BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Inner Harbor: 43° 50.90’N 069° 37.61’W W of McKown Pt.: 43° 50.72’N 069° 38.54’W

4th ed. Cruising Guide page 136

Charts: 13296, 13288

Chart Kit: 61, 62, 18

Midcoast Maine overview chart Harbor chart

BOOTHBAY HARBOR is one of the best harbors on the Maine coast. Not only is it large and well protected, it is easy to enter under all conditions. Here are all the services a yachtsman might need and then some. If you are coasting west or east, it is very convenient, less than 5 miles off the direct route.
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The harbor bustles with boats of every description and has the air of a city of the sea. Like Kennebunkport, the town is crowded and touristy, but festive. Shops and restaurants jam the streets, and the calendar is filled with summer activities.
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The town’s annual Windjammer Days festival is a wonderful spectacle, but it is popular. Reserve your berth or mooring well ahead of time.
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Approaches. Harbor chart Coming from the west, round green bell “1C” off Southport Island, leaving the Cuckholds (two little bare islets) to port. The Cuckholds Light, a good landfall, is a distinctive white octagonal tower 48 feet high on a dwelling with a foghorn and radio beacon.
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Pass either side of high Squirrel Island, observing red lighted buoy “4” if you are to the west. Head for red lighted buoy “8” off Tumbler Island, leaving Burnt Island, with a lighthouse and a horn, to port. Don’t be tempted to go inside Tumbler Island. Keep it to starboard. Leave green lighted buoy “9” to port at McFarland Island and enter the inner harbor.
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Coming from the east, find red-and-white bell “HL” at the beginning of Fisherman Island Passage, sailing north of Hypocrites, Fisherman Island, and small, grassy Ram Island with its lighthouse and foghorn. Keep the three nuns marking the ledges to the south of Linekin Neck to starboard and turn northward. Leave high Squirrel Island to port and enter as described above.
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In fog, keep your radio on to listen for securité calls—some whale-watching boats waste little time getting to the feeding grounds, even when the visibility is zero.
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Anchorages, Moorings. Because Boothbay Harbor is one of the busiest boating centers on the coast, anchoring is prohibited everywhere in the harbor except in exposed Mill Cove, on the backside of the town, north of Signal Point Marina’s docks. However, there are a dozen or more places to find a mooring or berth (see sketch map). The most convenient locations are in the inner harbor, at the northeast corner of Boothbay Harbor. Tugboat Inn Marina and Boothbay Harbor Marina are right in town.
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Carousel Marina and Brown’s Wharf Marina are well down Spruce Point along the eastern side of the harbor, about half a mile from town. The distance from town has the advantage of being less noisy.
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The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club has a good number of moorings in the less busy western part of Boothbay Harbor, inside McKown Point. Facilities are good, although it is not close to town. Other possibilities are listed below.
For the Boat: Inner Harbor, Western Side. Boothbay Harbor Marina (Ch. 09; 207-633-6003). Right next to the footbridge in town, this is a full service marina. There are several finger floats and transient dock space that can accommodate boats to 150 feet, with 16 feet of water along the outer floats. Electricity to 50 amps, cable, and water are available, and showers and a laundromat are in the building on the dock.
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Public Landing (harbormaster Ch. 09, 16; 207-633-5281). Just south of Fisherman’s Wharf Inn and Pier 6 are the floats of the public landing. Their 120-foot length can accommodate boats of up to 50 feet in depths to around 10, with a generous three-hour maximum tie-up. There are no facilities. Harbormaster Ross Maddocks keeps his launch here.
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Tugboat Inn Marina (Ch. 09; 207-633-4434; www.tugboatinn.com/marina.htm). The Tugboat Inn has a large marina and many moorings just south of Pier 8. This is the first facility on your left as you enter the inner harbor. The marina provides a large amount of dockage, which can accommodate boats to 110 feet, with 12 feet of water at the outer floats. Electricity, water, ice, pump-outs, and phones are available, but no fuel. Their moorings have bright polyball floats, and the marina is wonderful about letting you use them temporarily, even if they are reserved by somebody else for the night. Or you can reserve them yourself the morning of your arrival, but not before then. Ashore, they have very pleasant coin-operated showers and a laundromat.
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Down East Yacht Club. The club has no clubhouse, but it does have one side of a float at the northern end of the Tugboat Inn docks where you can tie up briefly to take on water and electricity. Just off their dock, the club maintains several guest moorings marked DEYC available for a fee to boats of 40 feet or less belonging to members of other clubs.
