Yard News & Photos

Dredging Underway

by Yves Feder, special to Dodson Boatyard News

Bob Snyder, President of Dodson Boat Yard, LLC of Stonington, Connecticut, is very happy to announce that dredging operations in Stonington's inner harbor are underway this fall to allow for a controlling depth of 9 feet MLW into and around the dock spaces at Dodson's.

The dredging contractor, Thames Dredge & Dock Company, has been working since October 15th to accomplish this major task, running a round robin from the harbor to the authorized dumping grounds off the Connecticut Coast day in and day out during this period.

Getting things underway, and securing all the permits involved, has taken years of effort, during which time it has been frustrating for many visitors to endure dockside depths of less than five or six feet. For Dodson's, this is a major investment in improving access to their many outstanding services.

Stonington Harbor is arguably the most beautiful and hospitable of all the sailing destinations anywhere on the Connecticut shore, and it occupies a special place as not only one of the great cruising destinations in Southern New England, but also as a key stopover for cruisers on the East Coast voyaging between the Caribbean and the Canadian Maritimes during the season. At the eastern end of Fisher's Island Sound, Stonington is often compared to some of the most attractive harbors "down East".

Since so many visiting craft in Stonington are sailboats, drawing six feet or more, the dredging operations now being done will remove any doubt that has accumulated over the years regarding conditions dockside at Dodson's.

The crew at Dodson's welcomes visitors at all times during the season, and urges all potential visitors to check out our fine harbor and facilities during the year and plan to make use of what we have to offer when you're out cruising and looking for a great destination, or just a stopover on your passage up or down the coast.