Information About the Chesapeake

[GeorgeB]

Yikes! I may be transferring to Maryland (Greater DC area) and I need to get the low-down sailing the Chesapeake. What is the slip availability in Naptown/ Eastport? How about Solomon’s? (Work is in Gaithersburg.) We’d be hauling a 34 footer back east sometime in the fall/winter. I’m assuming that it will go straight into winter dry storage. What does that entail? San Francisco Bay has spoiled us and we are currently in a great marina – clean bathrooms, “free” ice, double fingers, park like setting. My wife and I are both “boat people” so we are not adverse to spending a little more on our passion. Our boat draws 6’. Is this really a problem? Also, I’m guessing that we will need to buy some light air equipment like a half oz spin and a 140% #1 genoa. I’ve sailed once on an AYC Wednesday night beer can so my experience is limited. What are places you guys sail to and is it true that most of the bay is too shallow to sail? My wife is dead set against the possible move and thinks that life as we know it will cease and we’ll be unhappy sailing there.

[JohnRPollard]

George,

I think you'll have a blast sailing the Chesapeake!

Your 6 foot draft is fine. I prefer a bit shallower, but I would consider boats with drafts deeper than 6' for the Bay too. There will be a few special places that you won't be able to get into, and a few shortcuts you'll have to pass up, but 90% of what you want to visit will be accessible.

And it would take several lifetimes to visit that 90%. Compared to San Fran Bay, you are talking about many orders of magnitude more destinations that are available. Honestly, your choices are virtually limitless.

Solomons is a fairly long haul from Gaithersburg. If that's where you end up living, I think you will want to plan to keep the boat somewhere roughly between Deale Md and Annapolis. There are quite a few options there, most within about an hour drive of G-berg. Solomons would be closer to 1 hour 45 minutes. I imagine the prices are comparable to or less than San Fran.

Our sailing season spans from March to November. Some press on year round.

Depending how competitive you are, many cruising folks just have a single 0.6 or 0.75 oz chute. If you already have a 130 genny, you'll likely be fine -- I would wait until you get a better feel for the conditions hereabouts before modifying the sail inventory too much.

Good luck! Don't rule out the move due to sailing concerns. This is a good venue!

[svsirius]

George the bay is one of the best sailing places in the US. You can find a great marina, you will want a genoa which you did not really use on SF Bay and a good light air chute. If you are going to race your boat then you need a full suit of light air sails. There is much better overnight/weekend cruising on the Chesapeake than on the SF bay. Very different sailing but still both are great.. and yes I have been on both. Depending on where you end up, let that drive where you look for a marina but there are very posh to very basic in the larger towns.

[T37Chef]

If your working in Gaithersburg, will you be living nearby? (I Live in Gaithersburg/Rockville) If so, you should also consider marina on the Magothy River, Patapsco River/Rock Creek/Bodkin Creeks or even North of there.

The Chesapeake is one of the best cruising grounds in the world, you could spend your entire life sailing the bay and still not see it all. Yes, many places on the bay are shallow, but the majority is easily accessible and you will find wonderful anchorages abundant.

Marina prices vary widely, usually based on facilities and location. Annapolis is going to be the most expensive, but offer some great conveniences and of course a prime sailing culture, just be willing to pay big $$$ for it. The Magothy has few public marinas, I think the residence like that But it is a ideal spot on the bay for sailing North or South. The Patapsco has many marina's and I am most familiar with them in Rock & Bodkin Creeks. I don't think you will have much of a problem finding a slip for a 34 foot boat anywhere, but it seems once you need 40' or larger the slips become more sparse around here, however the economic situation seems to have kept more boats on land than normal?

The one thing you will miss is the great restaurants in San Fransisco/Berkley.


Just a few quick thoughts, I'm sure others will chime in with their thoughts...

[painkiller]

George,

I live about 5 minutes up 270 from Gaithersburg and I keep my boat in Annapolis. It's about 55 miles and it takes me from 50 minutes to 1 hr 15 minutes depending on traffic, number of cops running radar, the route I take, etc. I usually take the Beltway to Rt. 50 when going out to Annapolis, but I go "the back way" through Columbia, MD to get home to avoid the sport bike wackos on Rt. 50 in the evenings.

I wouldn't think of keeping my boat in Solomons. That's a great town and dockage is much cheaper than Annapolis, but I don't want to spend the 2 hours on the road each way.

I used to keep a boat up on the Patapsco River in Pasadena, MD. Dockage is cheaper up there and the drive was about the same as getting to Annapolis, but the scenery wasn't as good as Annapolis (unless you like to see steel mills, factories, etc.).

Other convenient options for you include the Magothy, South, West, and Rhode Rivers. I've seen lots of stickers for Herrington Harbor Marina (Deale, MD) on cars in my neck of the woods, but I personally consider that to be too far of a drive as well.

