Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors

02/05/2025

Historian makes history! 📖

Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. has been honored by Historic New England with its second Preservation Leadership Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to promoting and protecting Maine’s history and architecture. His leadership stands as an inspiration not only to Mainers, but to all New Englanders who share his passion for and commitment to preserving the buildings, cultural landscapes, and the region’s history, Historic New England announced in a press release. A native of Portland, Maine, Shettleworth attended Deering High School, Colby College, and Boston University. He has received honorary degrees from Bowdoin College, Colby College, and the Maine College of Art. His storied career includes a 40-year tenure as director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, from which he retired in 2015, and six terms (and counting) as Maine’s State Historian. Shettleworth is a regular, and valued, contributor to Maine Boats, Home & Harbors.

Full article found here: https://buff.ly/4jINWjL

Photo courtesy of Historic New England

01/29/2025

Way Back Wednesday, back in action after a holiday hiatus: MBH&H founder John Hanson Jr. was on hand for the launch of AGAMENTICUS in April, 2008. She was the 59th boat built by John's Bay Boat Shop, and Hanson declared the boat and community gathering were both top notch. Read his complete report here: https://buff.ly/40grA1o

01/25/2025

It's no secret that the younger generations are giving us all a run for our money with new slang terms, fashion trends from bygone eras, and an increasing love of all things technological. While most of us turn our wheels trying to puzzle out their new language, Maine artist David Baker is taking the artistic approach. In his works he often explores the angst of youth through realism. See more of his work and read our story at the link: https://buff.ly/3BXq8Yr

Photo: David Graeme Baker in his studio in Hancock, Maine. On the easel is Meridian, 2018, oil on linen mounted on panel, 41 x 40 in. Photo by Carl Little

01/23/2025

Good to see some winter R&R in Rockland!

Huge thanks to Art Henry Crane Services!! It's been a few years since these beauts were out of the water, but here they are, on the hard for some well earned R&R. (Rest-oration and Repair) Floats are from the end of Middle Pier and the Rockland Municipal Fish Pier. Both sets of floats are originally from the Eastport Salmon pens and generally remain in the water year-round. As such they see some Rugged weather and hard wear. There's a lot of projects like these around the harbor that have been on the list and we are working down the list as we are able. Thankfully we have many talented and community oriented contractors in the area that allow us to expand our capabilities and make time for these projects in their busy schedules.

Photo caption: Dwight uses a tagline to guide a 40' float to the pavement while the sunsets over a frozen, snowy Rockland.

01/23/2025

The is hosting an evening of weather and voyaging with Maine captains Rick Miller Elliot Rappaport at the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta on February 11. For details go to https://maineboats.com/blog/2025/weather-and-sea-talk-damariscotta

01/22/2025

A first glimpse of WISP- In August, 2024, Artisan Boatworks of Rockport launched Wisp, the latest design from Stephens Waring Design , in Camden. Stay tuned to find out more about this cold-molded daysailer-weekender in our January/February 2025 issue that will feature profiles of several boats recently built and launched in Maine, including the newest ferry serving Matinicus.

Photo: Courtesy Stephens Waring Design by Alison Langley

01/18/2025

A Day to Remember on Penobscot Bay. How many of us have had those with friends and family? A handshake purchase of the good ship AQUARIUS by Marilyn Moss quickly brought her family out on the bay for many a wonderful afternoon. Sometimes, however, the ones we remember are for far less nostalgic reasons. One of the things a boat owner learns in their study good boat handling is to check the weather each and every time you push off from the mooring. Read about Marilyn's experience the one time she forgot to check the forecast before heading out at her story via the link: https://buff.ly/3DEKKVQ

Photo: Mother and daughter enjoy a sunny day afloat courtesy Marilyn Moss Rockefeller

01/14/2025

Off we go to Bass Harbor! Home to landmark beacon Bass Harbor Head Light Station which is a welcome sight when cruising up Jericho Bay. A popular destination for locals and tourists alike, the light sees some 180,000 visitors a year! Despite the flocks of visitors, this is the quietest part of Mount Desert’s so-called “quiet side,”. Bass Harbor remains anchored in the fishing industry with large lobster fleets occupying the vacated space of what was once the Underwood Sardine Company. There's lots to see and do in this corner of Maine, and as always Mimi Steadman guides us through it with aplomb.

https://buff.ly/4a29vHI

Photo: Mimi Steadman

01/13/2025

Hats off to a persistent crew! Holidays on island time.

