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Liveaboard Commuting to D.C.

17K views 31 replies 18 participants last post by  chucklesR 
#1 ·
We're looking at moving to the D.C. area for work and need to find a marina within commuting distance of the city. We'll be living aboard a 38 foot catamaran (24 foot beam). Ideas?
 
#3 ·
Thanks. We figure we're going to end up outside of D.C. Gangplank was the only one I knew about in D.C. and that doesn't look like a possibility with essentially having to buy a boat to get a liveaboard slip. Plus the cost! Deale or maybe Annapolis looked like possibilities. I know traffic and pubic transportation options will make a big difference in what is reasonably commutable and what isn't.We're hoping someone familiar with the area will have some insight.
 
#4 ·
There are some nice liveaboard marinas in Solomons, MD and some in St. Mary's Co. I know some people who drive to Mechanicsville and take a commuter bus into DC. Spring Cove Marina in Solomons is my favorite and there's another behind the Holiday Inn. I think Calvert Marina is the least expensive unless the Beacon Marina is taking liveaboards again. Take care and joy, Aythya crew
 
#5 ·
First, you're going to have to define what the acceptable commuting distance and time is for you? How far you willing to commute? How much time are you willing to spend in the car? Also, where in DC are you going to be working? Downtown, NW, SW, SE? Virginia or Maryland perhaps?

Marinas around the Magothy and Patapsco are only about 45-60 minutes from areas such as Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Rockville. With the new ICC (MD Rt 200, toll road) maybe even less (the ICC cuts 20 minutes off my commute to Glen Burnie from Rockville, otherwise its about 60 minutes)

If you're working in downtown DC you could look at Annapolis/Severn and the South, West, and/or the Rhode Rivers.

Herrington Harbor area is also a popular choice with lots of marinas, Herrington Harbors Marinas are two of the best of the bay.

Solomons is also worth a look, but may be a bit far to commute?

You may already know this, but the traffic in and around DC, especially during rush hours (think 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM) sucks! The only road that is not jammed is the new ICC = $$$$$ to drive it.

You will probably have better luck finding live aboard marinas around Annapolis? Not certain though.

If I were moving to the general area and wanted to live on a boat and work nearby, I would really consider Baltimore, DC is not much of a sailing/boating town IMO.

Just a couple of thoughts FWIW :)
 
#6 ·
Annapolis has a lot of liveaboard marinas, definitely could accomodate your beam. 10 minutes from the time you leave your slip until you shut off your engine and you're sailing out on the Bay. There's a commuter bus to downtown D.C., so depending on your work schedule you could take advantage of it - no traffic worries, you could actually spend your drive time doing something useful. And then when you get home, you're in a sailing haven. Slips are a little more expensive than other places, not really a lot, if you look around a bit; try the south side of Back Creek (as soon as you get away from walking distance to downtown, the price drops off).
 
#8 ·
The biggest problem with Washington, DC is getting and getting out. The Metro is probably the easiest way to enter and exit the city, followed by commuter bus.

A couple questions come to mind:

Is this a full-time, year round, 9 to 5 job that requires daily, rush hour commutes to DC? Or, can you select the times when you go to town?

If you can select the commuting hours, you may be able to avoid a lot of the I-495 daily gridlock. When I worked for the Washington Post, for example, I only had to come into the office once a week and I was able to work a deal so that I could arrive at 11 a.m. and leave before 3 p.m.. Under those circumstances you can drive a car.

Will you be living aboard during winter? While I know there are people that do live aboard year round in this part of the world, from everything I've read about their experiences it has been somewhat of a nightmare when we have a bad winter with lots of snow and ice.

Just wondering.

Gary :cool:
 
#9 ·
As stated above the answer will depend on what is most important to you, close commute to work, access to the bay, Marina amenities (or is anchoring an option), price, etc....there are a LOT of options around this area. FWIW, we live aboard in Annapolis, but I commute to Delaware. for us, the location of the boat and our boating community was most important, otherwise we'd probably be at castle harbor on Kent island.
 
