Potts Harbor
Last edited by:
- Howard Coon
- April 15, 2024
- 11:30 am
- 0 comments
Region:
Photo: Courtesy of Dolphin Marine
You’ve just been awakened from a night of slumber by a knocking on your hull. You come up from below to be greeted by a smiling dock attendant delivering a fresh blueberry muffin and hot coffee. You are either dreaming, or you have spent the night at The Dolphin Marina and Restaurant, a family-owned operation in business for over 50 years. Located at the end of Harpswell Neck about halfway between Portland and Small Point, The Dolphin is a favorite with Casco Bay locals and those cruising to or from Down East Maine.
Approach & Cautions
Photo: Courtesy of Dolphin Marina
If approaching from the west, keep bell buoy “6”, Little Birch Island and Horse Island to port. The marina lies ahead once you pass Horse Island. If approaching from the east, turn to starboard once clear of Lighted Gong “8” at the end of Bailey Island and head for Nun “2” at the northern end of Haskell Island. From there, a windy but well-marked passage between Haskell and Potts Point brings you into the harbor.
Docking, Anchorages, or Moorings
The Dolphin has dockage and moorings and anchoring is mud bottom in 20-30 feet of water around the fringes of the mooring field. The harbor is well protected from ocean swell and against the prevailing southerlies but can be unsettled in easterly breezes. The approach to the docks is deepwater, with 12’ on the face dock at mean low.
VHF
Ch. 9
FUEL
Diesel and gas
WATER
yes
ELECTRICITY
30/50 amp
SHOWERS
yes
LAUNDRY
yes
WIFI
yes
PUMP OUT
yes
SERVICES
Hauling, crane and emergency dive services, courtesy vehilce
TRASH
yes
MEDICAL
Mid Coast Hospital part of the MaineHealth system, is in Brunswick.
MORE BOAT AMENITIES
Getting Ashore
Photo: Courtesy of Points East Magazine
The Dolphin runs launch service during operating hours. Dinghy tie-up on the docks available to those anchoring.
Photo: Courtesy of Uncle Pete's Community Market
Provisioning
Up the road 4.5 miles at 1220 Harpswell Neck Rd is Uncle Pete’s Community Market, a small grocery with take-out items. Brunswick lies 12 miles away and is accessible via the Dolphin’s courtesy vehicle. You can meet virtually any provisioning need in the town center or in the Cook’s Corner area – Hannaford and Shaw’s supermarkets, three farmers markets (info here), a Walmart and several hardware stores.
Photo: Courtesy of Dolphin Marina & Restaurant
Dine Out
In addition to the Dolphin, Erica’s Seafood lies right next to the Dolphin and there are numerous dining options if you can secure transportation to Bath or Brunswick.
Photo: Jill Valente, AllTrails.com
Hikes
In addition to hiking the shoreline at Basin Point there are several hikes within a short car or bike ride. The Harpswell Heritage Land Trust publishes an online summary of hikes in Harpswell. Other places to explore a short distance from Basin Point include Eagle Island (summer residence of Arctic explorer Adm. Robert E Peary) and Whaleboat Island. Eagle Island will be closed this summer due to the damage incurred in the 2024 winter storms that destroyed the pier and eroded the shoreline in front of the house as well as the east seawall and bastion, but you can see it in the great video on their web page. Whaleboat is a Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserve.
Photo: Courtesy of Bowdoin College Museum of Art
Other Things To Do
Brunswick, 10 miles distant, is the home of Bowdoin College, has an Amtrak station (service to Boston) and an executive airport. Check out Bowdoin’s International Music Festival, Museum of Art, and Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum as well as the Maine State Music Theater
OUR REVIEWS
What CCA Members are saying:
Potts Harbor is a well-protected spot and a convenient stopover on the way down east since it sits at the end of the Harpswell peninsula. The Dolphin Restaurant and Marina is at the heart of the harbor and is a favorite weekend getaway destination for Casco Bay locals. And, they really do deliver coffee and blueberry muffins to your boat in the morning!
Howard Coon
