Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Today is a go, the boat is fueled up, loaded up, and hooked up to my truck. Since we are going out after we close the shop at 5 pm, we are going out at HDG since it's 2 miles away.

Does anyone have any recommendation on where to hit some open water nearby so I can get used to my boat?

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Today is a go, the boat is fueled up, loaded up, and hooked up to my truck. Since we are going out after we close the shop at 5 pm, we are going out at HDG since it's 2 miles away.

Does anyone have any recommendation on where to hit some open water nearby so I can get used to my boat?

Great news!

Well, if you are putting in at HDG you may want to run to Georgetown on the Sasafrass River. Should be a pretty nice ride. Head south from HDG following the channel past Fishing Battery Light to the main channel by Turket Point Light house. Continue South for about 5 miles from Turkey Point and you are in the inlet to the Sasafrass River on your left. Georgetown is at the end of the River (Few Marinas, restaurants, etc.) This should be around a 45 to 50 mile round trip. Good chance to get the boat out and running!

But there are more options as well. Just thought that one might give you alot of scenery to look at, be close to marinas & people (just in case) and it should be a little bit calmer then the bay.

Hope all goes well! Be sure to report back in and let us know! oh yeah, have fun!

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

If you are just taking it for spin I would personally run it up to Port Deposit and back

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12274.shtml

Just pay strict attention to the shallows and obstructions and steer clear Go 'round Garret on the east side.

Good luck!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

If you are just taking it for spin I would personally run it up to Port Deposit and back

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12274.shtml

Just pay strict attention to the shallows and obstructions and steer clear Go 'round Garret on the east side.

Good luck!

This is another good idea! Just depends on how far you went to venture the first time.

Maybe a 50 mile trip would be better later in the summer.

Whatever you do, have fun and be safe!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks guys!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey Skargo, don't forget the camera! We want to see pictures of the maiden voyage!!!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey Skargo, don't forget the camera! We want to see pictures of the maiden voyage!!!

It's in our gear bag!

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Skargo, I'll be out there Thursday morning at Perryville. Going to try and find the channel over to NE, with the new GPS and then maybe south to Elk. I'll see how rough it is. I think I heard southerly winds and a high tide, will that cause any chop? If it's too rough maybe I'll just hang out and fish near Perryville. Either way I'll be on the water, AHHH.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Just watch out for a wind out of the SW. If it is the right direction it will blow right up the bay. But just off of SW and it may be a different story.

But a wind from that direction will put more water in the flats. A NE wind has been know to leave only mud in the flats at low tide.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

The maiden voyage was a success! We launched and retrieved with no issues, took us about 10 minutes each time. Ark's marina neighbor was watching.
Oh yeah, as I was about to launch, I got my free USCG inspection, passed with flying colors and got my sticker!

Here I am, don't mind me, I am newly bald

My wonderful wife at the helm, that's Fishing Battery in the background,

The rest are here
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=254226&id=554955651&l=652590decb

I am so stoked, I can't wait to go out again!

p.s., are we supposed to pay at HDG? :redface:

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Ark's marina neighbor was watching.

You mean the couple on "Tranquility", the white/red SeaRay flybridge? Yeah, he called me from the boat. He likes to rub it in sometimes.....

as I was about to launch, I got my free USCG inspection, passed with flying colors and got my sticker!

Good job! Sounds like you met John Williams. Nice enough guy. He keeps a boat on pier 4 and spends a lot of his free time doing VSC's (Vessel Safety Checks).

p.s., are we supposed to pay at HDG? :redface:

Um, YEAH! It costs 8 bucks. You're lucky they didn't leave a ticket on your windshield. You're supposed to pay at the marina office before launching.


Looks like you had a great time. Nice pics! I'm guessing you were able to stay in the deep water? You must've had a chart!

It's T - minus 7 days for the launch of "Winter Dream". The bottom work is now officially complete (FINALLY). I'll be spending this weekend cleaning and polishing. I can't wait to be tied up at the dock with a cold one......

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

DOH, I will pay double next time! :redface::redface:

I used my chartplotter/Gps and my charts. I have NO confidence in my in hull ducer for my humminbird 610, I test mounted it in a butter bowl, but it went weird sometime.
How deep is the water at the ramp at high tide typically?

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Looks great!!!! First time out is always memorable and it looks liked your hooked.

So where did you end up going? Looks like you cruised around HDG some and up towards Port Deposit.

Glad all went well!!

Edit: I like the new avitar!

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

How deep is the water at the ramp at high tide typically?

The channel from the ramp to the end of the pier is only about 4 1/2- 5 feet at high tide. The channel goes straight out from the ramp, so do NOT venture NW (towards the apartments on the hill)- super skinny water there, and last year I saw a submerged steel barrel at the edge. There is a "back channel" thru that area but only us locals are allowed to use it . J/K....

At low tide, moving "Winter Dream" into or out of my slip is an exercise in dredging... I oughta charge the city for the service.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Looks great!!!! First time out is always memorable and it looks liked your hooked.

So where did you end up going? Looks like you cruised around HDG some and up towards Port Deposit.

Glad all went well!!

Edit: I like the new avitar!

Thanks.
We went down south of Fishing Batttery, then back up to Garret Island and back a couple times.

The channel from the ramp to the end of the pier is only about 4 1/2- 5 feet at high tide. The channel goes straight out from the ramp, so do NOT venture NW (towards the apartments on the hill)- super skinny water there, and last year I saw a submerged steel barrel at the edge. There is a "back channel" thru that area but only us locals are allowed to use it . J/K....

At low tide, moving "Winter Dream" into or out of my slip is an exercise in dredging... I oughta charge the city for the service.

Hmmm, my humminbird was saying 4.7 feet there, and that was with my keel offset set, so maybe it is accurate.

I saw someone cooking up that "locals" channel, I think I'll wait a bit before going up there

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I thought I was the only bald head in Harford County

Glad everything went well!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

You went to the ramp at the park right?
or was it the small ramp by the railroad bridge?

At the park you have to pay, and after 6 you need to put the money in an envelope and write your tag number on it.

The cops check that parking lot about every hour, you WILL get a ticket if you don't pay.

The other ramp (by the RR bridge) is free, except on weekends there is an honor box for a $5 fee.

That ramp is near where St. John St ends, and there is the 90 degree turn in the road.

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Pretty sure he went to the municipal boat basin, which is an 8 dollar ramp fee (and worth it, it's nice)

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Yea, the other ramp is for small boats, sometimes at low tide the water will be below the end of the ramp there.

I like how steep the park ramp is, I hate those shallow ramps where you have to get your back tires wet.

 

[Edko]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Any of those ramps beat the ones I sometimes have to use in Kent County. While they have some really decent ramps (Rock Hall, Betterton, Eastern Neck), the two closest ones to my summer place are glorified mud marshes. Putting tires in the water on those is barely an option with my Jeep. Luckily, one of the neighbors on the street put in a real nice concrete segment ramp and as long as he is home, I use it.

Really you haven't lived until you put a ton of boat into the drink in a mud pit!

Memorial weather is looking better as long as that cut off low stays down south