rent

The rates for boat rentals at the Marine Center are easy to understand.  The 18 foot boat rents for $330 for four hours, and $495 for eight hours.  The larger 20 foot boat rents for $365 for four hours, and $560 for eight hours.  Also, on occasion the boats are rented for a longer term at “a special lower rate,” according to Cusson.  In addition to the rental charges, boat renters are required to fill up the fuel tanks of their rental boats before returning them.

Cusson notes, “Most people know boats, who rent from us.”  As for those who are less familiar with boats, she says that a boat rental, “is a fantastic opportunity to try out boating.”  Before every boat rental, the renter is briefed from an extensive check list.  Furthermore, Cusson says that she does not rent her boats to everyone.  “I have turned people away,” she says, adding, “The personal safety of the renter is the key.”

Cusson also comments that possessing a State of Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate is not a necessary qualification for renting a boat in the state.  However, her judgment, as to whether or not the Marine Center wants to rent the boat to a particular person, sees it as a necessity.

She also noted that she had a number of rentals over Father’s Day weekend.  The number to call for a boat rental is 860-399-8447.

Next week we shall profile three typical boat owners, who pay handsomely for their seasonal boating slips, but are grudgingly happy to do so.

Want to buy a windmill for almost $2 million?

With a price tag of $1,925,000, New York City developer, Frank J. Sciame, Jr., is offering to sell a notable Essex landmark, the windmill at Foxboro Point.  Listing materials assert that the sale is a, “Once in the lifetime chance to own the windmill.”

They continue, “This unique waterfront [property] is one of the most recognized features on the Connecticut River.  It is comprised of multiple floors of living area including, a living room, wet bar bedroom, full bath and more.”

The listing materials also state that the property has on the third floor a master bedroom with a full bath, a second floor a kitchen, and a first floor a dining room.  There is also a full, unfinished basement with hatchway.  Real estate property taxes are listed in the materials as $15,441.

Windmill Not an Historic Building

Although many locals on the shoreline think that the windmill is a historic structure, it was actually built in 1967.  As for further details about the property, it has shingle siding, a basement water heater and is connected to public water.  It also has baseboard heating and electric sewer and septic.

The listing agent of the property is Colette Harron of William Pitt, which has an office in Essex.

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is joining the 100th anniversary celebration of the East Haddam Swing Bridge this coming Saturday, June 15.  Residents of Old Saybrook, Essex, Deep River, Chester and Haddam are invited to ride to the anniversary festivities aboard the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, which is providing a free trip for 150 passengers up the Valley Railroad and across the Connecticut River to the landmark bridge in East Haddam.

This is a must-reserve event and tickets are strictly limited to 150 people.

The East Haddam Swing Bridge first opened on Flag Day in 1913.  The Towns of East Haddam and Haddam, their respective economic development committees and historical societies, and other local businesses such as the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, organized this year’s upcoming celebration of the Bridge’s historic anniversary.

To help recapture the essence of the original 1913 grand opening, the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is offering a unique excursion aboard their steam locomotive and Becky Thatcher riverboat to travel to the June 15 festivities.  Passengers will get to travel on the same tracks used by others 100 years ago to reach the Bridge’s original opening ceremonies.

Led by the “New Haven” steam locomotive 3025, the train will depart Essex Station at 7:45 a.m. on June 15, making stops all the way north to Eagle Landing State Park.  Once the train reaches the park, guests can hop aboard the Becky Thatcher riverboat to view the vintage automobile procession across the bridge at 9 a m.

Guests can also take a shuttle bus to East Haddam village for the anniversary ceremonies and activities starting at 9:30 a.m.  When the celebration ends, the 12:15 p.m. train will travel back down the river valley to bring all passengers home.

During the celebration, the Becky Thatcher riverboat will also offer a half hour harbor cruise from Eagle Landing at 10:15 a.m. open and free to everyone – including those who did not ride the train to the celebration.

To reserve a spot on the train, contact the Valley Railroad Company at 860-767-0103 or email valley.railroad@snet.net.

For more information, visit essexsteamtrain.com/swing_bridge.html.

Editor’s Notes: Owned and operated by the Valley Railroad Company, the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is a unique historic attraction in the Connecticut River Valley.  The railroad has transported people in Connecticut since 1868, and the Valley Railroad Company has operated today’s well-known train and riverboat for over 40 years.

The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat takes people on exciting excursions through the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley, a place designated as “one of the last great places on earth” by the Nature Conservancy.  The steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester, and the Becky Thatcher riverboat takes visitors past the undeveloped Selden Neck State Park on its way to East Haddam.  

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers various eco-excursions and family themed events throughout the year.

For more information visit essexsteamtrain.com or connect with the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat on social media: facebook.com/essexsteamtrain and twitter.com/essexsteamtrain.