MaineBoats Blog
Maine Boat & Home Show Announces New Name, Lineup of Special Events
Maine Boat & Home Show gets a new name, but it’s still the same great show. This year it will take place Aug. 10-12 in Rockland, Maine.The event , which formerly was known as the “Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors Show,” will now be called the “Maine Boat & Home Show.”
Boating safety course can be taken online
The Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife offers Maine boaters many ways to take boating safety courses, but now there is a new option that saves money. The Pine Tree State now offers the free online BoatUS Foundation boating safety course to residents.
New ferry rates will take effect in May
The Maine Department of Transportation plans to implement a new flat rate ticket pricing structure at the Maine State Ferry Service on May 21, standardizing ferry prices across the entire system.
A key component of the new rate structure is an overall decrease of more than 10% to the truck/freight rates to help keep the costs to Maine businesses supplying goods and services to and from the islands competitive.
Maine Maritime Museum to Relaunch the Mary E
This spring, following a nearly year-long restoration at the Maine Maritime Museum, the 1906 schooner Mary E will be launched into the Kennebec River for the third time in her storied career. The public is invited to the museum for a celebration and recommissioning ceremony on Saturday, June 9, from 10 am to 3 pm.
Back Cove Yachts introduces the Back Cove 34O. (Yes “O” is for outboard)
Recognizing the increasing popularity of outboard propulsion, the Back Cove Design team has produced the first ever Back Cove with standard Yamaha 300 HP engines. Optional 350hp Yamahas and 350hp Suzuki engines are also available.
Third Annual Camden Classic Regatta on tap for July 26-28
Presented by Lyman-Morse, the Camden Classics Cup, now in its third year, is a two-day regatta that opens the classic racing season in Maine. The 2018 dates are July 26-28.
Grant will help state’s efforts to understand endangered Right Whales
With 17 North Atlantic right whale deaths last year, there is growing interest among stakeholders, including regulators and the Maine lobster industry, to improve the data on which future regulations are based.
A new grant from NOAA will help the Maine Department of Marine Resources collect better data, starting this summer.
Seacoast Mission President to Retire
Maine Seacoast Mission President C. Scott Planting has announced that he plans to retire "late this fall." A search is underway for the Seacoast Mission’s next leader, led by its board of directors.
Proposed ferry fare hike delayed
Maine DOT needs to fill a $700,000 hole in the budget for the Maine State Ferry Service, but a proposed rate change and price hike met with resistance, prompting the commissioner to delay a final decision until later this spring.
Hinckley launches "Sport Boat" line
The Hinckley Company has added two new high-performance models to its lineup of luxury yachts: the Sport Boat and Sport Boat Center Cabin. Both boats are 42’7” long with a beam of 12’5”. Three Mercury Verado 300 HP fourstroke outboards combined with the lightweight carbon fiber construction materials allow the boats to reach top end speeds over 60 mph.
