Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Unfortunately not. Just found this article:

http://wjz.com/local/drowning.Baltimore.County.2.1035146.html

Evidnetly they decided to go for a quick swim without life jackets and got caught in some swift currents.

No signs of any drinking on the boat either.

I guess this just re-affirms one of our boat rules. If you are in the water, you are wearing a life jacket. Does not matter how athletic you are or who you are, you are putting a life jacket on or you stay on the boat.

Be safe out there everyone!!!

Sad, a lesson for all of us.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Arks, did you make it out on Sunday?

Well, I made it to the boat. Does that count?
I quickly discovered one of my starting batteries was flat. I mean REALLY flat. Even with a jumpbox connected the motor wouldn't crank. Kinda burned me because I had 'em both load tested before re-installing them just a month ago. They're 4 years old but my mechanic said they "should be OK for another summer". NOT!
Soooo, I'm thinking either my charger's not charging on 1 bank (it's a 2-bank unit) or I have a bad battery. I switched the charger leads, pulled the offending battery, and temporarily bugged some wires together to utilize a (brand new) group 31 battery that I had down there as a backup.
With that arrangement I got her fired up without a problem, but by then it was after 2PM and I had promised a friend that I'd help him work on his boat for awhile (in another marina). Oh well...
It was still nice to be at the boat and not looking UP at the bottom for a change!

Too bad about the tragedy at Gunpowder. There was a very similar incident 3 or 4 years ago at Sand Island. That guy was in his 50's and tried to swim to another boat without a PFD. He didn't make it. The HdG channel was closed all night while they searched.
Yeah, it's a lesson everyone should learn from. For the past 3 years I've been wearing an auto-inflatable PFD whenever I leave the dock. It's VERY cheap insurance!

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well, I made it to the boat. Does that count?
I quickly discovered one of my starting batteries was flat. I mean REALLY flat. Even with a jumpbox connected the motor wouldn't crank. Kinda burned me because I had 'em both load tested before re-installing them just a month ago. They're 4 years old but my mechanic said they "should be OK for another summer". NOT!

That stinks. Hopefully that is all that it is though, just a battery. At least you were able to make it down though. I guess that means everthing went well with your daughters move on Saturday.

Too bad about the tragedy at Gunpowder. There was a very similar incident 3 or 4 years ago at Sand Island. That guy was in his 50's and tried to swim to another boat without a PFD. He didn't make it. The HdG channel was closed all night while they searched.
Yeah, it's a lesson everyone should learn from. For the past 3 years I've been wearing an auto-inflatable PFD whenever I leave the dock. It's VERY cheap insurance!

This incident got me thinking about auto-inflatable as well. I always put a jacket on when i am in the water but not when i am just on the boat. What would happen if i was thrown from the boat or something stupid like that. I always operate safetly, but you never know what could happen.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I think after they drifted away from the boat, 2 got back in the boat, but tried to swim to the other guy, instead of taking the boat to pick him up. That is how the other guy died. That is what the news made it sound like, they said the boat was anchored the whole time. Maybe they did not want to wait to pull up the anchor.
But i would have waited the minute it takes to pull the anchor up to go save him in the boat.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I am planning on going out for a bit today after I install my DSM25.
We will probably get out tomorrow and Sunday too.

Anyone else?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

going crabbing down in the severn, or the wye river sat morning.

why are there only 2 boat ramps on the entire severn river?

 

[skargo]

Glass!

Glass!

Wow, what a beautiful day! I put in at Lapidum, went down past HDG, Sand Islands and south to catch the channel that goes back up the North East River. Went past Turkey Point, and Red Point(I see why it has it's name) and up the NE to the Nauti-goose and back. The forecast called for 1-2ft and showers and possible t-storms, but nothing but glass, a light west wind and some clouds/sun.

It was also my first solo launch retrieve! I was a little nervous, but it went smoothly and quickly. I did drag my skeg a TEENY bit, but realized it and put my drive up :redface:

I still am not confident to run up the Cecil side by Furnace bay, I see it's marked but I am not sure I am willing to trust my gps/chartplotter to put me in the center of the deeper water. Maybe I can follow one of you guys sometime.

Attached is the route I took.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey Skargo, glad that you were able to make it out tonight. Man you are making me jealous!! Can't make it down this weekend because of work or the next 2 because of vacation!

Glad that everthing went well on your first solo launch and retrieve. The more you practice the more comfortable you will become. Don't worry about the skeg to much, it did what is was supposed to - protect the prop!

Sounds like you had a great night for a nice ride. If i am out sometime, i will gladly show you the route i take to HDG on the Cecil side.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Awesome, can't wait to meet you this summer!

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

We will probably get out tomorrow and Sunday too.

Anyone else?

Saturday I'm kayaking in Jersey (Barnegat Bay), but plan to go down to the boat on Sunday- if I'm not too tired from all that paddling.....

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Saturday I'm kayaking in Jersey (Barnegat Bay), but plan to go down to the boat on Sunday- if I'm not too tired from all that paddling.....

