Marina Directory

Marina Directory Looking for a slip for your boat?

Find the perfect home for your powerboat in PropTalk's Chesapeake Bay Marinas Directory! In the listings below you will find marina information including available slips, transient slips, gas, diesel, pump outs, maximum boat length, water depth, maintenance, as well as other amenities such as restaurants, dock bars, and swimming pools.

Marina Name Location City Website Phone # A o Max. L MLW Total # of slips Travel Lift Tonnage Gas Diesel ut o Pump Clean Marina Transient Slips Maintenance Pool Restaurant/Bar/Food* Wifi

222 Severn Spa Creek Annapolis, MD 222severn.com 410.268.7700 80 7 48 • • •

Anchor Marina North East River North East, MD anchorboat.com/marina 410.287.6000 42 6 350 11 • • • •

Anchorage Marina Baltimore Harbor, Patapsco River Baltimore, MD anchoragemarina.com 410.522.7200 110 14 574 • • • • • •

Annapolis City Marina Spa Creek, North East of Eastport Bridge Annapolis, MD annapoliscitymarina.com 410.268.0660 100 12 89 • • • • • • • •

Annapolis Town Dock Ego Alley Annapolis, MD annapolistowndock.com 410.216.0347 60 6 • •

Baltimore Yacht Basin Patapsco River, Port Covington Baltimore, MD baltimoreyachtbasin.com 410.539.8895 60 6 130 • • • • •

Bay Bridge Marina Chesapeake Bay Stevensville, MD baybridgemarina.com 410.643.3162 130 6 250 70 • • • • • • • • •

Belmont Bay Harbor Occoquan River Woodbridge, VA belmontbayharbor.com 703.490.5088 60 9 155 • • • • • • •

Bowleys Marina Middle River Middle River, MD bowleysmarina.com 410.335.3553 75 8 500 40 • • • • • • • • •

Broad Creek Marina Magothy River Pasadena, MD 410.437.0561 60 6 33

Cambridge Municipal Yacht Basin Choptank River Cambridge, MD cambridgeyachtbasin.com 410.228.4031 200 7 246 • • • • •

Cape Charles Yacht Center and Harbor Cape Charles Harbor, Chesapeake Bay Cape Charles, VA ccyachtcenter.com 757.331.3100 200 16 118 75 • • • • • • • •

Capital Yacht Club Washington Channel, Potomac River Washington, DC capitalyachtclub.com 202.448.8110 130 12 106 • • • •

Casa Rio Marina Cadle Creek, Rhode River Edgewater, MD casariomarina.com 410.798.4731 42 6 36 35 • • • • •

Chesapeake Yacht Club West River Shady Side, MD chesapeakeyachtclub.org 410.867.1500 70 6 142 • • • • • • • •

Coles Point Marina Potomac River Hague, VA colespointmarina.com 804.472.4011 65 7 150 25 • • • • • • • •

Crescent Marina Fells Point Baltimore, MD crescentmarina.com 443.510.9341 60 6 52 • • • •

Cypress Marine Cypress Creek off Magothy River Severna Park, MD cypressmarine.net 410.647.7940 85 8 40 50 • •

Dandy Haven Marina Back River Hampton, VA dandyhavenmarina.com 757.851.1573 50 6 65 25 • • • •

Diamond Teague Piers Anacostia River Washington, DC diamondteague.com 410.268.0933 100 9 •

Eastport Yacht Center Back Creek, Eastport Annapolis, MD eastportyachtcenter.com 410.280.9988 55 7 106 35 • • • •

*Not all restaurants/bars/food are on-site or are owned/operated by marinas.