#10 ·
Deale and Annapolis would be your best bets. There is commuter bus service from Annapolis for sure and I think I've seen commuter busses that make runs down towards Solomon's and into DC. No option is going to pick you up at your marina, you're gonna have to drive to the commuter lot. I have co-workers that commute from Naptown and Deale into DC. My commute is about the same distance but I'm on the wrong side of DC to be near the water. Just as good for me as I couldn't handle MD's politics. Ruins a perfectly beautiful State for me.

Anyway, Try Shipwright Harbor as the best bet to allow liveaboards in Deale but Herrington Harbor apparenly allows a few as well.

Good Luck.
 
#11 ·
My wife and I lived aboard and we both commuted to the DC area , but that was around 20 years ago. The commute was about an hour each way and we shared driving. Port Annapolis allowed live aboards(even had a dock devoted to liveaboards only) and we also lived aboard and commuted from Baltimore area(White Rocks Marina). After leaving the government I worked as a consultant and never did commute to the DC area again, but it required traveling to fly out of BWI. At that time I lived aboard in Solomons and one way rental cars were easy to get to the airport and back. Solomons is one of the best places to live aboard IMHO. Another possibility is over on the eastern shore of MD. While you have the bay bridge to content with, the commute time into DC will not be much different than from Annapolis. Piney Narrows Marina is a good choice on Kent Island and does have some liveaboards and many vacant slips and the price is much less than the Annapolis area. It's a well run marina.
 
#12 ·
Magothy Marina in Severna Park, MD. There's a commuter bus within a mile of the marina that goes to points in DC and runs about every 15 minutes during morning and evening commute. Magothy M. is a great little marina, spotless heads, good dockage, thriving liveaboard community, 30 minute sail to the Chesapeake. You won't find that in DC! Feel free to PM me for more info.
 
#14 ·
I have taken these commuter buses every weekday for the past 5 years. It is a better option - definitely. I would only say that the commute is a fair bit longer and the bus options are much more limited - if you're on the eastern shore (i.e., Kent Island). In my opinion, from a convenience standpoint, you're much better off staying on the western side. Marinas on the west side are a bit more expensive, but it's worth the $1500 more or so per year you'll pay. :)
 
#15 ·
As many of the replies have stated, very much depends on where you will be working and when you need to be there. Getting to downtown DC is different from uptown, Alexandria, Arlington, or Bethesda. A difference of a couple miles can dramatically change your best route and your secondary options if traffic is blocked. And how flexible is your start time? Do you have wiggle room or must you be in place fully functioning at X hour?

Coming from Baltimore, Annapolis, Deale, is one thing getting underway at 6AM, rather another thing at 7, and a whole big deal more horrendous at 8AM.
 
#16 ·
As mentioned by several, the best option depends greatly on where you will be commuting to, how often and when.

I lived on Back Creek in Annapolis and comutted to Pentagon daily. I planned 90 min each way, but 60min of it was relaxing/reading on metro train.

Another option I considered was Fort Washington, MD. Its just across the bridge from Alexandria, VA. (which was under construction at the time, so I declined) Reasonable rates and choice of two marinas.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide.
 
#17 ·
Thanks for all the advice!! The job I was looking at fell through, so I'm still on the search, and don't know exactly where I'll be. I'm certainly hoping for flexible commuting hours and trying to get close to some form of public transportation. I fully expect I won't get a commute that's under an hour, which I'm not happy about, but it's worth it to be on the water. Right?

We would be living aboard year-round. I have seen in the news that D.C. has had some snowy winters here lately. That could be an issue... Get the boat wrapped?
 
#18 ·
This are doesnt receive that much snow, maybe on or two times a year. Few ppl wrap boats that are in the water (but I saw one guy do it so he could work on his deck).

Invest in a small plastic snow shovel (travel size for a car) and a snow brush to keep snow off ur canvas and you will be fine. If we have a real cold winter or you are in a place that water doesnt flow well you may need a bubbler to keep ice from freezing solid. Just ask about it in your marina. But that is the worst of it.

Welcome to the area.


