We are thinking of taking the boat up to Maine for a few weeks next summer. Anyone here cruised the Maine coast? Is it worth it? Highlights? Is two weeks too much?
Anyone cruise the Maine coast?
- Thread starter Four Suns
- Start date
Pirate
New Member
Are you already back pedaling on the Bahamas?
Next summer, take 2-3 months and go to the Out Islands in the Bahamas. Georgetown is a wonderful "base". It's far enough out and centrally located that you can boat to your desired areas and still manageable to fly in/out. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Next summer, take 2-3 months and go to the Out Islands in the Bahamas. Georgetown is a wonderful "base". It's far enough out and centrally located that you can boat to your desired areas and still manageable to fly in/out. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Because of having my oldest getting ready for college (or prison) next summer and another one becoming a senior, those two will not be going with us. In fact... I have a new rule... If you are a teenager and have a girlfriend, you are not allowed to go on a boat trip with me because I can't deal with the teenage politics BS. Because of that, I would no way in hell leave those 2 alone in this house for a month or two....
Therefore, I'll move the boat somewhere and we will only be where ever for two weeks next summer. And I'm going to have the youth minister from the church stay in our house.
Besides... I won't have to deal with hurricanes if I'm up that far. Something to be said for daytime temps in the 70's/80's and night time temps in the 50's/60's
Oh yeah... my new hailing name is "Two Suns"
Therefore, I'll move the boat somewhere and we will only be where ever for two weeks next summer. And I'm going to have the youth minister from the church stay in our house.
Besides... I won't have to deal with hurricanes if I'm up that far. Something to be said for daytime temps in the 70's/80's and night time temps in the 50's/60's
Oh yeah... my new hailing name is "Two Suns"
Sea Gull
Well-Known Member
We have been only as far as Camden, but there is a whole lot to see and do. You have to be a bit careful picking destinations, as marinas with docks are a bit more scarce up that way.
We are planning to be in Boston for July 4, 2009 and then heading up to NH and Maine after that. We probably will get as far as Mt. Desert Island, but that depends on fog and black flies.
We are planning to be in Boston for July 4, 2009 and then heading up to NH and Maine after that. We probably will get as far as Mt. Desert Island, but that depends on fog and black flies.
NCBoater
New Member
Gary
I feel your pain. I have two teenage girls, one a HS senior, one HS soph I can't deal with their mood swings and their boyfriends who's only thought is ....when is the old man going to be out of site......Reminds me of myself when I was in HS!!
Mark
I feel your pain. I have two teenage girls, one a HS senior, one HS soph I can't deal with their mood swings and their boyfriends who's only thought is ....when is the old man going to be out of site......Reminds me of myself when I was in HS!!
Mark
Must be a bridge boat thing...
Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
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Gary,
I have done a lot of sailing cruises in the Penobscot Bay, Isle Au Haut, Arcadia National Park, Southwest Harbor (home of Hinckly), Northeast Harbor on Mt. Desert (summer home of Martha Stewart).
The scenery is extraordinary, most of the area is archipelago creating hundreds of protected anchorages and making cruising protected most of the time. In may locations yacht clubs and marinas have dropped moorings that can be picked up and used.
As for having a youth minister as a house minder, we did that once with a condo, only they were Sunday School teachers recommended by our neighbors - the minister and his wife. Turns out the teachers were complete drunks and quite literally nearly burned the place down.
Henry
I have done a lot of sailing cruises in the Penobscot Bay, Isle Au Haut, Arcadia National Park, Southwest Harbor (home of Hinckly), Northeast Harbor on Mt. Desert (summer home of Martha Stewart).
The scenery is extraordinary, most of the area is archipelago creating hundreds of protected anchorages and making cruising protected most of the time. In may locations yacht clubs and marinas have dropped moorings that can be picked up and used.
