Southeastern PA

[superbenk]

I'm new to boating (sort of, I grew up in the Finger Lakes in NY a long time ago) & fairly new to this area. So far we've found & tried Blue Marsh Lake north of Reading & Beltzville Dam north of the Lehigh Tunnel. Are there any other lakes within 1.5 hrs of north Philly (Bucks county)?

I haven't tried the Delaware river yet. There's a launch in Croydon at the Neshaminy State Park that's only 45 mins from me. What should I be aware of when boating in the river? Are the currents a big deal? How about water depth in that area, etc.? For some reason, the river intimidates me.

Any other suggestions would be great! I have a 19' 1980 Century I'll be taking out.

 

[timdan94]

Re: Southeastern PA

With the river you always have to be on the lookout because with the current the river is always changing. Logs, stumps, and debris can come down and get hung up at anytime. If it is like the Susquehanna River by williamsport you have to make sure you are running in the channel if you are up on plane. If you go out of it you don't want to be going all that fast because it gets shallow very quickly in some areas. If you take it easy the first few times out and if at all possible get someone that knows the river to go out with you, you'll be alright.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Southeastern PA

Up past Neshaminy, you are OK until well past Bristol. Lots of boaters there. As you get closer to Trenton beware of submerged rocks.

You can also try the launch area just one exit north of Belmont --I think it is Gladwin, there is only an exit on the northbound side, if coming south, you must exit at Belmont and go north. -- on the Schuylkill Expy. It is acceptable at the launch ramp but up towards Conshohocken there are boulders the size of buses only about 1 foot under the surface. You can also try launching at Hall avenue in Norristown. Police sometimes patrol Hall ave. because there have been instances of vandalism and theft there. The Schuylkill river is navigable but relatively shallow here. While it goes as far as Betzwood in Valley Forge, do not go that far or launch at Betzwood. It is an unimproved ramp and there is a demolished dam. the channel is only 2 boats wide and if you miss it, you will whack up your prop.

If you want to travel a little further, then try the improved launch area at Phoenixville on route 113. A bit crowded with jet-skiers but not too bad a stretch of river.

Launch at the municipal dock at Ridley park and you can cruise the creek up to the wetlands or cruise out to the Delaware. From there you can go north to the Schuylkill (enter at the old Navy Yard but do not enter the yard) and cruise right up through Center City to the dam at the Waterworks and Museum. Or cruise the Delaware up to Penn's Landing --go across to Camden, there is a marina there and you can transient dock to see the New Jersey and the Aquarium. Some flats and shallows north of the bridge but stay in the marked ship channel and you will be OK.

OR: Cruise south and transverse the C and D canal to get into the Chesapeake. That is a wonderland.

OR: Take 95 south to Maryland and launch in the Chesapeake.

Anchor as close to Penn's Landing as allowed and watch the fireworks on July 04.

The tide will have a good 2-5 MPH current either going out or coming in, but with your 18 footer, that will not pose a problem. However, be aware that when the wind is against the tide, a decent chop will rise.

Do not be intimidated by the Delaware. There is lots to see and if you buy a couple of charts, you will be OK. Just avoid tugs: They look like they are only putting out a small wake but in reality, it is sharply crested and about 4 feet high.

Remember: July 18, there will be a raft-up near Havre de Grace on the Chesapeake.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Southeastern PA

Do not be intimidated by the Delaware. There is lots to see and if you buy a couple of charts, you will be OK. Just avoid tugs: They look like they are only putting out a small wake but in reality, it is sharply crested and about 4 feet high.

Are there any particular recommendations on charts? Where is the best place to buy them? Are there any online for free?

 

[arks]

Re: Southeastern PA

NICE job Frank!
I've boated around SE Pa for many years and can't think of anything you missed- as far as 'motorized boat' waters. Well, OK- maybe Wallenpaupack in the Poconos....

Are there any particular recommendations on charts? Where is the best place to buy them? Are there any online for free?

