Can someone describe surf up in Maine?

Short answer: no. No expert here by any means but I've been trying to understand tides for a while now. So many factors are involved that it usually makes my head spin when I study it. For now I am content to be familiar with the tides effecting my local area.

Essentially tides are driven by the gravitational effects of the moon's orbit of the earth and to a lesser extent that of the sun. That is why most of us experience two high and two low tides per day at a period of roughly 12 hours and 25 minutes. However, some places only experience one high and one low tide per day. Still haven't grasped that one.

The tide differential is more related to bathymetry though I imagine lattitude could have some effect as well. By bathymetry I mean more than just the under water ocean floor contours that we usually think of but also the effect of other land masses and the interconnection of other bodies of water. Basically anything that effects the movement of water so I suppose you could also include ocean currents and winds into the mix.

As you can see there are a ton of factors involved. That is why all tide charts are really forecasts and shouldn't be considered absolute values. Interesting stuff but I still can't get my head around it all. Here's a neat chart I found on Wikipedia that shows the extremeness of tides around the world and the text that accompanied it. You can see one of the hot spots of extreme variation is on the Pacific coast of Central America as sisurfdogg experienced.

Another thing about tides I hadn't thought of until I recently read "Waves and Beaches" by Willard Bascom is that tides are indeed waves and they are the longest period waves that we experience on a regular basis at about 12.5 hours. BTW, this is an excellent book for those wanting to learn more about waves and stuff. It is long out of print but pretty easy to find.

Sorry to continue derailing this thread but at least I'm not blathering on about avatars...

 

Easy answer bro! The Creator is a surfer and wants to keep the dope breaks at the equator going off the same 24/7!!

Anywayz, the much lower tide difference at the equator is primarily due to the relationship of the earth's equatorial plane and the orbital plane of the moon. Tides themselves are affected by many factors, including coastline, bathymetry, and continental shelf, as well as where the sun and the moon reside specific to a given region.

Largest tides in the world are in Nova Scotia and Maine is pretty damn close and also has a lot of the same similarities with these factors.

There are solar tides and lunar tides, so the moon is not the only guiding force at work here. If the moon disintegrates tomorrow or is blown up by a meteor, we will still experience solar tides although much smaller since now those two celestial beings aren't working in concert.

The moon and the earth are basically playing tug of war with the earth's water and since the moon's upward pull is greater, we get the lunar effect on tides.

Little known fact: The Great Lakes have tides, but only a few inches so it's basically considered non-tidal.

 

Woah. Valhalla and I posted the same thing just about at the same time. That's either creepy or brilliant.

 

Yes, bro. You can trunk it in July and August if there's any swell to be found. Only went up there for a couple waist high days last summah but they were loads of fun. It's a few degrees colder water than MA but still gets up there finally in later summah. Don't mind the locals (every one of them) that are in their 3/2s in 70 degree water in packs of 50 sitting on their boards at Gooch's waiting for no waves. Rock the baggies bro.

 

My initial posts in this thread weren't referencing beach breaks, but the reclusive spots that have some long, long paddles out.

 

I think it is a little bit of both, my friend. Kinda like how zaGaffer and Steamy Ray show up on the same day. Just as the tides ebb and flow so does this forum...

 

I used to like you, Spicoli, but I think you just trashed my home break! Ouch, dude. Let me set the record straight, the locals ain't the issue. It's the Quebecois and non-Maine New Englanders. The locals are good folks. Except for me, of course, I'm a friggin crazy wild a-hole so stay away from me.

The water won't touch 70 degrees. There could be a couple days it gets close to that depending on currents, but you'll likely want that 3/2 most of the time. To avoid the crowds it's best to go early morning so that's another reason to sport the 3/2.

 

Your tide theory is flawed.
Tides for today.
Norther Maine:
low- -0.4'
high- - 9.1'

Hermosa CR:
low - -0.2
high - 9.1'

 

Thanks for the info. Pretty cool map too. I've always known they were mainly caused by the moon but couldn't figure out why some places were affected so much more.

