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Spring 1998
Dear Sailors,
If you made it to Maine this summer, please DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
The weather was so consistently perfect, with sunny skies and
breezes, that I nearly forgot how to use my loran. Even October
was fairly galeless, though Indigo spent an impatient week with
her mast laid on her deck, tugging at her mooring with an uneasy
motion. The hydraulic trailer was delayed in coming out to Peaks
Island because the car ferry's schedule was suddenly--it's always
sudden--pared down for the winter. November, though, brought record
snowfalls, and we were skiing in the field past Indigo before
she was fully winterized. Maine, it seems, is still the tempestuous
beauty she has always been.
Thank all of you for your encouraging comments about the new edition
of A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast and for all of your thoughtful observations about changes along
the coast. They are included below. Crucial navigational or safety
information is bold, but by all means subscribe to Notices to Mariners and update your charts when necessary. Please, if you find more
changes or discrepancies, contact us.
In addition to changes along the coast or inaccuracies in the
guide, we would love any first-hand accounts of your cruising
experiences, good or bad, while you were in Maine. How did you
like the lobster ice cream? We hope to distill them into warnings
or encouragement for other mariners in your wake. We also would
love to see any stunning cruising photographs you may have taken.
We have our eyes open for the cover shot for the next edition,
as well as interior photographs. Color slides are preferable.
Please contact us before sending photos.
Of course, we want you to buy more books. Your friends or relatives
may never have cruised in Maine. They may not even have a boat.
Remember, the book is cheaper than the boat (Yes, transport me to your ordering mailing-list and comment forms!)
If you are on the internet, please accept our apologies for not
updating our website more frequently. Our web man moved on to
bigger and better things (how could they be?), and I am only just
getting up to speed on managing the site. We promise more Harbors
of the MONTH, not the year.
Again, thank you for all your support and encouragement. Your
input makes this your guide. Enjoy, and happy holidays.
Curtis Rindlaub
order books
TABLE OF CONTENTS
p. x, last line: Isle au Haut is on page 260, not 259.
INTRODUCTION
MITA, p.7, col. 2
The Maine Island Trail network has now grown to about 80 public
and privately owned islands. This group is looking for new members
and financial support, or if you really want to become involved,
you can apply to be their new executive director.
Wind direction, p. 13
The caption for our chart of wind direction omits that the large
numbers in the center of the wind rosettes indicates the percentage
of calms.
SOUTHERN COAST
Isles of Shoals, p. 32
Somehow we failed to report some good smut on Smuttynose--the
brutal ax murders of two Norwegian sisters-in-law who were alone
(well, not quite alone) on the island on the night of March 5,
1873. The men had gotten held up on the mainland during a bait-buying
trip and had not returned. Three women were left on the island,
and they had turned in, only to be attacked in the middle of the
dark night. One of the women managed to flee and hide, and later
identified one Lewis Wagner, a previous island inhabitant, as
the murderer of the other two. Lewis was hastily tried and convicted,
but he proclaimed his innocence until the time he was hanged,
two years later. For the ghoulish, the supposed murder weapon,
the ax, has been recently donated to the Portsmouth Athenaeum.
Pepperrell Cove, p. 35-36
Edwin A. Garrett IV, the Secretary of the Society of Colonial
Wars in the State of Maine, kindly wrote us to correct the knighthood
we inadvertently bestowed upon Sir William Pepperrell, Bt. in
our description of Pepperrell Cove. Sir William was the first
American to be created a Baronet (not a knight), a hereditary
honor signified by the initials "Bt." after his name. His Baronetcy
was granted by H.M. King George II for his service as the Commanding
General and chief tactician in the 1745 capture of the French
Fortress of Louisbourg by New England Forces.
The Pepperrell Cove Yacht Club has merged with the Portsmouth
Yacht Club. The moorings in Pepperrell Cove are now rented by
the town (Ch. 09, 439-0912) and the Portsmouth Yacht Club (Ch.
78, 603-436-9877).
Portsmouth, p. 37-38
A cruise ship in the Piscataqua was swept into the Sarah Mildred
Long Bridge this summer--a reminder of the river's powerful current.
There were no injuries and neither the bridge nor the boat were
damaged seriously.
