We took our Nordic Tug 42 up the Kennebec to Hallowell in August of 2015 and 2016. Our draft is 4’ 9” and we made the trip at half tide or higher and carefully followed the well marked channel, with no problems. Very few folks go all the way to Hallowell, but it’s well worth the trip. The Kennebec is beautiful and Hallowell has much to offer with a bike path along the river and many bars, shops and restaurants. It is a non-touristy, non-coastal Maine town, close to Augusta the state capital. There is a weekly farmers market in Hallowell and a wonderful organic market named Sheepscot General in Whitefield, ME.
We tied up at the town dock for 4-5 days in Hallowell on each trip. A permit for staying at the town dock can be obtained from the police station located in the cellar of the City Hall. The funny thing is we were only the second permit that they had ever issued. The town dock has no power or water and is roughly 75 feet long. There is a row of colorful Adirondack chairs above the dock that is a popular hang-out place for the locals. Friday and Saturday evenings can be noisy until late.
We did have an issue late one night with an attempted break-in through the ceiling hatch over our bed. Our son and his friend, both big boys, chased him off, but it was an unsettling experience none the less.
We didn’t have any problems hailing the draw bridge in Bath which opened in a timely manner. We also spent a couple nights at the free dock in Richmond which was located on a very nice park and across from scenic Swan Island. We filled up with diesel fuel from Main Street Fuel, Richmond from their truck at that dock.