gyork Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 A circumnavigation of Sebascodegan Island is contemplated http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13290.shtml.What tidal data will help me "go with the flow" on the New Meadows River and Ewan Narrows/Long Reach?How do I use Tide Table information, and for which location?Thanks-gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEL Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 A circumnavigation of Sebascodegan Island is contemplated http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13290.shtml. What tidal data will help me "go with the flow" on the New Meadows River and Ewan Narrows/Long Reach? How do I use Tide Table information, and for which location? Gary: Never paddled there so the following might be worth at most what you are paying for it. Check the Coastal Pilot as I recall is specifically talks about that area and reported currents were BIG. Good info in the Dorcas Miller book too. I seriously doubt there is any published NOAA tide level or current info for "gut" area which will be of greatest interest/terror. Areas which have river flow and split flows can be tricky. Does the tide flood up both arms to the gut and how does current compare, does it ebb down both or just one, etc. Obviously the easy advice is to hit the gut at slack (being timid forest creature), but figuring out which arm to go in on as in going clockwise and counterclockwise will be the trick. Ed Lawson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Check the Coastal Pilot as I recall is specifically talks about that area and reported currents were BIG. Ed LawsonYes, you are right Ed and here is the info copied and pasted: There is a thorofare from the north end of Harpswell Sound through Ewin Narrows, Prince Gurnet, Long Reach, and Gurnet Strait to New Meadows River. It is occasionally used by local boats. The channel is narrow, has a depth of about 6 feet, and has many dangers; the tidal currents are strong, and the thorofare should not be used by strangers. It is sometimes marked by bush stakes. Currents The tidal current through Gurnet Strait is very strong at strength–estimated at 7 to 8 knots at times–and boats go through only at slackwater. The ebb current runs eastward. Low-water slack occurs a little before low water at Portland. At the strength of the current, there is a difference of elevation of probably 3 feet in the level of the water on either side of the bridge. The flood currents meet in the reach between Prince Gurnet and Gurnet Strait. Thanks for the suggestion to the on-line Coast Pilot. gary (timid stranger) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Sylvester Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 If you check the chart depths near the bridge at Gurnet you will see a 90' hole where a whirlpool has flushed it out. Been around some of these areas and they are interesting. Just requires proper planning with the flows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 If you check the chart depths near the bridge at Gurnet you will see a 90' hole where a whirlpool has flushed it out. Been around some of these areas and they are interesting. Just requires proper planning with the flows.I wondered about that peculiarity in an area where the mean low water is about 6-10 feet. Is it caused by the peak flood or ebb, or both? Is it still active (whirlpool)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pintail Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Gary, sorry; but I cannot even find Gurnet Straight on the chart I have of that area -- when we did this trip, some years ago, we put in near Harding/New Meadows, on western side of the river, with perfectly safe parking for cars, barely half-a-mile south of where the coastal road crosses the river.As others have told you, cut across to Ewin Narrows -- it is all very scenic. What our group did was to continue down Harpswell Sound until we came to the gap between Orrs and Bailey, paddling under the interesting bridge there to continue around the south of Orrs and then Gun Point, up into Quaheg Bay. You're a MITA member, I assume? We camped on Little Snow, I think it was called -- it's a <tiny> piece of real estate in (the lee of) the east of the bay.If you stay there the night, then you can look into the beautiful Ridley Cove in the morning (access from above Yarmouth Island) -- there is <no> access from there into Cundy Harbour: you have to go around the bottom. These two southerly exposures (Gun Point and the peninsula below Cundy's) are potentially open to winds from the south -- they <are> exposed.When you paddle back up the Longmeadow, paddle on the shallower sides of the river to avoid as much current as possible; but make sure you go and look at The Basin.I cannot give you more advice -- it was all several years ago; but it was a wonderful trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEL Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 but it was a wonderful trip! Not sure I really want to encourage folks, but the area from Orr's/Bailey over to Cape Small and up the various rivers and bays is a very nice place to paddle. Would take a long weekend to explore well. Exposed islands, open water, neat hurricane holes, islands with histories, and great gunkholing. Worth the trip. Ed Lawson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 .. we put in near Harding/New Meadows, on western side of the river, with perfectly safe parking for cars, barely half-a-mile south of where the coastal road crosses the river.I'll call the Town of Brunswick to check on availability of multi-nite parking. Thank you Pintail. ...but make sure you go and look at The Basin.Splendid memories of an overnight sailboat anchorage, in transit to Boothbay Hahbah, 30 years ago! Entertaining a multi-day/nite excursion mid-May, pre-Jewell, though it appears September might be the better time, given the many MITA warnings of island visitation/camping before late June. gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEL Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 given the many MITA warnings of island visitation/camping before late June. Gary: FWIW, last year the Ospreys did not nest on Little Snow. I heard the Eagles that recently started to nest on Snow have most likely driven them away. No love lost between Osprey and Eagles. Might check with MITA later about situation. That said, May and June are tricky camping months with welping seals and young birds in the nests. Thinking of stopping at Malaga? Ed Lawson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 Perusing charts and gazeteers while the sap boils, this Cautious Stranger now wonders about circumnav of Arrowsic/Georgetown Islands. Plan: Launch southern Bath public access 1 hour before HT. CW northern Arrowsic along Sasanosa River and paddle the 2 gates from Hell at slack, thru Litle Sheepscot to Five Islands for a snack. To Reid State Park for lunch and stroll. Meander around southern tip, close to ebb slack, paying close attention to the wind/waves/waves and forecast, and hugging the coast. What to expect of my trip UP the Kennebec, as far as currents go? Will the big River still be emptying, and AGAINST my efforts upstream? If so, for how long? Am I better off CCWing this 23NM trip? Should I be daydreaming of a different trip while the steam rises from the pan? gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Allen Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Gary- I'm pretty sure Barry Mullen has done that trip at least once, so PMing him might be useful in planning. There are current forecasts for several points up the kennebec, so figuring out how much that will help or hurt should be pretty straightforward. Also, just to be obvious, the creek at the head of Sagadoc bay doesn't go through at normal tide levels (found that out the hard way).Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzert Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Hi Gary, I did this trip with SMSKN the year before last. We launched from Five Islands and landed at Fort Popham launching shortly after the start of flood which we rode up the Kennebec to the Back river and then down through the gates past Robinhood and back to Five Islands. I'll see if I can dig out the gps log when I am back in Boston. It's a terrific trip! Has it all, bold ocean past Reid State park combined with the serenity of the back river. I'd love to tag along if you are planning it. You should also reach out to Bob Arledge at SMSKN who lives in Georgetown and has timed the tides for this and other trips (round trip from Bath to Popham). Barry. Gary- I'm pretty sure Barry Mullen has done that trip at least once, so PMing him might be useful in planning. There are current forecasts for several points up the kennebec, so figuring out how much that will help or hurt should be pretty straightforward. Also, just to be obvious, the creek at the head of Sagadoc bay doesn't go through at normal tide levels (found that out the hard way). Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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