Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Like trailer the boat and sleep inside the boat?
I would do that with a big enough boat that was nice inside.
who cares what people think.

I would imagine it would suck during the day, using it as a changing station or for storeage of stuff. You may want a tent as well.

The thing about the sand island is that no one owns them, (there were created from dredging in the 60's) and they are like an unoffical park.

Just don't go to fishing battery island, the south one, with the light house on it.

I imagine if you are being a responsible camper/boater, and not littering, the dnr will leave you alone there.

 

[john3931]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks for the Welcome. I will be starting my boating from Long Level.
I have a pop up camper and will use that when camping. Want to take a drive and check the area out sometime. Anxious to get in the water. Hopefully stay in the water.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

you can also camp in susquhana state park, which is further up the river in harford county.
It is more remote, and the sites are not that close to the river, but you are near dear creek, right where it meets the river.

Take 155 to lapidum rd, and the park is back in that area.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey John, welcome to iBoats and boating. I live in York and also boat at Long Level. Most of the pics in my signature link below (including the ones with fish ) were taken at Long Level. I also boat at Conowingo as my uncle has a waterfront cottage down there.

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Just as an aside, last month I was cruising around Amazon.com on some non boating stuff, and of course couldn't help myself. I picked up the '08 edition of Chesapeake Bay Mag's Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay. It's funny how I have lived here my entire life and read up on so many places I know nothing about. I've pretty much read the whole thing and found a few places I want to get to this year. Anyway, if yer interested the '08 edition is 7 bucks, the '09 edition is out and it's 40.

'08 edition http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Cruisin...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242091570&sr=8-1

'09 edition http://www.amazon.com/2009-Guide-Cr...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242091570&sr=8-2

I was thinking of picking up The Gunkholer's guide as it get's referenced by many people. Does anyone have a copy and can recommend?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I almost bought the gunkholders guide,
it is very neat to read.
I read the first 40 pages for free online.

Talks about cool islands to visit and such.

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Has anyone used the ramp at perryville, I picked up a yearly pass for $50 last week after a quick driveby. Looks like a new dock, and rest room. Only one truck there, but it did not look like alot of parking. Has anyone used this raamp in the summertime, I think you would have to park on the street on a busy weekend.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Has anyone used the ramp at perryville, I picked up a yearly pass for $50 last week after a quick driveby. Looks like a new dock, and rest room. Only one truck there, but it did not look like alot of parking. Has anyone used this raamp in the summertime, I think you would have to park on the street on a busy weekend.

I only used it once, for my 14 footer. Good ramp with plenty of depth. I've heard it gets busy during fishing tournaments.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Are there 2 Perryville ramps?

I know one you have to drive up under the Hatem bridge to get to it?

 

[travbl]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hello everyone, my wife and I are new to boating. We have a 20' stingray bowrider. We will be coming to the upper bay the weekend of July 4th. We are looking to camp at some campground around the area with boat docks. We are in our upper 20's along with the two other couples that will be coming with us. Any advice on boating, where to camp, or where to eat would be much appreciated. As of now we will be staying near perryville but our open to other areas. Any and all advice is welcomed. Thanks for all your help

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

elk neck state park is a good place to camp, and see the fire works.
don't know about where you could dock your boat.

heart-miller island may be better for camping from a boat, but not near the havre de grace fire works.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Are there 2 Perryville ramps?

I know one you have to drive up under the Hatem bridge to get to it?

No just one, but it has 2 lanes.... yes you drive under Rt 40 to get to it.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

No just one, but it has 2 lanes.... yes you drive under Rt 40 to get to it.

10-4, for some reason I thought there was one down by Perry Point.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hello everyone, my wife and I are new to boating. We have a 20' stingray bowrider. We will be coming to the upper bay the weekend of July 4th. We are looking to camp at some campground around the area with boat docks. We are in our upper 20's along with the two other couples that will be coming with us. Any advice on boating, where to camp, or where to eat would be much appreciated. As of now we will be staying near perryville but our open to other areas. Any and all advice is welcomed. Thanks for all your help

What kind of camping? Tent or Travel trailer? Like bowman said, Elk Neck State Park is supposed to pretty good. You can find alot about it at:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/elkneck.html

They do have a 4 lane boat ramp to use but there are some fees. It would not be far away from perryville by boat, maybe 15 mintues?

