Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

[AltheaToldMe]

So I am looking at taking the boat to the bay next weekend. Ultimately I would like to get up in to inner harbor.

I am thinking on putting in at Inverness Park or Merrit Point park and heading to the harbor from there. I am looking for information from folks that know this area and looking for general bay boating tips.

Edit* I am now studying the NOAA charts for the upper bay (from the Susquehanna River to Baltimore) and it's bringing more questions.

I am studying the "Chapter One" of the NOAA chart symbols and it looks to me like navigating the upper bay is not just a point and throttle kind of thing. It looks like there are channels that have to be followed and places to avoid (Like Aberdeen proving Grounds)

I need opinions on the skill set needed to navigate from HdG to Baltimore in a 16' v-hull. I was confident a little while ago, but the more I study, the more I wonder if it's too much for me.

I'd really relish the comments of someone who runs the upper bay frequently.

 

[tommays]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Well

I cant comment on the area BUT trips in general are something that you start small and build up to bigger ones as you skills increase from the things you learn


I was lucky that as a child my granny had a small beach house and my trips started with a 12' boat going up to the big town for grocery's


At the very least you need to plan a route on the charts with the distance and compass bearing that will take you to each of the bigger buoys on the trip (you will really need a compass and a GPS)

I sail on night races with a 99 dollar GPS as it tells me what i need to know if i plan things correctly ,i like it better than my 5" color GPS because it forces me to do better planing and really study the charts

A big issue on trips is your fuel range and were you will stop to get more

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The upper bay is not that difficult, but on a busy weekend it will be rough and the ride to Baltimore will be a bit uncomfortable. I have done it in a 15 footer from Conowingo. 40 miles and about 2 hours cruise. My son was driving and had the boat in the air. When I got home, my butt was bruised. However, that was with a teen-aged driver.

If you use a little common sense, most of the upper bay will be available. As you say, Aberdeen is off limits and that side is a bit shallow too but if you just stay out of the Susquehanna flats, you will have no trouble. Do not be afraid. Up around Turkey Point, you will see fishermen in 12-16 foot tinnies. If they can do it, so can you.

Inner harbor is a good destination but they charge you to tie up. There are campsites on Hart-Miller Island--Just past Pooles Island and about 1/2 hour from the harbor.

There is a lot to do on the bay. Just get out there and gain a little experience.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

just take your time. We've been down in the upper bay area and we have 27 foot searay cruiser and a few times while going around turkey point we were getting knocked around. The bay can get nasty in a hurry

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Keep a close eye on the Weather. You do not want to be on the Bay in a 17 ft boat in a storm. Have a plan for where you can run for cover. Storms can come up quick and they can be deadly.

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Thanks for the replies guys!

I think I have made up my mind to put in at Havre De Grace and make my way down to the harbor. I'm working on studying tha charts to get a feel for reading and using them.

I have downloaded and installed the (FREE!!) SeaClear GPS navigation software and have the relevant charts loaded in to it. I appears to be a no-nonsense, funtional piece of software that allows me to combine my GPS receiver, my laptop and the NOAA charts for a great navigation tool. I also carry a Magellan Meridian Gold for compass duties and a backup point of reference.

Not only will I have the laptop GPS along powered by an inverter, but I also have cellular internet access to keep the first mate busy when she is not helping me navigate or making me a sandwich

This is shaping up to be quite an adventure for me. The biggest worry I have about the whole trip is fuel. I carry about 25 gallons in the inboard tank and plan to have an additional 10 gallons as backup. I am new to this boat, so I have no idea how far I can expect to go on a tank of fuel. I figure that most of the time I will be cruising just barely on plane (14mph or so) but I am sure I will still need to get fuel at least once during the trip. I'm not familiar with marina fueling protocols. I guess I should call a couple of marinas along the route to find out the basics.

If anyone has any more pointers that I should think about, please chime in. I'd rather be over prepared vs under prepared.

Anyone know the rates for tying up in Baltimore or Fells Point? I suppose a wuick call to the harbormaster would answer that.

Thanks all!