York Harbor, p. 40-41
Agamenticus Yacht Club (363-9814) maintains a guest mooring which
can be assigned to you by the harbormaster (Ch. 09).
The Cliff Walk has recently become a battle ground between the
town of York and property owners. For more than a century, people
have strolled the oceanfront walk, and up until the 1970s, York
Village maintained it. But after the Village merged with the town
of York, maintenance was discontinued and the path became weather-beaten
and overgrown. Now, landowners are complaining of rowdiness and
trash on the path and voicing concern that it is no longer safe.
They want the town to relocate part of it to the base of a cliff.
One of the problems, though, is that the base gets covered at
high tides. Wear your bathing suit.
Kennebunk River, p. 45-49
Harbor chart, p.47, chart 13289 2nd ed., Chart Kit 58 inset: add
nun "12A" just off daybeacon "12" at 43-21-04.8N 070-28-27.4W.
We may have been optimistic when we reported the depths at the
floats of the Arundel Yacht Club. Don't expect more than five
feet of water at low (p. 46, col. 2). And Standish Marine Books
is out of business (p. 47, col. 2).
Cape Porpoise, p. 50-51
The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust purchased Trott Island to
preserve it from development, and it hopes to raise enough money
to purchase Goat Island soon.
Saco River, p. 53 (harbor chart, chart 13287)
Green daybeacon 5A has been replaced by a green can "5A" at 43-27-41.1N,
070-21-29.6W.
CASCO BAY
Portland
Add the number for the harbor master: 772-8121 (p. 62, col. 2)
The Portland weather buoy which relays offshore weather conditions
to NOAA stopped working last winter, and due to cost-cutting measures,
it was slated to be retired instead of repaired or replaced. After
much Congressional lobbying, however, funding was appropriated
to replace the buoy, but the new one stopped relaying data within
the first weeks of operation. It is, to the best of our knowledge,
back on line.
The new Casco Bay Bridge spans the Fore River between Portland
and South Portland. The bridge replaces the old Million Dollar
Bridge, and considerably widens the center span for the passage
of oil tankers. The span of the old bridge was notoriously narrow,
leaving as little as five feet of maneuvering room on either side
of the massive tankers as they passed through. The tanker Julie
N hit one of the abutments last year, tearing a hole in here hull
and spilling about 180,000 gallons of oil into the Fore River
and Casco Bay. But after a very thorough and expensive clean-up,
all visible signs of the spill are gone.
Adams Marine shown on the chart is no longer on Commercial Street
(as shown on the harbor chart, p. 63 and in description, p. 65,
col. 1). Also changed on page 65 are the following: Portland Sail
and Rigging Company has move to the Dayton Marine facility in
South Portland, with a new number: 799-8622 (delete from col.
1, add to page 66, col. 1). Yale Cordage has moved to Biddeford.
Fisherman Supply has become Gundry's (col. 1), Trailways has moved
to Sewall Road, near Thompsons Point (col. 2, bottom), and Appledore
Smoked Foods has moved too (col. 2 middle).
Portland is the home port of a new commercial towing company:
Sea Tow. Sea Tow operates like a marine version of AAA--if you
are a member your tows are free; if not, they can be expensive.
The coast guard is now referring all non-emergency breakdowns
to Sea Tow, or you can contact them yourself on ch. 16 or at 772-6724.
South Portland, p. 66
Sunset Marine (p. 66, col. 1) has a chandlery and service department
called Rio Marine (767-5219). Friends of Casco Bay (p. 66, col.
2, last line) has moved to 2 Fort Road, still on the Southern
Maine Technical College Campus. Marine East (p. 66, col. 2) has
become South Port Marine with the same phone number. Fuel is not
available.
Fort Gorges, p. 68, col. 1
The wreck north of Diamond Island Ledge is not the seven-master
Thomas Lawson. It is the Edward J. Lawrence.
Peaks Island, for the crew, p. 69
Wills Restaurant is out of business. Stay tuned for new owners.
In the meantime, try the "lunch truck" for terrific fish baskets.
From the ferry dock, turn right on Island Avenue.
Basket Island, p. 72, col. 2
Basket Island is now managed by the Cumberland Mainland and Islands
Trust and members of the Portland Yacht Club. The rocks to the
west of the island are marked by nun "4."