Have you ever boated in the upper bay before? If not, make sure that you stay in the channels!!! Water outsided the channels can be very shallow 1 - 2 feet at places. I highly recomenned grabbing a chart book of the area and spend some time looking over it before heading down! Lots of water but very shallow!

July 4th weekend is a great weekend to head down. You can check out North East's fireworks on the 3rd and Havre De Grace's is on the 5th.

As far as restaurants go... I have ate at:

North East:
Woody Crab House
Nauti Goose - Has its own dock so you can boat up to it.
Steak and Main

Havre De Grace:
Tidewater Grille - Also has a dock to boat up to
MacGregors

Havre De Grace does have a free transient dock down by the light house so you could dock there and walk into town and check out all the shops and other restaurants.

Hope this helps. We will be down that weekend too, maybe we will see you out there!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I have tied up in the Havre De grace park before. Right next the the skipjack (I think that's the name of that big charter sailboat). Right next to the food stand there. I just tied up for free next to where you get fuel at.

If you launch from the park, go left, thru the marina, going right will put you in 1 ft of water if you get out of a very very narrow winding chanel.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I am going to try to finally take our maiden voyage Sunday, as the weather is looking better than before. I am putting in at Dundee, and going up to Maxwell pt. Anyone have any tips, pointers? I used to water ski there many years ago.
I'm hip to all the APG regulations BTW.

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

How is the channel from perryville to Northeast? I think someone here said it's more forgiving, but looking at the charts the east end seems to just die out, with no clear way out. I thought it might be faster than going around thru HDG.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

There are 3 channels that cut thru the flats, one in the dead center, and 2 abuot 200 ft off the cost of each side. The back channel on the Harford county side is very narrow, and goes to the HDG park ramp. Not too familar with the one on the Cecil county side, but it looks narrow too. You best bet is to stick to the main chanel, which goes out the the sand islands.

I see your delemia, You can either stay very close to cecil county, and you should be able to not be in less than 4 ft of water at low tide. Otherwise you have to stick the the shipping chanel, and go all the way around the flats, which is about 10 miles extra at least.

I have been to furnace bay before, and had no problem, and after that, you should be ok, as long as you stay close to shore.

Hug the north side of carpenter point and you should be good. If you plan to turn to go down to the elk river, don't cut that corner, go out wide to stay in deep water.

sometimes just staying on plane will help, and if you stop, you may be screwed.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

How is the channel from perryville to Northeast?.... I thought it might be faster than going around thru HDG.

With your 23' stern drive boat you'll be fine. I don't do it with my Silverton (inboards), but used to have a 23' Wellcraft and did that route all the time. Just watch your sounder and stay in the deep water. You'll only be about 100' off the VA hospital piers.
After passing Furnace Bay, the "channel" to the east gets harder to find. I suggest you follow someone else or at least run it on a rising tide "just in case"....
If you touch, it's no big deal- all mud and sand (OK, maybe with a submerged log or two....). Just tilt the drive up and/or wait out the tide.

Here's a chart of the area. You can zoom it in....
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12274.shtml

The area directly opposite Furnace Bay is locally known as "The Flats". The bottom goes from 15' to 1-2' quickly and is sandy. It's a VERY popular anchorage and is one of my primary hangouts during the season. Maybe we should arrange a rendevous there some weekend.

Here's a picture of The Flats. Notice how shallow it is directly behind the big cruiser. It was NOT aground!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey Arks, great link there sir! I have a waterproof book of the upper bay but that is a really helpful electronic version, esp for those that don't have it!

I have run the north channel several times in my 20' bowrider. Just stay on plane and cut from Carpenters point to the main channel. I think you should be okay, but then maybe i have just been "lucky"

Arks, great idea about getting together out there at the flats someday to raft up, hang out. Lets do it, you can count us in!