Stockton Harbor, Maine

The cozy harbor offers town dockage and moorings, or good anchorage if that's what you'd like. Small boats can launch on either of the wide concrete ripped ramps that are surprising low slope for the ten foot tide swings common to that region. The ramp was replaced in 2004 and is in excellent shape.

A moderate amount of parking is available. Fortunately, while a few minutes down the road at Camden tourists and boats are shoulder-to-shoulder, the world has not quite caught onto Stockton Harbor, yet. You can probably find a spot.

For the last few years the town has sponsored Stockton Springs Harbor Day in August. You can participate in the sailboat races. They are a lot of fun and there are handicaps so that even a newbie sailor has a shot. After, enjoy some hotdogs and hamburgers while engaging in "top sailor" talk with friends. It's a lot of fun and laid back.

Stockton Springs Harbor is well protected from the larger and more open Penobscot Bay. Just a few minutes sailing and you'll find yourself on the open waters of the northern end of the Penobscot among some of the best looking scenery on the Maine coast. The fall leaves are particularly stunning.

You can get ice at the harbor but at last visit you still had to get supplies in town, including fuel.