Boating in Maryland

[amarcil77]

I am new to boating in Maryland. I had a boat in Massachusetts about 7 years ago. I picked up a 1986 Bay liner Capri 1600 with a Johnson 85 hp. When I was looking at specs for the boat I thought it was 16.5 feet and was ready to drop it in at Sandy Point to get to the South and Severn Rivers. After my buddy pick up a 17 foot that dwarfed my boat, I did further research on the specs of mine and found it is 15.5 feet.

Now I'm unsure if it is a safe size to go in the Chesapeake bay. The only time I have ever seen the bays waters is from the beach and bridges. I am not trying to put my boat at the bottom.

Any opinions are greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Boating in Maryland



I have cruised down from Conowingo dam to Baltimore and Annapolis in a 15 foot closed bow runabout. Uncomfortable during heavy traffic times but not really unsafe. Look up at Turkey point. You will see dozens of fishermen in 12, 13, 14, and 15 foot tin boats.

Your Bayliner will be safe on the bay as long as you respect its limits and the 85 will give you plenty of power. Don't get too close to big cruisers and commercial ships. Keep an eye on the weather. Once you get past the navy school, you should have no problems on the Severn. Of course, you still need to get used to such a small boat and its handling.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Boating in Maryland

Its an easy run from Sandy point to the Severn. Did it many times when I lived up there and trailered the boat up there last year from NC and did it. I have seen it glass smooth and pretty choppy. I say go for it on a nice day. Cruise around the Severn, check out the academy from the boat, dock up in Annapolis, walk around down town get some ice cream at Kilwins, check out Thomas point and head back to Sandy point to end your day. It will be lots of fun. I would make sure you have tow insurance though, You can easily end up with a $800 tow bill if you break down.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boating in Maryland

the thing to watch out for in your boat in those waters is the low open bow; it can work like a scoop and swamp you. Trim the bow up when in rough water, even though the ride will be bumpier. And because it also does not shed water well, it will be wet, and you need to be sure you have good working bilge pumps on float switches.

A bow cover will deflect spray but will not make you safe for green water over the bow.

 

[gddavid]

Re: Boating in Maryland

If you want to boat on the Severn, I would suggest launching at Truxton Park in Annapolis. It is a nice little municipal facility on the protected waters of Spa Creek right behind Annapolis, you will idle through down town on your way out to the river and enjoy the sights. The launch fee is only $5.
There are private marinas on the South river with ramps but they are pretty pricey, you may have better luck than I have.

The Chesapeake Bay like most bodies of water can be flat calm and perfect for your boat on some days and on other days uncomfortable in a 50' boat. One beautiful calm weekend days in the summer there will be tons of other folks in that area on larger boats creating large wakes. That is one of the busiest areas of the bay. The length of a boat isn't the best measure of a boat's seaworthiness. Stability, deadrise (angle of the bottom of the hull), and freeboard are probably more important factors, that said few 15' boats are going to be well suited in those aspects either.
I have a 19' bowrider and I rarely take it out on the bay, it is relatively light and not make for heavy seas so I use it on the protected waters of the rivers and tributaries so I am not worried about a storm coming up and making getting home stressful. Push come to shove you could probably make it through most anything but it won't be fun. Where do you keep the boat?, the Magothy, West, Rhode and Patuxent are other great places for a runabout on the western shore.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boating in Maryland

The area between Sandy Point and Annapolis can be tough for small boats. It's the narrowest part of the Bay and the tide rips thru there. An outgoing tide combined with the afternoon seas breeze will make the area darn right snotty.

The mouth of the Severn gets rough on tide changes. The tide, combined with the traffic coming in and out of Annapolis, makes that area especially dangerous for smaller boats. The closer to Greenbury Point you get the worst it gets, not to mention the shallow water and the hundreds of crab pots. Stay wide and don't cut the corner off unless it's fairly calm.

Recommendations:

1. Go early and come home before the afternoon sea breeze picks up. The calmest winds are in the morning before the sun comes up.

2. Keep in mind that your just outside a busy shipping channel. One or two boats a year capsize in that area due to wakes from passing freighters.

3. Watch for crab pots coming out of Sandy Points. Lots of black pot markers right as you come out. Not uncommon to see someone hug up on one.

Have fun and good luck

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boating in Maryland

To add to dingbat's knowlegable advice:

When the wind blows opposite the current, the waves stand up, sometimes get white caps and can be very close together. That factor can make a big difference on a day when the wind is constant. So a smooth ride out might be rough when the tide turns.