Great Chebeague Island, p. 73-74
Chowder anyone? Chebeague Islanders made history (and a nice marketing
coup) when they rescued Nabisco's Crown Pilot Crackers from obsolescence.
Nabisco planned to discontinue the New England staple until outraged
islanders mounted a massive campaign against the decision. It
just isn't chowder without the crackers. Amid national media attention,
Nabisco was swayed by their common sense, and paraded in boats
to the island bearing a hefty donation to the local historical
society and boxes of Pilot Crackers for all.
Cliff Island, p. 74
The approach from the east (p. 74, col. 2, middle) is now marked
with green can "5," which should be left close aboard to starboard.
Cliff also attracted its share of media attention this year--more
than most islanders would have liked--with their campaign to attract
new year-round residents. Faced with a dwindling community and
marginal enrollment in their one-room schoolhouse, Cliff Islanders
advertised in national media for perspective island residents.
The response was overwhelming. One prospective family stepped
off the ferry on to the wharf, took two steps and a quick glance
and hopped right back on the boat, but a few families move out
to the island. Now the island faces a housing shortage...
Jewell Island, p. 75-76
The area off the old wharf north of Indian Rock (p. 76, col. 1,
top) is a cable area. Use caution and a tripline if you anchor
here.
We spotted and observed an enormous bald eagle perched in a tree
on Jewell this summer as we drifted by in a canoe. We don?t know
if the bird was nesting or just feasting, but it was exciting
to see the great eagle so far south.
A marvelous and thorough history of Jewell Island has been written
by Peter Benoit. It can be ordered from us for $15 + $2 for shipping
and handling.
Sand Island, p. 76, col. 2
We have inadvertently grouped Sand Island with other state-owned
islands. In fact, Sand is private, though the owners seem to generously
allow the use of this sandy hummock.
Masts and the Broad Arrow, p. 80
I've recently come across the strength formula used for pine masts:
if they had one yard of height for every inch of diameter at the
butt, and a minimum girth of 23" at a point 12" up from their
base, they were marked with the broad arrow.
Ridley Cove. p. 91, col. 1
The sunken vessel in the middle of Ridley Cove is the Philip E. Lake, an old Grand Banks fishing schooner that was bought by two Mainers
in the 1970s at an auction in Boston and towed here, only to sink
at her rented mooring.
Sebasco Harbor and Lodge, p. 93-94
This spring, Sebasco Lodge was sold to new owners who have plans
for major expansions, including adding nine holes to the golf
course and revamping the dining, banquet, and conference facilities.
They plan to build Sebasco Lodge into an "exclusive resort for
the twenty-first century."
Unfortunately, big plans have big price tags, not the least of
which is a less welcoming feeling for visiting yachtsmen. We've
heard reports that mooring fees are even charged for those simply
stopping for dinner.
Sebasco, p. 94-95
Anchorages and moorings (p. 95, col. 1): The moorings north of
Malaga and east of Bear Island are in a cable area that is not
indicated on the chart. Use caution and a tripline if you anchor
here. Beware, also, of the sunken vessel in the anchorage whose
mast sticks out of the water, crowned by an osprey nest.
H&H Boatworks, farther down the shore, is out of business.
MIDCOAST
Reid State Park
Storms last winter unearthed some interesting beachcombings on
Mile Beach at Reid State Park?rocket warheads and rocket motors
from World War II. Apparently, philanthropist Walter E. Reid had
allowed the U.S. Navy to use one end of his beach as a target
range for fighter pilots flying out of the Brunswick Naval Air
Station. Floating targets were moored offshore, but misses embedded
themselves in the beach. Bomb demolition teams determined that
none of the warheads were live, but a full-fledged clean-up had
to be delayed until this fall to avoid disturbing nesting least
terns and piping plovers.
Kennebec River, p. 103 (chart 13295, 9th ed., chart kit 61)
Off river's mouth relocate Tom's Rock buoy "2TR" (43-43-52.1N,
069-43-00.6W) to 43-43-49.9N 069-43-03.3W. Change can "3," due
south of Salter Island, to green-red-green "KR."
