Shipbuilding History Cruise
See historic Bath’s waterfront, a stretch of river where a majority of this Country’s Large Wooden Schooners were built in the heydays of wooden ships. We will pass Maine Maritime Museum, The Bath Iron Works and the Bath Waterfront Park on our way to Thorne’s Head. We will then cross the river to Day’s Ferry where a large Eagles nest is usually inhabited. Returning down river on the Woolwich side of the Kennebec, and depending on the tide, a few interesting explorations may be possible. Learn about the Kennebec ice trade and other little known facts about our heritage. We enjoy a beautiful cruise through Hanson Bay in Woolwich down The Sasanoa River to through Upper & Lower Hells Gates to Rigg’s Cove and Robinhood Marina. Slicing our way through Goose Rock Passage we enter the Sheepscot River, pass Middle mark island where there are usually lots of seals to visit. Then we proceed to the mouth of the river and Hendrick’s Head Lighthouse, and a short cruise through beautiful Five Islands Harbor a working fishing village and home of Five Islands Lobster Co. We then return to Bath on The Little Sheepscot River, and tides permitting Little Hells Gates and The Back River.
Please ask for details and we can customize the itinerary to match your interests and time constraints. A 1 hour stop at Five Islands Seafood or The Osprey Restaurant is available most days.
Allow 2 Hours.
Richmond & Swan Island
The Kennebec River between Bath and Richmond is breathtaking and full of wildlife. We will travel through “Burnt Jacket”, past the site of former “Boothbay Camp” and Burnt Jacket Tidal Mills. We will visit with a large family of seals at Lines Island, and continue past Chopp’s Point and into Merrymeeting Bay. This is where the Androscoggin, Cathance and Muddy River’s meet the Kennebec.
As we travel North we will pass many signs of the past history of this river, then we will approach Swan Island and Court-house Point. If the tide permits we will pass between Swan and Little Swan Island and onward to Richmond. Richmond has a very nice Waterfront Park and Dockage system where we can visit as desired. There is a Take out store, Restaurants, and The Old Goat Tavern close by our ship.
Once underway we will continue through the back pass of Swan & Little Swan Island (tide permitting) and return to the main waterway. Heading south we will pass Beans Rock, Thorne’s Head and visit our favorite Eagles nest.
Allow 2 Hours (Add 1 hour for an “Annabella’s” or “Old Goat” experience.)
C: Around Arrowsic
Travel on three distinctively different rivers as we circle Arrowsic Island. We will depart Bath and travel down the Sasanoa River, home to many Osprey as well as Bald Eagles, and a famous stretch of water called “Hells Gates” entering the Back River. The Back River between Georgetown and Arrowsic islands has to be one of Maine’s best-kept secrets. A narrow pass with protected land on both sides, and home to abundant wildlife, you will want to have your camera ready. This portion of this trip requires 3/4 to full high tide.
We will pass under Georgetown’s New Bridge and will continue past Marrtown, Bluff’s Head and enter the Kennebec. Traveling North, we will pass Squirrel Point Light House to the Starboard and Phippsburg Center to port.
Lee Island and its history is worth a brief discussion, and then we will follow the Doubling Point Range Lights past Fiddlers Reach, around Doubling Point into the Bath Area.
Allow 2 Hours
D: Boothbay The Back Way
We will depart Bath on The Kennebec, and travel down The Sasanoa through Upper and Lower Hells Gates, then through Riggs Cove and Goose Rock Passage into the Sheepscot River. After a brief rendezvous with the Seal population at Middle Mark Island we will pass by the famous manual swing bridge to Barters Island and Trevett home of the Trevett Country Store where we can replenish our stores if required.
We will then pass Isle of Springs, and Sawyer Island and head out through Townsend Gut and circum-navigate famous Boothbay Harbor. We will afford different scenery on the way home by crossing the Sheepscot River, and a short visit to Five Islands, and then return on the Little Sheepscot and Sasanoa & Back Rivers to Bath.
Allow 3 Hours
Option 1: Add Lighthouses
Weather Permitting, From Boothbay Harbor to Burnt Island Light, Ram Island Light, around Squirrel Island, The Cuckolds, and around Southport to Hendricks Head Light and then to Five Islands.
Adds 1 Hour Weather Permitting
Option 2: Add More Lighthouses
After Hendricks Head, we will continue out around Griffiths Head to the Mother of all lights, Seguin Island Light. Then we will enter The Mighty Kennebec at Pond Island Light, proceed past beautiful Fort Popham, Perkins Island Light, Squirrel Point Light, The range Lights, and Doubling Point Light. This is a weather and seas permitting option.
Adds 2 Hours weather permitting
E: THE GRAND TOUR
This cruise will encompass most all of the sights of all the trips above, “Conditions Permitting” includes a 1HR RestStop in Richmond to do as you like.
Allow 7 HRS