As for having a youth minister as a house minder, we did that once with a condo, only they were Sunday School teachers recommended by our neighbors - the minister and his wife. Turns out the teachers were complete drunks and quite literally nearly burned the place down.
Henry
Troubadour
New Member
I've cruised most of the Maine Coast since I grew up there. I would have to say Isle Au Haut is one of my favorites... Absolutely beautiful. Other notable funspots on the way up the coast... Smuttynose Island - Isle of Shoals off Portsmouth. In and around Hermit island - Popham Beach area if you have a dinghy. Venturing up the Kennebec river is fun (kennebec tavern is a great eat). Castine Maine is a fun boating community as you venture farther north. In and around freeport there are many beautiful harbors and sounds to check out. All in all, there is more coastline in Maine than the rest of the Eastern seaboard, so there is lots to see from a boat.
I will also be in Boston for the 4th (not shearing off the antenna this time!).
I will also be in Boston for the 4th (not shearing off the antenna this time!).
Smuttynose? There is really a place called Smuttynose... man.. I could really make up some stories around that name.
Maine looks like a place you could spend a whole month poking around and not get board. Thanks for the insights.
Maine looks like a place you could spend a whole month poking around and not get board. Thanks for the insights.
jrirvine1
Member
We spent several days in Maine this summer where we went on chartered (blow boat) cruises and also kayak toured around several islands. The entire time I thought how cool it would be to take our boat up there sometime, perhaps when diesel drops to around a buck per gallon.
I don’t think it is necessary to travel way up to northern Maine for beautiful scenery. You could spend weeks exploring the coast and islands from perhaps Kennebunk to Camden.
The tides here run about 10 to 11 feet, which must make for finding a safe anchorage along the totally rocky coast a challenge. The good news is they do not have any crab pots to dodge, but the bad news is they call them lobsta’ pots and there are more of them in every possible location.
I don’t think it is necessary to travel way up to northern Maine for beautiful scenery. You could spend weeks exploring the coast and islands from perhaps Kennebunk to Camden.
The tides here run about 10 to 11 feet, which must make for finding a safe anchorage along the totally rocky coast a challenge. The good news is they do not have any crab pots to dodge, but the bad news is they call them lobsta’ pots and there are more of them in every possible location.
Troubadour
New Member
Yeah, Smuttynose is real 
just happens to be the name of one of my favorite beers as well.
As for the Lobstah pots, there are spots north of portland towards Bath and boothbay Harbah where you could practically walk along the surface on the pot markers. The nice thing is, in Maine at least there are a lot less recreational pots out there unlike Mass where it seems the water is littered with clorox and tide bottles afloat in the middle of your favorite narrow channel. Argh!
Portsmouth is another great place to check out on the way up... Lots of great downtown life and plenty of bars and restaurants right on the water. The tide is fairly swift in the Piscataqua river basin however so be prepared. 10 ft tides are the norm.
just happens to be the name of one of my favorite beers as well. As for the Lobstah pots, there are spots north of portland towards Bath and boothbay Harbah where you could practically walk along the surface on the pot markers. The nice thing is, in Maine at least there are a lot less recreational pots out there unlike Mass where it seems the water is littered with clorox and tide bottles afloat in the middle of your favorite narrow channel. Argh!
Portsmouth is another great place to check out on the way up... Lots of great downtown life and plenty of bars and restaurants right on the water. The tide is fairly swift in the Piscataqua river basin however so be prepared. 10 ft tides are the norm.
Looks like Maine is not "hurricane proof" like I thought it was...
ANYTIME
New Member
I was the Radio Operator of the 65 foot US Coast & Geodetic Survey(now NOAA) Ship Wainwright during the summer of 1957 when we sailed from Norfolk to Mt. Desert Island in Maine. We operated out of Southwest Harbor doing channel depth charting around the island. We operated with our sister ship Hilgard and a small 20 foot tender to assist in relocating lobster pots and working with the wire-drag bouys during the surveys. During the entire summer, we never had to cancel operations due to rough seas.
