Best Cruising Guide to Maine?

[Roniszoro]

I am looking for recommendations for a very good cruising guide to Maine, on the optimistic assumption that one exists. I'd like one that includes some charts and even photos. Thank you in advance for your input/recommendations.

Ron

[Chotu]

The absolute Bible is cruising guide to Maine Coast by Hank and Jan Taft. Now it may have been taken over by some other people at this point, but I think I saw it was still in publication.

even if a few things are different from an old version, it’s the coast of Maine. It changes very little.

[pjShap]

Rindlaub is the author now. But I think the Tafts are still listed. Great guide. Landfall Navigation carries the current edition, new this year I think.

[Hartleyg]

AMEN! The absolute best is the "Taft Guide", now edited and updated by Curtis Rindlaub. I don't think you can buy it on Amazon, but they have their own web site you can order it from: https://www.mainecoastguide.com/


Hartley
S/V Atsa

[Roniszoro]

Thank you all very much. I have ordered it from Landfall Navigation. Your help is very much appreciated.

Ron

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Roniszoro

Thank you all very much. I have ordered it from Landfall Navigation. Your help is very much appreciated.

Ron

You’re going to like it. It’s more than a guidebook.

You can literally sit down in the cabin on a quiet evening and enjoy just reading it. There are great stories in it.

[CaptTom]

For the record, the coast of Maine does change a lot.

Granted, the rocks don't move much. But buoys, lights, and sometimes channels change. Fish farms are set up. Sometimes new rocks are "reported." (How do you suppose that happens?)

But the biggest changes are the ones you really want the guide for. Anchorages are replaced by mooring fields. Mom-and-Pop marinas are bought out by Safe Harbor or condo developers. Municipalities change the rules for use of their docks and shoreside infrastructure. That sort of thing.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

For the record, the coast of Maine does change a lot.

Granted, the rocks don't move much. But buoys, lights, and sometimes channels change. Fish farms are set up. Sometimes new rocks are "reported." (How do you suppose that happens?)

But the biggest changes are the ones you really want the guide for. Anchorages are replaced by mooring fields. Mom-and-Pop marinas are bought out by Safe Harbor or condo developers. Municipalities change the rules for use of their docks and shoreside infrastructure. That sort of thing.

Ooof. I hope to hear of some positive changes as well. Those are all pretty bad.

[BoatHound]

Living in the area, best advice I can give is start at kennybunkport and talk to people and work your way up. Locals and people familiar with the area have some special places!

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Ooof. I hope to hear of some positive changes as well. Those are all pretty bad.

Well, if you're the type who likes to spend extra on "resort" destination marinas, and you don't like to anchor out, then I guess there have been lots of positive changes.

Coastal Maine is a tourist Mecca. The whole economy is geared around separating visitors from their money. Meanwhile, waterfront property everywhere has skyrocketed in value, to the point where only the wealthiest people "from away" can afford it. It's getting harder, and you have to go farther, to get away from these factors. Still possible, but nowhere near as easy and relaxing as it used to be.

The easiest thing is to just embrace it. Go for the resort marinas, hit all the tourist hot spots. Leave with some good "been there, done that" stories and selfies.