[PalmettoSailor]

I'm going through my annual should I stay or should I go debate and thought I'd throw it out for discussion.

Stay: Deltaville (4 hour drive to our boat) Slip <$2500 Adjacent to the pool, short walk to bathhouse or parking. Many, Many nice anchorages within a hour or two, plus many nice longer trips are available. Downside? Besides the drive, the crowd there is a bit older than we are, though we're not exactly spring chickens.

Go:

Spring Cove Marina at Solomons. 2-2.5 hours drive? (We looked at them all and this is the one we'd want to be at if at Solomons.) Cost ?? maybe double our current cost? Its a very nice marina and the crowd seemed a bit younger. However, looking at a Google Map it seems nearby anchorages are pretty limited, so probably more daysailing when long trips weren't feasable. If so that would be a downside since we really like anchoring out.

Herrington Harbor Less than 2 hours drive and way less if I left straight from work. Cost maybe 2.5 times current? Another very nice marina but I have less of a feel for the crowd there and it really looks to be devoid of nearby anchorages so its likely either a day sail or a pretty lengthy trip to someplace to anchor.

West River? Spoke with some folks from a Yacht Club on West River last year and they seemed like a pretty good crowd. I think the cost would be around $5K all in, which includes some costs not factored in the other places (minimum tab at the club restaraunt/bar) Don't think the marinas on West have pools which probably makes them non starters for the wife.

South River?

Annapolis - Lets face it -- I'd love to keep my boat there, but can't afford it.

Magothy?

Patapsco? Probably around Rock Creek but defintely not in an urban setting and probably only if closer in cost to our current location.

I always start thinking about moving the boat during the long drive, but when I look at the other options, factoring in cost, decreased drive time and quality of the sailing area and I'm hard pressed to make the decsion to move.

Any advice or words of wisdom?

 

[zz4gta]

I vote for solomon's. Not too far away, and cheaper than HH or Annap. HH is nice, and HHN is working marina (cheaper than HHS) they have a good racing program and an active cruising community/club.

Solomon's, good racing program, plenty of bars, couple big regattas during the season, they also are in a "mid-bay" location for longer cruises.

I'm on the potomac. Places around here are cheap, great close anchorages, but not a lot going on as far as racing and established clubs.

Deltaville is a drive and a half, I live in leesburg VA and have raced out of there a few times. Good club Fishing bay YC. Laid back, great racing, they host some events, and plenty of open water. Not sure about the cruising aspect.

 

[PalmettoSailor]

snip, I live in leesburg VA ...

Ditto. We should get together for a beer sometime.

 

[velero]

I just send you a PM. Check your Inbox.

 

[zz4gta]

Ditto. We should get together for a beer sometime.

Sounds like a plan. I usually meet up with a couple sailors from ashburn and leesburg. They have catalina 25's and a Hunter 30.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

I have to disagree with your assessment of Herrington Harbor. I stayed many years at north and south. Anchorages galore just across the bay. Gunkholers heaven. Choptank River, Eastern Bay. Straight across to Poplar Island was a favorite day trip for us. Just watch out for the ticks when on shore. A quick swim usually takes care of them. Just through the narrows and hang a left to Duns Cove. That one alone is enough to get me back there... but, moving to Richmond soon so I'll be in Deltaville too. If I were in NoVa again it would be, without question, Herrington Harbor.

 

[PalmettoSailor]

I have to disagree with your assessment of Herrington Harbor. I stayed many years at north and south. Anchorages galore just across the bay. Gunkholers heaven. Choptank River, Eastern Bay. Straight across to Poplar Island was a favorite day trip for us. Just watch out for the ticks when on shore. A quick swim usually takes care of them. Just through the narrows and hang a left to Duns Cove. That one alone is enough to get me back there... but, moving to Richmond soon so I'll be in Deltaville too. If I were in NoVa again it would be, without question, Herrington Harbor.

How far is it across the bay at HH? My judgement may be biased by being at a pretty wide spot on the bay. I was mainly refering to the lack of nearby anchorages on the western shore in that area.

Thanks for taking time to give feedback and I do think you'll like Deltaville, though it is, shall we say, "Down Home" compared to HH. Still there are some good places to eat and a lot of good folks and a plethora of secluded anchorages within a few hours sail. Be sure to Check out Stingray Point when you're shopping marinas. As I indicated we are finding it hard to contemplate leaving, even though we'd like to be closer to our boat.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

How far is it across the bay at HH?

