Cruising in Maine

[TDunn]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

That's true for transient boats. But the state passed a new law, effective last year, that required marinas to do all the dirty work for them, and turn over lists to state and local officials. The state is also putting pressure on those officials to go get the paper work and crack down on unpaid boaters. This is actually on par with what most states are doing nowadays. As a boater, compliance is so cheap that it's hardly worth arguing.

That will be much more of an issue down south. In the part of Maine where I boat there are few marinas and I have never seen the Maine Patrol stop a pleasure boat. In my town a lot of the boats are documented and I am a large part of the small minority that bothers to pay the excise tax. The harbor master could enforce things, but he knows better than to hassle lobster boats.

[MacDuff]

Get Taft's "A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast" Excellent.
https://www.mainecoastguide.com/
I've enjoyed many hours with this book since 1995.

[TDunn]

The print version of Tafts is kind of dated, so don't trust it explicitly.

[Bedwood]

I have heard great things about Burnt Coat Harbor on Swans and that area in Maine. In specific about how friendly people, acknowledging strangers.

[MacDuff]

Correct TDunn. It's very entertaining.

[TDunn]

Originally Posted by Bedwood

I have heard great things about Burnt Coat Harbor on Swans and that area in Maine. In specific about how friendly people, acknowledging strangers.

Burnt Coat is a nice harbor. You can usually tie your dinghy up at the lobster coop to go ashore (except from about 1 to 4 PM). It is a nice walk up to the light house. Take any mooring with a green float and a plastic bottle tied to the pickup. Two years ago you put your $20 for the mooring in the plastic bottle. There is also room to anchor, but make sure your anchor is well set. I have seen people drag there.

On the northern side of the island Buckle Harbor is a nice stop if you get in early (it fills up). Anchor in 7-12 at low. Holding is good. You can go ashore on Buckle Island and there are trails the length of the island. Go ashore at the north end of the island.

Mackeral Cove is also nice in anything but a northerly. You can anchor on ether side of Roderick head and take your dinghy to the town float next to the ferry dock. The holding is good.

The only down side of Swans Island is that there are essentially no services. The closest boat services are in Stonington at Billings, Southwest Harbor (Hinckley, Downeast Diesel and Dysarts Marina. Hinckley and Dysarts have diesel and gas is available at Beals when the lobster boats are not unloading. There is a West Marine at Dysarts and Hamilton Marine is near Beals lobster dock.) and Northeast Harbor (Clifton Dock has diesel and alcohol free gas, town marina and Morris Yachts). You can also get fuel at Richs in Bass Harbor, but there are no other services. There are restaurants in Stonington, Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor. If you need to provision it is worth the run to Bar Harbor (prepare for crowds and noise from cruise ships) because they have a Hanaford supermarket.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by TDunn

That will be much more of an issue down south. In the part of Maine where I boat there are few marinas and I have never seen the Maine Patrol stop a pleasure boat. In my town a lot of the boats are documented and I am a large part of the small minority that bothers to pay the excise tax. The harbor master could enforce things, but he knows better than to hassle lobster boats.

Good points. The OP was specifically asking about marinas in the Rockland area. I've heard through the grapevine that they're getting the same pressure we are farther south, but have no first-hand knowledge.

Hassling the lobstermen is never a good idea, especially Down East!

Even with all the "destination" and "weekend" moorings cropping up all over, we've still been able to find plenty of anchorages, and even reasonable dockage, outside the big tourist destinations. Marina prices are certainly on the rise, especially in places like Boothbay Harbor and just about anywhere on Mt. Desert.