Bath, p. 107
The Carlton Bridge (p. 110, col. 1), which spans the Kennebec
at Bath is slated to be replaced, and cranes are being set up
for the project as we go to press. This is great news for drivers
who often have to crawl through the congestion on the bridge.
But there is a tinge of nostalgic melancholy over the new bridge,
which replaces the lift-span bridge with a fixed span. Despite
a minimum vertical clearance of 72 feet, it will effectively isolate
downtown Bath and the upper reaches of the Kennebec from the great
sailing ships that once were born along its banks above the bridge.
Last July, the tall ship Gazella was the last of the large sailing
ships to pass beyond the bridge. The new bridge is expected to
be completed in about two-and-a-half years.
Swan Island, p. 111
Donn Wright caught our "most unique" grammar. Most embarrassing!
Sasanoa River, Inside Passage, p. 113, col. 2, par. 6
This correction was on the errata card enclosed with most books
and corrected in later hardcover editions: "...begin making the
passage from east to west..." should read "...from west to east."
Riggs Cove, p. 121
Michael Long writes that we may not have done justice to Robinhood
Marine, which has a great library and book exchange, free use
of a loaner car, an excellent restaurant, and a beautiful cove.
Pond Island, p. 255
John Murphy reports that, Pond Island is now under the guardianship
of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
Boothbay Harbor Region, p. 129
On Fridays, keep your eyes peeled for an old wooden sailboat loaded
with fresh produce plying the waters of Booth Bay, Townsend Gut,
and the Sheepscot River. The man at the helm is David Berry, making
his rounds selling fresh produce from his Bowdoinham farm. He
stops at Heron Island, Squirrel Island, Capital Island, Juniper
Point, Isle of Springs, and MacMahon Island, in that order. Flag
him down or meet him at his next destination for fresh tomatoes,
strawberries, blueberries, chickens, and oysters
Damariscove Island p. 131, col. 1
The Nature Conservancy now has a little one-room natural history
museum at the head of the harbor which, in addition to collections
of flora and fauna also includes old pipe stems found in the harbor
and a timeline of Damariscove history.
Cruising boats continue to get to know the bottom of the inner
harbor when the tide goes out. The head-of-the-harbor mentality
seems to prevail over common sense when cruisers at high tide
work their way to the head of the cove or hard by its shores only
to be left in the mud at low. Resident lobsterman Dick Hammond,
who lives in the inner cove aboard Otok, only shakes his head and smiles.
Linekin Bay, for the boat, p. 136
Coastal Marine Electronics has moved to C&B marina in East Boothbay.
The Gut, for the crew, p. 141
Priscilla Weatley steered us to Betty's in South Bristol, which
bakes and sells fresh breads and sweets near the lobster co-op.
East Boothbay, p. 141-142
See Linekin Bay, above.
Congratulations to Nat Wilson (p. 142, col. 1) for his mammoth
task of cutting a new suit of sails for the USS Constitution!
Lighthouses, p. 151
Here's an interesting tidbit from Country Roads of Maine, by Donna Gold: Maine's lighthouses outnumber Maine's cities
by three to one. Donna, with the help of her husband Bill Carpenter,
also gave this edition of the Guide an exceptionally thorough
and careful review in the Maine Times and was the first to discover our mistake in the approaches to
Seal Bay on Vinalhaven (see Penobscot Bay, below).
Muscongus Bay
The buoyage in and around Muscongus Bay has been revamped. Please
correct the following:
Chart 13301, 20th ed., chart kit 18, 63: relocate Moshier Ledge
Buoy "ML" (43-48-40.1N, 069-25-41.8W) to 43-48-39.8N, 069-25-43.6W.
Round Pond approaches, p. 155.
"...leave can "1" (not can "5") to port."
Hog Island approaches and chart, p. 156.
Cans "5A," "7," and "7A" are now cans "11," "13," and "15."
Bremen, p. 159.
"the small working harbor of Bremen is west (not east) of Bremen
Long Island..."
Friendship approaches, p. 160, par. 2.
"Note that nun "12," (not nun "8") at Martin Point..."
Hornbarn Cove approaches, p. 161, par. 3.
"Coming from Friendship, round nun "6," (not nun "4") leaving
it to port.