While Christmas may be over, the Sunbeam crew is still making sure that islanders have a celebration! Bad weather cancelled the boat's December trips to Frenchboro, Great Cranberry, and Islesford, so the Sunbeam crew is headed out this week to spread holiday cheer!

01/10/2025

The Handiest Cat in Maine- A story by Art Paine

Inflation hit an already top cost industry with force in recent years. Paine went looking for a boat that could bridge the gap between those who might want to get out on the water but who also might not have the stock pile of cash often now required to do so. He found the Handy Cat, a boat rated highly in both performance and affordability. Designed by Merle Hallett this new version of the catboat can be described as the fore portion of the hull as normal catboat blended with Herreshoff-style hollow sections extending well aft. Paine ends his review with "I’ve always said yacht design is a blend of art and science, and the best yacht designers in history were nearly always artists. If you have any questions about my contention that you can judge a designer’s competence based upon his art, consider the two Hallett paintings that appear with this story. Like the Handy Cat, they look good."

Read his in depth review and see all the photos at the link: https://buff.ly/4fNGG2O

Photo: Hollow bows, rare in a catboat, are common to designers Hallett and Herreshoff.

01/07/2025

Nigel Calder and Cole Brauer, both with Maine ties, were among the sailors recognized by the Cruising Club of America with their 2024 awards. You can read about all the winners at https://maineboats.com/blog/2025/cruising-club-america-names-medal-recipients. Congrats all around!

01/05/2025

By 1913 political campaigning by automobile was an accepted practice. On Saturday, September 6, 1913, U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan conducted a speaking tour of Penobscot, Waldo, and Kennebec counties by car to promote Democratic candidates running for office that fall. In staunchly Republican Maine, he received the polite welcome due a national figure who had run for president three times and currently was serving as the senior member of Woodrow Wilson’s cabinet. This real photo postcard by Belfast photographer Charles A. Townsend shows Bryan at the right in the back seat of his touring car being driven through the city. In the front seat is Obadiah Gardner, a Rockland businessman and U.S. Senator from Maine from 1911 to 1913. While in Belfast, Bryan addressed a crowd of 2,000 from a speaker’s stand on Schoolhouse Common before traveling on to Waterville.

Text by Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., Maine’s State Historian

Photo courtesy the Maine Historic Preservation Commission

01/03/2025

Three Maine Boats Harbors & Homes staffers weigh in on what they love most about the state that gives them all a sense of place.

Sean Graves- Office Manager and photo hobbiest shares his images documenting his family's adventures in Maine

Mark Pillsbury- Editor and self described discoverer of suprises around each Maine corner

Jennifer McIntosh- Managing Editor and naturalist who enjoys playing with Maine's palette

See all their captures at the link: https://buff.ly/4iZfroR

01/02/2025

A year after they were battered by a pair of coastal storms, U.S. Coast Guard facilities in Portland, Rockland, and Southwest Harbor are getting more than $40 million in federal repair funds. Read more at https://maineboats.com/blog/2025/maine-coast-guard-stations-get-funding.

12/31/2024

Happy New Year from MBHH!

Photo: Peter Ralston Maine Coast TV/Community Media

12/30/2024

Is the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association Dock Dogs Calendar the only one you need to ring in 2025?? The answer is yes!

Dogs offer unconditional love, constant companionship, and unfailing optimism for hardworking Mainers who make their living on the water, and MCFA’s annual Dock Dogs Calendar celebrates the fisherman’s best friend. “He’s great at keeping morale up,” said Seguin’s (pictured) person, Justin Papkee, who operates the fishing vessel Pull N Pray from Long Island, Maine.

Maine looks forward to 2025 with renewed hope and dash of that dog-ish optimism after a tough 2024 storm season brought historic damages to many towns.

Get a copy of your calendar and read more about the work of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association at the link: https://buff.ly/3ZU1Kim

📸 Waterfront dog Seguin takes a break on the rail during a long day at sea courtesy of the MCFA

12/28/2024

This is Waterway House, the most recent home created by multifaceted artist and homebuilder Richard Coakley. This hidden gem was years in the making, see all the photos and read about this beauty at the link: https://buff.ly/3VknBhc

Photo 1: Set back from the shores of Eggomogging Reach, the Waterway House displays elements of the gingerbread trim that decorated steamboats that once carried passengers and freight along the Maine coast, coupled with builder Richard Coakley’s desire to build a house filled with light by Elizabeth Coakley
Photo 2: The central stairway features black locust newel posts (deliberately mismatched) found at a midcoast salvage shop and exquisitely hand-painted treads