Bath

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Welcome to Bath, Maine

THINGS TO SEE
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO STAY
WHERE TO DOCK

THE CITY OF BATH, LOCATED ON THE WEST BANK OF KENNEBEC RIVER SOME 12 MILES FROM THE GULF OF MAINE, HAS A SHIPBUILDING HERITAGE THAT BEGAN IN 1743 AND CONTINUES TODAY. IN 1841, THE 1,133-TON RAPPAHANNOCK, THEN THE LARGEST VESSEL IN THE WORLD, WAS BUILT BY BATH’S SEWALL SHIPYARD. BY 1857, BATH WAS THE FITH-LARGEST SHIPBUILDING PORT IN THE COUNTRY IN REGISTERED TONNAGE. THE INDUSTRY CONTINUED TO THRIVE UNTIL THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I, WHEN ALL OF THE SHIPBUILDING COMPANIES CLOSED. IN 1927, THE BATH IRON WORKS WAS REVITALIZED, AND CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A MAJOR NAVY SHIPBUILDING FACILITY AND THE AREA’S PRIMARY EMPLOYER.


The Bath waterfront welcomed working schooners up to the 1920’s.

Nautical Chart of Bath

The Bath of today is down-to-earth and unpretentious, featuring an eclectic mix of historic houses and buildings bordering the river. Indeed, Front Street, which parallels the river, was named one of America’s Top 10 Great Streets by the American Planning Association. The Sagadahoc Preservation Society offers a self-guided walking or driving tour of Bath, available at the Chamber of Commerce on Front Street, or at the Patten Free Library on Summer Street.

The Kennebec Tavern and Marina offers slips, food and drink.

Bath’s business district comprises numerous shops, offices and a huge variety of restaurants, all within easy walking distance of the river. A popular stop for bargain-hunters is Reny’s department store, where you can pick up great deals on clothing and pretty much anything else you need for the home or garden.

The public docks offer free tie-up just steps from downtown Bath.

Much of Bath’s waterfront remains undeveloped and open to the public. A weekly farmers’ market, held Saturdays on the riverbank, attracts locals and vacationers alike, and is a great opportunity to restock your galley with all kinds of fresh vegetables, cheese, fruit and other locally produced treats. And the town dock offers plenty of free tie-up space, along with pumpout service.

Bath boasts two excellent launch facilities, one north and one south of town.

When approaching Bath from the south, the first major structure you’ll see after rounding Doubling Point is the sprawling Plant Memorial Home. Given to the city as a gift in memory of his parents by shoe manufacturer Thomas G. Plant, the Colonial Revival building was built in 1917. It now serves as an assisted-living center.

Bald eagles are a common sight along the banks of the Kennebec.

Just beyond the Plant Home is a good public launch ramp with ample parking and tie-up float, followed by the celebrated Maine Maritime Museum (MMM), where you can sometimes arrange for a mooring or dock space along Deering Pier. In 2002, a Visiting Yachtsmen’s Building was added to provide amenities for those visiting the museum by boat.

The MMM celebrates Maine’s maritime past through fascinating exhibits and its extensive collection of historic wooden boats and artifacts. It also offers a host of hands-on boating courses and seminars, along with several interactive exhibits, including the Tugboat Pilothouse, the Ship ’s Fo’c’s’le, and a Pirate Play Ship. It’s a must-stop for boating enthusiasts.

The protected Kennebec and its tributaries are ideal for small boats.

Continuing north of the MMM, you’ll encounter the huge dry dock and industrial shipbuilding facilities of the Bath Iron Works. A security zone of 400 feet exists around the BIW facility, so keep your distance.

Beyond that are the Carlton and Sagadahoc Bridges. The town dock and the Kennebec Tavern & Marina are located to port, just north of the bridges. The latter sells gas, but no diesel. Both afford easy access to the downtown area. You can also find gas at BFC Marine, but no transient services. A second public launch ramp with tie-up float can be found just north of town.

A Zumwalt Class destroyer takes shape at the Bath Iron Works.

The upriver portions of the Kennebec north of downtown Bath are also beautiful and worth exploring. At Thorne Island Ledge, keep a lookout for seals, which like to sun themselves on the exposed rocks. Travel a bit further north and you will pass through the Chops Passage and enter Merrymeeting Bay, which is fed by five rivers. It is a special place, but then again, so is Bath as a whole.