Oh?, it's only 10 miles across there. A very nice daysail with a stop behind Poplar or Coaches for lunch. Watch the current on the backside. Or tie up for a while at Knapps Narrows. Watch the current there too. Or just one more hour to almost anywhere on the inside and take your pick of the endless number of coves to drop the hook for the night. I can't recommend Gailesville, West River, South River, didn't like any of them. Naptown is too crowded. Lived there too. Hangin too long at the HHNorth dock? Just run down to HHSouth for a beer or lunch/dinner. On those days I would even drop the hook for a while up against the cliffs in Herring Bay. You are correct that the west side has limited protection and privacy, however it's not that far to the east side for some of the most spectacular cruising there is. My best memories in all of life where right back there in the Choptank and Eastern Bay.

Gotya on the Deltaville home-boy thing. I can deal with that. Regarding the high fees up north vs. drive-time - you DO take the toll road every day don't you? Solomons won't save you much. Sail there instead. (full day) I highly recommend trying HHNorth for a year. Cruise the east-side and don't be afraid to go up that creek. Stay in the middle and don't cut corners. You will never regret it. AND, you can always go back to Deltaville.

 

[chef2sail]

We are on Rock Creek in a quiet setting where you can see across to the Eastern Shore while sipping at Mai Tai at the pool or a good glass of Pinot after diner.

Many options all of this within a day therefore a weekend sail of us

North; Sassafras, Still Pond, Wharton, Middle River .

East you have Rock Hall, Swan Creek, Chester River with Corsica, Grey's Ferry Inn, and Langford Creeks,

East and south through Kent narrow is St Michaels

South- Bodkin, Magothy (Many anchorages) Whitehall (3 creeks), Annapolis and Servern (many creeks), South River (many creeks and pb),West River and Rhode River.

When its blowing to hard on the bay just stay in the Patapsco and you wont get as much wave action.

If you want to check it out up here I would meet you and show you around.If not here I have stayed at Spring Cove a class operation. A lot of us from sailnet here on Rock Creek as well a close to the area in the Northern Chesapeake.

Dave

 

[T37SOLARE]

I think you've over estimated the cost at Herrington Harbour. I'm at HH South, and am paying $5600 for a 38' slip, so yours should be quite a bit less.

Being in HHS gives you the advantage of being a 50-60 minute drive from Tysons, and even better it's just 5-10 minutes from the slip to being out of the channel and on the Bay. You're 10 miles from Knapps Narrows for lunch, and less than 25 miles to St Michale's, Oxford, Galesville & Annapolis. Add an another 5-10 and you're at Solomons, Cambridge, Magothy and many more...

To top it off, HHS is a great destination in itself, so when the weather sucks it's still worth going to the boat

 

[zz4gta]

No doubt HHS is a fantastic place, one of the nicest marinas I've ever been to. The poolside view is worth the trip in it self. I just can't justify the cost.

<-- would also like to move my boat next year.

 

[PalmettoSailor]

No doubt HHS is a fantastic place, one of the nicest marinas I've ever been to. The poolside view is worth the trip in it self. I just can't justify the cost.

<-- would also like to move my boat next year.

That's what I struggle with also. We enjoy having friends on our boat though and its tough to get them to come all the way down to D'ville and it limits the number you can invite since its too far to ask someone to come for a day trip.

Our friends could easily sail with us out of HH and get home at a reasonable time, so that is a big factor for us. Since I'm W/NW of DC the creeks north of Annapolis/South of Bal'more might also work, but I'm completely unfamiliar with that area.

I do wonder what drive time savings would really result from moving to Solomons since we'd have to deal with getting around the beltway then driving a pretty good distance. Probably a lot less time savings than I'd like, but we really did like Spring Cove when we visited.

I know if we don't like it we could always move back but I have a great slip at Stingray right now and I'd hate to loose it only to move back in a year.

 

[Gladrags1]

Firstly; I can't imagine a 4 hour drive to the boat every week or 2! That must make it difficult to decide whether to go on iffy weather!

My $.02 worth:

Spring Cove Marina is very nice as is Solomons. Close anchorages are up the Patuxent: Vera's on St. Leonard's Creek; Battle Creek plus a few other nice spots. Less crowded since most have not discovered that there is anything beyond Solomons on the Patuxent.

Herrington Harbor S. is a great destination. I'm not sure that I would keep my boat there as I perceive it as a destination and the thoughts of a drink at the pool / tiki bar... North Beach is nice with their summertime concerts and activities and Chesapeake Beach has that nice waterpark (fun for the kids). Herrington Harbour N. is up Herring Bay and, along with some other nice marinas up there are good places to keep a boat. There's a nice restaurant up in Deale as well. But that shoal forces you pretty far south to round the R-2 flasher, adding miles to every trip. Otherwise, the West and South Rivers are good destinations if you ignore the powerboat fleet on the West. Annapolis and Whitehall Bay are also good weekend destinations as are the creeks off Eastern Bay. Crab Alley Creek, for one, is very nice.