Monhegan, p. 164
Life does imitate art! The Monhegan Museum is aptly described
by the Portland Press Herald as a well-organized communal attic. They have the marvelous policy
of never purchasing anything for its collections. Donations have
included a self-portrait by George Bellows and pencil sketches
by Rockwell Kent. Last fall, the late philanthropist Betty Noyce
donated 20 more paintings and half the money needed to build a
new gallery. The new gallery will be a replica of the assistant
lighthouse keeper?s house, which was torn down long ago. The design
of the house was discovered in an Edward Hopper painting, the
"Monhegan Lighthouse," painted between 1916 and 1919. The reproduction
is due to be completed this winter.
Don't bank on Monhegan. Since there is no bank on Monhegan, few
of the island businesses accept personal checks or credit cards.
The only plastic you'll need is for the phones. Otherwise, bring
the traveler's checks or something called cash.
Port Clyde, for the boat, p. 171
The General Store has extended its fuel hoses to reach the whole
length of the float. Otherwise, the marvelous store is still the
same as it ever was. Tie-up is limited to 20 minutes.
Burnt Island, p. 169
Burnt has recently acquired new owners whose policy for visiting
yachtsmen had not yet been established this summer.
Pleasant Point Gut, p. 172
Our wording of the location of Pleasant Point Gut has caused some
confusion. A better description is "Pleasant Point Gut is a working
harbor on the west side of the entrance to the St. George River,
inside (not "north and west of") Gay Island."
PENOBSCOT BAY
Monroe Island, off Owls Head (charts 13302, 13305, 13307, chart
kit 65)
Relocate bell "3" to 44-04-45.3N, 069-01-40.9W
Matinicus, anchorages and moorings, p. 183, col. 2
Rental moorings are white lobster buoys with a blue stripe and
a long orange pickup stick.
Rockland, p. 197-201
The last of the Rockland sardine canneries, the Port Clyde Canning
Co. closed this spring due to spotty herring runs, a decline in
the popularity of sardines, and the economics of the fishery.
The closing is one more step for Rockland away from its traditional
fishing base and toward a more tourist-driven economy anchored
by the Farnsworth Museum.
The Farnsworth Museum has begun a $10 million dollar expansion
to house an extensive new Wyeth collection that was graciously
donated by the Wyeth family.
No matter how much they love art, don?t bring your dogs. Andrew
Kalmanash wrote the Island Institute to express his shock at being
prohibited from strolling down Main Street with his championship
Portuguese Water Dogs. Tourists, by definition, must have two
legs and no tails.
Some boaters have been shocked to be charged a few dollars for
water at the Rockland town float?a reminder of how much we take
this precious resource for granted. We don?t know why this is
the town policy at this otherwise exceptionally well run facility.
If it bothers you, our recommendation is to gas up at one of the
fuel docks in the harbor and fill your water tanks at the same
time.
Camden, getting ashore, p. 206
Wayfarer operates its own launch with no charge for mooring patrons.
They can be summoned on channel 09.
Pulpit Harbor, for the boat, p. 211
Andrew Lorant reports that there is no longer a trash bin at the
public landing.
North Haven, for the crew, p. 215, col. 1
Brown's Market holds the keys for their excellent showers, and
laundry machines are nearby.
Widow Island, p. 213
John Burns of Bangor Maine was kind enough to forward us several
histories of Widow Island at the eastern end of the Fox Islands
Thorofare. Mr. Burns had researched the history of the island
for an article he wrote for the Bangor Mental Health Institute.
The first hospital was built on Widow Island by the U.S. Navy
in 1888 to isolate victims of yellow fever, which they believed
to be caused by the damp conditions, rot, and fungus that was
prevalent in the wooden sailing ships of the day. The few sailors
who did come down with yellow fever, however, were quarantined
in New York, and the hospital on Widow never saw a single patient.
In 1904, when the Navy finally realized that the hospital was
not and would not be needed, they transferred it to the State
of Maine. The acquisition was spearheaded by Edward Chase, a state
legislator, who planned to use it for mental patients. His colleagues,
though, aghast at the thought of "unpredictable and dangerous"
mental patients supervised only by a few hospital staff on a remote
island, challenged Chase to accompany the patients. Chase somehow
couldn't find the time, so instead, he sent his children!
