A dredged small-craft harbor for commercial and pleasure craft is off the customhouse in Eastport. The harbor is protected on its northerly and easterly sides by a steel piling, solid fill, L-shaped breakwater wharf onto which fishing vessels can unload their catch into trucks. In 1984, depths of 13 feet and 9 feet were available in the southern part and northern part of the harbor, respectively. A town float with 10 feet alongside is on the inner side of the breakwater at the north end of the harbor. Boats usually moor along the inner face of the breakwater. In fair weather, berthing is available along the east and north seaward faces of the breakwater in depths of 36 feet and 6½ to 10 feet, respectively. Electricity is available at all the berths, and diesel fuel can be delivered by truck on short notice. Gasoline and diesel fuel are also available just to the north at the Eastport Chowder House dock. The breakwater is floodlighted at night. The harbormaster may be contacted through the town hall. A small-craft launching ramp is in the northwest corner of the harbor. Additional small-craft berths are available 0.2 mile north of the harbor.
Eastport is a customs port of entry. The customs office is located at 100 Water Street; the telephone number is 207-853-4313. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m, Monday-Saturday. For more information, click here to visit the Port of Entry’s website.
Navigation
Friar Roads (Eastport Harbor), which lies between Moose Island and Campobello Island, is approached from northward through Head Harbour Passage and from southward through Quoddy Narrows and Lubec Narrows. Friar Roads is the principal approach to Passamaquoddy Bay and St. Croix River.
Western Passage is between Moose Island and Deer Island, the next large Canadian island northwestward of Campobello Island, and connects Friar Roads with Passamaquoddy Bay.
The principal landmarks are a blue standpipe, the customhouse with its square tower, and the spire of a church about 300 yards west-southwest of the customhouse. Numerous concrete pylon boundary markers on the tops of the hills are also conspicuous.
Dangers
Clark Ledge, marked by a daybeacon, is about 0.5 mile north of the breakwater. Strong rotating currents in the vicinity commonly set vessels onto Clark Ledge.
Dog Island, 0.3 mile northwestward of Clark Ledge, has a grassy top and a shelving ledge extending about 100 yards off the high-water line of the island. Dog Island Light DI (44°55.1’N., 66°59.3’W.), 35 feet above the water, is shown from a skeleton tower with a square green daymark. A red sector in the light covers Clark Ledge; a sound signal is at the light.
Whirlpools and eddies that are dangerous at times for small boats are encountered between Dog Island and Deer Island Point, 0.5 mile northeastward. They are reported to be worst about 3 hours after low water. Old Sow, the largest whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere, occurs at this location.
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
