Signature Tours

Our Signature Tours

Portland
Boothbay Harbor
Damariscotta
Waldoboro
Rockland/Rockport
Bangor to the Sea

Scroll down to read the description of each tour!

For more information and to book your trip call us at
(207) 462-2747 or email: [email protected]

Signature Tours

Our signature tour length is 4 or so hours. When convenient for you we like timing and exact destinations to be somewhat flexible so we can use the tide and wind to take best advantage of the day. If you would like to be back at an exact time we can certainly do also. Do bring snacks or a lunch to enjoy on board.

Laughing Gull has sliding cockpit roof and windowed curtains can be quickly deployed to provide cozy shelter should our trip encounter a little rain. An enclosed marine head (toilet) provides comfort and privacy.

On these trips we’ll commonly see eagles, seals and a nice mix of sea birds such as terns, gulls and guillemots. We regularly stop to watch the lobster boats haul their pots (traps) and sort their catch. Historic lighthouses aid our navigation along our route and we’ll pass close by to admire and photograph.

For descriptions of our Signature Tour routes from Portland, Boothbay, Damariscotta, Waldoboro, Rockland/Rockport, Bangor to the sea, just scroll down.

Don't see a trip that is right for you? Check our our Custom Tours page or just give us a call 207-462-2747 or email: [email protected] We're happy to help you plan the trip of your dreams!

Portland

Portland is Maine’s largest city and easily her busiest seaport. Unlike many Maine towns designed to serve industrial manufacturing Portland was designed to attract trade and visitors and to be a desirable place to live.
As we depart the dock we’ll take a minute to admire her skyline with its historic observatory tower and many church steeples. We’ll cruise past Fort Gorges and the iconic Portland Head Light.

We’ll then wander through the storied Calendar Isles of Casco Bay. Original estimates of the number of bay islands showed “one island for every day of the year”. Accurate counts later revealed many more!

We will land on Eagle Island and tour the home where Admiral Peary retired after his famous arctic explorations. We will cruise by many small barren sea bird nesting islands and an eagle nest on the back channels of Sebascodegan Island.

Please note this trip can also start and end in Falmouth, Harpswell, or Brunswick

1-6 people. 4hours $390

Damariscotta

Maine’s aquaculture industry began on the river here about 30 years ago and shortly after leaving the dock we’ll cruise by a number of oyster “farms”. The clay along the river shore is ideal for brick making and we’ll see traces of this once vibrant industry along the banks.

Before the advent of modern refrigeration, ice was harvested in winter and shipped all along the east coast. Several of the small ponds that were created to harvest ice still exist. A nesting colony of terns make their home on a small ledge and we’ll stop for a look.

As we continue the brackish water will become saltier and we’ll pass into a more marine environment. Depending on our exact route we’ll have the chance to inspect two or three eagle nests and several osprey nests. We’ll poke our bow into lovely Christmas Cove and admire the mix of working lobster boats and yachts. We’ll continue heading south along the rocky shore of Rutherford island and entering the Thread of Life Channel by Thrumcap Island.

Once we’ve rounded Crow Island we’ll head across the bay to Pemaquid Point and admire its stunning lighthouse. We’ll cruise the Pemaquid shore to Fort William Henry before crossing Johns Bay to Witch Island. We’ll then pass through the busy fishing harbor at the Gut and pass the swing bridge before reentering the Damariscotta River and heading back up river.

1-6 people. 4hours $390

Rockport/Rockland

Start your exploration of Penobscot Bay from Rockland the “Lobster Capitol of the World” or Rockport with its picturesque Harbor.

This is a great trip for light house aficionados and birders alike with plenty of history to see as well. Rockland harbor is an interesting mix of modern commercial fishing vessels and historic sailing schooners or “windjammers”. We’ll cruise by the mile long granite breakwater and its historic brick light house.

From the breakwater we’ll steer a southerly course passing close to Owls Head Light and across the channel to wander amongst the Muscle Ridge Islands, a lovely archipelago of barren bird nesting islands and dark spruce covered isles with a rich history of granite quarrying. The small lobstering villages of Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde are fun to cruise through before returning to Rockland or Camden.

1-6 people. 4 hours $390

Boothbay Harbor

We’ll soon leave the hustle and bustle of Boothbay Harbor behind as we cruise the eastern shore of South port Island.

After rounding the Cuckold’s Light we’ll set course for Sequin Island with its lighthouse (commissioned by George Washington) high atop its bold cliffs. We’ll pass Fort Popham and enter the mighty Kennebec River.

We’ll head up river passing lighthouses at Perkins Island and Squirrel and Doubling Point(s). Eagles frequent this area year round and we’ll likely spot one or two. We’ll tour the water front of Bath with its impressive Bath Iron Works ship yard.

We’ll cruise amongst the islands at the mouth of Merrymeeting Bay then head east through the back channels and Hells Gates of Arrowsic and Georgetown Islands.

Please note this trip can also start and end in Bath or Wiscasset

1-6 people. 4hours $390

Waldoboro

We’ll thread our way down the tiny Medomak River and weave a circuitous path through the islands of outer Muscongus Bay.

Along the way we’ll watch clam diggers plying their craft (if the tide is low!) on the tidal flats of the upper river. We’ll view an eagle nest and discuss the schooner building history.

Sea bird nesting islands will be observed possibly including Eastern Egg Rock home to the charismatic puffin. Several lighthouses and a couple of quaint fishing harbors will infuse a little history and culture.

1-6 people. 4 hours $390

Bangor to the Sea

We will depart the lively and newly revitalized Bangor waterfront and set a course down the Penobscot estuary.

We’ll pass the site of the War of 1812 Battle of Hampden and visit tiny Winterport Harbor.

The remains of the once large granite quarrying operations are still visible at the mouth of Marsh Stream in Frankfort. We’ll pause to admire Fort Knox (no gold at this Fort Knox!) and the quiet mill town of Bucksport. Passing beneath the towering Penobscot Narrows Bridge we’ll skirt the western shore of Verona Island.

Now the river widens and the air takes on a decidedly salty taste. The light house at Fort Point might be considered as where the ocean starts. Then it will be time to run back up river to Bangor, pausing along the way to inspect an eagle nest.

1-6 people. 4 hours $390