Steve
 
#19 ·
There is White Point Marina, which is 10 miles up the Potomac, on the VA side, in the Yeocomico River, which is very reasonably priced for this area. (804)472-2977. There is also Point Lookout marina(301)872-5000, 8.5 miles up the Potomac @ Smith Creek. It is also very reasonable for the area. It allows liveaboards year around @ a rate of $10/ft, metered electric, and no liveaboard fee, according to "skipper Bob's marina guide". Near the Solomon's Island area, up the Paxuxent, 4.5 miles to Back Creek, there is Zahniser's Yachting Center (410)326-2166. It has moorings for $40/month, allows liveaboards all year, but is $20/ft. and has a live aboard fee of $90 ( I think applies only to slips; not moorings). These marinas are about as close as you can get to D.C. without paying $700/month or much more for a slip. You would need a car or adequate mass transit, of course, to get to work.
I'm a live aboard also and have been pricing slips in the Annapolis area myself and haven't found anything less than $600/month and I'm a monohull. I wish you luck....I have the names of many more marinas that are closer, but have no idea what they cost. However, I can send you the info. and you could call. Some places are negotiating prices because they have more empty slips this year than usual. However, Annapolis seemed to escape the recession and nothing is discounted. I heard it had a more dramatic effect on D.C., so they may be more willing to work with you on pricing. Let me know if you want the info. I hope this helps!
 
#20 ·
commuter trains Baltimore to DC

Recently I have been commuting Baltimore to DC by public transportation. Local bus to Penn Station is $1.60. MARC train to DC Union Station is $7. I use DC metro from there.

Return is $7 but then I ride the free Circulator buses most of the way back and then a 10 min walk. I could walk a couple long blocks from Penn and then do a $1.60 bus all the way home instead. regardless, the rates work for me! For full time commuters there are weekly and monthly passes at reduced rates.

MARC runs between Union and Penn from very early morning to late night Monday to Friday. There is additional service on a separate MARC line from Camden Yards to Union Station. I use Penn as the hours and buses work better for me to there.

Rates are good through marinas but better direct to slip owners. Some don't ask & don't make a problem may involved in some arrangements. You can get deals much better than Annapolis, and on floating docks too. Sailing is not as good, nor the water you float on.
 
#21 ·
Deale is an excellent choice to liveaboard and commute to DC, Route 4 will take you right into the city. Also, there is a bus that runs up Route 4 that you can take into the city and if necessary connect with the metro to commute. Inexpensive and a great way to commute, did it myself when I was in the area. I'd recommend checking Shipwright in Deale, Herrington Harbour South Marina, and Herrington Harbour North Marina also accept liveaboard. Shipwright is the most reasonably prices.

You'll enjoy boating on the Bay. Plus all the other advantages of living in the area. Good luck with your quest. If you have any other questions PM me.
 
#22 ·
Thanks again to everybody. The job market is rough, but there's a position about 10 minute walk from the Chinatown metro with flexible hours I'm really hoping to get an offer on soon. I'm going to go up tomorrow and look at the Tantallon Marina in Fort Washington and the marinas in Deale that were suggested. Annapolis and the Eastern Shore seem like a bit much of a commute. It's so hard to tell though since it really depends on the convenience of public transportation (I do not plan to drive into the city).
 
#23 ·
If you opt on Deale, MD; there is a commuter bus that takes Route 4 into the city. You'll need to drive from Deale to Route 4, though. Not sure, five miles? Something like that.
 
#25 ·
This is the best way to commute into DC from Deale for work. The bus isn't expensive when you buy the monthly pass and is very comfortable to ride. It will drop you at several metro station making you commute even easier.

I definitely recommend Deale over Fort Washington, the commute from there is terrible and the buses are horrible.

Tantallon in my opinion is a terrible marina what they advertise and what they have are two very different things.
 
#24 ·
Congrats on the job! Regarding the liveaboard commute: Eastern Shore to DC is a hassle. Annapolis is a reasonable commute - commuter busses both to the Metro and direct to downtown areas. About the same commute time as Deale; somewhat more expensive because of the location. Both have good marinas and sailing options, it just depends on whether you prefer your home to be in a small city or a more rural feel.
 
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