Filter by amenities online at proptalk.com/marinas

Marina Name Location City

Flag Harbor Marina Just south of Calvert Beach and North of Long Beach St. Leonard, MD flagharbor.com 410.586.0070 50 7 168 20 • • • •

Fort Washington Marina Piscataway Creek off of the Potomac River Fort Washington, MD coastal-properties.com/ ftwashington.html 301.292.7700 50 4 200 35 • • • • • •

Generation III Marina Head of Cambridge Creek off of the Choptank River Cambridge, MD generation3marina.com 410.228.2520 100 8 50 50 • • • •

Gratitude Marina Swan Creek Rock Hall, MD gmarina.com 410.639.7011 50 7 80 35 • • • •

Website Phone # A o Max. L MLW Total # of slips Travel Lift Tonnage Gas Diesel ut o Pump Clean Marina Transient Slips Maintenance Pool Restaurant/Bar/Food* Wifi

Harbor East Marina Baltimore Harbor Baltimore, MD harboreastmarina.com 410.625.1700 200 7 184 • • • •

Harbour Cove Marina Rockhold Creek Deale, MD harbourcove.com 301.261.9500 36 5 64 20 • • • • • •

Haven Harbour Marina Swan Creek Rock Hall, MD havenharbour.com 410.778.6697 70 6 205 50 • • • • • • • • •

Haven Harbour South Rock Hall Harbor Rock Hall, MD havenharbour.com 410.778.6697 60 7 150 35 • • • • • • •

Herrington Harbour North

Herrington Harbour South Herring Bay Tracys Landing, MD herringtonharbour.com/north 800.297.1930 100 7 555 85 • • • • • • •

Herring Bay North Beach, MD herringtonharbour.com/south 410.741.5100 90 7 600 • • • • • • • • •

Hidden Harbour Marina Rockhold Creek Deale, MD hiddenharbour.net 410.867.9666 50 5 90 25 • • • • • • •

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Marina Choptank River Cambridge, MD oasismarinas.com/properties 410.901.1234 150 6 150 • • • •

Lankford Bay Marina Lankford Bay Rock Hall, MD lankfordbaymarina.com 410.778.1414 100 7 108 40 • • • • • • •

Lighthouse Point Marina Baltimore Harbor Baltimore, MD oasismarinas.com/properties 410.320.6319 300 8 478

Little Creek Marina Little Creek Norfolk, VA thelittlecreekmarina.com 757.362.3000 150 6 200

Maryland Marina Frog Mortar Creek Middle River, MD marylandmarina.net 410.335.8722 55 6 360 25 • • • • • •

National Harbor Marina Potomac River National Harbor, MD nationalharbor.com 301.749.1582 120 5 81 • • • • • • •

Nomad McDaniel Yacht Basin North East River North East, MD oasismarinas.com/properties 410.287.8121 60 5 175 50 • • • • • • • •

Nomad Norview Marina Rappahannock River, Broad Creek Deltaville, VA nomadmarinasatnorview.com 804.776.6463 70 5 98 80 • • • • • • • •

Nomad Shelter Cove Yacht Basin North East River North East, MD nomadmarinasatsheltercove.com 833.425.2423 60 5 180 35 • • • • • • •

Oasis Marinas at Clinton Street Boatel Patapsco River Baltimore, MD clintonstreetboatel.com 410.861.4188 46 20 84 14 • • • • • •

Oasis Marinas at Gunpowder Cove Gunpowder River Joppa, MD gunpowdercovemarina.com 667.309.9336 40 6 270 20 • • • • •

Onancock Wharf and Marina Onancock Creek Onancock, VA onancock.com/wharf 757.787.7911 82 5 12 • • • • •

Osprey Point Marina Swan Creek Rock Hall, MD ospreypoint.com 410.639.2194 50 17 160 • • • • • •

Parish Creek Landing Just South of the West River Shady Side, MD parishcreeklanding.com 410.867.4800 45 7 100 20 • • • • • •

Piney Narrows Yacht Haven Chester River Chester, MD pineynarrowsyachthaven.com 410.643.6600 65 5 278 40 • • • • • • • •

Port Covington Marina Patapsco River Baltimore, MD portcovingtonmarina.com 443.808.2700 60 16 32 • • • •

Porters Seneca Marina Seneca Creek Middle River, MD porterssenecamarina.com 410.335.6563 55 6 90 30 • • • • • •

Rhode River Marina Bear Neck Creek Edgewater, MD rhoderivermarina.net 410.798.1658 55 6 102 35 • • • • • • • •