 

[tommays]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The laptop is kind of a SO SO thing as there pretty tough to keep DRY on a small boat, they are used on larger boats that have room for a nav station that is out of the weather


Good luck on the trip and have fun

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The laptop is kind of a SO SO thing as there pretty tough to keep DRY on a small boat, they are used on larger boats that have room for a nav station that is out of the weather


Good luck on the trip and have fun

ZipLock makes a HUGE ziplock bag. It's big enough to keep the laptop in with the lid open. So far, they work pretty well. Thanks for the luck! I may need it

 

[arks]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

I need opinions on the skill set needed to navigate from HdG to Baltimore in a 16' v-hull. I was confident a little while ago, but the more I study, the more I wonder if it's too much for me.

I'd really relish the comments of someone who runs the upper bay frequently.

OK, here's my comments. Take them however you want. I've been boating this area in all kind of boats since 1982 and have plenty of experience.

- A 16 footer can make this run- ON A GOOD DAY. As mentioned, the weather can change quickly and turn calm water into rough, dangerous conditions- especially in the main stem south of Turkey Point. Even with good conditions, it'll be a long trip. My first powerboat was a 15 footer with a 85HP outboard and it was a BIG voyage to go from Elk Neck State Park to Ordinary Point (on the Sassafras River), only about 8 miles away. As far as APG, they don't do live fire on the weeknds so you'll be fine, even inside the restricted areas -but DON'T go ashore anywhere on APG property, including Pooles Island. That would be dangerous due to unexploded ordinance, not to mention a Federal offense.

- It sounds like you're planning to have some decent navigation equipment onboard- and it's good to use it, but don't be dependant on any of it. Have a good magnetic compass and nautical charts with you, and have your route pre-plotted on the charts. If you don't know how to do that, ask an experienced boater or take a basic navigation class. It's not all that difficult and could save the day if you have an electrical failure. There are not many marinas directly along your route, so pre-plotting will allow you to plan for gas and break the trip down into shorter legs. It's also smart to have some "bail out" marinas plotted in case of a problem.
- Have the boat in good mechanical condition. Sounds simple, but nothing ruins a trip more than a breakdown on the water. Have spare parts (especially a propeller and hub nut) and know how to change 'em. The bilge pump (you have one, right?) should be tested WITH WATER before starting the trip. A hand pump or bailer needs to be aboard, too. How about emergency plugs? Spare anchor?

- Finally, use common sense before shoving off. If the forecast doesn't sound good, modify or change the trip to another day. Have all required safety gear with you and in good shape. Above all, try to make it enjoyable for everyone onboard. Oh, and don't forget- you're going to make the same run getting home, so save the route. Some GPS units have a "backtrack" feature that's very useful.

Let us know how the trip goes!

 

[haskindm]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Figure your worst case time and then triple it! In other words, if you figure that at the most a leg of your trip will take an hour, figure three hours. Unless you and your crew do not mind getting beat around, you will probably not be on plane for much of this trip. Between the normal chop and boat wakes you can figure on a very rough ride if you insist on maintaining planing speed. I took an 18 mile cross bay trip in my 18 footer this spring, figured an hour or so each way. Took two hours going and 2.5 hours to come back. Even at that the crew was wet and unhappy. The bay looks small on paper, but it is a big place and gets real rough real fast.
Good luck.

 

[tommays]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

I will say it one more time and let it go

I have a normal 19' cuddy cabin and a J24 sailboat with a B ocean rating( 11' seas and 40 knot winds) the laptop in a plastic bag or otherwise is just completely useless in a small moving boat for a GPS


You will NOT be able to see the screen or keep it dry in REAL world conditions

 

[dingbat]

Re: Launching near Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Keep in mind that you?re traveling on a major shipping route as well. It?s not going to be any fun in a 16? boat when a big swell from a freighter rolls by. Look at your maps closely and you'll see numerous locations that warn of possibly of extremely large wakes from large ocean going vessels.

Pay particular attention to the area around the mouth of the Patapsco River. The ships coming in from the C&D Canal have to make a 320 degree to get into the river and they throw up huge swells in the area during this maneuver. The waves travel miles and increase in height as the water shallows so what looks innocent enough in deep water may look like a tsunami once it gets into shallower water.

You hear of a couple of boats a year getting swamped and going down in those areas