Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[FFScott6]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks Bowman
Twenty bucks! I can spend on fuel . I could do rt1 too
I was looking at Charlestown web site, seems they have a public ramp, but I saw something in there about permits. Well I'll be there during the weekd and I could go to the Town Hall. From what I can figure I'd have enough fuel to make it to H/G and then some cruising to boot.

We are hoping to make it down on the 18th and or the 25th too... The last horrah. We want to camp some more also before it too cold... Decisions, decisions.

Enjoy...

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

We just got back and after a few new parts, the 'ol gal finally ran great in all situations! We idled out of the no wake area and rolled on the throttle. She came right up on plane and I left the throttle open for a WOT run.

Without trimming out she quickly reached 5000rpm's then kept on to 5100, 5200, to 5400 before I could pull the throttle back. Thankfully when my little bro built the engine he built it to turn 6k all day long complete with a full roller valve train. I will definitely will be needing to re-prop the 'ol gal. Afterwords we settled in at a 3800 rpm cruise that netted us a solid 3 mpg. 39 miles today on just a touch over 12 gallons.

We ran almost to the Sassafras before the admrial, who was wrapped up in a blanket, said that she was to cold and needed to head back. I told her we were almost at Lloyds creek and we would be out of the wind there...but her blue lips won out so we headed back.

BTW, did anybody see that Itallian looking yacht running up from Turkey point to the C&D? Beautiful boat that threw a HUGE wake. Saw two 40'+ displacement boats that had to turn into that wake. Smaller boats ran for cover until the wake went by. We came off plane and took the wake at a 45 degree angle and it still almost came over the bow. Shoot, that thing even rocked the tugs tending the dredging operation just up from Turkey point.

All in all, a great day even if it was a little chilly this morning. Too bad tomorrow is supposed to be cool and rainy.

Oh well, maybe next week.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Didn't make it to the boat today- another good day lost. I sure hope we continue to have warm weather for awhile.

Our second outting was late last year and we used the small "ramp" under the railroad bridge, twice and hopefully not again. Seems good for smsall fishing boat and PWC's but I don't care for it.

That's Jean Roberts Park. That ramp is the worst one in town. I only use it for kayaks.

The lighthouse ramp you mentioned is that at Tiddings park, I guess that would be the south end of town? Looks like a nice place from Google Earth. Maybe I'll bring the boat across rt40 to HdG and check it out. Heck I have 5 days.

I mentioned the new PIER next to the lighthouse- not a ramp, but yeah, there is a 2 lane ramp at HdG City Dock adjacent to Tydings Park. They're scheduled to begin renovation of that ramp on 10/15. City Dock is my home marina and where I keep "Winter Dream".

DON'T tow a boat across the 40 bridge. just launch either in perryville, or hdg, what ever side you are on to start with.
it is 5 bucks, plus 5 bucks for each axle over 2 axles to cross the bridge going towards perryvillle.
so 4 axles would cost 20 bucks.
just launch in perryville, or come across the damn on rt 1

I disagree Bowman- travelling over the bridge westbound (from Perryville) is toll-free, towing or not. I do that regularly. OTOH when towing I always go home to Pa. by running up Rt 155 to Rt 161 (thru Darlington) and Rt 1 over the Conowingo Dam. Only takes an additional 10 minutes or so. I used that route for years when I towed my 23 footer.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Didn't make it to the boat today- another good day lost. I sure hope we continue to have warm weather for awhile.

Sorry to hear that you didn't make it down today Rob. I went through the marina and checked your boat to see if you were around about 1 this afternoon and there were no signs.

We will be down again in 2 weeks.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well me and stan made it down. Spent the day in the elk river getting crabs. Got 2 bushells. It was a nice day to be on the water

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks Bowman
Twenty bucks! I can spend on fuel . I could do rt1 too
I was looking at Charlestown web site, seems they have a public ramp, but I saw something in there about permits. Well I'll be there during the weekd and I could go to the Town Hall. From what I can figure I'd have enough fuel to make it to H/G and then some cruising to boot.