Marina Name Location City

Rockhold Creek Marina Rockhold Creek Deale, MD

Website Phone # A o Max. L MLW Total # of slips

833.425.2423 45 4 55

Travel Lift Tonnage Gas Diesel ut o Pump Clean Marina Transient Slips Maintenance Pool Restaurant/Bar/Food* Wifi

Rumbley Marina Goose Creek Westover, MD pitandpub.com 410.651.1110 40 3 62 • • • •

Safe Harbor Annapolis Back Creek Annapolis, MD shmarinas.com 410.268.8282 100 10 200 • • • • • •

Safe Harbor Bohemia Vista Marina Bohemia River Chesapeake City, MD shmarinas.com 410.885.2056 80 4 95 50 • • • • • •

Safe Harbor Carroll Island Marina Middle River Baltimore, MD shmarinas.com 410.335.4900 65 6 200 50 • • • • • • • •

Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing Marina Fairlee Creek Chestertown, MD shmarinas.com 410.778.5007 100 6 350 75 • • • • • • • • •

Safe Harbor Hack’s Point Marina Bohemia River Earleville, MD shmarinas.com 410.275.9151 60 6 75 • • • •

Safe Harbor Narrows Point Marina Kent Narrows Grasonville, MD

Safe Harbor Oxford Marina Tred Avon River Oxford, MD

Safe Harbor Podickory Point Podickory Creek Annapolis, MD

Safe Harbor Zahniser’s Marina Solomons, MD Solomons, MD shmarinas.com 410.827.8888 130 6 540 50 • • • • • • • • •

shmarinas.com 410.226.5101 120 9 152 75 • • • • • • • •

shmarinas.com 410.757.8000 60 5 100 • • • •

shmarinas.com 410.326.2166 150 10 225 75 • • • • • • •

Sassafras Harbor Marina Sassafras River Georgetown, MD sassafrasharbormarina.com 410.275.1144 120 12 200 70 • • • • • • •

Smith’s Marina Severn River Crownsville, MD smithsmarina.com 410.923.3444 60 5 76 35 • • • • • •

South Annapolis Yacht Centre

Spa Creek Condo Marina Spa Creek

Spa Creek Annapolis, MD southannapolisyachtcentre.com 410.263.1643 135 8 74 75 • • • • •

Annapolis, MD

facebook.com/ YachtClubCondos SpaCreekMarina 410.269.0933 34 7 43 •

Sunset Harbor Norman Creek, Middle River Essex, MD sunsetharbor.com 410.687.7290 45 6 40 30 • • • • •

The Marina at Nautilus Point Back Creek Annapolis, MD marinaatnautiluspoint.com 443.926.1303 50 6 160 • • • • •

The Wharf at Handy’s Point Worton Creek Chestertown, MD thewharfathandyspoint.com/ 410.778.4363 65 10 120 35 • • • • •

The Wharf Marina Potomac River Washington, DC wharfdcmarina.com/ 202.595.5165 500 12 300 • • •

The Yards Marina Anacostia River Washington, DC yardsmarina.com/ 202.484.0309 120 15 52 • • • • •

Tolchester Marina Tolchester Beach Chestertown, MD tolchestermarina.com/ 410.778.1400 80 6 263 50 • • • • • • • •

Tri-State Marine Just Inside Rockhold Creek Deale, MD tristatemarine.com 410.867.2398 9 • •

Whitehall Marina Whitehall Creek Annapolis, MD whitehallannapolis.com 410.757.4819 50 12 115 25 • • • •

Worton Creek Marina Worton Creek Chestertown, MD wortoncreek.com/ 410.778.3282 100 6 110 70 • • • • • • • • •

Yacht Haven of Annapolis Severn River Annapolis, MD yachthavenannapolis.com/ 410.267.7654 62 15 51 35 • •

*Not all restaurants/bars/food are on-site or are owned/operated by marinas.

