Delta Marinas and Slips

J

jmeirhofer

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So we are thinking of taking a CA Delta vacation next year. That got me looking at marinas and I noticed it seems that no one backs into the slips. At any marina. Not just transient but all of them.

Anyone have any idea why that is? Is it just to be different than everything east of Mexico?
 
It is very likely that the slips get shallow as you near the bank and there is probably no dredging allowed. Going in bow first saves the props and engines.
 
I had my boat at Discovery Bay Marina for 5 years. I always backed in as did many others.
 
Very few people here stern in. It's much easier to pull into a small space when you can see clearly and have the best control. Conversely, it's much easier to back out into an open 'fairway' so you have more room to deal with the loss of precise control you have when in reverse. Just seems to make sense, logically. Add to that the fact that a lot of slips are 'angled' in front, making bow in more appropriate.
 
John - what kind of things are you looking to do in the Delta?
Have you been there before?
 
Manticore - I guess I could see that since everyone seems to be doing it. However we have the inside corners too. I thought maybe CA had some sort of insane rule at the marinas. I guess that means the fingers run the full length of the slip.

Getakey - up until a year ago I lived in Fairfield. 1994 - 2011. I boated in the delta quite a bit but I was a trailer boater so I guess I never paid attention to the boats in the slips. We are thinking of renting a houseboat and hanging out on the hook at various places for a week or two. Another friend who has a bowrtider would bring his boat out for us to enjoy activities on.

It is either that or a week long cat cruise in St. John, bvi. It is up to the admiral though and she is missing CA.
 
John - understood. Since you've been in the Delta you know what to expect. I just wanted to make sure because while I love boating in the Delta, it has some attributes that some people would not enjoy ("dirty" water, lack of beaches, to name a couple).

I was going to suggest Shasta, but since you have a friend with a boat near the Delta, that probably makes more sense.

Plenty of spots to anchor out, but we usually ended up in Mildred Island.
 
No rules about how one docks their boat in a slip. One or two marines may have a rule one way or another due to a situation in a particular marina. Yes, the fingers are almost always full length AND floating. Usually houseboats tie up in "open" end docks except for a very few very large slips [+50ft]. Lanbuilder has a good point about the part of the slip closest to the levee being shallow. It also is usually full of rocks, which are tough on props!
 
Very interesting. I kept boats in the Delta for a generation. We always backed in for several reasons. It was easier to get on the main dock from the swim platform to load or unload the boat. Two- it kept the dam ducks off the swimplatform. Three- When it was windy having the pointy end, aka the Bow pointing out, made it far more comfortable as it provided less wind resistance. True, it was more difficult but really we all should practice that kind of manuever anyway.
 
Liz - I don't think we will be visiting any marinas if we rent a house boat. I was just looking at places to anchor and like so many times when I am searching for stuff on the net I wandered off. I started looking at marinas and what a lip for my boat would cost. While I was looking is when I noticed it seemed most everyone was bow in.

Like dugsboat said, I would think this would make loading and off loading a real pain. Plus the power and water are not likely out there on the end of the finger.

Shasta is a consideration too. I really like boating in Shasta. As long as the water level is still up. A half dozen or so years ago it was more river than lake but it has filled back up nicely the last 3-4.
 
If I still had my boat in the Delta, I'd invite you for a drink.
Let me know if you are stopping in SF
 
We will no doubt spend a couple days in SF too. The wife wants a couple days at Parc 55 so maybe then. This trip will probably not be until next May. My work is way to busy for me to take more than a few days at a time off azndc I refuse tho do working vacations.
 
ok, just touch base before you plan the trip
My boat is right at Pier 39
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

Like dugsboat said, I would think this would make loading and off loading a real pain. Plus the power and water are not likely out there on the end of the finger.
Click to expand...


I loaded/unloaded and boarded from the side of my boat. I just snugged it up to the dock. The power was just forward of the same area. The water was shared by other slips and not hooked up to any boats. This worked great for me!
 
I keep my boat at Oxbow for a few months each summer. Have always moored stern in. Most of the other boats at the guest dock their also stern in. Most in the sheds are bow in. The folks at Oxbow are great, we are looking forward to getting back out there. They also have new really nice docks in downtown Stockton.

The rest of the time the boat is at PIER 39. They have nice guest there. The only down side is they are on the seal side of the Pier but that wouldn't be bad for a short period. South Beach during the summer would also be fun if you are a baseball fan.
 
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