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Sample’s Shipyard (Ch. 09, 68; 207-633-3171). Around to the west from the inner harbor, Sample’s is recognizable by its yellow buildings and two marine railways. One of these is a 700-ton giant which regularly hauls huge windjammers and Coast Guard vessels. Samples has been around, they claim, “since almost forever.” During World War II they built wooden minesweepers, and for a while the shipyard was leased by the builders of Steve Dashew’s Deerfoot yachts. While the yard no longer builds ships, it has complete large-vessel repair facilities, including a machine shop. A mechanic is available at all times, and there is a chandlery. The yard maintains transient moorings, but they are quite exposed.
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Signal Point Marina (Ch. 09; 207-633-6920). This marina is near McFarland Point, at the southern end of Wotton's Lobster Dock. Its floats are tucked behind a small breakwater. Transient dockage with water, pump-outs, electricity, showers, and laundry facilities is available for boats to 60 feet. The entrance around the breakwater and close to shore is a little unnerving, but depths are reported to be 30 feet.
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For the Crew: Inner Harbor, Western Side. In this part of town, you are within a hundred yards of every kind of shop imaginable, including the small but complete—with liquor—Village Market, right in the center of town. Another liquor store and a huge Shop ‘n Save are in the shopping center north of town, .8 mile from the waterfront. Note that free trolley-buses leave from Rocktide (see below).
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One of the unique facilities serving Boothbay Harbor is Saint Andrews Hospital (633-2121), which overlooks Mill Cove where they have a dock and a float opposite the lobster docks. You can practically dinghy to the emergency room.
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For the Boat: Inner Harbor, Eastern Side. Rocktide Motor Inn (207-633-4455). The northernmost floats on the east side of the inner harbor, next to the footbridge, are for the residents of Squirrel Island. The next floats to the south belong to the Rocktide Inn and are available to anyone coming to eat or stay at the inn. The outer floats have 12 feet of water at low. Reservations are recommended.
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Cap’n Fish’s Motel and Marina (Ch. 09; 207-633-6605). Cap'n Fish has several moorings and some dockage with water and electricity for transients. Reserve ahead. Breakfast is served in the restaurant.
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Brown’s Wharf Marina (Ch. 09; 207-633-5440; www.brownswharfinn.com). Brown’s has 40 slips, with 8 to 20 feet alongside, and six transient moorings available on a first-come-first-served basis. Water, pump-outs, electricity, cable, phone, ice, and showers are available, but no fuel. The restaurant is right at the water’s edge. Brown’s operates a water taxi which runs into town every hour, as well as being available on call to any docked or moored boat.
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Carousel Marina (Ch. 09; 207-633-2922). Carousel is a large, full-service marina at the southern end of the harbor, below a block of gray condos. Their fuel dock is the only fuel in the harbor, so it tends to be busy during their business hours from 8am-6pm. It has gas, diesel, pump-outs, ice, and water. Transient dockage and rental moorings are available. Carousel’s store sells basic groceries, gifts, and marine supplies. Laundry facilities, showers, a pay phone, a sitting room with television are ashore, along with Captain Groovy's restaurant.
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Marine Supply, Inc. (207-633-0709). This small chandlery is located between the Rocktide Motor Inn and Cap'n Fish's, at 55 Atlantic Avenue.
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For the Crew: Inner Harbor, Eastern Side. Limited groceries are available at the small Eastside Market and Deli at the eastern end of the footbridge, and the Daily Catch fish market is next to Cap’n Fish’s. In addition to the restaurants at the marinas, seafood is served at the Lobster Dock (633-7120) and the Lobsterman's Co-op (633-4900). For supplies and shops and additional dining of all kinds, walk across the footbridge into town, or take the dinghy to the public landing.
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For the Boat: West of McKown Point. Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club (Ch. 09; 207-633-5750). At the northwest side of the bay, opposite McKown Point, the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club has a low, white building over the water on pilings, with a BHYC sign, a dock, and floats. The club maintains a large number of moorings, but it is a good idea to reserve ahead for weekends during big events. Launch service is provided. The floats have 20 feet of water alongside and water and electricity, but no fuel. Overnight dockage is not permitted. Bring your dinghy in to the inner float.
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The club has showers, telephones, ice, and laundry machines. Visiting yachtsmen are welcome to use the bar and restaurant if they wear jackets for the evening meals. There are also two tennis courts that visitors may use. The West Boothbay Harbor post office is next to the tennis courts.
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Blake’s Boatyard (Ch. 09; 207-633-5040). Blake’s is a small yard tucked down in the western corner of the bay, where there is the best protection in Boothbay Harbor. This is the place to be if the weather is threatening. Unfortunately, most of the moorings here are rented seasonally, so there is only occasionally room for transients. Water and electricity can be obtained at the floats, but there is only 4 feet of depth at low. The yard has three marine railways and can perform most repairs. There is a well-stocked chandlery that carries charts and hardware.

