Merrymeeting Bay

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Welcome to Merrymeeting Bay, Maine

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

A mottled sky is reflected in the mirror-flat water of Maine’s Merrymeeting Bay.
Photo by Joe Devenney

WHAT’S WORTH A 12-MILE SIDE TRIP INLAND FROM MAINE’S COAST? MERRYMEETING BAY, OF COURSE. AS A UNIQUE BODY OF WATER COMPRISING RIVERS, SWIFT CURRENTS, MARSHES, SEVERAL TOWNS AND DARN FEW OTHER BOATS, MERRYMEETING IS AS ITS NAME IMPLIES: A PLACE YOU COULD SPEND A WEEK EXPLORING WITH DECIDELY HAPPY RESULTS.

Merrymeeting Bay chart

Located some 10 miles up the Kennebec River estuary from the Gulf of Maine, Merrymeeting requires some careful navigation, but rarely is fog a problem—relatively speaking. The first hurdle is making your way through The Chops at the southern entrance to Merrymeeting Bay.

SAT Map

The passage can be confusing. Two headlands—Chops and West Chops Points—constrict the drainage of 2 major inland rivers, plus 4 minor estuaries, while the daily sluicing of Gulf of Maine tides adds to the confusion. Whirlpools, back eddies and upwellings roil the choppy waters, making passage through The Chops, even on a quiet day, a bit rocky, but it stirs up the fish, too.

Read the story Merrymeeting Bay Fishing Information

As you ascend the Kennebec River toward Merrymeeting Bay, you may see everything from great blue herons to bald eagles. Below the surface are striped bass, sturgeon, herring and seals. Once through The Chops, Merrymeeting Bay opens up, but note that most of the water is very shallow—less than 4 feet except in the channels—so proceed with caution.

Seals enjoy the waters of Merrymeeting Bay as much as boaters. Photo by Capt. Ed Rice

The town of Bowdoinham is located on the Cathance River, which flows into Merrymeeting Bay from its northwest corner. A great spot for swimming along the way is the shallow area about midway between Brick and Sturgeon Islands. The place looks like it might be in the middle of the bay, but it’s only 2 feet deep, with hard-packed sand underfoot. Here you can anchor out and drift with the flow of the Androscoggin River, which cuts across the sandbar at about 3 knots.

Continue north along the winding Cathance River and you’ll reach Bowdoinham, which features a handsome waterfront park with a town landing and a launch ramp. Free concerts are held at the gazebo on certain nights during the summer. You can tie up at the landing and go ashore to stroll around or grab a bite to eat at the Town Landing Place. Bowdoinham harbormaster John McMullen allows visitors to tie up overnight for free, space permitting. Directly across the river from the landing is Jim’s Marina, which offers transient slips, along with water, toilets and electric hookup. Jim’s also rents smelt shacks during the winter.

The bridge at Richmond crosses the Kennebec River just north of Merrymeeting Bay. Photo by Joe Devenney

Another worthwhile side trip for Merrymeeting mariners is Richmond, on the Kennebec’s western bank north of the bay. Along the way, however, you might consider stopping at a great swimming and fishing spot called The Sands.

The Sands is located south of Abagadassett Point, but you won’t find any mention of it on the charts. That’s because it has always been a local secret, a little bit of coastal Shangri-la, complete with clean warm water, fine white sand underfoot and no crowds. The Sands has remained unknown and little used primarily because it exists only at low tide. Like a mythic castle in a child’s fable, it disappears twice every day when Merrymeeting Bay piles 6 feet of tidal water atop the chart’s regular soundings for mean low tide. (Note: In previous years the shoals that make up The Sands have been washed away by heavy runoff, but usually reform during the season.)

Transients are welcome to tie up at the Bowdoinham town landing and dinghy dock on the Cathance River, which flows into the northwest corner of Merrymeeting Bay. Photo by Joe Devenney

Continuing upriver past Abagadasset Point is Swan Island, home to the Steve Powell Wildlife Preserve. The preserve has kept about 3 square miles of woods, fields and farm buildings safely frozen in the late nineteenth century, and offers superb birding and overnight camping in Adirondack-style shelters. Visits are by reservation only and must be arranged at least 7 days in advance.

As you pass Southard Point, the Richmond anchorage will come into view. Richmond offers town floats along the waterfront park, along with a public mooring for transients close to the landing. Harbormaster Chris Smith can accommodate 2 boats along the floats (space permitting), and overnight tie-up is free. Pump-out is available, as well. Ashore, Richmond offers 3 restaurants (Railroad Café, Bakers and The Old Goat brewpub), plus an ice-cream shop.

