New to the Area

jaalex · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2011

Hello all

I'm new the area in sailing terms. I've got a number of questions that I'm hoping people can help me out with. I'm currently looking at buying a Catalina 320 out of Annapolis.

1. I'm currently living up west of Richmond on 64 and am thinking of putting in at Deltaville. Does anyone have any recommendations for marinas

2. Can anyone tell me how Virginia taxes boats. It's very confusing but I think it's personal property taxes charged per year. Are there also sales taxes.

3. I'm going to move the boat on it's bottom. I don't know the bay very well. Is there a list someplace of captains that I might be able to hire to help me move the boat from Annapolis to Deltaville.

Thanks,
Jason

jaalex · #2 (**permalink**) 02-27-2011

So I'm looking at Google and I'm seeing that because of the way that 64 goes down the coast I see that I've got about the same drive to Deltaville as I would to like Gloucester Point or Hampton. Is there any advantage to moving down that way. I understand that Hampton has a much lower or non-existent tax rate for boats.

chef2sail · #3 (**permalink**) 02-27-2011

JAA welcome. I am sure you might be able to get some of the SN memebers to help bring your boat to Deltaville. Good way to meet others also.,'

A number of the Ches memebers keep their boats in the area you are looking at.

Dave

PalmettoSailor · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaalex

Hello all

I'm new the area in sailing terms. I've got a number of questions that I'm hoping people can help me out with. I'm currently looking at buying a Catalina 320 out of Annapolis.

1. I'm currently living up west of Richmond on 64 and am thinking of putting in at Deltaville. Does anyone have any recommendations for marinas

2. Can anyone tell me how Virginia taxes boats. It's very confusing but I think it's personal property taxes charged per year. Are there also sales taxes.

3. I'm going to move the boat on it's bottom. I don't know the bay very well. Is there a list someplace of captains that I might be able to hire to help me move the boat from Annapolis to Deltaville.

Thanks,
Jason

Jason,

I had my boat in Deltaville for 5 years before finally giving up and moving the boat closer to home in NOVA. For 5 years I drove to Deltaville to Sail -- Its that good.

Marina's are somewhat subjective, but I thought Stingray Harbor was the nicest in the area. If you are looking for a Yacht Club, Fishing Bay Yacht Club is fantastic and is the only place down there with amenities that I thought were nicer than Stingray. Dozier's is actually a cut above Stingray in terms of facilities but the prices show it and its the least protected marina in the area.

If your boat is stored in Deltaville, you'll pay personal property tax to Middlesex County annually. The rates are really really low. Call the Commissioner of Revenue to get the formula.

Moving a boat from Annapolis is not beyond the skills of an average sailor. You can do Annapolis to Solomon's in one day and Solomon's to Deltaville the next, or there are many places you could bail out between Solomon's and D'ville once you get past the Potomac. I did Deltaville to Pt. Lookout Marina on the Potomac in a day with a very late start, and Pt Lookout to Herrington Harbor (about 18 NM south of Annapolis) the next day when we moved our boat north.

PM me if you want to discuss in more detail.

Gladrags1 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

Being based in the upper Bay, I can't answer many of your questions but I will try anyway!

I would like to put a plug in for Deltaville as it is a beautiful place. It the economics work for you, you will discover that there is a great sailing community there. This will be an obvious benefit to a newer sailor (and older alike). Cruising destinations are plentiful both up and down the Bay, providing variety.

I have sailed the length of the Bay on numerous occasions. You should have no problems sailing your new boat South. Buy yourself some good charts (I prefer the Williams and Heintz charts of Maryland Waters and Virginia Waters) and you will see that there are great stopping places all the way down. The longest stretch is between Solomon's and Great Wicomico R. Just watch your weather window and leave plenty of time. I'm sure you'll find people to help you sail her. I wish I could but am tied up 'Til summer. There are many good, deep ports to spend the night in or wait out weather.

Where did you buy your C-320? What is her name?

jaalex · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

Thanks for the advice so far. What your telling me is confirming what I've read so far. Both Stingray and FishingBay are on my list to call this morning.

