Sailing in the Ocean City NJ area

[Klaatu]

I have a Catalina 22 Capri with a wing keel sailing on the Delaware River in the Philadelphia area, moored in Riverside NJ. I just purchased a home in Ocean City, NJ and faced with a decision - what do I do about the boat?

I understand that the Ocean City area, on the bay side is not a great place to sail with a shallow bay. Anyone have any experience sailing in the OC area/

[ottos]

Welcome! I know several bay sailors. Mostly I'm on the ocean. What do you draw?

There is plenty of room to do some sailing if you're not planning on sailing on a dead low tide.

Just remember - Explore on a rising tide!

[tommays]

The best thing you can do is look at a chart of the area and see how much space you have as it can get boaring

I kept the J24 on the great south bay on LI for two years and while my sailing area was pretty limited the almost always good wind made it a good bit of fun

[ottos]

Originally Posted by tommays

The best thing you can do is look at a chart of the area and see how much space you have as it can get boaring

I agree with the chart.

If it gets too boring inside, he can go out the inlet and join me outside!

[pdqaltair]

Yes, some areas a shallow, but not all. Additionally, you have easy access to the bay inside Chincoteague Island. Some of that is shallow, but not all and it is protected and beautiful. Heck, you can go all the way to Chincoteague, without going outside, if you watch the tide just a bit near Chincoteague (there is a thin spot just north of the town, but it shouldn't be a problem if you draw no more than 3') And certainly, the Ocean is nice if you pick your days.

Please check my blog I have trip reports (Sail Delmarva: Trip Report - 2010 Delmarva Circumnavigation) that might be intersting and a guide to the larger Delmarva area. I cruised this area in a smaller cat (Stiletto 27) a number of times and loved it.

The beauty of a smaller

[deniseO30]

Well.. you could get a flat bottom boat. There were some designs unique to the Jersey bays/shore area. there are also very shallow draft boats if you really want to sail in saltwater marsh areas. the mud is deep though.. walking in it you can easily sink up to your hips and smell.. is.. just.. well

sharpie


this is a small cat boat.


Sneakbox - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Catboats Sailboats Wooden Boats - Arey's Pond Boat Yard, Cape Cod - Cat Boats

[ottos]

Originally Posted by pdqaltair

. Some of that is shallow, but not all and it is protected and beautiful. Heck, you can go all the way to Chincoteague, without going outside,

pdq - He's talking about the smaller cousin to the north - Ocean City, NEW JERSEY

[pdqaltair]

Originally Posted by ottos

pdq - He's talking about the smaller cousin to the north - Ocean City, NEW JERSEY

Blind in one eye, can't see out of the other.... I'll blame age.

Haven't sailed much north of Cape May. But I'd get a boat that would work for me, before I would leave it over on the Delaware. The back waters are beautiful and I would find a solution. I bet my old Stiletto 27 would work!

[ottos]

The Stiletto would work nicely, but is fast enough that you would run out of room a little too quickly. The OP's 22 mono would do well, but the wing is reputed to be a disadvantage in a grounding situation. That said, the bottom is soft, and most people I know here have unlimited towing!

[pdqaltair]

Originally Posted by ottos

The Stiletto would work nicely, but is fast enough that you would run out of room a little too quickly. The OP's 22 mono would do well, but the wing is reputed to be a disadvantage in a grounding situation. That said, the bottom is soft, and most people I know here have unlimited towing!

Well, then I think a Hobie 16 (or a Prindle, like I had) would be wise.