I took a slow idle through your marina today, will do the same Sunday.

I am not sure where you are, I went around the outside of the marina to the ramp, then back out again.

Have fun paddling tomorrow!

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

i can't sleep thinkin about crabbin tommorow.
Might just pull an all nighter and leave at 4 to go out.

legal to crab by 4:40 AM

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

going crabbing down in the severn, or the wye river sat morning.

How did the crabbing go? We are really looking forward to getting out and doing more this year. If you don't mind sharing, where at on the river did you crab at?

Awesome, can't wait to meet you this summer!

Same here!

Saturday I'm kayaking in Jersey (Barnegat Bay), but plan to go down to the boat on Sunday- if I'm not too tired from all that paddling.....

Kayaking.... always a blast! Hope that you had a great time!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Great day today, we took the same route I took on Friday, and went to the Nauti and met an old friend and had a great lunch. Came back, putted through HDG. I THINK I saw Arks boat, do you have black canvas?

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Nope- it's dark green. The hull is white with dark green stripe. Slip #632 is the first big slip near the launch ramp- literally 50' from the end of the floating dock. It's pretty hard to miss my boat if you're at the ramp! "Winter Dream" is between a sailboat and a really ugly cabin cruiser (with a big white tarp on it).

I spent Sunday working on my battery issue. As it turned out, the charger was only sending 4.5V instead of 12V. I was able to re-rig my cables and temporarily install a new charger but the batteries were both flat. After about 2 hours I had enough juice to start the engines but it was getting late (5PM). We took a cruise around Garrett Island but didn't have time to anchor anywhere. She ran great, BTW.

Barnegat Bay was really nice! I hadn't been up there since I was a kid. We were at Island Beach State Park. SUPER area for kayaking. We had a group of 25 kayaks. Water visibiity was at least 5' and it didn't rain until we were driving home. It was so nice I might go back there later in the year.

If the weather's decent NEXT weekend I'll be out on Saturday..... This week I'll be padding Havre de Grace Tuesday evening 6-9PM. Probably will have my red over white 17 foot P&H Sirius. I monitor 09 and 16.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Glad you guys both had a great weekend!! Looking forward to meeting some of you guys this summer. Looks like the next time we will be down will be July 4th weekend.

Skargo - were you able to get a slip for the weekend?

Anyway, maybe we will bump into a few of you that weekend!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I think Lapidum is going to be my home ramp, I's probably the closest ramp to our home, below the damn anyway.

Today was the most traffic we've dealt with, but it seemed to be a good bunch of boaters out on the water today

Nope- it's dark green. The hull is white with dark green stripe. Slip #632 is the first big slip near the launch ramp- literally 50' from the end of the floating dock. It's pretty hard to miss my boat if you're at the ramp! "Winter Dream" is between a sailboat and a really ugly cabin cruiser (with a big white tarp on it).

So you are on the outside, by the ramp, correct? I am thinking we swung through around 5, so you were probably on your cruise and we just missed you.
Do you have a picture of your Silverton?

The ugly cabin cruiser, is it the one that looks like a bomb went off in it?

Glad you guys both had a great weekend!! Looking forward to meeting some of you guys this summer. Looks like the next time we will be down will be July 4th weekend.

Skargo - were you able to get a slip for the weekend?

Thanks!

I am on a phone list for the slip, he said they will call probably by the first of July. I'm not holding my breath, but will be happy if I get one.

BTW, do you guys have a recommendation for a basic, but reliable VHS radio?

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

IDo you have a picture of your Silverton?

I believe that he posted a picture of it in the "Show your boat 2" thread in the general boating section. Believe it was on page 25.

BTW, do you guys have a recommendation for a basic, but reliable VHS radio?

Good question. I have been researching my options as well. I picked up a ICOM M72 handheld radio recently. I wanted to get a VHF for the boat but didn't have time to install a fixed mount at they time. The M72 has a removable antenna so i figured i can use it as a backup to my fixed one when i get it installed. (Unplug the antenna from the fixed and with an adapter, plug it into the handheld. I was impressed with it as i could recieve the coast guard out of baltimore on it.

Are you familiar with different types of VHF radios? Such as ones with the DSC capability or a "Class D" radio?

I would not buy a VHF without the DSC capability. You can wire a gps to your vhf and then if you press the distress button on the radio it will automaticly broadcast your exact location and info of your boat on channel 70 (reserved channel for DSC communications) You will need to register for a free MMSI number for this to work.

For some good reading, check out this link:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...visor/10001/-1/10001/VHF-FixedMountRadios.htm

I am leaning towards this one

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=657

or this one but haven't deciced yet.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=657

You can other ones cheaper than this if you want. I Hope to have mine installed sometime next month.

Hope that this helps some!

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Thanks, I definitely want DSC.

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Seems like we were all in the same area Sunday at 5. Last minute choice to run to the sand island sunday, must have been 25 or 30 boats there, but I got in and out without issue. I looked for everyone but I'm still pretty busy just navigating. Still working on dates for the Saturday rafting.