The Benjamin River is located on the southwest end of Eggemoggin Reach and just to the east of Deer Isle. Inside is a designated anchorage and Benjamin Marine, which has transient slips and facilities for making repairs to mechanical boat systems. This area is particularly popular with cruisers, due to the very protected nature of the cove that is formed near the mouth of the river.

The image above is a view from the south looking north over the mouth of the Benjamin River where it empties into Eggemoggin Reach near Cape Carter. In the upper-right-hand portion of the image, the continuation of the Benjamin River can be seen working its way northeast. Of particular note is the entrance channel, where a large shoal that extends out to the northwest over the river mouth can be seen. This is where the entrance channel bends to the left.

Use NOAA Charts 13316 and 13309.

The Benjamin River is reached via an approach from the south through Eggemoggin Reach. If you are approaching from the southeast, first set a course for red nun buoy “14,” which is located at the end of a long shoal extending into Eggemoggin Reach from Bridges Point. Red nun buoy is located near waypoint N44 16.158 W68 37.452 and marks the location of this shoal. Be sure to leave plenty of room as you leave the buoy to starboard.

If you are arriving from the northwest, set a course for red nun buoy “16,” (approximate waypoint N44 16.882 W68 38.416) which marks the location of Stump Point Ledge off the west side of the Benjamin River’s mouth.

Once you have safely cleared either mark (and the tricky shoals behind them) set a course for red nun buoy “2,” which can be seen in the image above with a sharp eye. The river bends slightly northwest at this point, and then green nun “3” will come up on your port side as you work your way up the river. Of particular importance is the long shoal that runs southeast to northwest across the river. The shoal bares at low tide as evidenced in the image above. Red nun “4” marks the location of the outer tip of this shoal.

Inside the harbor you will find a deep hole with 27- to 50-foot depths. Boaters tend to anchor on the outer edges of the hole in four- to seven-foot depths. Benjamin Marine is located in the northeast corner of the harbor.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.