Filter by amenities online at proptalk.com/marinas

Boating Safety Means Planning Ahead

By Capt. Mike Martel

Afriend asked me if I might spare a couple of days to provide some coaching and instruction to a new boat owner, Joe, an older man who had very little experience operating a motorboat. Joe and his wife Anne, living down on Cape Cod, had just become the proud owners of a gently used 28-foot fiberglass wedgeshaped motorboat, a Sea-Ray or something similar, a vee-hull craft with a powerful six-cylinder inboard gasoline engine. The gentleman had no training to speak of in Rules of the Road, safety, navigation, or the basics of operating his new boat, Anne told me, but he needed to learn. She said that she would feel better if he did. She was going to write the check for his training; the training was to be a birthday present for him. I was pleased to be asked and agreed to help them out. His boat was already in the water at a dock in Falmouth Harbor barely a mile from where they lived.

There were, of course, a few little problems from the start. His boat had a VHF radio, for example, but we discovered that it only operated on Channel 16, the hailing and distress channel. He didn’t realize that one could not use it for regular conversations or to get weather forecasts. So, off we went to a nearby West Marine to purchase a new radio, which I installed for him. Then, we were ready to run our pre-departure checks: run the blowers to vent the bilges, check the oil and hydraulic fluid, all of the necessary things that a skipper should do before leaving the dock. But he snickered and wondered what all the fuss was about. “You need to do these things every time you head out,” I told him, “Because if the engine quits out there, you can’t just step over the side and walk home. What if the weather turned sour and you were stuck out there?” He seemed unimpressed. Once we were finally ready to head out of the harbor, I told him, “I’m going to be standing by, but I’m going to mostly let you drive the boat so that you can get the experience you need.”

Out onto Vineyard Sound we went; it was a beautiful, sunny summer day with a light breeze and a good many boats operating. Barely a quarter mile out of the harbor, he slowed the boat down to a stop and sat there, watching the other boat traffic. “What’s wrong?” I asked. There were two or three boats crossing in the distance from either side, and, he explained he wanted to see where they were going before venturing further. He didn’t want to risk a collision. “But whoever has right-of-way is determined by the Rules of the Road,” I replied. “You follow the Rules, you don’t need to stop. Boats crossing from the right have right of way, for example. It’s really pretty basic.”

Joe was one of those guys who initially assumed that driving a motorboat is much the same as driving a car except that there are no lanes and no road signs. You can pretty much go wherever you want, as fast as you want, and that’s all there is to it. Start her up and drive, it’s all good. The boat had lifejackets, but he saw no use for them, just something to take up space in a locker.

Joe wanted me to show him how to pilot the boat into a small harbor—appropriately named Little Harbor—to see the Coast Guard cutters at the pier. We were heading over and as we approached, I noted that he paid no attention to the red and green channel markers. “You have to observe

# Appropriate speed for the location, sea conditions, and nearby vessel traffic is key to safe boat operation. # Every dock is different; practice tying up your boat in a seamanlike way that takes into account rising and falling tides and other factors that might affect it.

# Familiarize yourself with your charts and everything around you. Situational awareness becomes extremely important as your speed through the water increases.

them,” I admonished him. “There are rocks in there!” His thinking was that the buoys were essentially colorful motifs that artists design onto nautical dish towels.

I came to understand that the reason for this training was, in part, because he and Anne had been fond of going over to Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard on the people-ferry for years and liked to make day trips there. His new boat would be a great way to come and go as they pleased, but of course he had not thought about docking, anchoring, getting ashore, dealing with weather changes; these were all a bit much. Back in Falmouth Harbor, we were trying to successfully complete some small maneuvers, such as approaching a mooring ball, but Joe couldn’t manage it; he would suddenly ‘freeze up’ in what Anne called ‘panic mode.’ The Oak Bluffs people-ferry, a 100-plus foot steel vessel, went by us on its way out of the harbor. “You see that?” Joe pointed to the ferry proudly. “That’s OUR boat!”

“No,” I replied, exasperated, “THIS is your boat, and you need to learn how to operate it!” That was the end of the lessons for that day.

