POTTS HARBOR

43° 44.32’N 070° 02.35’W

4th ed. Cruising Guide page 87 Maine Coast Guide: Casco Bay 143-145

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Charts: 13290, 13288

Chart Kit: 60, 17

Casco Bay overview chart Harbor chart

POTTS HARBOR is a great, wide-open bay at the southern end of Harpswell Neck. At first glance, it appears exposed to prevailing winds. Inside, however, the surrounding islands and ledges provide reasonable protection all the way around. Easy to enter, with adequate facilities, Potts is a good stop for yachts traveling east or west or exploring Casco Bay.
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Approaches. Harbor chart. From outside Casco Bay, run from Halfway Rock, with its 76-foot lighthouse, to red-and-white bell “BS” (43° 41.72’N 070° 03.44’W) at the entrance to Broad Sound. In Broad Sound, expect a considerable current on the ebb or flood. Pass between green gong “1” and nun “2” southwest of Eagle Island.
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Round to starboard between the red nun “4” on the ledge west of Upper Flag Island and red bell “6” off Little Birch Island. From there, the entrance between Horse Island and Thrumcap into Potts Harbor is wide and easy.
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From the east, there is a well-marked, if circuitous, channel into Potts which should be attempted only in good visibility. Start with nun “2” north of Haskell Island, which should be left to starboard, and follow the channel buoys—reds to starboard and greens to port—around the hairpin to the south and then north and west again into Potts.
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Anchorages, Moorings. The charts show the anchorage inside the southwest tip of Harpswell Neck. This is the location of Dolphin Marine where you can obtain a mooring for the night or lie alongside the floats in a low-tide depth of 6 feet.
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If you prefer to anchor, the mud bottom is shallow, and there is plenty of swinging room near the moored boats.
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Potts Harbor is almost a mile across, so it may not be a quiet anchorage in heavy weather. Quite a chop can build up. In a blow from the north or east, you might consider anchoring east of Ash Point.
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If a hurricane threatens, consider Basin Cove which is virtually landlocked, but definitely don’t attempt the entrance in anything but your dinghy without local knowledge.
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Getting Ashore. Row your dinghy in to the floats at Dolphin Marine.
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For the Boat. Dolphin Marine Services, Inc. (207-833-6000). This laid-back, locally-oriented marina pumps gas and diesel in and holding tanks out. Water is unavailable, however, because it is drawn from a well. Ice and a pay phone are ashore. Dolphin hauls boats to 40 feet with their hydraulic trailer and ramp, and a mechanic is on hand.
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For the Crew. Whether you are nestled in a booth or seated at the counter, Dolphin Marine’s restaurant has a wonderful warm, steamy atmosphere on a blustery gray day. In August, the nearby field is loaded with succulent blueberries.
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Things to Do. In late July, the peace and tranquility of Potts Harbor will be blasted to smithereens by the roar of the Maine lobsterboat races. Souped-up boats battle in diesel and gas categories of different lengths for the title of the fastest lobsterboat.

At the end of the narrow slot leading northeast from Potts Harbor is a large lobster dock, dredged to 10 feet some years ago. Row west through the narrow spot across the remnants of a rock dam and into Basin Cove, a primordial and magical place. For a long way, the cove’s western shore is privately owned and a sanctuary for birds. You may see great blue herons roosting high in the trees, or night herons, little green herons, or snowy egrets.
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Make this trip at slack water. The tide pours hard in and out of Basin Cove. And be sure to row; an outboard will frighten the birds.