Baltimore to Cape May

M

meide

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Next week I am planning a three-day trip from Baltimore to Cape May via the C&D canal. Will plan to spend two nights in Cape May Harbor. And might venture out the Cape May Inlet for a short trip at sea. Boat is a 32-foot express cruiser. I've tried to do all my homework on the C&D canal, the Delaware Bay and the Cape May canal.

Any suggestions for places to eat in the harbor that we can reach by dinghy?

Is anchoring in the harbor viable?

Any marina recommendations if we decide not to anchor in the harbor?

Should I be overly concerned about the Cape May Inlet?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations or suggestions.

Mike
 
We did the trip a couple of yrs. ago and stayed Schooner Island Marina in Wildwood. There were several restaurants within a short walk and the beach was about a 15min. walk. Wildwood is just up from Cape May and you dont have to exit the inlet on the ocean side.

The Channel coming into Cape May Canal is a little tricky but not bad. Just stay to the Ferry side of the channel. There are mud flats on your stbd. side once in the channel. After that you are pretty much home free into Cape May. I hav not anchored there so someone else my chime in for that info.
 
I ve been thrubte canal and anchored Andes times with 6'+ draft 70 footer. The canal is indeed pretty straightforward with some shoaling across the ferry terminal (stay mid channel). Current rips thru the narrow RR bridge so be careful and in the harbor you need to watch where the canal channel reaches te main channel. Coming out of the canal you need go leave the marker to port even though depth on the charts look a little shallow

Anchoring is limited to the area just north of the USCG station. Holding is good in mud but it s often crowded and there is some current so watch fit current change. Your best bet for dockage is Utsch, good fuel price too. Stay close to the bulkhead coming in but with a boat likenyours you ll be fine. I ve also stopped at Miss Chris which is rustic but nice people and cheap fuel

Inlet is straightforward, easy and well marked

Yr biggest concern will be the conditions in the lower del., cane be nasty with winds opposing the current
 
I'll second Utche's been there and found them great. It might be a long dink ride from the CG station to a restaurant unless you eat right across the way at one of the places there.
We had no issues with either inlet following the charts but that was three years ago. As Pascal relates the Bay can be snotty. The Harbor View Restaurant was ok 3 years ago, and had a great view. We used to enjoy dinner at 410 Bank or Fresco's many years ago, not sure how they stack up now. If you want Cape May proper I would consider Miss Chris although we have not stayed there. Commercial fishing, party boat environment if memory serves correctly. Not sure if they take transients anymore? It's a short taxi ride to 410 bank etc. from there. Across the street you have all of the other places and the charter boats.
Utsch's would be my choice. They treated us very well 3 years ago.
 
Dan how many years ago did you go there? I may have missed it in your post..... :--)))
 
Ha! Bill we were there Oct. 13th for a few nights back in 2008. I pushed the stbd side into the mud North of Avalon at 306 red on the way down the ICW. Utsch's hauled us and refloated us without the props so we could have the props done. The gave us a great recommendation with Eastern Propellor Service and they had our props done overnite!
 
We were there last summer, I second Schooner Island, great place with plenty of restaurants nearby. We ate at the Lobster House - it is an overpriced tourist trap, don't waste your money.

We had no issues entering or in the canal - we draw 4'. Delaware Bay can get snotty, lots of commercial traffic.

C&D canal is a breeze.
 
Went to Cape May this year. Had a heck of a time in the Delaware Bay 5-6 footers rolling up on the shoals...But have been down the bay smooth as glass also. If the bay acts up you will now it in a 32'..I never see anybody or anything in the Delaware Bay except a few tankers. it's like a dead bay.
Anyway at Ship John shoal set a course for the canal plenty of water save ya some gas..
South Jersey Marina is nice with the Lobster house next store, the town in walking distance..
 
" If the bay acts up you will now it in a 32"

You will know it too in a 70 footer... Two years ago i took blue water .. Hmm make that brown water... Over the deck a few times leaving the canal. It was a very long two hours up the bay. With a 3 to 4' you can probably navigate the shoals close to shore on the east side and avoid the worst if it
 
I boat in the lower DE Bay and I can safely say that you have to pick your days for a run up/down the bay. You won't have any fun if the forecast winds are over 15 kts out of any northerly direction, especilly if the tide is coming in. Early in the AM or later in the day/evening will usually be lighter winds. The farther into fall you go, the more likely the winds are to be blowing out of the NW or N. A SW or W wind will produce better conditions. Most of us on the lower bay are either fishing or day tripping out of our home ports. There aren't alot of places to tuck into as you head north from Cape May, at least without local knowledge.
Have a good trip.
 
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