Finestkind Scenic Cruises

HISTORY Oscar Hubbard, a sixth generation native, along with his wife Eleanor; started Finestkind Scenic Cruises in the summer of 1956 to share their love of the unrivaled beauty of the Maine coastline. What started as a one boat operation running from the town dock has grown into a fleet of three well-maintained motor vessels with a busy summer schedule of over fifteen trips a day. Responding to the ever increasing demand, the Hubbards added more trips and expanded the operating season to meet the needs of their customers. Finestkind Scenic Cruises currently operates May 1 through mid-October and has a variety of different trips and departure times to make it easy for everyone to include a trip along the Maine coast in their vacation plans.

BOATS

Finestkind Scenic Cruises operates three traditional, Maine built wooden vessels which adhere not only to the strict safety standards of the U.S. Coast Guard; but to our own high standards as well. They all feature diesel engines, modern navigational and lifesaving equipment and comfortable passenger seating; under cover or in the fresh Maine air. Each vessel is tested for stability and passes a rigid inspection every season. At the end of each season the boats travel to the Finestkind Boatyard in South Harpswell, Maine where they are maintained meticulously by the staff. The boats all receive fresh coats of paint and varnish, and are stored there until they are called into service the next Spring. We take great pride in the care and maintenance of our vessels and it shows!

FINESTKIND I our "newest" vessel, is also our hardest working lobster boat. Built in 1976 in South Bristol, Maine she is thirty-six feet long and is certified to carry 44 passengers comfortably. This boat is devoted exclusively to lobstering and truly is a working lobster boat . She operates from May through mid-October and is an excellent choice for lobstering charters such as bus groups or school field trips.

Photograph By Patrick McNamara

FINESTKIND II, considered the family favorite amongst the fleet, is our longest owned vessel. She was built in 1957 in Vinalhaven, Maine and at one time took the Hubbards on family adventures up and down the coast. As with all of our boats, she was designed with comfort and safety in mind, and has the added advantage of having open bow seating as well as seats under cover. Finestkind II is thirty-eight feet long and is certified for 43 passengers. This boat has two jobs - she does the Breakfast Cruise in the morning and then does lobstering trips in the afternoon. Like the Finestkind I, she is also available for lobstering charters.

FINESTKIND III, at forty-four feet long, is the largest of our fleet and is certified to carry 66 passengers. She was built right around the corner in North Berwick, Maine in 1968 and is designed purely for sightseeing. Equipped with a cash bar and washroom, this boat does trips to Nubble Lighthouse in York and scenic cocktail cruises along the Ogunquit shoreline. FINESTKIND III features an open foredeck and afterdeck, along with plenty of seating under cover for those who desire. This vessel is perfect for weddings and may also be chartered for funerals.

STAFF Our employees are a very important part of the business and we consider them like family, with many returning year after year. All of our captains are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard and consider passenger safety a top priority. Our hosts and hostesses are not only trained extensively in safety procedures, but also in the comfort of passengers. They will be able to answer your questions about the coast and also give detailed explanations of lobsters and lobstering. All of our staff members consider prompt, courteous service a priority and will see to it that you enjoy your time aboard any one of our vessels.

LOCATION

Finestkind Scenic Cruises is located in Perkins Cove, one of the most picturesque parts of Southern Maine. Not only is Perkins Cove an excellent harbor, it is also a beautiful place to spend some time. It began as a humble fishing village and grew into a haven for artists who came to take advantage of the beautiful light and exquisite scenery. That is why to this day, one can still find many artists and galleries here; including the well known Ogunquit Museum of American Art which has its own spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean.

A trip to Perkins Cove would not be complete without a walk along the Marginal Way; a mile and a half paved footpath that starts in Perkins Cove and goes almost all the way to the center of Ogunquit. This path is an easy walk along the waters edge with benches on the way where one can stop to rest and admire the view; the farthest point of land in sight being Cape-Porpoise. If the walk along the Marginal Way got you too tired to walk back, you can hitch a ride on one of Ogunquit's famous trolleys which will bring you right back to Perkins Cove (this is a great way to get around town in general; leave your car at your hotel and forget about the hassle of parking!). There are many fine shops to visit while you are here and there is no shortage of great places to eat including two of our favorites, Barnacle Billy's and 98 Provence. And if you haven't gotten enough of the Atlantic ocean after your trip aboard the Finestkind, check out the Bunny Clark for the highest quality deep sea fishing around. We encourage you to spend some time in Perkins Cove, you will be happy you did.

WEATHER

Because weather is a key factor in the scheduling of our boats, occasionally we are forced to reschedule or cancel trips. It is for this reason that we suggest you call ahead of time to make sure that everything is on schedule - even if the weather looks great where you are, it may not be here. Canceled trips are, however, a rare occurrence; and more than likely everything is on track.


FINESTKIND SCENIC CRUISES
PO Box 1828, Ogunquit, ME 03907
207-646-5227
Fax: 207-363-3320
E-mail: captain@finestkindcruises.com


Copyright 1998 by Global Solutions Providers and Chamber Works, Inc. All rights reserved.