Don't even consider keeping your boat on the Potomac in the vicinity of DC.

For marinas with amenities, try Mears in Eastport (tennis courts, continental breakfasts on weekends, pools) or Chesapeake Harbour (pools, workout facilities, beach access, restaurant on site). I'm sure other folks have some worthy opinions in this regard as well.

As everyone else has said, there are endless possibilities for cruising the Bay. St. Michael's, Solomon's, Rock Hall, and Kent Narrows are all popular destinations from Annapolis, but you can drop a hook in a different place every night for the rest of your life and still not see everything.

[T37Chef]

Originally Posted by JohnRPollard

I think you will want to plan to keep the boat somewhere roughly between Deale Md and Annapolis. There are quite a few options there, most within about an hour drive of G-berg.

I am not disagreeing with JRP, but consider the holiday/weekend traffic, Deale and Annapolis are not ideally located from G Burg/Rockville...why? You would need to use the Capital Beltway/Rt 50, you don't want to do that often if possible.

From G Burg/Rockville, the Patapsco/Magothy Rivers would be much less stressful to get to IMO, as you can head east through Howard County and Anne Arundel to reach these areas and avoid the weekend beach traffic.

Look at a map, you'll see what I mean

[painkiller]

Hey, T. Would you recommend Bodkin if George has a 6' draft? I remember Bodkin being a little shallow, especially down the Back Creek Side. Detailed charts consisted of a drawing from the Sea Scouts. :-)

[painkiller]

Originally Posted by T37Chef

I am not disagreeing with JRP, but consider the holiday/weekend traffic, Deale and Annapolis are not ideally located from G Burg/Rockville...why? You would need to use the Capital Beltway/Rt 50, you don't want to do that often if possible.

T, George could go the back way from G'Burg. Up Rt. 27, across Brink to 650 (New Hampshire Ave) south, left on Brighton Dam Road to Ten Oaks, left on 108, Take 32 East to 97 south and then it's either Rt. 50 or Aris T. Allen Blvd from there.

All told, it's 10 miles shorter than the Beltway route but about 10 minutes longer. However, the traffic is far more consistently light that way (except in rush hour, but it still beats doing 270 and the Beltway).

[midlifesailor]

I'll add that if you plan to race, your focus should be on the Annapolis area unless you want to be hours away from your boat. There doesn't seem to be much racing actvity (Keel boat) around Deale or Solomon's or anywhere between Annapolis and Deltaville. Besides Annapolis, Deltaville, VA and Hampton, VA seem to be were there are active keelboat racing fleets on the Chesapeake. If you're a crusier, Solomons or Deale will suit you fine and might be a tad less expensive than Naptown but not much. Deal is right on the Bay, but Solomons is a couple of miles up the Patuxet from the Bay. Herrington Harbor in Deale will likely be among the nicest marinas you'll find anywhere and since you're used to SF prices it might even seem reasonable. There is an advantage to being on a river off the bay as they often can be a more sheltered place to sail when the Bay gets ugly.

As far as slip availablity, getting straight into your first choice marina might be something of a problem but you can almost certainly find somewhere to keep the boat while you wait. I think your timing might be good as some folks are having to give up their boats in the current economy.

Finally, as others have said, a 6' draft will limit what creeks you can enter, but much of the Bay itself is 25-35 feet and double that in places so the idea that the bay is not sailable is wholly unfounded. There are many anchorages that carry 15' or so of water close to shore so you'd have no problem there, though I assure you some channels will have you sweating a 6' draft. Still, I recently did a race from Annapolis to Hampton, VA (about 120 miles) on a boat with close to 6' draft so you'll have plenty of room to sail. Also, since the bottom of the Bay is mud, you generally don't wreck anything when you do manage to find bottom, which you inevitably will. Tow Boat US unlimited towing is a good investment. Welcome to the East Coast, I think you and your wife will quickly come to enjoy the sailing here.

[T37Chef]

Pain,

Yes, agreed. I do the same when I have to go to work in Arnold Its just my opinion, I like to visit Naptown, and if my wallet could afford it I would keep my boat there too, I guess I just rather spend the $3000-$5000 a year I save keeping the boat North on something/one else I don't mind sparrows point, I just don't look at it and I am not a dockside social member of a marina so I could not care much about amenities, just good sailing folks and a good marina.

There is unarguably more BS to deal with driving anywhere near Annapolis during the summer, the Bay Bridge back ups, the Severn River Bridge back ups, the speed police everywhere, the unpredictable Capital Beltway, even 97 sucks! But then once your on the boat it is pretty sweet to be near Annapolis isn't it, oh wait, I wouldn't know. LOL

I should mention the big plus for Annapolis or South (Deale, Herrington Harbor) is the less boat traffic & crab pots, and usually more wind as well as the central location on the bay.

I have been sailing/boating the Chesapeake since I was a kid and haven't seen half of it!

Welcome