JONESPORT

44° 29.83’N 067° 31.64’W

4th ed. Cruising Guide page 348

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Charts: 13326, 13325

Chart Kit: 77, 24

Downeast region overview chart Harbor chart

JONESPORT, like Beals Island across Moosabec Reach, is a fishing town. The shores are lined with docks piled with lobster gear, and lobsterboats are moored in every cove.
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This is the best place in the area to pick up supplies, most of which are found east of the bridge in town. The Coast Guard station, with search and rescue capabilities, is in West Jonesport, just west of the bridge (Ch. 16; 497-2200).
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Each year, the Fourth of July Races are held here to determine the “World’s Fastest Lobsterboat.” The races began in dories around the time of the Civil War. Dories were succeeded by Friendship sloops, then by boats powered with naphtha engines, and finally by the handsome, powerful, and seaworthy Jonesport lobsterboats of today.
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Approaches. Harbor chart. Moosabec Reach is a narrow thoroughfare, with lots of traffic and considerable current, flooding east and ebbing west. The eastern entrance is well marked, starting with green bell “1” north of Mark Island, but the passage quickly narrows with little leeway between the ledges. It is difficult in low visibility. If caught in the fog, favor the north side or anchor in mud just outside the channel.
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Anchorages, Moorings. Jonesport’s harbor lies in Sawyer Cove behind a 1,200-foot steel and stone breakwater that extends across the mouth from the east. The breakwater is new enough not to show on the charts. It provides good shelter from southeast winds but less from the prevailing southwesterlies. Enter the anchorage at the west end of the breakwater. The harbor is tightly packed with moored boats, and it quickly becomes ledgy toward its head. It is unlikely that you will find room to anchor, but you may be lucky enough to be directed to a vacant mooring. Otherwise, temporary dockage can be had on the town marina floats (the easternmost of the docks) with 3 feet at low or on a vacant mooring until something more permanent can be arranged. Ask at the floats, at the Jonesport Shipyard, at Look’s, or contact the harbormaster.
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Getting Ashore. Row into the town marina.
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For the Boat. Town Marina (harbormaster Russell Batson, 207-497-5931; town hall 497-5926). The town marina consists of the recently rebuilt and enlarged town wharf and floats and a launching ramp and parking. The first, southernmost float is for commercial vessels only. The other float, to the north, is for the limited docking of recreational boats. Despite the longer wharf, both floats only have about 3 feet of depth at low tide.
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Jonesport Shipyard (Ch. 09, 16; 207-497-2701, 800-544-3708). Jonesport Shipyard is located east of the town floats near the head of the harbor. They can haul and repair boats up to 17 tons or 45 feet, and they provide showers, laundry, and ice. Don’t be tempted to reach the shipyard by boat, or you’ll find the bottom instead.
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Look Lobster (Ch. 77; 207-497-2353). Look’s floats and buildings are opposite the west end of the breakwater. Gas is available at the floats, and diesel is available halfway up the dock. Come at halftide or better—there is only a foot of water off the floats at low, and a ledge lurks a couple of boatlengths eastward of the floats. Look’s also sells ice and frozen crabmeat.
For the Crew. King’s Hardware store, right up from the landing, carries marine hardware, US and Canadian charts, and lumber. They also have a copy and fax machine. The Citgo on the corner sells block ice, milk, and beer, and the Homeport Diner, attached to the same building, serves breakfast from 5am to 10am. Walk left into town to find the post office, several takeouts, and Church’s Hardware, which is a propane and chart dealer. The street signs here are all in the shape of the Jonesport lobsterboats. The IGA is just beyond, then Tall Barney's Restaurant. There is a pay phone all the way past the Beals Island bridge, outside the firehouse.
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Things to Do. Captain Barna Norton, who lives in West Jonesport, claims direct ownership of Machias Seal Island through his great-grandfather Barna Beal, known as Tall Barney. Machias Seal Island, however, is claimed by the Canadians. Barna Norton continues the long crusade to stake United States ownership of the island. Since 1940, he has been running charter trips (497-5933) to the surrounding islands, and, in season, to his beloved Machias Seal Island, home of arctic terns, puffins, and razor-billed auks.
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The bridge to Beals Island makes an interesting walk with a nice view of the working waterfront.