Navigating Deleware Bay

quote:
Originally posted by SCORPIO

BillyIII, catch an ebb tide early in the AM when you enter the Delaware Bay and you will make a good part of the trip with a 'tail current'. Remember the swift current in the C&D if you are limited to displacement speed. The canal transit could take a lot longer if you miss the tide on that leg, so plan accordingly. I'm not familiar with the Jersey side creeks and rivers so I'll defer to those who posted good anchorages on that side. The DE side has few places I'd put into in other than an emergency, mainly due to shallow water and poor markings.

I'm home ported in Lewes so I'm very familiar with what the town has to offer. In addition to the town dock, which is often full during the summer, there is Anglers Marina just across the canal. They often have slips to rent to transients.

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Chris I do plan on early starts and using the tide to push the trawler. Yes I have a true displacement trawler. So all the HP in the world won't move it any faster.
Thanks I also plan on picking a good weather window. Once I'm on the east coast of NJ I'll have no issues tucking in or running what we call the ICW in NJ!
bILL
 
Summit North is definitely a nice stop; in a fast boat it doesn't make as much sense to head the two miles north to DE City marina when you can just stay at Summit North which is <8 miles from Reedy point, and not at all out of the way. But in a displacement haul, it's worth considering, especially after you take the tide into account - getting an hour earlier start down the bay for your 8+ hour trip can make a big difference. It's to bad there isn't a canal that cuts thru Jersey; sure hurts to cruise 50 miles south, only to get to Cape May and give it all back heading north.

Another option if you don't have the boat ready for the ride, but are tired of driving to beautiful Essex every night, is to bring her as far north on the Elk as you can get for short term storage/work - Triton Marina, Locust Point, etc - that would probably cut your car trip 40+ miles or so each way. Still a haul, but a little better?
 
quote:
Originally posted by alk

Summit North is definitely a nice stop; in a fast boat it doesn't make as much sense to head the two miles north to DE City marina when you can just stay at Summit North which is <8 miles from Reedy point, and not at all out of the way. But in a displacement haul, it's worth considering, especially after you take the tide into account - getting an hour earlier start down the bay for your 8+ hour trip can make a big difference. It's to bad there isn't a canal that cuts thru Jersey; sure hurts to cruise 50 miles south, only to get to Cape May and give it all back heading north.

Another option if you don't have the boat ready for the ride, but are tired of driving to beautiful Essex every night, is to bring her as far north on the Elk as you can get for short term storage/work - Triton Marina, Locust Point, etc - that would probably cut your car trip 40+ miles or so each way. Still a haul, but a little better?

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Andy I'll start scoping out marinas in the area you just mentioned. I know we have knocked heads in NBR on most occasions but you have also been extremely helpful when it comes to the entire Middle River situation.
Again I want to thank you for putting our political differances aside and genuinly helping with your local knowledge and your observations,
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by alk

Another option if you don't have the boat ready for the ride, but are tired of driving to beautiful Essex every night, is to bring her as far north on the Elk as you can get for short term storage/work - Triton Marina, Locust Point, etc - that would probably cut your car trip 40+ miles or so each way. Still a haul, but a little better?

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Or maybe one of the several marinas in Georgetown, all the way up the Sassafras?

Or maybe stop at Summit North and just stay there for a while?

OTOH, I understand the reasoning behind having both boats side by side during some of the equipment moving...

-Chris
 
Dont mention it bill. Let me know if you run into any questions while weighing your options, as it feels like I've spent the past ten years trying to move boats in various barely seaworthy states between MD, philly, and the Jersey shore - and even more time behind the wheel of my car getting to the boat.

Other options worth considering would be the marinas at the top of the northeast river, or even better , Salem NJ.
 
Billy, I missed something. Where on the Chesapeake is the boat now?
 
quote:
Originally posted by MikeeH

Billy, I missed something. Where on the Chesapeake is the boat now?

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The old Riley's on the Middle River.
Bill
 
Now that you will be going slow tides become more important. Riding the ebb or flood can make for exciting conditions at a bar if wind is against current, just ask NC. With good timing you can ride a tide but still hit the bar at slack. A good plan is to cross A bar at slack. Some old sailing directions provided fun tips such as riding the ebb from buzzards bay then the flood into LI sound adding significantly to your speed. Same thing might work going from chess is to del bay. Look for old cruising books to learn what the sailors did. Places that get narrow cause building of waves under the right conditions. NC should have access to great info on crossing bars. Any place where waves are funneled or shoaled will cause them to pile up.
 
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