GETTING THERE:

Chart: NOAA 13293

Chart and launch ramps in Bath, Maine.

Bath is 35 miles northeast of Portland and 12 miles up the Kennebec River from Fort Popham. The river is deep, well-marked and mostly wide. The major note of caution is the current, which can run 5 to 7 knots. If approaching from the south, you will see the buildings and bridges of Bath to the northwest after rounding Doubling Point, some 2 miles below the city. Note that a 400′ security zone surrounds Bath Iron Works (BIW), so keep your distance.

Just above the BIW facility is the Carlton Bridge, which has a vertical clearance of 135′ when raised, 10′ when lowered. During the summer, the bridge stays raised except when a train is scheduled to pass. The tender can be contacted on VHF 13 or 16, or (207-443-2387). North of the Carlton Bridge is the Sagadahoc Bridge, a fixed bridge with 75′ of vertical clearance. Just upstream from the bridge is BFC Marine, followed by the town’s waterfront park and dock, and the Kennebec Tavern & Marina, all on the west bank.

Dockage, Moorings & Service:

Note: The nearest diesel fuel is at Robinhood Marine Center on Riggs Cove, 7 miles from Bath. You can reach Robinhood via the Sasanoa River, but it’s best to have local knowledge of this tricky waterway.

  • The City of Bath has a 200’ public dock with short-term dockage for visitors who want to go ashore for a few hours. Contact the harbormaster to see about possible overnight stays (207-443-5563).
  • Kennebec Tavern & Marina (207-442-9636, VHF 9, 22 & 78): Limited transient slips and moorings near downtown. Gas dock, floating docks and onsite restaurant.
  • Maine Maritime Museum (207-443-1316): Limited mooring and dockage. $20 per mooring/night. Call ahead. Cabs and trolley service to downtown available.
  • BFC Marine (207-443-3022): Boating supplies, gas, outboard service.

Launch Ramps:

  • Bath has two launch ramps, one north of the city and one south. Both have long tie-up floats, toilets and are free to use. The former is off Bowery Street, next to the sewage-treatment plant. The latter is just south of the Maine Maritime Museum, between Hunt and Robinson Streets.

Anchorage:

  • Anchoring in the river is not advisable due to its strong, shifting currents and 6-foot tides.

Harbormaster:

Boat & Kayak Rental:

Getting Around:

  • Bath Trolley Company (207-443-9741): Runs daily in summer and stops at the Maine Maritime Museum, the Cabin Restaurant, the Holiday Inn and the Patten Free Library.
  • Bath Taxi (800-446-4052; 207-443-4009)

Provisions:

  • From May through October, Saturdays, the Bath Farmers Market sells fresh produce and arts and crafts at the waterfront park.
  • Brackett’s Market (207-443-2012): Large grocery store with a deli and bakery near the waterfront

Where to Eat:

Things to See & Do:

  • Maine Maritime Museum (207-443-1316): Celebrate Maine’s maritime heritage and culture. Learn about the role of Maine in regional and global maritime activities. The Museum features a collection of classic boats and artifacts relating to Maine’s maritime past, and is a good source of historic materials and information. It also offers educational programs, exhibitions, and a unique historic shipyard, all connecting the past to contemporary and future issues.
  • Chocolate Church Arts Center (207-442-8455): Named for its brown exterior, this striking Gothic Revival church was built in 1847.
  • Heritage Days: A 4-day festival that occurs each year over the first weekend in July. The events are held throughout city’s downtown area and include the following fun and exciting activities for the entire family.
  • River Run Tours (207-504-BOAT): Capt. Ed Rice runs intimate, customized scenic tours and nature trips along the Kennebec and surrounding waters. Based at the Kennebec Tavern & Marina.
  • Kennebec River Boat Tours (207-443-1316): Lighthouse, scenic and nature tours from the Maine Maritime Museum.
  • Kennebec Tidewater Charters (207-737-4695): Fishing charters on the Kennebec.

General Information:

Visit Bath

Bath Chamber of Commerce (207-443-9751)

City of Bath

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