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Fairlee Creek entrance with 6' 3" draft?

7K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  NickPapagiorgio 
#1 ·
Hi everyone,

We're chartering out of Harve de Grace, MD, next weekend and we were planning on either anchoring or getting a slip in Fairlee Creek the first night. I know some people don't like Fairlee Creek, but we've been there a number of times and really like the scenery. Anyway, the boat we are chartering is a Beneteau 393 with a 6' 3" draft. I haven't been inside Fairlee Creek since last year and I'm wondering how feasible both the entrance and anchoring will be with a 6' 3" draft. Anyone know?

Kevin
 
#4 ·
Nick, try Worton Creek just a bit north of Fairlee. It's easy to get into and the marina just inside is very affordable. I think I paid $40 for one night side-tied to the T-head. You might even be able to anchor in deep water just outside the creek, depending on the weather.
 
#5 ·
I agree with the other posters. If you must do Fairlee, do so at high tide. Hugging the beach is best but there is a hump just before the end of the spit that you need to go around. Be aware that there are strong currents as you pass through the cut. Turning to go through might be a challenge if you are bucking the current. We draw 5' and have had difficulty as had the others. Call Great Oak Landing for more detailed instructions but I would strongly consider Worton Creek as a more viable alternative.

Good luck.

Tod
 
#6 ·
Thanks guys... I called the dock master at Great Oak Landing and he gave me the same info... go at high tide. The problem is high tide is noonish and we probably won't be out of our slip in Harve de Grace until 10 a.m. at the earliest.

I've talked to the charter company about switching from the Beneteau 393 to a Catalina 350. The Catalina only has a 4' 6" draft, so depth shouldn't be an issue. The only problem is the lack of a third cabin, but I think we can manage since it will only be two nights. Also, we chartered the Catalina last year, so I'm more familiar with that boat as well.

At this point, I'm a little torn between taking the 393 and going to Worton, or switching up to the 350 and sticking with Fairly Creek...

Kevin
 
#7 ·
Personally, I try to avoid Fairlee Creek on weekends. Keep in mind they have live music every weekend throughout the summer, it often goes on until 2 or 3 in the morning, it's loud as Hell, which makes sleeping nearly impossible. If I wanted a slip, Worten Creek might be a much better choice. For anchorage, Still Pond is a good bet unless some nasty weather rolls in from the northwest or west.

Good Luck,

Gary :cool:
 
#8 ·
I just sounded the inside of Worton Creek from Green Point Landing Marina all the way back to Worton Creek marina .... at mid tide (~1+ ft above MLW) I was getting only 5.8 ft. depth just south the private green marker just after Handys Point Marina when going towards Worton Cr. Marina. (My wife is an editor of one of the famous Bay Cruising Guides ... so I regularly check out approaches, etc. These are only preliminary data soundings, as I need to average a few times to get the correct depths.) This section of Worton Cr was filled in considerably during Hurricane Floyd but is now showing deeper water again. A 6 ft draft will get you all the way to Worton creek marina at mid normal tide ... but you will bump here and there, so take it easy.

BTW - Green Point Landing only charges $1.50/ft with 30A power and $1.00/ft without power for transients. If no one is there after 4PM, just take a Tee-Head and settle up in the morning.

:)
 
#9 ·
Thanks for all the responses. We ended up switching boats to a Catalina 350 with a 4' 6" draft and it's a good thing we did. On the way into Fairlee Creek, we registered less than 4' 6" in several spots, so we definitely would have run aground in the Beneteau with a 6' 3" draft.

The trip went well except for the heat. I was told we hit a high of 108 degrees on Saturday and the only wind we had was constantly at our back. It was very hot all day. We got a little sailing in on Sunday on our back to the marina when we had 8-10 knot winds.

Anyway, thanks for the info.

Kevin
 
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