Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

These "the flats"....never heard of them but they sound interesting.....do they call it "the flats" because the water is all flat all the time?

Well, no..... but if conditions are right, it's really nice. I have a tough time anchoring when there's a steady breeze from the south due to that big slab transom on "Winter Dream".

I think Rob was referring to a specific area of the flats, not the entire flats LOL.

Yup, that's where I went yesterday. 'The Flats' are near the mouth of Furnace Bay, pretty much between Stump and Poplar Points. On the chart it's along the southern edge of the unmarked channel where the soundings go from 15' to 1'. Boats drop their bow anchor and back up to the shallows. Stern hooks are set up on the flats and the depths there run 1'-3' depending on tide. Sandy bottom, too.
For everyones convienience, here's the chart.....
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12274.shtml

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Any plans or activities in the HDG area this weekend? I should be out Sat and Sunday, usually by noon until 6. Probably around SI and maybe over to Seneca point.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

We're hoping to be out Sat and Sun afternoons, and I will probably be out Mon AM fishing. We should be between Trident marina and possibly as far south as Lloyd's creek. Shoot, we might run the C&D and have lunch at Crabby ****'s, go around Pea Patch Island a couple of times and come back one day. I've got 30 gallons of iffy gas to burn out.

 

[solanabeacherman]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Look out around Chesapeake City........it's Canal Day tomorrow. We'll be out and about in the upper bay area.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

you know where the AMTRACK bridge is crossing the susquhana?
right next the that bridge is a bunch of old bridge supports for the old bridge.

well inbetween 2 of those supports is a mooring bouy.
It is right in front of the american legion.

I thought the legion owned it, but they do not. So i tied my boat up to it.
I was wondering if anyone new the story about that mooring bouy. who put it there?

there is another bouy inbetween the next 2 bridge supports.

last year there was a sailboat there all year, and a guy at the legion said it was abandoned, and it sunk right there.
but when i tied up to it i did not see anything on sonar.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Some guy died last night at Chesapeake city. It's Canal day...

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110625/NEWS01/110625001/MARYLAND-Man-25-dies-boating-accident

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well, no..... but if conditions are right, it's really nice. I have a tough time anchoring when there's a steady breeze from the south due to that big slab transom on "Winter Dream".



Yup, that's where I went yesterday. 'The Flats' are near the mouth of Furnace Bay, pretty much between Stump and Poplar Points. On the chart it's along the southern edge of the unmarked channel where the soundings go from 15' to 1'. Boats drop their bow anchor and back up to the shallows. Stern hooks are set up on the flats and the depths there run 1'-3' depending on tide. Sandy bottom, too.
For everyones convienience, here's the chart.....
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12274.shtml

Well, I guess I must apologize and admit my ignorance...I didn't know that there was a sub-section of the flats also called the flats. To be honest with you it kinda doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as "the flats" are actually " the Susquehanna Flats" and refers to the entire area filled in by the Susquehannas spoils and that little area is "Furnace Bay" ....but these little quirks ARE what make boating on the Chesapeake so darn interesting, aren't they.

As for you Skargo....getting a little snarky in your old age aren't you? lol

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well, I guess I must apologize and admit my ignorance...I didn't know that there was a sub-section of the flats also called the flats. To be honest with you it kinda doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as "the flats" are actually " the Susquehanna Flats" and refers to the entire area filled in by the Susquehannas spoils and that little area is "Furnace Bay" ....but these little quirks ARE what make boating on the Chesapeake so darn interesting, aren't they.

As for you Skargo....getting a little snarky in your old age aren't you? lol

Not at all Stan, it's just we locals know what each other mean when we say we are going to anchor at "the flats" We also know what the Susky flats are and mean too. Talk about snarky LOLOL.

I understand, you're not local and might not know all the parlance.

It is the very top of the flats where people anchor, and raft up.

 

[mciaio]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

New here... well not iboats, but this thread.

I launch at the old Perryville Yacht Club, Riverwalk Marina, which I understand is now closed. I haven't been there yet this year to launch.

Anyway, looking for some fireworks to watch this year in the area. Where can I find a list of fireworks? Which is the best one?

Thanks.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

New here... well not iboats, but this thread.

I launch at the old Perryville Yacht Club, Riverwalk Marina, which I understand is now closed. I haven't been there yet this year to launch.