From the looks of the map it seems like the places with the biggest differential are near some type of choke point that would inhibit the movement of massive amounts of water. Almost like how a siphon works by "dragging" the larger mass of liquid behind the initial outflow.

Sheesh, I'm sure there's better terms for what I was saying but I never made it to that class

 

Bi-stater: it's not my own theory. It's science. Which is always up for revision. Not all equatorial locations have little to no tides and never did I say so. There are a lot of factors at work with tides and I mentioned that clearly. I'm actually interested as to why equatorial locations can tend to have little tidal action yet CR clearly does. Then again, it's not right on the equator from what I can remember. I know ES is 1500mi or something away.

 

Popham for south swell. Long sands for west swell.

 

I've heard tales of windless hurricane alleys the folks down east say. Insane protection. Vimeo Maine surfing doc

 

Good luck. I'm sure there are waves.

 

Oh... Seemed like the science said there was less of a tidal swing the closer you are to the equator...

NJ has a 4' swing... Ecuador has a 6' swing... Can't get closer to the equator than that.

 

Nova Scotia has the biggest tide change. Its like over 50 feet!

Maybe that's why Maine has a pretty good tide change. Not very far from Nova Scotia.

As far as Costa, there's a lot that can affect the range of a tidal change. The shape of the beach can be deceiving too so when the tide changes it can appear to be greater than it really is.

 

I've got my eyeball on three or four points way north that I'm saving for a swellie day. Most likely try and hit them all up on one of these spring swells of the directions accommodate it. Rustic life bro.

 

Go to panama or south Korea if you want to see some crazy tide changes. Islands appear 6 hours after there was nothing but water

 

i don't have much to compare it to, aside from a few kooky days in obx, but what i've found is that there are good good days, bad good days, and bad bad days - probably much the same everywhere. i am getting a little tired of this waist to chest high short period spring stuff though.

at the places i usually frequent, i concur with Emass...it can be very fickle depending on conditions. at one minute you can be totally slotted & lined up, and then 10-20 min later the waves are breaking everywhere but where you are...either because of tide change, current change with the tide, wind change with tide, swell direction & the ever evolving beach break, or tide filling in or draining out. that part can be frustrating, but on the other hand i've had sessions where i can't not get lined up...the swell/waves/break just seem to follow me. so fickle is a word, so is fun & entertaining, just depends on perspective.

one thing i've tried to do (and this is probably the same everywhere too) is commit swell & wind direction to memory for best spots - however, this might be pretty unique to ME because of the overwhelming amount of different break/beach direction. just take a look at the coast line...if you have the time you could probably find at least knee-waist high anywhere in the state.

for the summer i go with a spring suit in the mornings (actually it's an old swimming wetsuit that i just flip inside out & it works well enough) and if it's been a warm day & the water is 60+ i go rash guard & shorts inthe evenings - it's so liberating not to wear neoprene!!!

good luck.

 

BREAKING: Clean waves everywhere in Maine the last several days. It's been the spot.

your pier is correct. ME is one state where you really have to charge with full algorithmic strategy. When I plan a ME trip after seeing the right swell direction and size coming, I have 3-5 spots lined up as options in ranked order specific to which break is set to mack per the conditions. Problem is that travel from one break to the next may be 10 minutes or 2 hours, so you really don't have time to "go look at the break" in each spot. By the time you do, you may have missed the window elsewhere. Therefore, knowledge of breaks are paramount as are up to the minute reports and buoys. It's a matter of best educated guess and so far, I'm 4 for 4 on major swells up there. Which is dope because on 3 of those days it was at breaks that go off a few times a year. You go with your top choice and bet on black with your closest backup ready to speed back roads to if first plan gets skunked. Or just roll with Spicoli, but that can put you in dire peril on such days.

Btw...NO WETTY IS NEEDED IN AUGUST ANYWHERE IN NEW ENGLAND. Sorry bros, but I stay true to that. Going mild hypo on a cloudy day is a blessing due to the tasty buzz after.

Shoots, brahs...it's 62 and perfect sun here on my coastal porch but I may have just talked myself into zipping up to Maine!!!