Looking for any experience with the Narrows between MacMahan Island and Georgetown Island in the Sheepscot River. What is it like at max ebb and flow and at other times?

Also, while we are probably going to only experience Lower Hell Gate by land this time (I made that call with my scaredy pants on), we are curious about Little Hell Gate and what that might be like at various tide flows.

We're camping and paddling in the area, so any other suggestions/local knowledge would be welcome.

Thanks!

Cathy (and Rob)

<What is it like at max ebb and flow and at other times>

That rather depends on which way you think of paddling...you will not be able to go against the current at max flow (unless you are Superman?)

Sorry: perhaps I should have asked: can you paddle against 4knots?

Looking for any experience with the Narrows between MacMahan Island and Georgetown Island in the Sheepscot River. What is it like at max ebb and flow and at other times?

It is rather narrow at the southern end and the current move right along. At the bottom half of an ebb tide there will be a riffle area as in mini tide race. At the northern end it is wide but there tends to be a another riffle area at the north side of the mouth at times and there can be sharp current lines/eddies at both ends. Overall not a big deal and you can move between the ends OK by using eddies. Goose Neck Passage has much larger volume and it really moves through there on the ebb with bigger riffle areas.

In my experience Little Hell's Gate near the end of the ebb is like a bony creek at the south end. You can go up and down without too much trouble regardless of the tide if there is enough water, but the eddies are not distinct and one way to to hug the shore as within a foot or so when working against the ebb. You can go through Lower Hell's Gate on the flood anytime. All the action is near a point on Beale and over to Nun 2. At the sharp turn it will be a little confused going through on the flood. On the ebb you can use an eddy to get right to the sharp turn (assuming you stay next to Beal) and after some work around the point pick up another eddy if it is not running too strong. You can hug the east side and bypass most stuff and continue through some small islands.

It is a nice little paddle to run up on the flood and down with the ebb using the other, but check the tide current charts.

FWIW the islands in Hockomock Bay have a reputation for being buggy and this June they were brutal when I stopped by a couple of them. The islands in the

Sheepscot are much more inviting and the wildlife more vaired.

Ed Lawson

Agree with Ed about the passage (aka Little Sheepscot River)-akin to a gentle tube ride at a water park. On a chart it looks perhaps a little worrisome, but if you understand fluid dynamics like I don't, you could likely explain it; but my best guess is that the huge volume of water from Nubble Bay prefers to continue its straight course into Goose Rock Passage (path of least resistance?), rather than turn an almost right angle thru the passage. This was confirmed on my paddle Wed, as I enjoyed a push across the Sheepscot towards Townsend Gut, even at 1.5 hours pre-slack (Ebb). Again, fluid dynamics course for me was decades ago, but I'm guessing the total volume of water from Montsweag, Hockomock and Nubble Bays "overwhelms" the lesser amount draining from the upper Sheepscot? Can anyone explain this scientifically (professors Huth, Lewis, Lisa, Leon, others)?

Thanks Ed for the detailed "local knowledge" of Lower Hell's Gate, something I lacked on Wed. As I peeked around the corner of the northern entrance, the can #5 was "leaning toward Sawyers" 2 hours pre-slack, so I opted for the western passage around Beale, ending in a ride I guessed at class II-III; no worries.

Agree with Ed about the passage (aka Little Sheepscot River)-akin to a gentle tube ride at a water park. On a chart it looks perhaps a little worrisome, but if you understand fluid dynamics like I don't, you could likely explain it; but my best guess is that the huge volume of water from Nubble Bay prefers to continue its straight course into Goose Rock Passage (path of least resistance?), rather than turn an almost right angle thru the passage. This was confirmed on my paddle Wed, as I enjoyed a push across the Sheepscot towards Townsend Gut, even at 1.5 hours pre-slack (Ebb). Again, fluid dynamics course for me was decades ago, but I'm guessing the total volume of water from Montsweag, Hockomock and Nubble Bays "overwhelms" the lesser amount draining from the upper Sheepscot? Can anyone explain this scientifically (professors Huth, Lewis, Lisa, Leon, others)?

Thanks Ed for the detailed "local knowledge" of Lower Hell's Gate, something I lacked on Wed. As I peeked around the corner of the northern entrance, the can #5 was "leaning toward Sawyers" 2 hours pre-slack, so I opted for the western passage around Beale, ending in a ride I guessed at class II-III; no worries.

Gary,

We just returned and did not attempt any of the Hell Gates, but camping on Beal we could hear your class II-III each max ebb - not something I would want to paddle through! Glad you made it!

It is rather narrow at the southern end and the current move right along. At the bottom half of an ebb tide there will be a riffle area as in mini tide race. At the northern end it is wide but there tends to be a another riffle area at the north side of the mouth at times and there can be sharp current lines/eddies at both ends. Overall not a big deal and you can move between the ends OK by using eddies. Goose Neck Passage has much larger volume and it really moves through there on the ebb with bigger riffle areas.

In my experience Little Hell's Gate near the end of the ebb is like a bony creek at the south end. You can go up and down without too much trouble regardless of the tide if there is enough water, but the eddies are not distinct and one way to to hug the shore as within a foot or so when working against the ebb. You can go through Lower Hell's Gate on the flood anytime. All the action is near a point on Beale and over to Nun 2. At the sharp turn it will be a little confused going through on the flood. On the ebb you can use an eddy to get right to the sharp turn (assuming you stay next to Beal) and after some work around the point pick up another eddy if it is not running too strong. You can hug the east side and bypass most stuff and continue through some small islands.

It is a nice little paddle to run up on the flood and down with the ebb using the other, but check the tide current charts.

FWIW the islands in Hockomock Bay have a reputation for being buggy and this June they were brutal when I stopped by a couple of them. The islands in the

Sheepscot are much more inviting and the wildlife more vaired.

Ed Lawson

Thank you for all this information. We received it too late (my fault for posting the question so close too our trip), but it's useful if we head back up there. And yes, it's buggy. We are covered in mosquito bites as regular strength Off doesn't seem to work at all. Oh, well, still a good time!