Nothing Like Driving a Car

The Covid pandemic convinced a lot of people to become new boat owners and operators, people who had never owned boats before. For many, the mistaken motivation was to go somewhere ‘safe’ from disease and without burdensome restrictions. Many had the idea in their heads that “It’s no different than driving a car.” It is, in fact, absolutely nothing like driving a car except that a motorboat has an engine and a steering wheel. That’s about it. There are so many people in powerful motorboats out on the water who have no idea about what they are doing that it is actually a defensive strategy to take a course in safe powerboat operation and then to be proactive in putting together your own individualized ‘checklist’—like an airplane pilot’s checklist, for example— before leaving the dock each time. Many states now require powerboat operators to have a license, and that’s a very good thing, because it ensures that the license holder has completed some training in Rules of the Road and the basics of safe navigation and operation. A motorboat operating at speed with a clueless, careless, or drunken driver at the helm is just as deadly as an unguided missile.

When it comes to boating safety, a good part of it is covered by rules, and a good part of it is common sense. Rules vary by state, and there are plenty of boating safety courses that a prospective operator can take. Most states offer a free guidebook summarizing laws and safety guidelines for operating powerboats within their jurisdictions. But being safe on the water is in many ways a ‘state of mind’ that one must cultivate for oneself and especially for passengers when you are taking family and friends out in your boat for a day on the water.

Know What You’re Doing and Plan Your Trip

You can jump into your car in your driveway, start it up, and head out onto the road. With a powerboat, the procedure is a bit more complicated. I suppose that the first rule is to know what you’re doing and plan your trip. Get the day’s marine weather forecast before you leave the house. How much wind will you have in your area? Will the weather change? Will there be squally weather or storms? If your trip is going to take you any distance, down a canal or waterway, are there any bridge closures, shoaling, etc. that you should know about? Have you checked out your Local Notice to Mariners from the U.S. Coast Guard? What about charts? My student Joe had no need of charts, and he had never taken the time to learn how to read one anyhow. “I don’t need a chart,” he said, “I know where I am!” He could point out the approximate location of his home street on the paper placemat at the Clam Shack down the street.

Knowing the rules and having the right equipment aboard is not difficult. Planning ahead, however, is everything. “Forewarned is forearmed,” the old proverb

# Dangerous rip-rap around light structures.

Boating Safety Means Planning Ahead

continued...

goes. And remember to have your own checklist, as pilots do.

Check your engine oil, fluids, fuel, and vent your bilges (gasoline or diesel) first. Always open a hatch and look into the bilge for things that don’t belong there (like water, oil, etc.). Make sure that a friend or relative knows where you are going and when you plan to return; that’s quite simply known as a ‘float plan.’

Bring what you need or even might need. This includes bottled water and a lunch, and you should always have stowed extra quarts of oil, fan belts, and the boat’s own basic tool kit. USCG regulations require that your flares or flare kit and fire extinguishers are up to date, and of course you should have an appropriate lifejacket or PFD for each person aboard. These requirements are real, and you should learn what they are because the Coast Guard is very serious about them. If you are pulled over on the water by the Coast Guard for any operating infraction, a single infraction can quickly become a long list, accompanied by hefty fines.

Planning ahead, and anticipating the unexpected, is key. I’ve seen boats with tiny anchors mounted up on the bow with no line attached, etc. Not only is the anchor probably too small to be effective, but down in a locker there might be barely 50 feet of smelly, coiled rotting line that has never seen the light of day. Guys like Joe consider the bow-mounted anchor much the same as a hood ornament on an old Buick. “Oh, we never use that,” Joe replied, when asked. “What if you needed to deploy it, someday? Would you know how to set it up and use it?” I asked. Joe shrugged and smirked. The same attitude applied to navigation books and Rules of the Road. Joe waved his hand. “Oh, I’ve read books,” he dismissed.

Preparation is crucial before leaving the dock; take the appropriate amount of time, go over your checklist, do it right. Once you start your engine, fire up your electronics and make sure that they work, particularly your chartplotter, and conduct a quick radio check on a common channel for your area, such as VHF Channel 68. Is your area prone to fog? Then your boat should be equipped with radar, or at the very least a loud horn. Signaling devices are not only critical but a requirement. A radio is not a substitute. Know how to use a coastal chart to plan your trip and be aware of the basic Rules of the Road to avoid the possibility of collisions. Lastly, and very importantly, make sure that your navigation lights are all working. Many a trip that was planned for the day ends up lasting well after sundown. Remember also that a mobile phone is not a substitute for a VHF radio. A radio has a greater range and also reaches the people you might need to reach. You can’t broadcast a mayday call on your iPhone.