Here' ya go. For the Delaware River you'll need charts #12314, 12313, and 12311.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/AtlanticCoastViewerTable.shtml

BTW- I spent my youth in the Finger lake region (Wayne, near Hammondsport). I still have family up there. Really beautiful area.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Southeastern PA

BTW- I spent my youth in the Finger lake region (Wayne, near Hammondsport). I still have family up there. Really beautiful area.

Indeed it is! I grew up in Canadaigua right on the lake. I really miss it, but my wife likes SE PA, so here we are Being a boat lover from the Finger Lakes, but not living in the Finger Lakes anymore hurts.

 

[jakebrake]

Re: Southeastern PA

delaware river...like a finger lake. just less lake, and a whole lot more "finger". good smallie fishing by the tacony, and goot cat waters down by the airport.

all the lakes have horsepower restrictions. they are enforced .

 

[gooseblitz]

Re: Southeastern PA

Hey guys how does Beltsville, Blue Marsh, Conowingo and Del./C&D stack up to Raystown and Lake Clark. I have only been boating for 2 years but always interested in new lakes....How do these other designations stack up for size, crowds, scenery, things to do and see? Am I very close to Lake Clark so I am there every weekend....I make a couple trips up to Raystown each summer too.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Southeastern PA

Blue marsh is crowded so you need to get there early. They limit the number of boats so if you get there after say 10, you will wait until someone leaves. However, there is a swimming area and several picnic areas. While the main section of the lake tends to be rough from boat traffic, there are several offshoots with no wake restrictions. You can anchor there or slowly putt up them. Since it is a federal lake, both feds and state fish and game are present.

I have never been above Conowingo but I have been told that you must be careful of rocks. Below Conowingo, you can cruise the Susquehanna to the Chesapeake. You do need to be careful of a spine of rocks that runs along the river a little less than midway from the shore opposite Port deposit. Once out of the river, stay in the Havre de Grace channel since the flats are only about 1 foot deep at low tide. Baltimore is a decent 2 hour cruise at 20 MPH and Annapolis is only 1/2 to 1 hour further.

C & D canal is pleasant, but there is no good spot to anchor and it is an active ship channel. There is a small beach at the mouth but it tends to be rough there. There is a big marina about midway, I think it is still called Schaeffers (it had closed for a while.) almost directly across is a small harbor, I think it is Chesapeake City, and there are several upscale restaurants there.

Maryland seems to be a rather open state and if you google something like Chesapeake naturist, you will get the Latitude and Longitude coordinates of several clothing optional beaches in the upper bay. (If that is your penchant.)

I have been meaning to get to Raystown, but since it is at least 2 1/2 hour away from me, something comes up every year and I never get out there---maybe this year--- While Raystown does have something like 100 miles of shore, no lake can stack up to the Chesapeake for cruising destinations.

Look at Skargo's avatar in the rafting thread. He is on the Susquehanna cruising near the route 95 bridge. And that is just a taste of what can be seen.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Southeastern PA

Hey guys how does Beltsville, Blue Marsh, Conowingo and Del./C&D stack up to Raystown and Lake Clark. I have only been boating for 2 years but always interested in new lakes....How do these other designations stack up for size, crowds, scenery, things to do and see? Am I very close to Lake Clark so I am there every weekend....I make a couple trips up to Raystown each summer too.

I boat on Lake Clarke and Conowingo. Conowingo is huge and has very very little traffic. I think it's because there isn't a whole lot of access to it. From Peach Bottom Nuclear all the way down to the dam it's completely open. Upstream from there you need to know where you're going (I do though). It's definitely worth checking out.

 

[ckone0814]

Re: Southeastern PA

Hey guys how does Beltsville, Blue Marsh, Conowingo and Del./C&D stack up to Raystown and Lake Clark.

Blue Marsh is not worth going out of your way for IMHO.

