Southern Maine Boating Resources click Casco Bay Boating Resources Mid Coast Boating Resources Penobscot Bay Boating Resources Mount Desert Boating Resources Downeast Boating Resources Passamaqouddy boating resources
 
  terms of boatmaine.us | site map | contact us | Boater's Podcasts travelogue podcasts newsrss

Sailing and Boating the Maine Coast
 

Books about Maine Cruising



Advertise on www.boatmaine.us, Maine's #1 Google Scoring Boater's Website.

learn more here

Jewell Island, Maine

(In region Casco Bay)
See more: Family Places to Go | Gunk holes | Islands | 

 
 
    Mapit!    Weather    Tides   CoastPilot    Add your comments

Lat/Long: N 43.6793 | W 70.09385 (appx)
near or in: jewell island, maine, 04017


Boater's Comments/Ratings:   (Write comment/rate resource)

Currently: 5 comments with an average "Boat rating" of 96%

   Native , posted 5/23/2010
Been going to Jewel for years. Good hiding place for Mainers to relax and occasionally have legendary parties. Some "Blow In's" may not like the parties but this is a Maine island so when in Maine..... Anyway go check out the towers but I think the underground bunkers are more interesting from a historical point of view.
   Howard Forrest, posted 4/18/2010
I was in the army and lived on Jewel Island From August 1946 until April 1947. There were 8 of us on the island in August and for the last few months only 3. I was stationed on Peaks Island for about 5 months prior to moving to Jewel Island. I have fond memories of my time spent there. Sorry I never stayed on a boat there.
   A local, posted 7/21/2007
I frequent Jewell Island and it's a great place to visit but when you live in Maine with its overbearing govt. and stagnant economy it's hard to find good recreation spots where you can really cut loose and let your hair down without someone putting the nix on it.So to all you cruisers who just want piece and quiet it can be found between the four walls of your house.Although Jewell Island is quiet for the most part it does take on a bit of a party atmosphere in the summer,hence the name cocktail cove.Come,Enoy,Live and let live!!
   Dave, posted 3/7/2006
We love Jewell Island. The walking paths are enjoyable and well traveled. There's lots to explore. The only negative is that it is so popular that it can get busy in the summer especially the weekends.
   Badger Baird, posted 2/11/2006
I gave Jewell only a "pretty darn good" rating because it occasionally has one drawback. Some of the local islanders like to come over to Jewell to try and shock as many cruisers as they can with noisey, drunken, perverted, sick behavior. The more I bring up this subject to people the more I hear of other horror stories of nights spent there. Some tell me they'll never go back, at least during the summer months. But it's still an awsome place to explore.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the little brown shack next to the harbor is not the keepers shack. It's private and not part of the Jewell Island Park. I believe it's owned by a the Cushing family who I think live over on Cliff or one of the nearby islands. Mr Cushing is a lobsterman. He stores his traps and skiff on the raft at the head of the cove.

The Jewell Island caretaker lives in a tent directly accross the harbor from the shack. He's there to maintain the island and observe people but has no real authority.


 
 
The Casco Bay area in southern Maine has many islands, but most are privately owned. An exception is Jewell Island: state owned and available for public visitation and camping; a rare combination of woods, walking paths, rugged rock formations, beautifully scented evergreens and a well protected cove to anchor. The cove has a mean low somewhere around 10 feet.
 
Throw in WWII towers that give you a beautiful vista (former observation & gun station) and you have an interesting and fun place for the whole family. 

Anchoring in Cocktail Cove

The Coast Pilot reports that anchorage is good at 10' with a mud bottom; we'd have to agree. Take notice on two accounts: first, the extreme southwest end of Cocktail Cove is tidal. And second, there are submerged pilings, one of which is visible at low (see chart).
 
During the peak season, boats are densely packed in a relatively narrow cove, but we have never failed to find somewhere to drop the hook.
 

Public Walking Paths on Jewell Island

There are designated campsites on Jewell. Probably some dozen- not an exact count, but somewhere close. Connecting them is a series of narrow walking paths through the woods. The island is well kept, and even has a privy for public use to help keep Jewell a jewel!

WWII Concrete Towers on Jewell Island

There are two concrete WWII towers on the south end of the island, although only one is marked on the chart. Walking paths lead you all the way from Cocktail Cove to the tower complex. The towers stand tall, perhaps 60-80 feet high. The one we explored had three stories. A solid concrete structure, with only a minor amount of spalling to show its age. Each of the three floors had a (roughly) 10 x 10 room with long horizontal openings running almost the full width of the walls.

(If anyone has historical information, or photos of these towers in use in WWII, we'd like to post it).

From the top we had a breathtaking panoramic view of the water which swept from the north all the way past Portland to the southwest.


Maine Beaches on Jewell island

The east side of Jewell has a couple of 'beach' areas. You can clearly see a horseshoe shaped area in the chart at right- that's the one we visited.  If you are interested in driftwood, this has to be driftwood heaven. Because of Jewell's position, it appears to pick up a lot of ocean treasures.

All-in-all, we think Jewell is a pretty good spot to spend a day- or two. We're looking forward to our next visit!
 
If you are interested in learning about the history of Jewell Island, Peter Benoit's "History of Jewell Island" is a wonderful resource.
 
Article by Rick Dieffenbach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    

Other Marine Resources Within 3 Miles of Jewell Island, Maine

(You can zoom in and out of the map below with your mouse wheel and drag the map with your mouse left button.)

#
Statute Miles
 Item Contact Info:
X
0
 Jewell Island, Maine 
2
0
 History of Jewel Island, Peter W. Benoit's book, a Review 
3
1.2
 Inner Green Island 
4
1.5
 West Brown Cow 
5
1.5
 Cliff Island, Maine 
6
2.2
 Rogues Island 
7
2.2
 Hope Island 
8
2.3
 Bates Island 
9
2.5
 Stepping Stones 
10
2.5
 Sand Island 
11
2.5
 Outer Green Island 
12
2.5
 Stave Island 
13
2.7
 Ministerial Island 
14
2.7
 Obeds Rock 
15
2.9
 Wreck: (Boatmaine region Casco Bay) NOAA# 2240 
16
2.9
 Crow Island 
17
3
 Eagle Island, Maine Admiral Peary  phone: (207) 624-6080
www.pearyeagleisland.org
     

add quick comment
Terms and conditions: BoatMaine.us gathers information from public sources. No representation is made as to the accuracy of information provided. Always verify depth, tide and obstacle information from the most up-to-date official US government or other authoritative sources.
Places to go


Community and fun
Desktop Calendars - FREE!, Calendar of Boating Events in Maine, Add Event, Interviews, My Boat, Nautical Terms Audio, Journal Maker, Send a Maine Postcard, Poems, Panorama Photos, Boating Videos, Clubs, Articles

Maine Boater's Reference
Planning the Trip, Navigation Related, Boating Safety, Suggest a Reference Item

Cruising Destinations
Other points of Interest, Photos & Webcams, Books - Maine coast, Suggest a Place

Boats and services for sale
Boat for Sale, Boat Yards in Maine, Coastal Maine Real Estate, Maine Marinas for Sale, Suggest a Marine Service, Dealers in Maine, ADVERTISE ON BOATMAINE

Boat Maine Welcomes You



BoatMaine.us home page | RSS Updates | Contact Us | Privacy Policy

Need a Web Design or Print Design? Visit Allure Interactive Web, LLC
Want to build your own website? Check out LearnExpressionweb.com
Homes for sale in Maine | Commercial Properties for Sale in Maine

copyright 2010. all rights reserved.