In 2005-2006, the anchorage basins in the cove between Harris and Bragdon Islands and in the cove off the north side of Bragdon Island had depths of 2.6 to 5.8 feet. There is also limited anchorage off the service wharves at the head of the harbor. Moorings under supervision of the harbormaster extend upriver as far as Sewall Bridge, about 0.8 mile above the wharves.
The town maintains guest moorings for visiting yachts in the reach below the wharves off the northwest side of Stage Neck.
The facilities for yachts and small craft in the harbor are full and complete. All services can be had, and ice, provisions, and supplies of all kinds are available or can be obtained on short notice. There are three service facilities along the waterfront with wharves and float landings with 8 to 12 feet reported alongside. Gasoline, diesel fuel, and water are available. Overnight berthing at the landings is permitted.
York Harbor Marine Service, a well-equipped marina and boatyard is on Harris Island in the cove westward of Stage Neck. There is a reported depth of 8 feet at the floats, and gasoline, diesel fuel, water, and electricity are available. Its marine railways can haul out sail or motor craft up to 50 feet long or 100 tons for hull and engine repairs, or dry winter storage. Marine supplies, lodging, and parking are available. Taxi and car rental service are available.
Two town piers and floats are available. One is at the north end of Bragdon Island about 75 yards east of State Route 103 highway bridge. The second is on the east side of the causeway connecting Bragdon and Harris Islands, midway between them. The wharves have no services; docking is limited to 30 minutes.
The entrance to York Harbor is narrow and crooked, and leads between rocks, bare and submerged, on both sides of the channel. In 2006, a natural depth of 10 feet was available to the wharves. In 1979, it was reported that the river was navigable for 7 to 8 miles for small outboard-powered craft, but larger craft and sailboats are restricted by low bridges. The channel is marked by buoys, a light, and a daybeacon to Bragdon Island, and the harbor is readily entered with the aid of the chart in clear weather and at any stage of the tide.
Navigational Dangers in York Harbor, ME
The approach to the harbor from the fairway bell buoy about 0.6 mile eastward of the entrance is free of dangers, and all shoals close to the channel edge are marked.
In closing the port coming alongshore from either northeastward or southward, give the shore a berth of at least 0.4 mile and make the fairway bell buoy off the entrance. Shoal water extending about 400 yards off East Point is marked by a buoy about 500 yards southeastward of the point.
Stones Rock, about 1.2 miles south of the entrance, is awash and marked by a spindle; a buoy is east of the rocks. An unmarked rock, covered 11 feet, about 850 yards south-southeastward of Western Point breaks if any sea or swell is running and should be given a wide berth.
On the northern side of the entrance, Millbury Ledge with two rocks which uncover 5 feet is unmarked. Black Rocks, north of the entrance, are an unmarked bare rocky ledge which uncovers 7 feet. A rock covered 5 feet, said to be plainly visible if the water is clear, is south of Black Rocks and is marked by a buoy.
The ledge extending northeastward from Western Point is marked by a buoy about 200 yards northeastward of the point. These two buoys are the first pair in entering the harbor, and should be passed in midchannel, with York Harbor Entrance Leading Light 8 dead ahead on a course of 270°.
- A rock covered 3 feet, part of a ledge extending 100 yards southeastward of Fort Point, the eastern end of Stage Neck, is marked on its south side by a buoy.
- Rocks Nose, a bare ledge extending 150 yards northeastward from the shore on the south side of the entrance channel, is marked by a buoy.
- A buoy marks the ledge off the southwestern extremity of Stage Neck and the sharp turn from the entrance channel up into the inner harbor. In making this turn, sharp seamanship is needed, especially on the strength of ebb, to avoid setting over to the westward and bringing up on the rock ledge covered 1½ feet which is eastward of Harris Island; give the daybeacon marking the east side of the ledge a good berth.
- The ledge off the eastern end of Bragdon Island is covered 3 feet and should be given a good berth when proceeding into the inner harbor. The northeast end of the ledge is marked by a buoy that also marks the turn of the river to the northwestward off the wharves.
- The currents are strong in the constricted sections of the channel, where the buoys are reported to tow under at times.