Herrington Harbor (Harbour?) South - For a small transient

[mltroy]

Originally Posted by chef2sail

...hope it eventually it entices you as it did most of us with the lifestyle to enjoy your passion and follow the progression to bigger sailboats (this disease we have become afflicted with) so it becomes a lifestyle.

Larger sailboat not necessary. At least a progression of larger sailboats is not necessary. We stopped at 22 ft and know a few people cruising in similar size boats. If you are going to do a lot of marina hopping (which we do) it's nice to have a boat fitted for that (shore power, head, galley) but doable without.

Sealover said:

Thought maybe if I planned my trip while they are circumnavigating Delmarva maybe I could use one of their slips and just pay the boat owner directly. I've never docked at a Marina before so I know no etiquette. Is subletting allowed?

For every marina I'm aware of, if you are coming in for a short term stay, you are a transient and must pay the transient fees. Some marinas are more small boat friendly than others. I've never stayed at HHS but ones that come immediately to mind are Spring Cove in Solomons, Knapps Narrows Inn & Marina, Shipwright's Harbor in Deale and (perhaps surprisingly) Mears on Back Creek in Eastport (Annapolis). HHS is on our list of places to try. One of the nice things about small boat cruising is that marinas can often squeeze you in someplace. It may not be the best spot in the marina but on a busy weekend, you may just be glad for a space. Last year we called Knapps a week before Labor Day (a last minute decision to go on a club cruise) and were told "no slips" until we said 22 ft when they said "oh, wait a minute".

And if you are looking for great advice from all kinds of small boat cruising check out the TSBB - The Trailer Sailor Bulletin Board Trailer Sailor Discussion Forum - Message Index

Best,
Mary Lou
Rhodes 22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

[chef2sail]

No offense meant by the larger boat progression. Anyone who enjoys the water on a boat is ok by me. I meant maybe youll get bit by the bug like my wife and I have and buy a larger boat to travel and see other places as opposed to a day or weekend sail.

For us it is our passion. We use our boats to take longer trips and vacations like to New England and for weeks around the Chesapeake. We get our housework done after work during the week so we can be "freed" up to hang out almost every weekend from march 15- Dec 15. Our sailboat is our second home.

Dave

[mltroy]

No offense taken (or intended). Just wanted to point out that cruising is not limited to "big" boats. We wouldn't take off for New England in ours but we have cruised for a week or two at a time and from 1999 to 2006 it was our second home as well. It's still our waterfront property. Small boat cruising isn't for everyone but it has its unique rewards (and limitations). Folks with small boats shouldn't necessarily put off cruising until they have a larger boat especially on the Chesapeake.

Mary Lou
Rhodes 22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

[SVAuspicious]

Mary Lou --

Have you visited SailFar.net?

[mltroy]

Originally Posted by SVAuspicious

Mary Lou --

Have you visited SailFar.net?

I have looked at it but not regularly. There are some good cruise stories there, a few folks who are doing long distance cruises in smaller boats and a few more folks dreaming about it. I've been a member of the TSBB for a long time and tend to go there when I'm looking for advice on small boat topics. Some people participate in both communities.

ML

[sealover]

The big boat bug bit me when I first stepped on board a Rhodes 22 at the Annapolis sailboat show. The guy (turns out he owns the company...) said "Naw, you don't have to take your shoes off" Sounds like my kind of company! Every now and then I pull out that 11 page manifesto they gave me and drool over it. Missed a rough one on Craigslist for 2500... still kicking myself for that.

Until then, my 17 footer will do just fine. Definitely easy to tow with a 6 cylinder station wagon and rig/launch/sail single handed.