Crab pots are a hazard but they are also a marker. For one thing, they are at least 18" tall, so if you can't see the tops you know you have 18". I run a number of boats that draw less than that on a plane; don't know about yours.

Also, crabbers often set them in a natural channel, so if you see a line of them (as opposed to a field) you may have a slight channel.

You can pass close to a crab pot float on the downwind/down current side; the line is all to windward/up current where the "anchor" is. you can also go fairly close for the same reason going with or against the wind/current but that's less certain.

In deep water (20') the lines are usualy fairly straight down; crabber don't like excess line. Not that you should count on it. And with straight down lines, if you hit the bouy, 9 times out of 10 it won't get your prop; your bow wake and hull usually deflects it. Not that you should count on it, but don't freak out if you bump one and especially don't make dangerous manuevers if one catches you by surprise-like more people are hurt avoiding deer than hitting them.

A float with a flag up 3' or so marks one end of a net. The trick is finding the flag that markes the other end. No telling how deep they are. And watch out for a guy pulling his net--the one with the big cloud of seagulls and one flag at the end of the net line. Others can tell you about long crab lines; we don't have them here.

 

[amarcil77]

Re: Boating in Maryland

Thank you guys for the advice.

From what I'm gathering on a good day it won't be to much of a problem but it changes quickly.

The boat is on a trailer just outside Ft. Meade so I can go anywhere. I heard Truxton park gets really busy with only 2 ramps and limited parking, that's why I was thinking about sandy point. I also heard Turkey point was really good but pricey. I went to Smiths Marina the other day and it looks like it's really tight for parking.

The reason for my concerns is my kids haven't ever been on a boat so I need time to get them situated. Until they learn the ropes.

Thanks again for all the information

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Boating in Maryland

You don't want to launch at Turkey point if you can avoid it. The docks go straight out into the river and wakes will slam your boat against the dock. If you can easily drive it, Lapidium launch area is relatively cheap for Maryland residents, safe, and the dock is protected. You can buy a season pass from DNR. I use it when I come down to the Chesapeake. It takes about 20 minutes to cruise out to the Havre-de-Grace channel and about 2 hours to cruise to Baltimore. You only need to pay attention and stay out of Aberdeen restricted waters.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boating in Maryland

You don't want to launch at Turkey point if you can avoid it. The docks go straight out into the river and wakes will slam your boat against the dock. If you can easily drive it, Lapidium launch area is relatively cheap for Maryland residents, safe, and the dock is protected. You can buy a season pass from DNR. I use it when I come down to the Chesapeake. It takes about 20 minutes to cruise out to the Havre-de-Grace channel and about 2 hours to cruise to Baltimore. You only need to pay attention and stay out of Aberdeen restricted waters.

I imagine he is talking about Turkey Point, South River, Edgewater

 

[gddavid]

Re: Boating in Maryland

Thank you guys for the advice.

I went to Smiths Marina the other day and it looks like it's really tight for parking.

The reason for my concerns is my kids haven't ever been on a boat so I need time to get them situated. Until they learn the ropes.

Smith's and most private marinas with boat yards are going to be packed with boats dry stored for the winter. About 1/2 of those boats will be going back in the water before the end of May parking and circulation space opens up.

 

[gddavid]

Re: Boating in Maryland

If you get stuck in rough chop on the bay due to wind or heavy boat traffic your kids probably won't care or know enough to be scared but their mother won't be happy and we all know what that means.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boating in Maryland

If you get stuck in rough chop on the bay due to wind or heavy boat traffic your kids probably won't care or know enough to be scared but their mother won't be happy and we all know what that means.

Getting scared is the least of your worries. Getting green is something most don't forget or want to experience ever again.

 

[Challenger604]

Re: Boating in Maryland

Try Grays Inn Creek Marina
its under new ownership/managment and the ppl that own it have done really nice things with it.

 

[amarcil77]

Re: Boating in Maryland

Thanks again guys. I was referring to Turkey Point in Edgewater. It is all about keeping my wife and kids happy and feeling safe.

 

[shout]

Re: Boating in Maryland

I also recommend you keep an eye on the weather forecast and stay off the bay when winds are 15mph or more. Watch for small craft advisory and also check the buoy data for wave height. Once waves are around 2ft, you don't want to be on the bay in that boat.

We had a 20 boat and 2ft waves were certainly problematic

Otherwise, have fun, we sure do!

-- shout