Boothbay Harbor, the western arm of Booth Bay, is one of the best anchorages on the Maine coast. The harbor is spacious and well sheltered, and has good holding ground. The town of Boothbay Harbor, at the head of the harbor, is an important summer resort and yachting center, with a hospital, hotels, and motels. Fishing, boatbuilding, and summer tourists are its main industries. A number of excursion, sightseeing, charter, and party fishing boats operate from the harbor to the outlying islands and surrounding waters in the summer.

Prominent features

Burnt Island, partly wooded, is marked on the southeast side by Burnt Island Light (43°49.5'N., 69°38.4'W.), 61 feet above the water, shown from a white conical tower with covered way to a dwelling; a fog signal is at the light. White sectors in the light from 307° to 316° cover the fairway in the approach eastward of Squirrel Island from Fisherman Island Passage, and from 355° to 008°, the approach westward of the island from the south and westward.

Mouse Island, northward of Burnt Island, is wooded; it has a private float landing on the north side with a depth of about 12 feet, and a pier and float landing on the east side. A flagstaff on the east side of the island and several homes are prominent.

The tower and buildings of the Maine Department of Marine Resources fish hatchery and laboratory on McKown Point and the footbridge across the head of the harbor are conspicuous. A tower with a flashing red light above the harbor was also reported to be very prominent.

Channels

Two deep natural channels lead into the harbor. The easterly and widest leads between Spruce Point on the east, and Squirrel, Burnt, and Mouse Islands on the west. The westerly one leads between those islands and Southport Island on the west, but is narrow in places. Most of the dangers are marked and have been described.

The chart and the aids if carefully followed should be sufficient guidance for strangers to enter at any time.

Anchorage

Anchorage can be found in 24 to 42 feet for large vessels in the outer harbor northward of Tumbler Island and off McKown Point. The inner harbor has depths of 6 to 24 feet. The anchorage most used by small craft is on the northwest side of the inner harbor, northeastward of McFarland Island, where there are general depths of 10 to 12 feet, when clear of the ledge around the island.

Most craft anchor off the wharves, but there are numerous private moorings, guest moorings maintained by the yacht clubs, and those for hire by the various service facilities. However, it is sometimes difficult to secure adequate swinging room.

Dangers

The approaches to the harbor are generally deep and clear with most of the dangers marked. Tumbler Island Ledge, off the west side of Spruce Point, covered 9 feet, is marked on its west side by a buoy. A lighted buoy, about 225 yards west-northwestward of Tumbler Island, marks the ledges extending westward and northwestward of the island. The wooded island has a house and a prominent flagpole on it, and a pier with float landing extends from its northeastern end.

The passage between Tumbler Island and Spruce Point should not be attempted by strangers as it is shoal and foul; strangers should not anchor there.

Clam Rock, about 700 yards northeastward of Tumbler Island, close to shore, is unmarked, as are 10 and 12-foot rocky ledges, 250 yards southwestward, and 150 yards westward, respectively, of the rock. A 14-foot rocky ledge, about 300 yards southwestward of McFarland Island is unmarked, but the ledges surrounding the island are marked on the south side by a lighted buoy.

Caution

In summer the inner harbor is nearly filled with all types of fishing and pleasure craft. At night, many of these are often unlighted, and great care should be exercised in approaching the anchorage to avoid fouling them or any of the numerous unoccupied moorings, which also are often unlighted. The footbridge across the head of the harbor has a small drawspan with a clearance of 4 feet.

Tides and currents

The mean range of tide is 8.8 feet. Tidal currents have little velocity in the harbor.

Ice

In severe winters, ice occasionally obstructs navigation above Tumbler Island during February and March. In normal winters the harbor is free of ice to the footbridge.

Pilotage, Boothbay Harbor

Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under registry with a draft of 9 feet or more. Pilotage is optional for fishing vessels and vessels powered predominantly by sail. Pilots are available to take all vessels through restricted or difficult passages such as the inside passage through Townsend Gut and Sasanoa River to the Kennebec River. The pilots address is Shipping Services Inc., P.O. Box 104, Southport, ME 04576-0104; telephone, 207-633-3666; FAX 207-633-5641, e-mail: knnbcshpplt@clinic.net; radiotelephone, VHF-FM channels 16 and 13. The pilots also serve vessels transiting through Kennebec River to Bath, Sheepscot River to Wiscasset, and Boothbay Harbor. The pilot station monitors radiotelephone VHF-FM channel 13 when expecting traffic. The pilot boat monitors VHF-FM channels 13 and 16, and works channels 11, 13, 16, and 80A. The pilot boat description varies; mariners should ask the pilot before arrival. The pilot boat will display the standard running lights; sometimes an escort tug, if needed, is used. The pilot boarding location varies according to the sea condition. When needed, the ship’s pilot ladder should be rigged one meter above the water. A 48-hour and a 24-hour advance notice of arrival is requested from the vessel’s agent. Kennebec and Sheepscot Rivers are normally daylight pilotage only. In the Kennebec River, depending on the vessel’s size, night transits are sometimes made by radar. Boothbay Harbor pilotage is available anytime.

Portland Pilots, Inc. serves Kennebec River: telephone 207-774-5623, FAX 207-774-5683. Bath Iron Works Pilot is at the telephone and Fax numbers mentioned earlier for Shipping Services, Inc.

Towage

Tugs are stationed at Bath and Southport. Contact the pilots for tug service.

A hospital with pier and float landing is about 0.4 mile north-northeast of McKown Point.

A Boothbay Harbor Coast Guard Station is on McKown Point.

Harbor regulations

Harbor regulations and moorings in the harbor are under the supervision of the harbormaster, who can be reached through the town office, through any of the service facilities along the waterfront, or on VHF-FM channel 6 or 16. A speed limit of 5 knots in the harbor is enforced.

Wharves

There are service wharves and marinas, almost all with float landings, which have reported depths of 4 to 15 feet alongside. A town float landing with a reported depth of 6 feet alongside is at the draw of the swing footbridge at the northeastern end of the harbor; another town landing is on the west side of the harbor. Piers and buildings of several seafood processing plants are along the easterly shore of the harbor.

The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club operates from float landings on the south shore of the village of West Boothbay Harbor, northward of McKown Point; depths of 12 feet are reported alongside the landings. The club maintains several guest moorings.

Small-craft facilities

There are excellent shipbuilding, boatbuilding, and small-craft repair facilities along the entire town waterfront in the eastern part of the harbor.

Communications

Taxi service, both local and to coastal bus service at Wiscasset, is available. Ferry service to the islands is maintained throughout the year.

Location