Maine

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Revision as of 23:21, 26 March 2016

Maine

With approximately 2500nm of coastline, much of it spectacularly beautiful, Maine is justifiably considered one of the world's great cruising grounds.

The North/Eastern third, Down-East Maine, is rocky, tree-covered and noted for appearing much as it did to the early explorers. It has bold coasts, many beautiful, isolated coves for anchoring, small lobster fishing ports, and few marinas.

Mid-coast Maine - from Bar Harbor to Portland - is similar in appearance, but as one enters its harbors it is apparent that this is the coastal Maine of cruising fame. There are both small cove lobster settlements and tourist-focused towns with marinas. Dockage fees generally increase as one cruises farther South/West.

South/West Coast Maine - from Cape Elizabeth to the mouth of the Piscataqua River and Isles of Shoals - is very different in appearance. The rocky, bold coasts of Mid-Coast Maine and Down-East are replaced by sandy beaches with many tourists.

The one constant in all Maine waters is lobster traps in great numbers, with their warps lurking just below the surface to foul the propellers of the unwary. Even when under sail, the habit of connecting a "toggle" float to the warp-terminating lobster buoy can leave a line capable snagging the (spade) rudder of anyone attempting to sail between buoy and toggle.

In Spring with warming air drifting over 50 degree (F) water, in morning fogs, radar - while mandatory for navigation - can't spot lobster buoys.

Nevertheless, lobster buoys notwithstanding, once you've cruised the Maine coast you'll be hard pressed to consider any other waters equivalent.

Charts

Entire Maine Coast

Chart No 13260 (Bay of Fundy to Cape Cod)

Down-East Maine

Chart No 13325 (Quoddy Narrows to Petit Manan Island)

Mid-Coast Maine

Chart No 13312 (Frenchman and Blue Hill Bays and Approaches)

Chart No 13302 (Penobscot Bay and Approaches)

Chart No 13288 (Monhegan Island to Cape Elizabeth)

South/West Coast Maine

Chart No 13286 (Cape Elizabeth to Portsmouth)

See the various ports listed below

Chart Sources

Paper NOAA "print-on-demand" charts (up-to-date within last 2 weeks) - about $20 each

RNC Raster files of NOAA Navigation Charts (free - updated weekly)

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Local Weather

Give local weather conditions or refer to another page (a region or island group) that covers these conditions.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
• NOAA Coastal Waters Forecast (Stonington, ME to Merrimac River, MA)

Current Weather Conditions:

• NOAA NOAA databuoys (realtime wind/wave data - offshore buoys in NE US waters)

Ports and Popular Stops

Down East Maine

Mid-coast Maine

• Acadia National Park
  • Bar Harbor
  • Northeast Harbor
  • Southwest Harbor

• Penobscot Bay
  • Stonington
  • Castine
  • Belfast
  • Camden
  • Rockland

• Monhegan Island

• Muscongus Bay

• Booth Bay
  • Boothbay Harbor

• Casco Bay
  • Bailey Island Gut
  • Falmouth Foreside
  • Great Diamond Island
  • Peaks Island
  • Portland

South/West Coast Maine

• Cape Elizabeth
  • Richmond Island
• Biddeford Pool
• Kennebunkport
• York Harbor
• Kittery
• Isles of Shoals

Offshore Islands and Groups

List Islands

Routes/Passages To/From

Details?

Special Boating Bylaws and/or Regulations of the State

?

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Maine

References & Publications

• MapTech "Embassy" Crusing Guides If you can only afford one, this is it. (MapTech makes the NOAA digital charts)
• Waterway Guides Also good, especially for upscale marina-hopping (but fewer ports covered).
• Cruising Guide to the New Engand Coast excellent sailors' background supplement to either of the above.
• Visual Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast A picture (color aerial photograph + chart) is worth a thousand words.
• A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast outstanding detail (from local authors).
• Guide to New England Marinas book + CDROM - excellent (but listed dockage rates are outdated and low)

Comments

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse