Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[solanabeacherman]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I'm sorry if this has been posted before but I have to ask ya'll opinion anyway. This will be our 2nd year boating on the Chesapeake. We drive down from PA, and last year had only launched from the HDG City Yacht Basin. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice ramp but thats all. No beach, no camping, nothing for the family but to put the boat in the water.

This year I'd been researching a place that had a little more to offer. This brings me to the Elk Neck State Park. Does anyone have experience with this. I see it has a beach, nice ramp, ect. What I like is the fact that we could bring the whole family and some freinds. We all have young kids ages 1-10 years old. Not everyone likes being stuck on a 21' boat all day after a 2.5 hr drive to get to the bay.

If we join the park the wives and kids could set up an easy up and spend the majority of the day there on the beach. Meanwhile we could anchor the boat off the beach and have it there for our disposal as well. So the boys could float over to the Chesapeake Inn, or Llyods creek to lose track of time.

Am I on the right track here. Is Elk Neck the right place for me? Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I'd say yes. There are cabins you can rent also camping sites. The ramp is pretty good. I'm in the same boat as you as far as the driving part. From pa to elkneck is just over 3.5 hours for me

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey guys, I have a friend who is looking for a slip somewhere in or between the Pasadena or Middle River area. (My friend lives in Eldersberg). I, personally, don't think he's ready for a wet slip. He'd have to get his bottom painted and a mooring cover made. I think he would be better off with a "dry slip" somewhere with his boat on the trailer that either has in/out service or just allows you to use their ramp. I'm thinking rack storage would be too expensive. Does anyone know of any marinas that have trailer "slips"? My friend got a real nice price quote on a wet slip here http://whiterocksmarina.com/ but I wanted to show him the availability and prices of some dry options.

There are a TON of marinas in that area, he may want to narrow the area to something smaller.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey! This is a family site!

Yeah...and how exactly do you think I got my Family???? LOL

So was anybody out last friday? I got a text from a friend who said he went down to the bay, his boat is at bay boat works, but he did not say if he went out. I thought someone with an OB and the time might have ventured out for bragging rights.

I've been wanting to go out all winter, but the little boat is snowed into the back yard...where I may get to doing some projects on it if I ever get time this winter.....I would love to get out on the Bay when it's empty of all the summer traffic. The water gets REALLY clear when it gets a chance to settle down some......

I'm sorry if this has been posted before but I have to ask ya'll opinion anyway. This will be our 2nd year boating on the Chesapeake. We drive down from PA, and last year had only launched from the HDG City Yacht Basin. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice ramp but thats all. No beach, no camping, nothing for the family but to put the boat in the water.

This year I'd been researching a place that had a little more to offer. This brings me to the Elk Neck State Park. Does anyone have experience with this. I see it has a beach, nice ramp, ect. What I like is the fact that we could bring the whole family and some freinds. We all have young kids ages 1-10 years old. Not everyone likes being stuck on a 21' boat all day after a 2.5 hr drive to get to the bay.

If we join the park the wives and kids could set up an easy up and spend the majority of the day there on the beach. Meanwhile we could anchor the boat off the beach and have it there for our disposal as well. So the boys could float over to the Chesapeake Inn, or Llyods creek to lose track of time.

Am I on the right track here. Is Elk Neck the right place for me? Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

Probably would be a good bet, only the beach gets kinda busy in the summer on the weekends...and the beach is across 272 from the actual state park, not inside it. So you would have to drop all the people off at the beach area and then take the boat up 272 a mile or so to the ramp to launch it, then park the truck and run the boat around Turkey Point to get to the beach area.

 

[solanabeacherman]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Good point Super Nova, but I don't know where else would better suite our needs. Hey if nothing else, it's a nice ramp to use along with the Susquehanna at our use when the kids, or friends are not along.

COME ON SPRING!

 

[timfives]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

EZ,

Hey let me know if you find any dry slips there. I'd consider doing that as well or maybe next year.. Hope your well.

T

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

EZ,

Hey let me know if you find any dry slips there. I'd consider doing that as well or maybe next year.. Hope your well.

T

Will do Tim. We definitely plan to do some camping/boating at that Elk Neck State Park this season. Check that out.

 

[solanabeacherman]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Opened the mail yesterday and there it was. My 2011 MD State Park passport. Yes, it's going to be a good summer, if it ever gets here.

Ciao

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

you could also launch at the same spot you did last year, the HDG park, and set up a camp on the sand island. they are 3 islands near fishing battery island. The channel goes right thru them.
The island everyone goes to is just south of green bouy number 11, on the west side of the channel. With a 4 second blinking light on top.

You could go there from elk neck too, it might just be a hair farther drive.

I was down in laredo, TX the other day and it was 85 down there. Had to turn on the ac in the truck.
drove from that up into snow in ohio.

 

[solanabeacherman]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Anyone have the date to see the Blue Angels over the bay this year?

Getting the calendar together. So far all I get is......