I'd like to hear more about Beltzville as well. Oh, and Lake Clarke too. Thanks.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Southeastern PA

Lake Clarke is nice. It's only about 7 miles long but it's pretty open. The public ramps are pretty decent as well. Most of the on-water pictures in my signature below are from there.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Southeastern PA

Raystown is 30 miles long has 6 public (Army Corp) launches and 2 private launches, and 2 marinas. A mile wide in places, this serpentine lake that weaves between the mountains and reaches depths up to about 195 feet deep at the dam. There is a lot of water to navigate and for fish to hide. I get so used to navigating Raystown that when I go to another impoundment and the depth finder flashes 15 feet, I get nervous!

Raystown can get busy on the weekends, but is quiet in the middle of the week. There are several longer fingers/coves that are no wake zones and give you the opportunity to get away from others and not get beat up when rafting up, picnicing, swimming, etc.

Because it is Army Corp, built for flood control first, recreation second, and hydroelectric generation 3rd, there is nothing built up around the lake. When you come you will see pristine woods, a few campgrounds (Seven Points, Raystown Resort, Susquehannock, and Nancy's Boat-to-Shore only), the marinas, a conference center, and launch ramps. There are only a couple of houses that can be seen from the lake, and they are way up the mountain.

I like Raystown, but then I am 6 miles from one launch ramp and 10 miles from another!

 

[superbenk]

Re: Southeastern PA

Anyone been to/tried Lake Hauto near Jim Thorpe? Are there any places to launch or do you need to own property there?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Southeastern PA

lake hauto is a private community i beleive. Beltzville is bad. It's a decent size lake but then again i'm only 15 min away. The chesapeake bay is awesome lots of places and things to do

 

[ckone0814]

Re: Southeastern PA

Beltzville is bad.

Anything more specific? We were looking to make a mid-week trip to Beltzville sometime soon. It's gotta be better than our "home" lake, Blue Marsh.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Southeastern PA

I didn't think Beltzville was that bad at all. In fact, I liked it more than Blue Marsh. It was way quieter & the main part of the lake was larger (or at least more open & usable). We followed the inlet stream up quite a ways & found it to be a really attractive place to anchor.

Unfortunately Beltzville is the same distance as Blue Marsh for us. In fact, short of the Delaware at Neshaminy or New Hope, everything is at least 1.5 hrs away

We were only at Beltzville the one time, however, so maybe it's different as the season progresses. I was also less excited about the courtesy dock layout at Beltzville being a novice with launching/retrieving the boat. At Blue Marsh it was possible to use the lines & pull the boat on the trailer. At Beltzville, the docks are off to the side away from the ramp so you have to drive the boat on/off the trailer.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Southeastern PA

Oh, another comment about Beltzville I remember. There's a submerged island smack dab in the middle of the lake under the power lines in the main part of the lake. It's marked with a single bouy, but it's easy to miss if you're cruising along at speed! (Fortunately we missed it!)

 

[ckone0814]

Re: Southeastern PA

I didn't think Beltzville was that bad at all. In fact, I liked it more than Blue Marsh. It was way quieter & the main part of the lake was larger (or at least more open & usable). We followed the inlet stream up quite a ways & found it to be a really attractive place to anchor.

Unfortunately Beltzville is the same distance as Blue Marsh for us. In fact, short of the Delaware at Neshaminy or New Hope, everything is at least 1.5 hrs away

We were only at Beltzville the one time, however, so maybe it's different as the season progresses. I was also less excited about the courtesy dock layout at Beltzville being a novice with launching/retrieving the boat. At Blue Marsh it was possible to use the lines & pull the boat on the trailer. At Beltzville, the docks are off to the side away from the ramp so you have to drive the boat on/off the trailer.

We are 5 minutes from Blue Marsh and consider that a negative. It's SO CLOSE that it's crazy for us NOT to go there. We're gonna push our boundaries more the rest of the summer though.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Southeastern PA

i made a typo. Meant to say beltzville isn't bad. Were there every weekend.