Interested in your own island off the New England coast?

Ram Island, off the coast of Machiasport, Maine, is for sale on eBay today. It’s a 16-acre, uninhabited rock known for its bird habitats. Bidding starts at $795,000!

From the description:

The island has a hill in the center some 60 feet above sea level. That’s a good height. From up there you can see the entire island. You can see the entire world. To the north, the main island, Foster Island, the Cutler towers and stone Island (with it’s virgin forest.) To the east the Libbys, and Libby Island light. To the west which was my favorite view, were the beautiful sunsets. Then, Scabby Island, The Brothers and Cadillac mountain in the distance. And to the south is the open ocean.

Ram Island is very far to the east, very quiet and very private. Its too far east for most cruising boats. It’s special and exciting to spot a sail. Ram is raw nature. It’s all about the sea, and the sky, the waves, the wind and the tide. It has a big tide, around 18 feet. It’s really two islands, a high tide one and a low tide one. It’s filled with wonderful sounds. Big waves crashing against the cliffs, and small waves quietly lapping the stone beaches, rolling the round smooth stones over and over. New sounds that appear for a while as the rising and falling tides uncover crevices and canyons in the cliffs.

For a week we live like Swiss Family Robinson, cooking over an open fire on the beach. Living outdoors, sitting by the fire until late at night and sleeping in our clothes. There’s nothing to do on Ram Island. Just walk, sit, look at the sea, lay on your back in the grass and watch the sea gulls play tag, and think.

Sounds like something all of us Shoalers would enjoy!

Update, April 20: Sumar & Kristen were on WMUR news last night, talking about the storm! Check out the online companion article “Workers Stranded On Island During Storm”. It includes video (requires a Windows PC, sorry). The story has also been picked up by WCVB in Boston, under the headline “Nor’easter Strands Pair On Island.”

Intrepid Facilities Manager Sumar Maji has reported back with more information on damage to Star over the last few days as high winds and tides repeatedly pounded the island.

“As far as damage goes, we’re in good shape structurally,” he told the office by phone yesterday, but went on to describe some fairly serious weather-related destruction that became evident after he and the Pels examined the island more closely.

He noted a breach to the floodwall around the main pump station that receives waste water from half of the island. Flood waters tossed rocks and debris under the truck trestle, damaging pipes and destroying the pump station’s manifold.

The top surface of the pier was scarred and damaged after being basically underwater through high tide. The entire upper surface has been pockmarked and cracked and the railing washed away.

There was also damage to the roof of Sandpiper which has resulted in a waterlogged and ravaged ceiling.

Tons of debris has washed ashore around the wastewater treatment facility and across the front lawn, which will require significant clean-up.

In general, Sumar hopes the open-up crew and volunteers can help get the island back on track in time for the summer season. More updates to come!

You can check out the great article “Three are stranded but OK on Star Island” by Karen Dandurant in today’s Portsmouth Herald, which features an interview with Sumar.

More photos, courtesy Athena Steinkraus: