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ThereAndBack · 24-06-2019, 13:04

Guys and gals,

I'm hot. My boat doesn't have AC and I'm thinking about taking a jump up north to beat the heat.

I've never been north of Virginia though so it is all a mystery to me. Looking around it seems like every marina on active captain is always completely booked and full and charging literally 4 to 10 times the rates of marinas in the south. Is this accurate?

Anyone have advice on places that are cooler in the summer to spend a few months that can take a wide cat with "transients" (we will stay aboard).

Thanks for any help,
TAB

**Dockhead** · 24-06-2019, 13:08

God, isn't that obvious -- MAINE! And Newfoundland! Best cruising in the Western Hemisphere. You won't ever want to go South again after that.

ThereAndBack · 24-06-2019, 13:44

Care to suggest a few spots there?

**Dockhead** · 24-06-2019, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThereAndBack

Care to suggest a few spots there?

The entire coast. Maine is something like Sweden. Not as good as Sweden, but, still, a highly indented coastline with thousands of islands (rather than millions, like Sweden and Finland). You don't really need a plan -- you just need a good anchor. You won't need marinas more than once a week.

belizesailor · 24-06-2019, 13:57

Agree. New England is one of the best areas on the planet to be for Summer!

pjShap · 24-06-2019, 14:00

I find Maine the nicest cruising area on the whole USA east coast, although you need to be aware of fog and lobster pots, and rocks. Not much sand in Maine. This has been the best cruising guide for many years and is well worth purchasing if you're thinking about the trip:
https://www.maineCoastGuide.com/

belizesailor · 24-06-2019, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjShap

I find Maine the nicest cruising area on the whole USA east coast, although you need to be aware of fog and lobster pots, and rocks...

...and big tides, and big tidal currents.

jhulmer · 25-06-2019, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dockhead

God, isn't that obvious -- MAINE! And Newfoundland! Best cruising in the Western Hemisphere. You won't ever want to go South again after that.

Absolutely! my vote too.

I like Boothsbay, Maine - good marinas and central to most everything.

Also, Camden, Rockland, Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay area.

I have been cruising Maine every year for the last 9 years for a couple weeks each and haven't seen it all nor have I tired of it. Beautiful cruising!

When its 105 deg in the shade in the south it is a beautiful 75 deg in Maine and Nova Scotia. Shelburne, Nova Scotia is only a three day passage from Boothsbay and a month there cruising the east coast is not enough.
You won't regret the trip up there either!

kes · 25-06-2019, 09:02

First post here and I'll jump on the Maine bandwagon as well. Peaceful and idyllic with terrific cruising. I look forward to a Maine cruise every summer with its great evening air conditioning with no humidity!

Between the Maine Coast Guide mentioned above, a copy of the Maptech Embassy Cruising Guide for the New England Coast and a good chartbook the only thing left will be your imagination. Most harbors will have at least enough of a choice for short provisioning in the way of a fish market, bakery, meat market, produce and a place to get a bottle of wine or some cold beer and that works for me!

As far as big tides, Maine has penty of water.

jhulmer · 25-06-2019, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjShap

I find Maine the nicest cruising area on the whole USA east coast, although you need to be aware of fog and lobster pots, and rocks. Not much sand in Maine. This has been the best cruising guide for many years and is well worth purchasing if you're thinking about the trip:
https://www.maineCoastGuide.com/

Maine has sand! just really large grains!

SVTwilight · 25-06-2019, 11:38

Maine is wonderful, yet wet and foggy and expensive for dockage.

Nova Scotia is wonderful, drier, less foggy esp north of Lunenburg.

Plus nearly unlimited free anchorages with no one else around.

When you do want a dock they cost about the same as a mooring in New England.

Dont pass by Cape Cod either. Lots of protected free anchorages and great weather!

Enjoy!

ArmyDaveNY · 25-06-2019, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThereAndBack

I've never been north of Virginia though so it is all a mystery to me. Looking around it seems like every marina on active captain is always completely booked and full and charging literally 4 to 10 times the rates of marinas in the south. Is this accurate?
TAB

I agree with Maine.

Stay away from NYC and Long Island Sound as they are brutally hot most summers (I don't understand why anyone visits in July or August, and June and September can be rough too). Rhode Island, at least towards the sound is not as bad. Also, the most marinas in NYC and Long Island Sound are grossly overpriced.