Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[Blue Crabber]

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.

Hey Skargo! Great news on the first splash of the season! Always a great feeling!!!

Sorry, i don't know anything about that water, haven't boater there yet. Good luck to you!

Tips: don't forget to put the plug in! But i am sure you read that before...

Anyway, let us know how it went! Have fun and enjoy!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

yea, i'm out on the flats a lot, i'm down for a get together, say at the sand islands?

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I just wanted to thank you more knowledgeable guys for all the help, especially in this thread and via PMs.

I look forward to meeting up with you guys soon!

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

That was the chart I was looking at yesterday while I was hiding out in my office pretending to work and dreaming of getting out on the water. I hope to be at perryville most weekends, so I'd be up for a rafting day at the flats or the sand island. I was at the sand island two years age with a friend, it was pretty cool.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Small Craft Advisory.
http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=anz530&syn=anz500

I guess I'll be responsible and bag the maiden voyage unless the forecast changes overnight.
*kicks dirt*

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Forecast for Memorial weekend already looks iffy, of course we all know how good weather prediction is here...

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Small Craft Advisory.
http://forecast.weather.gov/shmrn.php?mz=anz530&syn=anz500

I guess I'll be responsible and bag the maiden voyage unless the forecast changes overnight.
*kicks dirt*

Hey Skargo, sorry to hear that, quite disappointing. We were hoping to make it down today, but choose not too as well. Sometimes being responsible stinks. Better safe than sorry though!

Make sure that you let us know when the maiden voyage is and how it goes!!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey Skargo, sorry to hear that, quite disappointing. We were hoping to make it down today, but choose not too as well. Sometimes being responsible stinks. Better safe than sorry though!

Make sure that you let us know when the maiden voyage is and how it goes!!

Looking like Wed. late afternoon! *fingers crossed*

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

you can always stay up in the susquhana river, and it won't be that rough.

i drove over the bay bridge today, and they had about 5-6 ft seas it looked like.

It was nasty out there.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

you can always stay up in the susquhana river, and it won't be that rough.

i drove over the bay bridge today, and they had about 5-6 ft seas it looked like.

It was nasty out there.

Think I could launch my boat at Suaquehanna state park?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

how big is your boat?

Susquhana is def a better ramp than the ramp near the Railroad bridge in HDG.

It is maybe 4 ft deep or so around the ramp at the state park.
It has a nice long dock and ramp there too.
How big is your boat?
I think most boats could launch there no problem, just don't go up the river much more than the ramp, because the rocks start about there.

The thing about that ramp is the $10 a pop fee for residents, and $11 for out of state. But you can buy a yearly pass for every state park for $50.

The thing is, If there is a wind comming up the river, it may be better above the dam, wind comming down the river, it will be better below the dam.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

My boat is a 21' Wellcraft Nova.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Susquhana state park will be plenty big enough for you then, just use the ramp closest to the river.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Susquhana state park will be plenty big enough for you then, just use the ramp closest to the river.

Thanks!

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Stiff breezes out of the West and Southwest can be a pain in the butt if you are launching at Lapidum (takes boat toward rock wall). MLLW is about 3ish ft so your Nova should be fine.

If you launch at Lapidum, coming out of the launch you want make your heading straight for Tomes Marine, on the opposite side. Again, watch your line and don't drift upriver too far, or you may make enemies with your prop. Straight out toward Tome's until you are at least 2/3 toward the other side.

Deep water on the east side of the river ends just up a bit from Tome's about halfway up Port Deposit. Recommend going towards the 95 bridge instead. Plenty of deep water all the way to HDG, the channel runs on the east side of Garrett Island, though you can round the isle on the west side but it is narrower and you can hit rocks if you round it to loose.

Lapidum has plenty of Parking and the launch is nice, again as long as it's not a stiff wind.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Stiff breezes out of the West and Southwest can be a pain in the butt if you are launching at Lapidum (takes boat toward rock wall). MLLW is about 3ish ft so your Nova should be fine.

If you launch at Lapidum, coming out of the launch you want make your heading straight for Tomes Marine, on the opposite side. Again, watch your line and don't drift upriver too far, or you may make enemies with your prop. Straight out toward Tome's until you are at least 2/3 toward the other side.

Deep water on the east side of the river ends just up a bit from Tome's about halfway up Port Deposit. Recommend going towards the 95 bridge instead. Plenty of deep water all the way to HDG, the channel runs on the east side of Garrett Island, though you can round the isle on the west side but it is narrower and you can hit rocks if you round it to loose.

Lapidum has plenty of Parking and the launch is nice, again as long as it's not a stiff wind.

Edko,
thank you very much. My wife and I just got home from that ramp checking it out. I talked to a fisherman returning in on his jonboat, He also has a 23' sport fisher. He said the same thing about the rock pile, and told me a story about a 3 day Yamaha losing it's lower unit over there

He said shoot over to PD, but he said to stick to the Cecil county side pretty much. I tend to like your approach better. If I wasn't launching so late(approx 5:30p) I'd head down to Mariner's point or Dundee and go to Maxwell point.
Good thing is high tide is at 6:55 at HDG. I'll probably just put in at HDG, as it's the closest to our shop(2 miles).

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Good thing is high tide is at 6:55 at HDG. I'll probably just put in at HDG, as it's the closest to our shop(2 miles).

Skargo-
If you're going tomorrow evening (Tuesday), look for a small group of kayakers. I'm with the Chesapeake Paddlers Association and launch from Jean Roberts Park (under the RR bridge) every Tuesday at 6PM. We're usually out for 2-3 hours.
Our route isn't determined until launch so I don't know where we'll be heading. I'll be in a blue-green plastic kayak. I monitor VHF 16.

BTW- my Silverton's scheduled for launch by the end of next week. It'll be nice to finally get her wet again. Slip 632 HdG City Dock.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

We'll be going out Wednesday, I'll keep my eyes out for you guys some other time.
I'm sure I'll catch you at the marina soon, glad your boat is ready to go!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Man, all this talk about boating is making me jealous guys!!! I won't be able to make it down Memorial Day weekend either! (Camping with my wifes family). We won't be down again until the last weekend of the month!!!

Arks, hope all goes well getting the silverton out for the year!

Skargo, bet you are anxiously waiting for wednesday! Hope everything works out and that the maiden voyage is a great one!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks a lot! You don't know the half of it!