Rock Creek, off the Patapsco, is a great creek to be in as you have easy access to destinations both urban and pristine. Easy sail to Rock Hall for their summertime activities and festivals. Close anchorages such as Bodkin and Stoney Creek and the ability to sail north of the nettle line to Worton or Fairlee (again watch out for the powerboat fleet bellying up to the sandbar in Fairlee).

Why not pick a new location and try it for a year and see what you like. I can't imagine going back to a 4 hour drive but you could if you really wanted to.

Tod

 

[NautiG]

Midlife,

You drive from Nova to Deltaville? You are crazier than I thought. Now I know I'm a big puss for complaining about the 1.5 hours from Richmond to Deltaville!

I grew up in Gaithersburg and have fond memories sailing on our family's Rainbow on the South and West rivers as a child. It may be difficult to find the amenities and price of Stingray there, but I'd happily trade both for a couple hours shorter commute to the boat. I think you'll find plenty of nice anchorages to sail to from there in the middle bay, and a nicer price than Annapolis. Also in my experience, the traffic on the southern and eastern portions of the beltway is a lot less congested than the northern and western parts (if you were to take that route).

I've also heard Kinsale suggested as a Virginia alternative to Dville, but I know nothing about the place. It does look a little closer to you.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision

 

[PalmettoSailor]

Midlife,

You drive from Nova to Deltaville? You are crazier than I thought. Now I know I'm a big puss for complaining about the 1.5 hours from Richmond to Deltaville!

I grew up in Gaithersburg and have fond memories sailing on our family's Rainbow on the South and West rivers as a child. It may be difficult to find the amenities and price of Stingray there, but I'd happily trade both for a couple hours shorter commute to the boat. I think you'll find plenty of nice anchorages to sail to from there in the middle bay, and a nicer price than Annapolis. Also in my experience, the traffic on the southern and eastern portions of the beltway is a lot less congested than the northern and western parts (if you were to take that route).

I've also heard Kinsale suggested as a Virginia alternative to Dville, but I know nothing about the place. It does look a little closer to you.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision

Well crazy or maybe just cheap lol. We looked at some boats at the marina's on the VA side of the Potomac when were were looking. They actually make Deltaville look like a major metropolis. Also while they are probably closer in straight line distance, the back roads you have to take to get there take just about the same amount of time.

I actually got a line on a possibility in Annapolis which would be awesome for me. At roughly double what I'm paying now it would be my first choice if we like it after checking it out in person. I spoke with a coworker that actually used to keep a boat there and he said it was very nice so I'm looking forward to having a look at the place. Of course, I'll also have to hope a slip opens up there for next year.

My brother recently took a new job in MD, and will be living in Annapolis so it would be great to have the boat there where he and his family could come sail with us.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

I love Middle River at $2100/yr for a 40' slip.

 

[T37Chef]

I'll be interested to see what suggestions people have.

Its not that I am unhappy where I am, matter of fact I like Oak Harbor very much. But I wouldn't mind a move somewhere new...possibly South...just for something new.

What about the Rhode River? I was just down there again two weekends ago, beautiful...but the crab pots...holly cow batman!!! (my boat loves to catch them (this is also why I moved from Bodkin Creek and avoid Middle river)

 

[PalmettoSailor]

I love Middle River at $2100/yr for a 40' slip.

The price is right and the area looks pretty interesting based on a look at Bing maps. I'll have to take a drive up during the offseason to see how far it is though.

It might not be bad taking 15 to 70 over to Ba'lmore, but I'll have to check it out.

Thanks for the suggestion. BTW it looks like there are at least 3 good sized marinas on Middle River. I'll probably try to look at all of them but wondered if there was any reason to rule one or more of them out.

 

[mltroy]

The price is right and the area looks pretty interesting based on a look at Bing maps.

We used to keep the boat in Middle River. We got really tired of the powerboat chop at the mouth of the river. Of course, we're a really small boat and got tossed around a bit.

We've always liked visiting Deale (HHN or Shipwright's) and Galesville. Deale is about 30 miles from Rock Hall. We can do it in a day if we have to but we like shorter days. Annapolis, West River, Choptank destinations including the lovely Little Choptank, and St. Michael's all ought to be doable in a day from Deale.

When we looked for a new marina we actually took the boat there and stayed a weekend before we made up our mind.

Mary Lou
Rhodes 22
Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

 

[T37Chef]

We used to keep the boat in Middle River. We got really tired of the powerboat chop at the mouth of the river.

You can say that again. I also used to keep a boat on Middle River and the weekend boat traffic was ridiculous.

The best thing about Middle River is the low cost of slip rental (many marinas competing for business) and no nettles in the summer.