One of the children, Virginia Chase, recollected that male patients
were on the island at one time, females at another, and that they
occasionally would make forays into North Haven or Vinalhaven
where islanders took their children indoors and adults stared.
World War I ended these "sanitary retreats," as they were called.
The buildings were next used as a school for lighthouse keeper's
children, but just before or after the Depression, the buildings
were torn down to avoid their yearly upkeep. Much later, the island
was sold to a private owner.
The island was once called Sheep Island, and then Widow, after
Penelope Kent Winslow, a widow who owned it from 1770 to near
1820. When Maine acquired the island, it was renamed Chase's Island,
but it has reverted back to Widow.
Seal Bay, P. 220, par. 2
This correction was included in our errata card. Please be sure your Guide is corrected for this dangerous error. "Follow the deep water...leaving Turning Rock to starboard (not
to port). Note the submerged rock...and due east (not west) of
Hay Island." The chart of the approach on page 219 is correct.
Many thanks to all of you who spoted our mistake. This error is
corrected in the second printing of the hardcover edition.
Laireys Narrows, p. 221, col. 1, Laireys Island, p. 222, col.
2, harbor chart, p. 223
Somehow, the name "Laireys" has changed to "Lawrys" on chart 13305,
a change that, I would guess, would take an act of Congress to
pass, or at least a very dedicated individual. Laireys Narrows,
Laireys Island, and even Laireys Ledge should all now be Lawrys
Narrows, Lawrys Island, and Lawrys Ledge. But the problem isn't
new. Charles B. McLane, in his Islands of the mid-Maine Coast
writes that in 1822, Lawrys and Cedar Island "assumed the name
Lawrys--Big and Little--although the spelling varied: Larrys,
Lowrys, and usually Laireys."
The Reach, p. 225, col. 2, par. 3
The narrowest part of The Reach is at a sharp S-turn near the
little island at flashing (add) green daybeacon "3" (not "5").
Carvers Harbor, p. 226
Some love it, some hate it. We've had several reports of cruisers
having trouble finding moorings for the night in this crowded
working harbor and being dismayed at the lack of cruising facilities.
We recommend arriving early, expecting few, if any, services and
ammenities, and having a backup plan in the event that you can't
find room for the night. This is Maine after all.
Cradle Cove, for the crew, p. 232
Here's a combination that would be hard to beat: Dark Harbor Marine
has a new shower, and we have a report that in season an employee
of the Dark Harbor Boat Yard makes a wild strawberry jam and sells
it at the boat yard. Yes, that's wild, as in teeny, tiny strawberries.
Searsport, p. 239
Searsport has a new yacht club, though it has no facilities. Contact
Commodore Andy Nichols at P.O. Box 403, Searsport, ME 04974.
Sears Island, p. 240
The controversy over what to do, if anything, with Sears Island
continues... The State has now stepped in an bought the island.
Bangor, p. 246-247
Beer lovers, add this to your itinerary: the Sea Dog Brewery has
a dock!
Castine, for the crew, p. 248
Showers can be found at the Castine Inn, which has been taken
over by new owners. And once you are cleaned up, you can provision
the boat at the Castine Coop (326-8760), a natural foods store
with entrances on Main Street and off Water Street next to Bah's
Bakehouse. They stock fresh breads, homemade pastas and sauces,
locally-grown produce, and fresh seafood.
The Penobscot Expedition, p. 250
Martial your forces, Marshal.
Hog Island, p. 256, col. 1
First line should read "Just southeast (not south) of Pond Island
lies Hog Island."
Head Harbor, Anchorages, p. 261
The heavy mooring is no longer there. The anchorage can be rolly,
but it is a lot less so than one might think by looking at the
harbor on the chart.
MOUNT DESERT
Blue Hill Bay, p. 294
New chart: 13316, 21st edition (7/12/97) due to various general
changes.
Stonington, anchorages, p. 272, col. 2
Atlantic Avenue Hardware is no longer in business, and their building
was painted from red to gray, making it a less obvious landmark.
Things to do, p. 270. A new museum has opened on Main Street in
Stonington--the Deer Isle Granite Museum (207-367-6331) commemorating
the town's stone-cutting heritage.
