Maine & New Hampshire Pilot Notes
Coastal Summary 22
Camden 27
West Quoddy Head to Cross Island 23
Rockland 7
Jonesport 25
Muscongus Bay to Casco Bay 30
Schoodic Point to Isle Au Haut 25
Boothbay Harbor 30
Bar Harbor 25
Casco Bay 32
Northeast Harbor 26
Portland ME 32
Southwest Harbor 26
Cape Elizabeth to Portsmouth 34
Approaches to Penobscot Bay 26
Portsmouth to Newburyport 34
Portsmouth NH 34
Coastal Summary
Portsmouth, NH. Be cautious of high-speed
The Maine coastline extends from the Ca- ferry traffic in the vicinity of Bar Harbor.
nadian border to the Piscataqua River and Throughout the region small fishing boats
the New Hampshire border to the S. Exten- present a hazard in fog and inshore lobster
sive networks of islands, bays and passages pots frequently encroach on marked chan-
provide numerous possible routes betweeen nels. Fish weirs are also found in many of the
most ports. easternmost harbors.
The coastline of Maine abounds with rock From the Canadian border to Schoodic
ledges, many of which are only visible at low Point, there are few safe havens, and the
tide. Exercise caution when transiting be- coastline is largely barren. There are fewer
tween the islands and pay special attention sheltered routes along the passage, and
to daymarks. stronger tidal currents inshore and along the
Water temperatures drop dramatically from coast. W of Schoodic marks the beginning of
the S end of the region to the N, and quick- the more popular cruising grounds.
forming fog is common throughout the en- Mount Desert Island sits between French-
tire region. mans Bay and Blue Hill Bay, and there are
Prevailing winds are SW in the summer, several inshore passages among the islands
generally weak in the mornings and picking connecting Blue Hill and Penobscot Bays,
up through the day. including Eggemoggin Reach, Deer Island
The tidal range is 7–10ft from New Hamp- Thorofare and Fox Island Thorofare. The
shire to Penobscot Bay, but averages 10–15ft passages from Penobscot to Casco are more
E of Penobscot. exposed, but there are several smaller bays
Commercial traffic is heaviest in Casco Bay and islands offering sheltered anchorage.
in the vicinity of Portland Harbor where large From Portland to Portsmouth, the coastline
tankers, fishing vessels, and small container is largely exposed and there are few safe ha-
ships are frequent. To the N, large ship traffic vens. The Isles of Shoals, off Portsmouth, of-
also encountered in the vicinity of the Penob- fers no protection in heavy weather.
scot River and the Piscaqua River to the S in
Planning
13283 Cape Neddick to Isles of Shoals
13286 Cape Elizabeth To Portsmouth
NOAA Coastal Charts
13278 Portsmouth To Cape Ann
(1:80,000 scale)
Customs Ports of Entry:
13286 Cape Elizabeth To Portsmouth
Calais • Eastport • Jonesport • Bar Harbor • Belfast • Bangor
13288 Monhegan Is. To Cape Elizabeth
U.S. Coast Guard: VHF 16 or 2182 kHz.)
13302 Penobscot Bay And Apprs Maine
USCG Stations:
13312 Frenchman And Blue Hill Bays
Eastport • Jonesport • Southwest Harbor • Rockland
13325 Quoddy Narrows To Petit Manan Isl
Boothbay Harbor • South Portland • Portsmouth Harbor.
22