8.1.04 Alice Mutch reports that Wotton's Dock, at the mouth of Mill Cove, has been purchased by Boothbay Region Boatyard, whose main facility is on Southport Island. They plan to operate the dock as a full service marina. We will confirm this ASAP.

12.31.04 Mark White confirms: Wotton's dock has indeed been purchased by BBRBY and still sells fuel and does have dockage and is open.

There is one more marina located at the Lobster Dock Restaurant & Marine Supply property. It is called Channel Marina and overnight transient slips are sometimes available. Call Marine Supply 207-633-0709 or The Lobster Dock for availability. It is on a first come first serve basis.

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For the Crew: West of McKown Point. To get into town, call a cab or hitch a ride. Another possibility is to phone Brown’s quick and reliable water taxi (Ch. 16 or 633-5440).
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Things to Do. Wandering around town, eating ice cream cones, and watching the tourists—these are the favorite occupations in Boothbay Harbor. Despite being a tourist mecca, Boothbay Harbor has some authentic Maine holdouts. Our favorites are Grovers Hardware (633-2694) on Townsend Avenue, which opens at 7 AM, and the Romar Bowling Lanes, whose eight candlepin lanes are in an old log cabin right in the middle of town.
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A delightful evening outing is to row across the harbor to the Lobsterman’s Co-op, tie up at the float, and have a lobster or clam dinner outdoors overlooking the lobsterboats—good food at reasonable prices. For finer fair, make reservations at Christopher's Boathouse (633-6565)*, at the head of the harbor beyond the footbridge.

*8.1.04 Alice Mutch reports that Christopher's has closed. The best restaurant in town, she claims, is The Thistle.

12.31.04 Mark White adds: What a great find your web site was, great job! I live and work in Boothbay Harbor and can confirm that Christopher's at the head of the harbor has closed.

And yes The Thistle Inn is a fantastic restaurant. I want to put me 2 cents in about a wonderful evening paragraph. Your site mentions rowing over to The Lobsterman's Co-op but they don't serve wine by the bottle or champagne and is quite rustic. The Lobster Dock can accommodate transients at their marina as I mention (above) and does have bottled wine served by the glass or bottle and Champagne too. It is more of an upscale casual location and is noted for their hot lobster rolls and Prime Rib too.

Special web recomendations: Start your day at the Ebb Tide, Boothbay Harbor's most authentic breakfast spot. Lunch or dinner--or both--can be filled at Bet's Fish and Chips across from the village green in Boothbay.Some of the best authentic Thai food in the northeast can be found across the street from Christoper's Boathouse. For turf, try Captain Groovy's Cajun prime rib. Captain Groovy's was located at Carousel Marina, but they may be in the process of moving. Call (207) 633-1117 to check.
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From the waterfront in town, all sorts of excursions are available. For example you can take a trip up the Inside Passage through the Hell Gates and the Sasanoa River to Bath. If the current is running with any force, you may be glad you are in somebody else’s boat. Or circumnavigate Southport Island, or run out to historic Damariscove Island. Day-long trips depart for Monhegan, and short jaunts will take you to Squirrel Island. Noted sailor and author Roger Duncan offers day-long and half-day trips around the Boothbay area on his Friendship sloop Eastward (by reservation only, 633-4780).
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Maine’s Department of Marine Resources operates a little aquarium at the end of McKown Point near the western part of the harbor. Their displays show various fisheries, and you can reach into a “touch tank” full of live marine animals—if you dare.
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Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce

Boothbay Region Historical Society

Boothbay Register