Living on a boat allows you to sail away anytime, so you don’t have to commit to a single location. Unless you want to continue living a relatively settled life. Then you might want to stay in one area for a while.
Whether you want to sail or liveaboard your boat in one place, the beautiful state of Maine may be the place for you. This article covers the best liveaboard marinas in Maine and also what makes Maine such a great place to live for boaters.
Why you Might Want to Live in a Maine Liveaboard Marina
Maine is a sailor’s dream; surprisingly, it has even more shorelines than California. Maine’s 3,478-mile tidal shoreline is the fourth-longest in the US. This impressive tidal shoreline figure officially takes into account sounds, bays, offshore islands (there are hundreds around Maine), rivers, and creeks.
In addition, Maine is a very quiet and peaceful state, home to a number of national forest parks. The Acadia National Park is nearby and offers an abundance of camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. If you want to take a dog with you, there are many great places for dog walking.
Fortunately, the cost of living in Maine is very low. So if you work from home, your money will go a long way. Buying or renting a car and living on your boat can be sustainable.
If you like to eat, you’re in luck. Maine has dozens of annual food festivals that will keep you busy. Also, let’s not forget about the famous Maine lobster!
Pros of Living Aboard in Maine
Friendly locals
The people of Maine are friendly. Very friendly. For most people that’s great, because it’s very important to move to a new place and immediately feel like you belong. And feeling not only accepted but welcomed into the community is a real blessing. Unless, of course, you prefer to be low-key.
If you prefer to be alone, Maine may not be the state for you. Chances are, your marina neighbors will stop by to say hello, introduce themselves, and try to welcome you into the community.
Whether it’s the city community or just the marina community. It is up to you to decide if this is a good or bad thing. It is a matter of personal preference.
Mild Weather
The weather in Maine can best be described as mild. But it does rain, a whole lot of it. If the fact that it rains over 170 days a year in Maine is a problem for you, you might want to look elsewhere. Rain is more important to someone who lives on their boat than it is to someone who lives in an apartment.
Do you mind feeling stuck on your boat because the rainy weather won’t let you out? For some boaters, being “stuck” on a boat doesn’t feel that way at all. That’s exactly where they want to be.
Nature and coastline
Maine is a fantastic place to live. There are many things to see and beautiful hiking trails that the whole state is a nature lover’s dream. If you’re moving to Maine because you want to retire, the endless hikes, waterfalls, forest trails, and fishing lakes may be just what you’re looking for.
Maine has nearly 3500 miles of rocky and rugged coastline that can be explored from both land and sea.
If you are ready for even more adventure, Maine is a great starting point to sail across the Atlantic.
Great Marinas
Finally, it is time to decide which place in Maine is best for you. Maine is a relatively small state, but there are some excellent marinas in Maine.
If you have the time, you should visit some of these marinas in person before you commit.
The 15 Best Liveaboard Marinas in Maine
Maine is not the largest state, but there are plenty of options. Fortunately, Maine is a very affordable place to live, so price shouldn’t have much of an impact on your choice.
You should consider what else you’ll need to spend your money on and what day-to-day expenses you’ll need to consider, such as having a car.
Since there is not as much public transportation here, you might need a car if you plan on traveling around the state.
Here’s our list of the top marinas in Maine:
Portland Marinas
- Sunset Marina
- Maine Yacht Center
- DiMillo’s Old Port
- South Harbor Marine
- Portland Yacht Service
Kennebunk Marinas
- Kennebunk Marina
- DiMillo’s Kennebunk
- Yachtsman Hotel and Marina Club
- General Marine
- Arundel Wharf
Rockland Marinas
- Rockland Yacht Club
- Landings Marina
- Journey’s End Marina
- Knight Marine Service
- North End Shipyard
What Amenities Should a Marina Have?
Image credit: iStock
A marina that offers all the essentials at a reasonable price and in a good location should be at the top of your list. Fortunately, there are many such marinas in Maine.
Marinas are not cheap, so it is very important that you make sure you are getting good value for your rental. Below are some factors to consider when comparing Maine marinas to ensure you get the most for your money.
Security
When you live aboard your boat, you will have very few possessions. For some people, this is a problem, but for most, it is a blessing. Minimal possessions are easier to manage and much more sustainable. However, there are some disadvantages to having all these possessions on your boat. If a burglar were to break into your boat, they could take everything of value.
Unless you plan to guard your boat 24 hours a day, you should rely on good marina security. Good security means video surveillance, guards on duty, high fences, secure gates with access codes, and friendly neighbors. Neighbors will watch your boat for you and keep an eye on events.
Location
Maine has a very long coastline. This is because it is very rugged and hilly. In practice, the coastline is very short. There are very few towns along the coastline that are worth staying in. Therefore, the choice of the right device depends very much on the task at hand.
If you don’t have a job yet, the best advice is to follow the job. Find a job and choose the port accordingly. If you have the luxury of not having to work or being able to work from home, try a few marinas first before deciding on a longer-term rental.
Cost
In Maine, the cost of living is very low. This means that food, rent, utilities, and activities are relatively inexpensive compared to the rest of the country. That doesn’t mean wages are low. This makes Maine an affordable place to live.
You can rent a marina in Maine for less than $3000 per year. That’s much less than renting in California or Florida, which can be anywhere from 2 to 5 times as much.
This means that you’ll have more funds available to treat yourself and your loved ones to some fantastic gifts for boaters.
Amenities
Good amenities include many things. A good shower building with adequate bathrooms can play an important role. Swimming pools or hot tubs may be available for residents.
Access to a private gym at no additional cost is a great benefit that is often overlooked. An on-site laundromat with washers and dryers is a boon you will surely miss if it is not available.
If there are no services, you will have to get the things you need elsewhere. Whether it’s having to carry laundry a few blocks to find a laundromat or finding a gym.
You might be eager to grab a cup of coffee in the mornings, so a cafe or a small restaurant can be handy. But if you are serious about always having coffee near you, even on the water, then you might want to get a coffee maker for boats.
WiFi
If you need to work from home regularly, whether full or part-time, you need WiFi or good cell phone service. Probably both. In the modern world, it’s very difficult to get by without a stable internet connection.
You can’t pay your bills, you can’t keep in touch with your family, and you can’t look for a job when you need one. Even if you already have a job, you are expected to be within reach. Whether it’s via email or text/call, you need a way to communicate with your colleagues and clients.
Even if that’s not a problem, you need to think about your personal life. Not being able to watch movies, exercise, stream music, or chat with friends will be very tiring. Sure, for a week or two, it might be nice. Maybe even a month. But after that, you’ll be bored and lonely. At least most people will be.
Takeaway
There you have it! The best liveaboard marinas in Maine. The state has a long tidal coastline, plenty of nature, delicious food, friendly locals, and affordable marinas. We have been around Maine many times, and it’s an incredible place to live.
Especially if you’re thinking of staying there for longer. The low cost of living means your income or pension will go further. You’ll get more bang for your buck and have more disposable income to spend on the things that matter most to you.
See Also:
- 10 Best Liveaboard Marinas In The US In 2023
- The Best Liveaboard Marinas In California in 2023
- 10 Best Liveaboard Marinas in North Carolina
- Best Liveaboard Marinas in San Diego
Featured Image credit: Sunset Marina, Portland