GETTING THERE:
Charts: NOAA 13293, 13298

Chart Merrymeeting Bay

Primary access to Merrymeeting Bay is via the Kennebec River, the mouth of which is located about 25 miles east of Portland and 40 miles southwest of Rockland. The approach is well marked by buoys and lighthouses for the 8 miles up to Bath, where Navy destroyers are built. For the next 3 miles, simply follow the red and green buoys. For more details, see “A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast” by Taft, Taft & Rindlaub.

Dockage, Moorings & Service:

Jim’s Marina (207-666-3049): A small marina for boats up to 35 feet, opposite the town landing off Bay Rd. Offers some transient space, as well as water, toilets and electric. Jim’s also rents smelt shacks on the bay through the winter.
Boaters can also tie up overnight for free at the public docks in either Richmond or Bowdoinham on a first-come, first-served basis. Call harbormasters John McMullen (207-607-0687) in Bowdoinham or Chris Smith (207-650-8917) in Richmond. Richmond has room for 2 boats on the dock, and also maintains a guest mooring close to the landing. Most other moorings are private, but either harbormaster should be able to direct you to one that will be vacant overnight.
Pump-Out: The Town of Richmond operates a pump-out station at the town landing (207-737-4305). There’s also a pump-out 8 miles southeast of the bay via the Sasanoa River at Robinhood Marine Center (207-371-2525) in Georgetown.
Service: For service, contact Chris’s Boat Shop (207-650-8917) in Richmond. Owner Chris Smith, who also happens to be the harbormaster, can arrange fuel delivery to the landing.

Anchorages:

Anchoring in Merrymeeting Bay is tricky, as most of the water is shallow. Richmond Harbormaster Chris Smith says that the area off Brick Island, in 8 feet of water, is probably the best option.

Harbormasters:

Town of Bowdoinham
John McMullen
(207-607-0687)

Town of Richmond
Chris Smith
(207-650-8917)

Launch Ramps

Both Bowdoinham and Richmond have paved, public launch ramps that can be used at no charge.
There is also a ramp at Cathance Landing, across the river from Bowdoinham.

Boat Rental

New Meadows Marina : Located in nearby Brunswick, New Meadows rents 17- and 20-foot boats by the half-day, day or week. Prices start at $150/half-day and $250/full-day for a 17-foot Whaler.

Provisions

Gary’s Quick Stop, Richmond (207-737-8661): Basic groceries.
Pierce’s Country Store, Richmond (207-737-4366): Basic groceries.
Bowdoinham Country Store (207-666-5571): Basic groceries.

Where to Eat

Bowdoinham

Town Landing Place (207-666-3872)

Richmond

The Old Goat (207-737-4628): Brew pub with standard pub fare.
Railway Café (207-737 2277): Diner-style eatery open until 9:00 p.m.
Baker’s Restaurant (207-737-4547): Breakfast and lunch.

Things to Do & See:

In Bowdoinham, enjoy free evening concerts in a gazebo near the town landing. For a schedule, call (207-666-3504).
In Richmond, visit the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area (207-547-5322) on Swan Island. It offers farmlands, wildlife-rich forests, superb birding and overnight camping in Adirondack-style shelters. The island dock is opposite the Richmond town dock. Visits are by reservation only and must be arranged at least 7 days in advance.
If you’d like a personal tour of the Merrymeeting Bay area, contact Capt. Ed Rice with Scenic Coastal Tours (207-504-BOAT) in Bath. Rice runs pontoon-boat trips through the bay to Swans Island, as well as to Bowdoinham and the Androscoggin.

Where to Stay:

Capt. Daniel Stone Inn & Spa (Brunswick) (877-373-CDSI)

Fishing Information:

Click here for more Fishing Information!

General Information:

Photo Gallery

The Sagadahoc, which gives scenic tours from the Maine Maritime Museum in nearby Bath, pulls up to the Bowdoinham town landing. Photo by Joe Devenney

Bowdoinham’s waterfront park on the Cathance River serves as home to a wide variety of boats. Photo by Joe Devenney

Warm, shallow water and the convergence of two major rivers and four estuaries make Merrymeeting Bay popular with anglers. Photo by Joe Devenney

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BEWITCHED BY MERRYMEETING BAY

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At a Glance

Launch Ramps
Where to Stay
Rentals
Harbor Master and Harbor Info
Getting There
Things to Do