BROOKSVILLE, Maine — Sitting at the heart of Bucks Harbor in Brooksville, Buck’s Harbor Marina has been known as an integral part of the community since it was established by a group of local fishermen in the early 1900s.
When the marina — the only dockside source of gasoline and diesel between Castine and Stonington — suddenly closed at the start of the 2023 boating season, the impact on both the local community and visiting boaters was considerable.
Andrew MacArthur, who with his wife, Millie, bought the marina in May 2024, said, “We were keen to get the marina back up and running. It’s a resource for the broader community, a place where different parts of the community intersect.”
Because of its sheltered location at the head of Eggemoggin Reach, Bucks Harbor is home to both an active lobster boat fleet and seasonal boats. Many cruisers along the coast make the harbor a regular stop.
“One of the things we found really interesting,” MacArthur said, “is the large number of cruisers who’ve been coming here for years. It’s a much larger transient boating community than we appreciated initially. When the marina was closed, people told us they’d been coming for 20 years and were heart-broken.”
MacArthur and his family, who have been spending summers in Bucks Harbor for three generations, own a house adjacent to the marina. “I’ve got four kids and they’ve grown up coming here. My daughters both worked at the marina for the previous owners,” MacArthur said.
Because the sale of the marina was completed just prior to the 2024 boating season, priority one was simply getting it up and running. Since then, MacArthur and his wife have overseen a number of changes.
The largest project was replacing the fuel tanks allowing the marina to again offer ethanol-free gas and diesel to local and transient boaters.
Replacing the existing tanks, which had been deemed unusable, turned into a logistical challenge that involved getting the new tank — and the very large crane to hoist it into position — down the steep hill. “There were a few heart-stopping moments,” MacArthur said.
The new fuel tank occupies space previously taken up by outdoor showers, so the MacArthurs took the opportunity to build new, upgraded outdoor showers.
“We didn’t fully appreciate just how much people loved the outdoor showers,” MacArthur said. A special cut-out lets users enjoy a spectacular view of the harbor while rinsing off.
Another of the priorities was providing waste pump-out services to boaters. “We’re so space constrained that the logistics of getting a land-based pump-out station were tough,” MacArthur said. The alternative, purchasing a pump-out boat, was much more expensive.
Working with Brooksville resident Pam Parker, who heads up the ships and boats water quality division at Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection, the marina was able to secure some financial assistance from the state.
In return, the marina agreed to expand the pump-out service to include Center Harbor and Benjamin River. “We happily agreed,” MacArthur said. “More people pumping their boats out instead of pumping waste overboard is a good idea,” he said.
The MacArthurs also purchased Condon’s Garage in Bucks Harbor recently. Now 101 years old, the garage was featured in Robert McCloskey’s book, “One Morning in Maine.”
MacArthur envisions a third party operating an independent, marine-related business out of the space. “They would offer boat hauling, storage, winterization and engine repair services,” MacArthur said, “plus add a few parking spaces for the marina.”
Despite persistent rumors, MacArthur said that he and his wife have not purchased Bucks Market, the town’s sole grocery store. “That’s fake news,” MacArthur said, laughing. “We’ve got our hands full getting the marina back up and running.”
This story appears through a media partnership with the Penobscot Bay Press.