8678 Dunbar

Charming, 3 BR waterfront cottage on Mill Pond. This unique rental sits in front of First Light Boatworks, Chatham's own wooden boat building company. Walk into downtown Chatham for a day of shopping or walk to Lighthouse Beach for a day in the sand. The best of both worlds!

Are you looking for more than just a place to stay, more than just a beautifully furnished house with luxurious rooms and exquisite views? STOP. Look no further, as you have found a hidden gem! The Mill Pond Boatyard Cottage, MPBYC for short, sits directly on the Mill Pond in "Chatham Old Village" historic district near the Atwood House, Chatham Lighthouse and Monomy Point.

It is a charming 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, lovingly restored by Chatham native Bartlett Dunbar, son of Francis Spaulding Dunbar a renowned local Marine Architect, who first settled in Chatham in the 1930s. Bart grew up in the Captain's House at 51 Eliphamets Lane but he inherited and renovated this cottage in 2000 and converted it from a store house to the unique home it is today. Over the years he has made many upgrades but he has always strived to maintain the authentic character of a traditional Chatham cottage, keeping the decor simple yet elegant and using lots of wood.

He has, also, assembled a remarkable collection of Harold Dunbar oil paintings, marine artifacts and local memorabilia. The cottage is tastefully furnished yet fully equipped with all modern amenities and the walls are adorned with colorful model boat hulls designed by Bart's father, local landscapes and other fine decorative pieces. One of the best features of this cottage is it's 300 sq ft two-tiered deck that looks out over the Mill Pond. The view is spectacular year-round but especially breathtaking at sunrise or sunset. You can sit for hours watching the sky change color, the clouds floating by or the boats bobbing and weaving across the pond. The deck has a full set of teak dinning furniture and a gas grill, plus chairs and loungers for relaxing in the sun.

If you get too hot or bored of just sitting, you can swim from a private dock, take a cool outdoor shower or walk into town along the shoreline. For those interested in boating or aquaculture, the cottage shares the property with a small beautiful boat yard, originally built by Bart's dad, and a quahog hatchery. First Light Boatworks & Marine Railway, Inc. currently leases the boat yard. They specialize in traditional wooden boat building, restoration and repair, while the hatchery raises quahogs and oysters in tanks fed by an upweller from the Mill Pond. The cottage has its own private mooring in the Mill Pond too, which can be rented for an additional fee. First Light Boatworks can launch trailered boats, store trailers and provide general boat services including a launch service to the mooring. The Mill Pond is navigable to Stage Habor under a drawbridge and out to Nantucket Sound. The salt water channel is 6 feet at mean low water and the drawbridge operates by arrangement with the harbor master. Dinghies, kayaks or Stand Up Paddleboards may be launched and kept on the beach right in front of the cottage.

Tenants, who rent the Mill Pond Boat Yard Cottage, tend to fall in love with the place and return year after year. One tenant revisited for over 20 years and another loved the location so much they purchased their own home nearby. It is a great getaway for young families or the young at heart. A place to unwind and play. The cottage sleeps 6-7 comfortably. It has a master queen bedroom with full bath and a small private deck on the 2nd floor; a second bedroom with two twin beds on the 1st floor and an ensuite bathroom (Shower only). The third bedroom is in a freestanding bunkhouse across the deck. It has an XL full bed with an elevated single bunk above. The cottage is fully equipped with washer/ dryer, dishwasher, lots of kitchen equipment, pots pans and dinnerware. We provide pillows, mattress covers, blankets, duvets and bedspreads plus an initial supply of toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, salt, pepper, sugar and some spices but you should plan on bringing your own linens (sheets, towels, kitchen towels) and food. You can arrange to rent linens locally if you prefer not to bring your own

Rentals run Saturday to Saturday during the summer season. The cottage is cleaned every Saturday by our housekeeper and we have a septic tight tank for waste water that gets emptied regularly. Guest parking is available for two cars directly in front of the cottage and a house key is made available to you during your stay.

A/C window untis for each BR