6/11 Thunder on the bay

6/25 Canal Day

 

[solanabeacherman]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Took a ride over to the sand island this afternoon

That got your attention..............ha ha ha

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

i bet your legs got cold on the walk to shore.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Warning: Drunken rant to follow: Got a call last night from my Grandmother (the one with the place on the Bohemia). Turns out the place is sold and my chilhood boat that her and my aunt have been holding hostage from me since 2006 and my grandfather held hostage from me since 1985, has to be picked up and gotten out of there before April 1st. Now, on one hand this is good news as you can well imagine. On the other hand she (my grandmother) has to make a pont of telling me that when I pick up the boat (she is currently in Arizona), I am not to take anything else except the boat. Everything else goes with the house and property she says. Now what did she think? I was gonna steal everything not nailed down??? I'm sure she has one of the neighbors watching the house for her as she requires me to call her in arizona before I go get the boat. That's probably so she can call the neighbor and let them know that someones coming for the boat and not to call the cops. i don't know I guess this goes a bit deeper than what I want to get into on here, but I am really hurt by her comments, almost enough to call her back and tell her to stick the boat where the sun doesn't shine. I think that would make me happier, but the boat IS important to me. Last time I was told I had "hood-winked" her. Now some of you have met me and some haven't, but I am about as straight a shooter as they come and I don't make it a habit to 'hoodwink" anybody, so after all I have done to help her and "pops" to have her call me something like that.......I haven't talked to her in 3 years. Maybe a "f-it" is in order...get the boat and be done with it all.....hmph..

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Sorry to hear that Stan! Sometimes, blood ISN'T thicker than water

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Warning: Drunken rant to follow: Got a call last night from my Grandmother (the one with the place on the Bohemia). Turns out the place is sold and my chilhood boat that her and my aunt have been holding hostage from me since 2006 and my grandfather held hostage from me since 1985, has to be picked up and gotten out of there before April 1st. Now, on one hand this is good news as you can well imagine. On the other hand she (my grandmother) has to make a pont of telling me that when I pick up the boat (she is currently in Arizona), I am not to take anything else except the boat. Everything else goes with the house and property she says. Now what did she think? I was gonna steal everything not nailed down??? I'm sure she has one of the neighbors watching the house for her as she requires me to call her in arizona before I go get the boat. That's probably so she can call the neighbor and let them know that someones coming for the boat and not to call the cops. i don't know I guess this goes a bit deeper than what I want to get into on here, but I am really hurt by her comments, almost enough to call her back and tell her to stick the boat where the sun doesn't shine. I think that would make me happier, but the boat IS important to me. Last time I was told I had "hood-winked" her. Now some of you have met me and some haven't, but I am about as straight a shooter as they come and I don't make it a habit to 'hoodwink" anybody, so after all I have done to help her and "pops" to have her call me something like that.......I haven't talked to her in 3 years. Maybe a "f-it" is in order...get the boat and be done with it all.....hmph..

Stan, sorry to hear about the situation. But i am curious, whats the new boat? I gues this makes you a family of 3 boats now huh?

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks guys....it's Saturday and I'm a little bit better now....anyway the boat is a 1957-ish Alumacraft with bench seats and a small deck in the front. My brother and I both had boats given us when we were young and he was allowed to take his home many many moons ago...I was never given the option...'course with that branch of the family that pretty much was the way things worked anyway. Golden boy got all kinds of stuff given him....several cars included. Somehow I was never deemed worthy....ahhh, is what it is, I guess, as much as I hate that particular statement. I'm just second rate where they were all concerned...

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks guys....it's Saturday and I'm a little bit better now....anyway the boat is a 1957-ish Alumacraft with bench seats and a small deck in the front. My brother and I both had boats given us when we were young and he was allowed to take his home many many moons ago...I was never given the option...'course with that branch of the family that pretty much was the way things worked anyway. Golden boy got all kinds of stuff given him....several cars included. Somehow I was never deemed worthy....ahhh, is what it is, I guess, as much as I hate that particular statement. I'm just second rate where they were all concerned...

I really can relate Stan! Look at us now

Can't wait to see the Alumacraft!

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

The boat has good memories attached...lots and lots of hours on the bay and particularly the Bohemia. I've been up most of the creeks of the Bohemia to the point we were poling the shoreline and had to back the boat out because there just wasn't enough width to turn around....hell you could step out either side of the boat and not get your feet wet... The boat isn't anything fancy and the old '81 9.9 evinrude is looking the worse for wear. The windshield is gone and some rivets are missing. All the forward controls are gone, but it should still float and still be serviceable...of course, I haven't actually seen the boat since '07. so it may be worse than I remember....

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well I'm a bit partial to tin and an '81 Evinrude isn't "old"

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

That old evinrude is actually one of the few things my grandfather ever bought new and he bitched endlessly about having to pay $1100 bucks for it....he even kept it waxed and covered the first year or two..but yeah, that boat handled most of what the bay could put out...it wasn't always a comfortable ride, she had damn few amenities and the bare aluminum could get hot in the sun....but she was always reliable...