Boating in Kennebunkport River & Kennebunkport, ME

Worthy of a presidential visit
Cruisers headed farther east stop in Kennebunkport for an easy overnight. The harbor is easily accessible, has lots of options for visiting boaters, and its pedestrian friendly downtown serves shoppers and hungry travelers alike. Kennebunkport has always appealed to "outsiders." Originally founded by European fishermen as Cape Porpoise, the settlement provided an ideal place to dry cod and mackerel catches for the long journey to market. Soon popular Cape Porpoise became known as Arundel, and shipbuilding became the draw.

The maritime industry boomed during the 19th century with vessels sprouting up all along the banks of the Kennebunk River. As the shipbuilding industry waned in the late 1860s, tourism took root. Wealthy visitors attracted by the area's natural beauty built vacation "cottages" and soon the town was a premier summer destination.

Visitors still flock to Kennebunkport. Warm weather brings wall-to-wall people and traffic, but not all is bad- there's a reason people visit. Don't let the crowds deter you; shops, restaurants, and history make walking these jampacked streets worthwhile.

The rich and famous continue to congregate in town as they have for more than 100 years. Kennebunkport has often been in the national spotlight because President George H. W. Bush summers at his family compound on nearby Walker's Point.

Things to See and Do
Kennebunkport is a community rich in history. Leave the gift shops behind and join a guided walking tour of Kennebunkport (207-967-2751). Another great place to take a tour is the Seashore Trolley Museum (207-967-2712). It was started in 1939 by a forward-thinking group of young men (mostly college students) who were aware that buses were about to make trolleys obsolete. Unable to stand the thought of those cars being turned into scrap metal, they scraped together enough to buy one car and moved it to a rented piece of land in town. Sixty-five years later, it's the largest railway museum on the globe.

What would a vacation spot be without beaches? Well, not much of a vacation spot as far as we're concerned, but you don't need to fret because the Kennebunkport area has plenty. Nearby choices include Goose Rocks and the long, wide sandy stretches of Kennebunk Beach, Mother's Beach, and Gooch's Beach. If you happen to be in the area around Independence Day, note that these are the prime spots for watching the fireworks.

At mid to high tide, take your dinghy under the bridge and find out what awaits along the Kennebunk River north of town. Bird-watching is at its best in the marshland up here.

If you can't get enough of the water, the Kennebunk River's shores are lined with excursion opportunities-whale watching, puffin watching, and deep-sea fishing or simply sightseeing. Try First Chance Whale Watch (207-967-5507).

Restaurants and Provisions
The good selection of restaurants along the river guarantees a wide range of dining options. The Nonantum Resort (207- 967-4050) offers fine dining as well as pub fare in its River Jewel restaurant. Nearby, try Mabel's Lobster Claw (207- 967-2562), Stripers Fish Shack (207-967-3625), or the Landing Restaurant (207-967-4221). The Arundel Wharf Restaurant (207-967-3444) exudes seamanship; the building used to be a ship chandlery where vessels provisioned before embarking on around-the-world voyages. The romantic Windows on the Water (207-967-3313) overlooks Federal Jack's Restaurant & Brew Pub (207-967-4322), home of The Shipyard Brewing Company. Eight different ales are on tap, not to mention a full family menu. A few other restaurants to mention are Changing Tide (207-967-3993) and Alisson's (207-967-4841). If you have your finest clothing aboard, treat yourself to a five-star unforgettable meal at the White Barn Inn (207-967-2321). You can get your banking, laundry, and provisioning done at the Village Marketplace (207-967-5204). If you are in the market for a new dinghy, call Bay of Maine boats (207-967-4298).
Charts
Use ChartKit Region 2, pages 15 and 58; Maptech Waterproof Chartbook Cape Ann, MA, to Portland, ME; or Maptech Waterproof Chart 36. Also, Maptech electronic and NOAA paper chart 13286 (1:80,000 with inset).


Navigation and Anchorages
The Kennebunk River's entrance buoy, G "1" Fl G 4s BELL, is approximately 7 nm northeast of RW "PC" Mo (A) at the entrance to Perkins Cove and 2.6 nm west of the Cape Porpoise entrance.

The Kennebunk River presents few challenges to the visiting mariner. The preferred approach begins at G "1" Fl G 4s BELL and continues north-northwest. Keep "red-right-returning" in your mind and stay east of G C "3" en route to the mouth of the river. This will keep your vessel clear of Fishing Rock. You may see local boaters entering west of Fishing Rock, north of G C "3." However, this is not advised unless you know the area and its unmarked ledges.

The entrance to the Kennebunk River is found between two breakwaters. Iso R 6s 25ft 5M "6" stands at the end of the eastern breakwater. The dredged channel begins here and carries about 4 to 5 (mlw) feet to the center of town. You might want to think twice about traveling all the way up, as the channel gets narrow near the swing bridge.

An open mooring is hard to find in the Kennebunk, so look for dockage at any of the marinas. Chicks Marina (207-967-2782) is located within easy reach of both downtown and the entrance, and can serve transients as large as 140 feet. You'll see a lot of the big boats overnighting it here, and for good reason. Most facilities sit on the east side of the river and are easily visible.

Shoreside and Emergency Services
Coast Guard:
South Portland 207-767-0363 or VHF 16
Harbormaster:
Kennebunkport 207-967-5040 or VHF 16
Police, Fire, Ambulance:
911
Tow Service:
Sea Tow 800-4SEATOW or VHF 16
TowBoatU.S 800-391-4869 or VHF 16

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