Windjammer, photo, p. 275, p. 283
For windjammer fans, this is the Nathaniel Bowditch.
The windjammer on Eggemoggin Reach (p. 283) is Angelique.
Long Island, Blue Hill Bay, photo, p. 297
David Florian, owner of the 4,560-acre Long Island in the middle
of Blue Hill Bay sold development rights to all but 240 acres
of the island to Acadia National Park. The price was $6.7 million,
but one of the stipulations of the deal was that Florian remove
the resident herd of buffalo that have roamed the island for years.
Florian ostensibly brought the buffalo to the island to keep the
vegetation down when goats succumbed to the harsh winters. No
doubt, the buffalo kept away unwelcome curious visitors too. But
federal policy considers them a non-native species, so they have
to go. That, though, may be more difficult than it sounds. Florian
has placed baited cages on the island, but the buffalo don't seem
inclined to leave. For them, Long Island is home, home where the
buffaloes still roam.
Bass Harbor, p. 302-304
Early this year the Hinckley Company announced its plan to acquire
Bass Harbor Marine and transfer most of its services and employees
to their Southwest Harbor location, and Rene Osterlund reported
that by July all the services were gone, and the yard was closed.
The Deck House Restaurant and Cabaret Theater (244-5044)(p. 303)
has also flown the coop. It is now at the head of the dock at
Great Harbor Marina in Southwest Harbor (p. 305)
Little Cranberry Island, p. 314-315
Aaron Scharff reports that instead of two white LCYC moorings
there is only one, and it's pink. Another white one is marked
"guest," and it's free.
Frenchboro, p. 289-291
Lunt Harbor is not the isolated place it once was. At least not
in the summer. In addition to having become a major club-cruise
destination, two new cruise charter boats run from Bass Harbor
to Frenchboro for meals at Lunt's and island hikes. Still, you
may get lucky enough to find yourself alone here or sharing it
with just the few hardy souls who actually live here, which is
just about the same thing. The winter population never topped
18 in the winter of 1996.
Southwest Harbor, for the boat, p. 305
We were rescued in the kindest way by Downeast Diesel and Marine
this summer. Indigo lost her fuel pump off 'tit Manan as we motored westward in flat
calms and strong currents in the waning light of day. Of course,
our spare was back home on the workbench among the rest of the
boat junk I had deemed superfluous this Spring and unworthy of
space aboard the Great Ship (could this be mechanical revenge?).
After several hours of wallowing, the Mother of Invention prevailed
over the numerous other mothers that sprang forth, and we managed
to jury-rig the pump. We also solved a few air leaks, adjusted
the valves, replaced several fuel filters several times, and gave
our children a whole litany of new vocabulary in the process.
We chugged--chugging has never felt so fine--through the dark
and through the minefields of lobster buoys to put in to Islesford
that night and in to Southwest Harbor the next morning. Downeast
owner John Spofford not only had the somewhat rare Volvo pump
on the shelf, but, without taking a cent or even our name, he
lent it to us until our spare could be delivered from Casco Bay!
As a footnote, the kludged fuel pump worked so well that we used
it for the rest of the summer and left its replacement for a winter
project.
Bar Harbor, p. 318-321
Finally, we can put Bar Harbor on the map. Jeff Young of Ben and
Bill?s Chocolate Emporium has come up with lobster ice cream.
Jeff apparently is no great fan of lobster, but he says the salty
flavor of lobster goes really well with the sweet vanilla. "I
also got a few secret things in there that kind of beat the fishy
taste," he adds. Good idea.
Sorrento Harbor, for the crew, p. 323, col. 1, bottom
We write that Le Domaine restaurant will pick up wayward sailors
for dinner, and that the dinner is expensive, but superb. Dr.
Wallace Feldman writes, "Well, one out of three's not too bad,
eh? It IS expensive. Several people in the group we cruised with
found: (a) no free pickup from Sorrento or anywhere else, and
(b) the food was mediocre at best, and most of it was even worse.
Perhaps there's been an ownership change?"