Anyway, looking for some fireworks to watch this year in the area. Where can I find a list of fireworks? Which is the best one?

Thanks.

North East and HDG are both having theirs on Sunday the 3rd. We see the HDG display every year, and it's incredible. I can't comment on the others as I don't see them.
Not sure if you need facebook to see this, but it's a video from a few years ago I shot from my boat, it's the grand finale at HDG
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=230277505651

 

[mciaio]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks for that. If anchored at the flats, can you see both???

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Not at all Stan, it's just we locals know what each other mean when we say we are going to anchor at "the flats" We also know what the Susky flats are and mean too. Talk about snarky LOLOL.

I understand, you're not local and might not know all the parlance.

It is the very top of the flats where people anchor, and raft up.

I guess you're right as usual. No point in arguing with a wealth of local info. like you. Where's that entrance to Lloyd's Creek again???...lol

I can say however, exactly how the HdG fireworks stack up against the others, due to the fact that I actually take my boat to the different fireworks shows in the area and get to see more that just one show (and the same one at that , year after year). It's one of the advantages of not being afraid of boating after dark like some would be local boating experts I know.

HdG and Northeast both host some decent shows, but Georgetown, Wharton Creek and Fairlee Creek all outshine them both. Between Northeast and HdG, I would favor the Northeast show over the HdG show although I have to admit that last year Northeast was not up to their usual standard. If you are out on your boat and willing to navigate after dark, it is definitely worthwhile to just take a cruise, as a lot of the marinas set off their own shows. While they don't compete with the grander town shows, they are still very pretty to watch from the water as you cruise slowly by.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

What do you guys think about charcoal grills on a boat? I'm considering one.

 

[joncrisler]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I much prefer propane grills. I think they are overall safer.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I much prefer propane grills. I think they are overall safer.

I keep thinking that too, but propane and charcoal are both open flames. Apparently the Magmas have a sealed ash compartment. I might be able to get one very cheap, but I do not want something unsafe.

 

[Philster]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

As an Upper Chesapeake newbie here, my first adventures into the C&D and upper Chessie might come this weekend (yes, the big July 4th weekend). I am likely to launch out of Delaware City in the little canal that hooks up to the big canal. It's about 3-5 miles from my house. I want to run the length of the canal and hit the bay. (Unless you guys think I should haul the boat somewhere else).

I know this thread has a ton of info, all spread out, but can someone give me something like a Top 5 Things to Know (or maybe Top Ten)? for boating in the C&D and upper Ches? Where I boated my whole life, I knew the waters so well I could navigate all over the DE bay and off Cape May County, NJ by instinct and experience. I could go anywhere at low tide, or navigate out of a natural inlet through breakers and shoals and know where to be and how to position the boat at all times.

Now I feel like a chump.

I live near Delaware City, but we also have a little place on the Sassafras River in Indian Acres. Still never boated there. My wife (a DE local) knows very little about waterways when it comes to larger boats. She can add her 2 cents based on some boating in kayaks and a 14-footer, but I have no one to lend me some advice with a 27' boat.

Launching, boating, safety, navigation markers: I am experienced. Looking for the invaluable info the locals would know. Also, I'm not a hot rodder. Kids will want to tube, too.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Philster, you will be fine, just have updated charts with you. Can't wait to meet you and to see your boat!

 

[mciaio]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Just my .02... an experienced boater that takes the right precautions and has a chartplotter will do fine in new waters. The people that get into trouble just dump their boat in the water without looking at charts beforehand or carrying one onboard. Also have a tendancy to go too fast in new waters. That's just stacking the deck against you.

I took my boat to Rehoboth Beach last year. I asked here, called the Coast Guard, called the local West Marine and look at the charts before going just so I had an idea what I faced. I was fine.

You will too, because you are a smart boater and prepare yourself before you go!

 

[Philster]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Getting charts together: sounds like a plan.

Hopefully, I get to meet some of you folks. Just wanna be over this anxiety of waiting for my boat to be done.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Getting charts together: sounds like a plan.

Hopefully, I get to meet some of you folks. Just wanna be over this anxiety of waiting for my boat to be done.

There are some awesome people in the area. You might be surprised to find out even Stan and myself are cool in person hehehehe