Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

I compiled this short list this week; I'll be adding to it.

Any additions or clarifications are most welcome.

I can't be the only skipper looking for this info; is this what Active Captain is for?

Ken

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Newick’s Lobster House
431 Dover Point Road
Dover, NH 03820
603.742.3205
They have a dock; not sure if D&D is supported;
I emailed a few months ago, no response.

Fresh Local Bayside
61 Beane Lane
Newington, NH 03801
603.766.4441
Organic, local farmers, they have their own hens, blah, blah
Tie up at Great Bay Marine?

Warren’s Lobster House
11 Water Street
Kittery, ME 03904
207.439.1630
75 feet of free dockage! Been there since 1940;

Captain and Patty’s
90 Pepperrell Road
Kittery Point, ME 03905
207.439.3655
Dock space and moorings with shuttle service. This place is right at the mouth of the harbor;
Easy access to Enoteca’s Market (same parking lot); they seem to have everything from imported Prosciutto to paper towels; the absolute ‘last chance’ for any forgotten supplies;

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

Newick’s Lobster House

No. The only dock they have is posted as private for commercial fishermen to unload only.

Fresh Local Bayside

No dock. Maybe Great Bay Marina would let you pay transient fees, but it doesn't seem worth it.

Warren’s Lobster House

No. The docks have also been there since 1940, and have never been maintained. At last check (a year ago) there was only one float left, it was half sunk and had a sign on it saying not to use it.

Captain and Patty’s

Sort of. They have about 24' of dock, one side only, and it looks pretty shallow at one end. There is a huge mooring field though, so if you were staying there anyway this would work.

However, there ARE other options. Smaller boats and dingies can get up Sagamore Creek from Little Harbor to BG's Boat House. The Portsmouth town docks at Prescott Park have reasonable hourly rates, and there are lots of great options within walking distance.

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

What do you do about the current? It looks to run about 12 knots at times - certainly a good bit more than the East River in NYC in any case. And they call THAT Hell Gate. Meeting a freighter coming the other way could be interesting and/or dangerous.

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

Well, not exactly 12 knots. I've personally clocked it at 4 in open water, in some spots it can run as much as 6. Hell gate is a cake walk compared to the Piscataqua. The one in NY, anyway. The two in Maine are a little trickier.

That said, you just need to make the current work WITH you, not against you. Catch a fair current and you will be whisked along. Maneuver facing into the current and you'll make a perfect landing or catch the mooring ball every time. But try to travel against the current with anything but a planing hull and you'll be out there a long time. I've seen boats going backward.

You are going to have to run the auxiliary to get much above the mouth. And make sure you have fresh fuel. I've seen too many boats up against a bridge or drifting out of control after a long day of sailing has stirred up the sediments and algae in their diesel fuel.

It's technically a tidal estuary system, not a river. The current reverses every 6 hours. Anchoring requires a good anchor watch. Slack water can be as much as an hour after high or low tide in the lower part of the system, even later as you get upstream.

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

Thanks for the info, CaptTom.

I'll check out Capt & Patty's this winter/spring and get the latest word.

I agree that the current in the river is to be respected, but people run it everyday. I got through my few trips this year by avoiding it when it was running hard. I don't want to be in that much current even it if is running with me (my engine is a 1981 Evinrude OB, 'nuff said).

Prescott Park is a good option; ($5/hr?) lots of great shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. Portsmouth is a great city.

Ken

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

Not exactly the Piscataqua but don't forget Wentworth by the Sea . . . just "around the corner"

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

I'll give you another one, but there's a catch. You can reserve for lunch or dinner at the hotel on Star Island at the Isles of Shoals in season. It's family-style dining with slightly overpriced and sometimes overly healthy fare. But you can't beat the atmosphere. There's nothing more relaxing than sitting on one of the rocking chairs on their big porch overlooking the islands and ocean.

The catch is you can only use the dock for dropping off and picking up. At least one of your party has to dingy in. The bottom in Gosport Harbor is very poor anchoring. If you're lucky, you MAY find a mooring that's not in use at the moment, but you are just as likely to be kicked off of it by the owner. The clubs that maintain most of the moorings are (justifiably) starting to get downright nasty about the unauthorized use, and abuse, their equipment has been getting. The locals who own personal moorings are even more vigilant. And the lobstermen's moorings, well, just remember they're almost all armed and not always friendly to a trespasser after a long day of working on the water.

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

We like to anchor off short sands in York, about an hours sail north. We row in to the south end of the beach and go to, well, York Beach. Plenty of fine dine as well as heartburn factories. Lot's of people to watch. I was sitting on a bench overlooking the water one time. This fellow asked me if I had trouble parking. I said "No, pulled up and found a great parking spot, no problem." "Where did you park?" "Right there" pointing at the south end of the bay. Then we had a good discussion about sailing.

Re: Piscataqua River Dock & Dines
 

Thanks, Don. I love to anchor off that beach as well.

I drove past Capt & Patty's last weekend, they are now out of business.

Ken