New to boating, live in PA

[vscgraphics]

Re: New to boating, live in PA

a 17-20 foot open bow boat is not an issue in the chessapeake? I am trying to convince my wife to go for bigger waters!! also about 15 mins from beltzeville. Usually head to wallenpaupack. Going to try hopatcong this year in NJ

 

[bowman316]

Re: New to boating, live in PA

You will be fine with that boat down here in the bay. The thing is, you have a choice to go out in the open bay, where it will be 2-3 ft seas on a good day, or stay up in what ever river you launch at. There is will usually be calm. And even on the worst day, you can find calm water somewhere.

But I take my 16 ft runabout out on the bay. I don't go too far, cuz i don't have the fuel for that. Basically, you if you launch at Havre De grace, you can go north, and avoid the waves, or go south into the bay, where it may be a lil rough.

You can prob handle 4 ft seas easy, and maybe up to 5 or 6, if you had to.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: New to boating, live in PA

a 17-20 foot open bow boat is not an issue in the chessapeake? I am trying to convince my wife to go for bigger waters!! also about 15 mins from beltzeville. Usually head to wallenpaupack. Going to try hopatcong this year in NJ

The boat should be good. I take my 20' open bow out in it. Ideally I would rather have a Deep V sytle boat that would handle the waves and wake better, maybe the next boat. You may get splashed a little on a boat with shorter sides.

So yes, the boat can handle it. Just make sure that you can. Are you comfortable handling you boat in water in different situations with different wake and waves?

The Chesapeake Bay is a great area and I would highly recommend you try it out some time.

 

[aspeck]

Re: New to boating, live in PA

Now that I just bought my "new-to-me" boat, would like to bring it to the Chesapeake sometime ... do a little fishing and scouting around. Didn't trust the 16 foot bass boat in the bay, so it was never an option before.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: New to boating, live in PA

Now that I just bought my "new-to-me" boat, would like to bring it to the Chesapeake sometime ... do a little fishing and scouting around. Didn't trust the 16 foot bass boat in the bay, so it was never an option before.

Sounds great, you will not be disappointed!

So what boat did you get?

 

[bowman316]

Re: New to boating, live in PA

The think is you can always find calm water around the boat ramp. If it is rough out there, just go up river, and it will not be that bad.