We are hoping to make it down on the 18th and or the 25th too... The last horrah. We want to camp some more also before it too cold... Decisions, decisions.

Enjoy...

I think I remember the ramp at charlestown is free, they only charge for parking. You can park at the Wellwood restaurant across the street for $10, and you can pay right in the restaurant (Sometimes they have a guy outside).

The fireworks at Charlestown on Saturday night were great. Even with the small boat crowd the traffic to NE was just what I expected(A ClusterF###). But it was a good first night time run. I ran the course during the day and layed down a trail on the GPS from NE to TP to HDG and back via the northern route. Now if I find myself out in the dark, I can just follow the bread crumbs home.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I think I remember the ramp at charlestown is free, they only charge for parking. You can park at the Wellwood restaurant across the street for $10, and you can pay right in the restaurant (Sometimes they have a guy outside).

There is a public ramp at Charlestown that is free, and if I remember right, the parking is at the top of the ramp across the street and is free also. The only problem with the ramp is that it is lined with solid bulkheads on both sides so that any waves that make it in between them bounce around like mad and can make it VERY difficult to get a boat in and out. I don't recommend that ramp unless it is really, really calm out.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well me and stan made it down. Spent the day in the elk river getting crabs. Got 2 bushells. It was a nice day to be on the water

First time I've ever used the free public ramp up in Chesapeake City. It's nice and worked well, but the parking is tight with only a few spots. It's a really good small-boat ramp, but I don't think there is room to swing or park a larger rig. 20-foot boat on a Suburban was about max.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well me and stan made it down. Spent the day in the elk river getting crabs. Got 2 bushells. It was a nice day to be on the water

First time I've ever used the free public ramp up in Chesapeake City. It's nice and worked well, but the parking is tight with only a few spots. It's a really good small-boat ramp, but I don't think there is room to swing or park a larger rig. 20-foot boat on a Suburban was about max.

Glad to hear that you guys had a good time. Just out of curiosity, where about on the Elk did you crab and how long were you out?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

across from the c&d canal. we were out for about 10 hours. Probably would've got our limit sooner if we would've just kept pulling traps non stop. But have to stop once in awhile for a cold one..

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Glad you guys had a good time.

I haven't tried that far up the Elk yet but Stan was talking about that area last time.

Lime, are you going to be down to the bay anymore this year with your boat at all?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Yeah probably when the leaves start to turn so the wife can get her nature shots.. And then when we try to get the last raft up for the year in

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

This Saturday we're going to be at a car show in Sandy Hook NJ. Way up north where the Hudson River and the Atlantic meet. Sunday were going out on the Bay .(Chesapecke)Starting to burn down some fuel in the pontoon boat.The tank hold 30 gals.Two weeks ago while crossing the Sassafras River heading for Lloyds I hit a wake that put two large dents in the front of my boat. The water pushed open the front door ,broke the hinge and we had about eight inches of water rush onto the deecking.I'm glad it's a self bailer. I ordered two sheets of thick Diamond plating to repair the front of the boat.We were just cruisin along when out of no where a series of high waves can streight for us. I couldn't out run it so I trimmed the bow as much as I could and hit it head on . Not much you can do on a 24 ft Pontoon boat. just ride it out,and our boat sits high in the water.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Two weeks ago while crossing the Sassafras River heading for Lloyds I hit a wake that put two large dents in the front of my boat. The water pushed open the front door ,broke the hinge and we had about eight inches of water rush onto the deecking.I'm glad it's a self bailer. I ordered two sheets of thick Diamond plating to repair the front of the boat.We were just cruisin along when out of no where a series of high waves can streight for us. I couldn't out run it so I trimmed the bow as much as I could and hit it head on . Not much you can do on a 24 ft Pontoon boat. just ride it out,and our boat sits high in the water.

