Hmm, Penobscot or Casco for week long sail?

[Bobglas]

Planning our first Maine trip w/ the 26M. Sailed Penobscot years ago with larger keel boats, so beautiful!. Casco Bay would be a much closer drive. Marinas, ramps, parking experiences anyone?

[K9Kampers]

I sail Casco quite a bit and for many years have launched at the Yarmouth Town Boat Ramp on the Royal River. I've also launched at Dolphin Marina in Harpswell. On the NE-TS.com website, I've posted some ramp reports for that area.

While launching at Dolphin Marina immediately puts one in a central proximity of Casco Bay, I prefer launching in Yarmouth as it is an hour's drive shorter than going to Harpswell.

The Royal River is a tidal river that is navigable even at low tide, and was recently dredged at the beginning of 2015. The river does get narrow at low tide with mud flats exposed but is well marked by buoys for easy navigation. Motoring at headway speed, it only takes 30 minutes to make open water. When returning up river to the ramp with the Admiral at the helm, I use that time to unrig / unstep and be ready for transport by the time we make the ramp.

There is a supermarket in Yarmouth, tho we usually provision in nearby Freeport, having overnighted in the LL Bean parking lot.

[K9Kampers]

Google Maps location of Yarmouth town Ramp (upper shoreline)

There are three marinas on the Royal River within sight of the boat ramp:

Yarmouth Boatyard

Yankee Marina

Royal River Boatyard

other facilities to consider:

Dolphin Marina in Potts Harbor, Harpswell

Great Island Boatyard Orrs Cove / Quahog Bay

[Bobglas]

Wow! Great info! Casco is a much shorter haul. Thanks