My memories of that summer will never be forgotten. I heartily recommend visiting the areas around Southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor. I remember when leaving the ship during low tide, it was a steep walk up the gangplank, and during high tide, just the opposite. The people I met while there were really great, warm and friendly.
My memories of that summer will never be forgotten. I heartily recommend visiting the areas around Southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor. I remember when leaving the ship during low tide, it was a steep walk up the gangplank, and during high tide, just the opposite. The people I met while there were really great, warm and friendly.
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Hwillcockson
New Member
Hi Gary –
Sounds like a great trip… being from Boston and having been to Maine (by land) many times, I’ve had thoughts of planning my own boat trip up there. Some places you should consider are:
Plymouth, MA
Boston
Portsmouth, NH
Portland, ME
Boothbay Harbor, ME
Bar Harbor, ME
Each stop has its unique things to offer and also there would be enough to keep the kids entertained. When in Boston, I recommend the following marinas:
- Boston Yacht Haven (downtown and close to everything) http://www.byhonline.com/
- Marina Bay (Quincy – 20 min taxi ride to downtown) http://www.marinabayboston.com/
Isle-of-Shoals off of Portsmouth is a unique place but leans more on the rustic/nature side. As mentioned earlier, there’s probably no reason to go much farther north than Bar Harbor as you won’t see anything new and the towns get smaller.
On the journey… as you get into New England, I’d come up Buzzards Bay and instead of taking a right turn through Woods Hole, head north through the Cape Cod Canal and into Cape Cod Bay and up to Boston. If you need to make a stop before Boston, Plymouth has a nice harbor with historic sights and restaurants. http://www.byy.com/Plymouth/index.cfm
When going north from Boston, there is Cape Ann, which you can either go around or go up the Annisquam River. The river starts in Gloucester Harbor (The movie The Perfect Storm) and comes out on the north side with Portsmouth, NH not far away.
On a side note… just south of Boston, off of Cohasset there is a lighthouse at Minot’s Ledge. The entire eastern seaboard south of this ledge is sand. Everything north of Boston is mostly ledge (the typical rocky Maine coast). Water temps will also drop as you enter Cape Cod Bay from the canal.
Mike
Sounds like a great trip… being from Boston and having been to Maine (by land) many times, I’ve had thoughts of planning my own boat trip up there. Some places you should consider are:
Plymouth, MA
Boston
Portsmouth, NH
Portland, ME
Boothbay Harbor, ME
Bar Harbor, ME
Each stop has its unique things to offer and also there would be enough to keep the kids entertained. When in Boston, I recommend the following marinas:
- Boston Yacht Haven (downtown and close to everything) http://www.byhonline.com/
- Marina Bay (Quincy – 20 min taxi ride to downtown) http://www.marinabayboston.com/
Isle-of-Shoals off of Portsmouth is a unique place but leans more on the rustic/nature side. As mentioned earlier, there’s probably no reason to go much farther north than Bar Harbor as you won’t see anything new and the towns get smaller.
On the journey… as you get into New England, I’d come up Buzzards Bay and instead of taking a right turn through Woods Hole, head north through the Cape Cod Canal and into Cape Cod Bay and up to Boston. If you need to make a stop before Boston, Plymouth has a nice harbor with historic sights and restaurants. http://www.byy.com/Plymouth/index.cfm
When going north from Boston, there is Cape Ann, which you can either go around or go up the Annisquam River. The river starts in Gloucester Harbor (The movie The Perfect Storm) and comes out on the north side with Portsmouth, NH not far away.
On a side note… just south of Boston, off of Cohasset there is a lighthouse at Minot’s Ledge. The entire eastern seaboard south of this ledge is sand. Everything north of Boston is mostly ledge (the typical rocky Maine coast). Water temps will also drop as you enter Cape Cod Bay from the canal.
Mike