Sounds like you might've had an encounter with "Chessie".
Over the years I've personally witnessed some large waves with no apparent source that were most likely caused by Chessie cruising below the surface.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Sea-Monsters-The-Chesapeake-Bays-Chessie
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/lost-tapes/sea-monsters/chessie-chesapeake-bay-serpent/

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

anyone heading to the Crosby Stills and Nash concert tonight at Pier 6? I will be heading out in a few minutes. If so stop by and say hello to the red boat we will be grilling up some good stuff kicked back and listening to some awsome tunes

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Sounds like you might've had an encounter with "Chessie".
Over the years I've personally witnessed some large waves with no apparent source that were most likely caused by Chessie cruising below the surface.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Sea-Monsters-The-Chesapeake-Bays-Chessie
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/lost-tapes/sea-monsters/chessie-chesapeake-bay-serpent/

Thanks Rob! If my wife evers hears about "Chessie" then you will have seen me for the last time on the bay.

On second thought, maybe I should tell her, afterall, it would be a whole lot harder for "Chessie" to swallow a 30' flybridge boat than 20 open bow boat ;-) Maybe I can talk her into that second boat now afterall

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Glad to hear that you guys had a good time. Just out of curiosity, where about on the Elk did you crab and how long were you out?

across from the c&d canal. we were out for about 10 hours. Probably would've got our limit sooner if we would've just kept pulling traps non stop. But have to stop once in awhile for a cold one..

We were on the western shore just above Bull Minnow Point and running north about 200 yards.
We were actually crabbing for about 6 hours.
We left up here at around 7 am, stopped at Eastern Marine for supplies and licenses about 830-930 am. Got to Chesapeake City ramp about 10, got the boat into the water and loaded up and hit our first spot, baited and dropped 6 pots in the water by 11:30, realized it was not gonna work, pulled the pots and went downstream a little, picked a new spot, re-threw the six pots that were ready, made sure they were gonna stay put, then baited and threw another 14 pots...all in by about 1 pm.
We crabbed til a little after 7 pm.......loaded up and headed home...I don't know about John, but my head didn't hit the pillow 'til after midnight...and I was snoring about 3 seconds later......

Then I had to spend about 3 hours Sunday cleaning all the grass and mud out of the boat......what a MESS!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Yeah probably when the leaves start to turn so the wife can get her nature shots.. And then when we try to get the last raft up for the year in

Good! Maybe we can all get 1 more raft-up together before the summer is over!

We were on the western shore just above Bull Minnow Point and running north about 200 yards.
We were actually crabbing for about 6 hours.
We left up here at around 7 am, stopped at Eastern Marine for supplies and licenses about 830-930 am. Got to Chesapeake City ramp about 10, got the boat into the water and loaded up and hit our first spot, baited and dropped 6 pots in the water by 11:30, realized it was not gonna work, pulled the pots and went downstream a little, picked a new spot, re-threw the six pots that were ready, made sure they were gonna stay put, then baited and threw another 14 pots...all in by about 1 pm.
We crabbed til a little after 7 pm.......loaded up and headed home...I don't know about John, but my head didn't hit the pillow 'til after midnight...and I was snoring about 3 seconds later......

Then I had to spend about 3 hours Sunday cleaning all the grass and mud out of the boat......what a MESS!

2 bushel in 6 hours sounds pretty good to me! Hoping to get out crabbing a few more time yet this fall anyway.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Great concert last night. We put in at the canton city lauch site. The sun was set and the sky was amazing tons of colors. Crosby Stills and Nash were very good. We found a nice place to tie up along the wall on pier 7. The concert went to about 10.45 and we are home at 12.00 am. My butt is dragging a little tonight I just but the boat back in the garage.

Good friends. Good music good food = good times. Anyone elese go from here?

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

There are two places on the Elk River where people are knocking the heck out of Crabs, One is just below Triton Marine and the other is on the Elk River heading South across from the blue water tower. That's where most of the easy pickin's are. Most are caught on the incoming tide. This information will cost you 10 % of all the crabs you catch. So just throw them in my Pontoon boat this coming Sunday after 2 PM. Good Luck.