1 Star Places To Visit in Maine, United States (3)

1. 1.0 Brightside Marine (2 reviews)
   - Worst experience ever!
   Boat Rentals
   
   
   Brightside Marine -- a poorly managed business with serious cash flow problems. They over promise, under deliver, behave abusively and held our boat hostage until we arrived with a Sheriff and $2,200 in cash. This sad story started last summer. We brought our 17’ fishing boat to Shawn Grant, owner of Brightside. He was knowledgeable and immediately diagnosed the problem. The transom was rotten. They could store and winterize the boat, and have it fixed by mid June 2022. Red flag #1: November 2021 we receive a call asking us to prepay for the storage/winterization, or they can’t meet payroll. $1,189 paid by credit card. Red flag #2: After my husband telephoned several times, Shawn said, “Stop calling and bothering the help. Don’t call us! We’ll call you!” And then he blocked his calls. Red flag #3: Mid June 2022, the boat hasn’t been started yet. They call with a new quote of $6,000 and request a 50% deposit. $3,000 paid by credit card. Red flag #4: Four days before we arrive, text comes in asking for another $2,000. They’ve “burned” thru the deposit and need more funds. The end’s in site, so we again pay by credit card. Arrive in Maine 7/2. Boat not ready until 7/13!! In the meantime, no loaner boat available. Last straw, Shawn calls yelling about our interaction with the staff on why the boat wasn’t ready on time. In a loud, threatening voice he said he was closing our account and would no longer accept a credit card. Show up with $2,200 in $100 bills. Pay in cash or NO boat! That’s when we called the Sheriff, who thankfully went with us to get the boat. Turns out, this wasn’t their first call about Shawn and Brightside Marine. And I suspect, it won’t be their last. See more..
   
2. 1.0 Bartlettyarns Inc. (1 review)
   - Open House at an Old Fashioned Spinning Mill
   Spent 2-3 hours Speciality & Gift Shops • Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
   On the first Friday and Saturday of August each year Bartlett Mill stops production and gives tours of their yarn spinning mill. They tell about taking in the raw wool fresh from shearing through coloring & spinning the processed wool into yarns on machines built prior to 1948. If you enjoy vintage machinery and early industrial production you are going to value this tour. If you knit and crochet 100% wool yarn or felt 100% wool roving then you will value this tour and learn lots of interesting bits of information about the whole process. There is wonderful gift and product store available to shop in with yarns, tools and gifts. There is a picnic table under the trees near a stream and bringing a picnic lunch is about the only way you are going to get lunch. There is a Port-A-Potty available. See more..
   
3. 1.0 Paragon Shop (1 review)
   - Not a welcoming experience.
   Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops
   
   
   Lovely boutique shop in the Restaurant area in downtown Waterville. See more..