I downloaded the NOAA ENC charts for MD and VA and started to review them. I'll be ordering paper charts as soon as the purchase goes through.

As for name were still considering it. Right now we're thinking "Money Penny" and if and when we get a dink naming it "Loose Change"
Corny I know but it's better then some things.

Jason

PalmettoSailor · #7 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

If you really want to hire a delivery Captain, when you call Stingray ask for Lisa Morrow's contact info. She is an experienced delivery Captain with experience far and wide beyond the Chesapeake. She's a live aboard at Stingray and is a GREAT person to know in Deltaville. When not on deliveries she works at the West Marine Store in D-ville. (The bigger one, there are actually 2 believe it or not.)

Lisa can put you on to the people to know for every service you'll ever need for your boat. Her advice saved me a ton of money over the years. Both the rigger and diesel mechanic I used down there were unknown to me before Lisa told me about them. Both provided better service and prices than the big boatyards. I will say I had good experience with Shroders Yacht Systems down there and that's where I'd go if I were outfitting a boat.

Getting back to moving the boat, I'd say it would be a great experience if you have the time to move it yourself. It really is just a long 2 day trip that could be streched to a 3 day weekend trip to really enjoy.

Also, not sure if you were refering to Fishing Bay Marina or Fishing Bay Yacht Club in your latest post. I didn't mention Fishing Bay Marina, but it would be my second choice as nicest resonably priced marina in Deltaville with Deltaville Yacht Center/Chesapeake Yacht Sales being 3rd.

If you're a bit more rooted than me, FBYC is a great option though. I had in the back of my mind that I'd eventually have to move the boat closer so I never pursued membership though. I did crew on a boat there for a few seasons so I'm well familiar with the facility.

kd3pc · #8 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

Jason

VA taxes boats through sales tax at time of purchase and then each and every year after via personal property taxes. The personal property tax is calculated by often unknowable formulas by each county and that can play in to where you slip the boat. The counties do a good job of ferreting out the boats, walking the marinas and parking lots listing names,makers, home port, numbers, etc.

A few counties/independent cities "waive" the boat tax.

You may want to look at the northern neck of VA, as there are much less expensive slips and more options to get there than keeping your boat in Deltaville will allow. We have several Richmond folks where we keep our boat. On the northern side of Deltaville the channel is shallow coming in. But they do have TWO west marine stores.

All the best and for sure take her yourself. Well worth taking a day off and using that long weekend to come down. A day from Nap town to Solomon's and another easy day on to Deltaville. Plenty of spots to duck into should the weather turn.

enjoy

PalmettoSailor · #9 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kd3pc

Jason

...On the northern side of Deltaville the channel is shallow coming in. But they do have TWO west marine stores.

enjoy

The Broad Creek entrance is narrow and relatively shallow (I don't think I ever saw less than 8'), but it is a straight shot in.

The Jackson Creek side is just as shallow but is a large figure "S" to enter. Coming in it looks like you're going to end up on the beach before you finally reach the turn towards open water, but you can't get excited and just drive towards the "big water" or you'll ground on a shoal. You have to continue to follow the marks around the rest of the "S" before you get into safe depths.

jaalex · #10 (**permalink**) 02-28-2011

I've been looking at the NOAA ENC charts. And it looks like anything around Deltaville has shallow water to deal with. I will have the wing keel at a depth of something like 4'3" So as long as I can stay in the channels it looks like I should be ok.

I've talked to StingRay point and from there website it sounds like a good place. I was talking about FishingBay Marina as I didn't realize it was separate from the FBYC. I think until I really figure out if I'm in the right spot I'm going to avoid expensive yacht clubs. I saw that StingRay Point has a Yacht Club onsite so it might be fun to join that.

I've been sailing for some time now. Most of our sailing has been on a flood control lake in Iowa. But we've also chartered in the BVi and the Greek Isles. I think that I could make it back from Annapolis to Deltaville but due to relocation and such we've been off boats for a couple years and it's that local that I'm afraid I just don't have.

Thanks,
Jason