Provincetown Public Pier Corporation

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Can I get a pump-out?
We do them from 10 am to 4 pm every day. Can you call back in the morning? Yes, what is your location (mooring or slip #, Flyers or P’town Moorings, anchored) and description of your vessel? You are number NN on the list we will be there in about TTTTT.

2. Q: Can I use your restroom?
There are 3 port-a-potties out at the end of the wharf.

3. Q: Where is the bathroom? (I don’t use port-a-potties or need HP accessible.)
There are public restrooms at the foot of the wharf to the left beyond the parking lot.

4. Q: Where can I tie up for a few hours?
Call Flyer’s at 508-487-0898, or on CH 11; or call Provincetown Moorings at 508-487-0571, or on CH 09.

5. Q: Can I reserve a mooring for tonight? For next weekend?
Call Flyer’s at 508-487-0518, or on CH 11; or call Provincetown Moorings at 508-487-0571, or on CH 09. The town has no rental facilities for recreational vessels.”

6. Q: Can I reserve a slip for tonight? For next weekend?
Call Provincetown Marina at 508-487-0571, or on CH 09.

7. Q: Can I anchor behind the breakwater?
No, that is a private mooring field.

8. Q: Can I pick up a mooring behind the breakwater?
No, that is a private mooring field.

9. Q: Where can I anchor?
East or West of the Breakwater. If to the West be sure to stay out of the fairway and west of the mooring fields. Watch your draft. Provincetown has a 10 FT tidal range.

10. Q: Is there a water taxi to anchorages?
No, there is not.

11. Q: Can you give us a jump-start? Do you have a compressor to pump up my inflatable?
Suggest you call Flyer’s at 508-487-0518, or on CH 11.

12. Q: Where can I tie up my dinghy?
If you mean for the season, we have a dinghy dock and sell permits for its use. If you are on an anchorage, you can use the dinghy dock for 7 hours.

13. Q: What can you do about this boat on my beach?
If there is no danger to property, we will contact the owner using the registration and/or mooring numbers and alert them. If there is danger to property (or the boat) we will come and secure it, or try to relocate it to courtesy float, floating docks or dinghy dock.

14. Q: My boat is disabled (or out of gas), can you come out and tow me in?
If you are in the harbor, suggest you call Flyer’s. If you are outside, suggest you call the Coast Guard on channel 16. If outside the harbor, and there is no danger to life the Coast Guard will contact TowBoatUS. TowBoatUS will take up to 2 hours. (Exceptions can be made at direction of Harbormaster. In an emergency discretion is in the hands of on duty personnel.)

15. Q: Where can I buy ice?
I can help you. (Not for human consuption)

16. Q: Where can I buy bait?
The only place in town is Nelson’s, on Race Point Road at the end of Conwell St. It is not within walking distance.

17. Q: Can I get some ice?
Please come in to the office and sign for it (tenants only) or pay for it (transients must pay at time of purchase. You can take the key (or I will to out with you to the ice machine with the key). [HM staff may help shovel ice and help move totes around and assist in loading them into trucks.]

18. Q: Where can I get gas for my boat?
There is a CITGO gas dock located on the far side of Fishermen’s Wharf. Fuel companies will deliver diesel for larger boats.

19. Q: When is the next car ferry to Boston?
There are no car ferries from the Cape to Boston. There are car ferries from Hyannis and Woods Hole to the islands, but our ferries to Boston take only people, domestic pets and bicycles. (not motorcycles)

20. Q: Where can I buy fresh seafood?
Townsend’s Fish Market is located on Fishermen’s Wharf next door. There are also two places on Shankpainter Road (Grand Union; Clem and Ursies).

21. Q: Who runs party fishing boats from town?
You can rent a boat yourself from Flyers or hireone of the following charter boats: The Cee-Jay , Suzie Laws and The Ginny-G, Excalibur and Keepin it Cool. All of them have booths along the west side of the pier. We have brochures here in the office.

22. Q: Where can I rent a boat?
From Flyer’s Boat Rentals at 508-487-0898.

23. Q: Who are those women pictured on the barn over there?
They were family members of Provincetown Fishermen. The exhibit is called “They Also Faced the Sea”. We have a brochure that will tell you all about it.

24. Q: Where can I park for a few hours?
You can park in the Municipal Parking Lot at the foot of the pier, or the private lot a block further on at the end of Standish St.

25. Q: Where is the parking for the ferry passengers? For the Whale Watch?
You can park in the Municipal Parking Lot at the foot of the pier, or the private lot a block further on at the end of Standish St.

26. Q: Can I buy a ticket for the ferry?
Bay State Cruise Company has one in the Chamber of Commerce Office in the first building on the left as you leave the pier, and No, I don’t know if they are open now. Boston Harbor Cruises has a ticket office at the far end of the Whydah Museum. You may be able to talk to the crewman at the gangway.

27. Q: Where is the town beach?
There is one to the right of the town pier, a better one to the far west side of the parking lot, and one at the West End Parking Lot. Yes, you will have to feed the parking meter at the West End Parking Lot.

28. Q: Where can I buy equipment for my boat?
The only places within walking distance are Lands End Marine hardware, Marine Specialties, and Flyer’s Boat Yard.

29. Q: Where can I launch my boat?
You can do that at the West End Parking Lot. Yes, you will have to feed the parking meter for your car, but you can leave your trailer there (to the east of the ramp) for 48 hours. No, there is no town facility where you can park your trailer long term. You might check with Coastal Acres Camp Ground.

30. Q: Where can I launch my Jet Ski?
Jet-skis must be launched from Good Templar Landing where Flyer’s is located. There may be no place to leave your car and trailer. You should know that jet-ski’s are allowed only in the channel heading out to the #3 Green Bouy and must operate only at headway speed inside the mooring fields. If they are in violation of those regs. we will come out and talk to the operators, give them a warning or possibly a ticket.

31. Q: Where does the ferry dock? Where do I wait to get on?
At the west end of the Tee, or at the Whydah Museum. Those people in line are waiting for the same boat.

32. Q: Is there a U.S. Customs office in town?
No, I believe the closest is at the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich.

33. Q: How do I get a mooring? Is there a waiting list?
There is no waiting list (except for behind the breakwater). You can request an area, come to us with an application completed, and we will locate a spot. We will issue you a mooring permit, and you can then put in the mooring or have someone put it in for you. We have a sheet that shows the minimum gear requirements for various sized boats available for download from this website. Or, you could rent a mooring for the season from Flyers or Provincetown Marina. Mooring Gear is also available Up Cape at Nauset Marine or Bay Sails.

34. Q: Where can I buy fishing bait?
I suggest Nelson’s just on the other side of Rte. 6. You can get there by driving off the pier, through Lopes Square, across Commercial St, to Bradford Street. Take a right on Bradford and left on Conwell St (just after the market). Continue across Rte 6 on Conwell St and you will be on Race Point Road. Nelson’s is the first building on the right on Race Point Road.

This document was developed in October 2004 and updated in June 2005. It is subject to revision, modification, and updating.