Re: Boating on massachusets coast
I'm orig. from Mass., spent alot of time out there in a 17CC, and buddy's 23WA...
In Cape Cod...
Bourne, Rt.28, Mako's Bait and Tackle has a ramp, great flounder fishing around the Mass. Maritime Academy ship in Buttermilk Bay, lots of water to explore, south/west entrance to Cape Cod Canal, Various beaches including Onset
Over the Bourne or Sagamore Bridges, Rt 28A(I think), ramp at the north/east end of the Canal just before and across from Sucusset Beach, can be a little hard to find but it's a good ramp/marina and the locals can give you directions, excelent mackeral fishing around the jetties, (during the 2 weeks around Mother's Day), blues, and stipers follow, + rock bass(tataug),
You can cruise the Canal from either of the 2 ramps but the latter puts you in the Canal where the first you goe through Buttermilk Bay to get there, (not a huge bay or difficult but watch the channel, there's a huge sandbar around the Maritime Academy)
Plymouth...
I used the Plymouth town ramp many times, can get a little crowded but exc. ramp and decent parking. Watch the channels in Plymouth Harbor, if you get out, you find yourself in mudflats. Exc. sightseeing with the Maflower, Plymouth Rock, access to Duxbury beaches as well as Plymouth beaches. Exc. fishing once out of the harbor and headed toward Manomet and the powerplant. Used to scuba for lobster and crab around the powerplant too, seems they're attracted to the warm water used for cooling.
Boston...
Never used a ramp in the Boston area, (buddy kept his boat in wet slip at the Dorchester Yacht Club)
South Bay, lots to see and do, islands with Revolutionary War forts and gun emplacements, most with visitor docks and amenities so you can get out and look around, access to Hull and Nantaskit areas, exc. crab grounds and stripers, watch out for cross/rip currents around Hull Gutt, can get rough in a small boat. Buddy used to go all over Boston from this point including around Logan Intl. Airport, (don't get too close or State Police, USCG, Marine Patrol will be on you quick! but it's cool to watch planes coming in to land about 150'-200' over your head.
Never went into the "north shore" to poke around but maybe someone else will chime in.