DOWN EAST
Corea, moorings, p. 333
There no longer is a guest mooring in the harbor entrance, nor
is there much water at low except hard by the Co-op. Visiting
yachts seem to be using a couple of vacant moorings in the mouth
of the shallow bight to the north of the Co-op, though they are
close to the ledges off the shore and their condition is dubious
at best. Bill Page discovered his Mimi Rose gently drifting out
of the harbor one night this summer complete with mooring ball
and chain. It should be stressed that Corea is a very tight harbor,
and there may not be room for your boat. Arrive early, and have
a back-up plan in case there is no room.
Eastern Bay, p. 341 (chart 13326, 12th ed., chart kit 77)
Relocate nun "6", off the western tip of Head Harbor Island, to
44-30-51.8N, 067-33-48.4W.
Jonesport, anchorages, moorings, p. 344 (chart 13326, 12th ed.,
chart kit 77)
Relocate the Sawyer Cove light to the end of the breakwater, 44-31-47.0N,
067-35-38.4W.
Aquaculture, p. 354
Salmon farming in Maine has had a tough time competing with farm-raised
salmon raised in Chili and sold--some say dumped--on the American
market at or below production cost. Maine now has 12 salmon farms,
half as many as five years ago.
But salmon is only the tip of the iceberg in Maine's aquacultural
innovation. Sea Run Holdings in Kennebunk is developing a new
clotting agent from the blood of Maine-grown steelhead trout.
Coastal Plantations International has set up a nori farm in Cobscook Bay and has helped set up similar operations
in the Bagaduce River near Castine and at Grand Manan.
Doctors and scientists at the Mount Desert Biological Laboratory
are investigating the skate egg case, or purse, for material that
may replace the commonly rejected screws and pins used in human
surgery. They are also working on converting the chitin of lobster
and shrimp shells into an artificial skin for burn victims. The
state's biggest aquacultural operation, Atlantic Salmon Maine,
raises salmon for blood plasma work.
And Coast of Maine, Inc. is taking the organic waste from aquacultural
operations and creating gourmet compost and fertilizers with names
like Penobscot and Cobscook Blend. Their latest concoction is
simply fermented salmon. "It's kind of stinky...but it works wonders..."
says the president. Put that in your pot and grow it.
Cutler, p. 355
Watt Webb reports that the bottom may be fouled by sharp iron.
Beware if your rode is nylon. This comment was erroneously placed under Corea in the original
version of this Notices. Our aplologies.
PASSAMAQUODDY BAY
Grand Manan Channel, p. 370 (Chart 13394M 2nd ed., Canadian chart
4340, 4342)
Change north cardinal buoy (44-59-57.3N, 066-55-18.9W) to east
cardinal buoy, symbol and label BYB, "UVC."
Lubec, p. 381-382
There's big news in Lubec. The town just completed a large, new
marina this spring in the hopes of luring cruisers to some of
the finest cruising grounds anywhere. Moose Island Marine has
opened a small chandlery there, and there is a new restaurant,
The Waterside, nearby. They've also given Water Street a new facelift,
painting all the facades of the buildings, so our "ghost town"
photo no longer does it justice.
The new marina is a series of docks moored to the bottom with
helical coils and large bungee cords to compensate for the large
tides. It has plenty of depth, fresh water, electricity and phone
hook-ups, and some of the best views on the coast.
Eastport, p. 383-385
In keeping with the bigger-is-always-better philosophy of big
government or with the something-is-better-than-nothing efforts
to boost the local economy, construction has begun on a marine
industrial site at Estes Head around a two-berth 600-foot pier.
The company that won the $1.35 million building contract from
the Maine Department of Transportation, Fundy Contractors, Ltd.,
is--surprise!--Canadian.
APPENDIX
A. Emergency numbers
Please add the Coast Guard Oil Spill Response (1-800-424-8802)
F. Saltwater Fishing
Stripped bass regulations were changed for the summer of 1996.
Keepers must be between 20 and 26 inches or greater than 40 inches.
The bag limit is two fish each day, but only one of the fish may
be of the small size and only one may be of the big size. And
they may only be caught by hook and line.
These regulations are working, and the fish are rebounding. Record
numbers of strippers returned to Maine this past summer, and much
of the best fishing can be done off the shore where the strippers
cluster to feed.
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