Casco Bay sailors

[dscribner]

Can anybody ballpark me on cost and process for getting a mooring around Bug light? Or some other place near that? I don't know if this is like a "How much is your paycheck?" issue so if it is
go easy on me. You can drop me a PM is you don't mind telling me but don't want to broadcast.

Thanks,

Don

 

[Gail R]

If you're talking your own mooring with a mooring permit, you need to go through the Harbormaster's office:

http://portlandharbor.org/mooringappmaster.htm

Bad news is that it looks like the area near Bug Light is "closed." Other areas have waiting lists. Get on the list now, as it could be years before you get a permit.

I don't know if any of the marinas there offer moorings as well as slips or not. I have never heard that they do, but I'm way up in Freeport so I'm not a good judge of that.

As for the cost of the stuff, when we got our mooring 15+ years ago, it was about a grand for the 5000# granite block, chain, shackles, and ball. Probably more than that now. Our permit is around $150/year and maintenance is probably another $150, depending on who you use. My husband pays those bills so those are just guesses. But still, even with that initial expense, the mooring costs just a fraction of what a slip would cost.

How do you plan to do parking and shore access? That's not always very easy.

 

[Tim R.]

Don, the best value in the Portland area is Centerboard Yacht Club. It is also the most protected mooring field. Area around bug light and SoPo boat ramp get hammered in a nor'easter.

CYC has club facilities, ice, laundry, shower, launch, ramp, mast crane, water and electricity when using the dock. Great folks. Race program every Wed. is a blast. We are social members and have been involved in the club for since 2005. PM or email me for more info.

http://www.centerboardyachtclub.org/

PYS offers moorings but not protected from prevailing winds. I think Breakwater also offers moorings but I have no info on them.

The cheapest way to moor is off the east end beach. You still have to place your own gear but out of town permits are about $150/yr. They have dinghy racks but cost more than the mooring fee. Something like $250/yr. It is a very public area and boats and dinghys have been burglarized and vandalized here. We used to have a mooring here and someone stole our mooring ball. A friend's new RIB and OB was stolen while he was out sailing.