Quote:
Originally Posted by crayiii
Are there good anchorage for storm protection that we should be looking at?
Is it pretty cruiser friendly up there?
Are there good boat yards that can handle a 26 foot beam?
If not Maine, where?
|
1) Lots of
anchorages, many well protected from the usual summer
weather. We almost never get hurricanes, but if we did there would be plenty of advance warning. And it would likely be less severe than if it hit farther south.
2) Yes, the people are friendly to cruisers, and there are a lot of other cruisers whose company you can enjoy, too. As anywhere, you might find some grumpy folks, like
commercial fishermen and lobstermen. Especially if you are from away and present an arrogant or demeaning attitude toward the locals and local
customs. But that's true anywhere.
3) There are boat yards that can haul you. At least one in
Portland, and probably others elsewhere. But catamarans aren't common, so the yards that can haul one are fewer and farther between than you might like.
4) Maine has some fantastic cruising. You'll never see it all. From there, you can also take side trips to
Nova Scotia, the Chesapeake or the St. Lawrence.
A lot also depends on your style of cruising. If you're looking for a place to
anchor for the whole summer, with easy access to a large city, you'll probably be disappointed. You'd be better off at a seasonal
mooring managed by a marina.
If you like to explore less populated areas,
cruise around a lot, see new places, with occasional stops for
repairs,
provisioning, or a night on the town, then Maine is your place.