Buzzards Bay Entrance Light Explained

Coordinates:41.397°N -71.0347°W
Yearbuilt:1847 (lightships)
1961 (Texas Tower)
1997 (current structure)
Automated:1980
Shape:Tower, on red square on 3 piles with large tube in center
Foundation:Steel piles filled with concrete
Construction:Steel
Marking:Red, with "BUZZARDS"
Characteristic:Fl W 2.5s
Fogsignal:HORN: 2 every 30s
Racon:"B" (Bravo)

Buzzards Bay Entrance Light is a lighthouse located in open water at the entrance to Buzzards Bay, about four nautical miles west southwest of Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts.[1] The light has a racon showing the letter "B".

In 1996 the present structure replaced a Texas Tower built in 1961, which in turn had replaced the lightships Hens & Chickens (LV-5) and Vineyard Sound (LV-10). Since it sits in water 50 ft (15m) deep, a conventional lighthouse would have been difficult, forcing the choice of structure.

Notes and References

  1. 2009-12-15.