Boating safety and having a good trip out on the water versus a disaster is all about planning and preparation, knowledge, the right attitude, and maintaining constant situational awareness of your surroundings; this includes other vessels nearby, changing weather and sea state, and knowing where you are at all times. Be safe and have fun! #

About the Author: Capt. Mike Martel holds a 100-ton near-coastal Master’s license and delivers power and sail vessels when he’s not working on his own boat restoration. He is a lifelong boating and marine industry enthusiast, ex-US Coast Guard seaman and private boat owner and rebuilder, and has sailed offshore as captain and mate on bluewater yacht deliveries to Bermuda and the Caribbean and from Maine to Florida.

Whaler Weekends

A Family’s Small Boat Adventures Year 3

By Martin Needle

After our exciting second season exploring destinations near and far, I couldn’t wait to start planning our next list of seaports for 2021. Hesitant to travel on airplanes and abroad as the global pandemic raged on, we had an ample number of vacation days to devote to our beloved 17-foot Boston Whaler Montauk. This season’s itinerary included some of our perennial favorites as well as some new locations.

VA Beach, New Jersey, and NYC

With our son, my former first mate, in college, my inaugural trip was a solo mission to Virginia Beach. I had read about an early season redfish bite, so I thought I would check it out. The first weekend in April I headed to Rudee Inlet which is on the south side of Virginia Beach and offers easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. Without traffic I was able to make it in four hours from the Washington suburbs. After launching at the Owl Creek Boat Ramp, I explored the marinas and homes that lined the harbor as I made my way to Rudee Inlet. While the weather was perfect and the seas were flat calm, the redfish did not cooperate. I did manage to cruise up the coast past Virginia Beach and Cape Henry on my way to the western side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The boat performed flawlessly on its shakedown cruise and was now ready for another season of fun.

In early June, we decided to repeat a trip my wife and I had taken the previous fall to Atlantic Highlands, NJ. This location, which is just inside Sandy Hook, gives you easy access to New York City and all its amazing sights. Just 20 minutes from the boat ramp we passed under the VerrazanoNarrows Bridge and could see the Manhattan skyline lying straight ahead, with Brooklyn and Coney Island just off to the right. After a quick photo stop at the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island, we made our way past the Financial District on our way up the East River.

The trip was extra special since our daughter was with us and she was able to take in a unique perspective from the water of where she would be attending medical school for the next four years. NYU’s medical campus is located right on the East River between 30th and 34th Streets. After going as far north as the split between the East and Harlem Rivers, we turned around and headed back down around the tip of Manhattan and up the Hudson River nearly to the George Washington Bridge. Seeing New York City from the water is truly spectacular! We really didn’t know where to look first—from the Brooklyn Bridge to the United Nations to the Freedom Tower, just to name a few landmarks.

We decided to top off the fuel tank at Liberty Landing Marina near Jersey City, NJ. It’s always nice to have sufficient fuel reserves when traveling in unfamiliar waters. I routinely carry a few fishing rods and an ample variety of tackle on the boat. This time it paid off, as we found a nice school of bluefish off Sandy Hook as we made our

way back to the boat ramp. Knowing that we might be fishing, I always obtain the necessary fishing permits ahead of time. A little internet research will clue you in to the state’s license requirements. The next day we decided to head down the Jersey Shore to the beautiful seaside town of Stone Harbor. After launching at “Our 17-foot Boston Whaler has proven to the Avalon Bay Park Marina, we headed down the intercoastal waterway past Stone be a wonderful purchase that is affordable Harbor and Wildwood on our way to Cape to operate and allows us to explore a wide array of exciting boating destinations. After three seasons, we have logged over May. No trip to Cape May is complete without a stop at the Famous Lobster House Restaurant and Market where we enjoyed a wonderful seafood lunch. A good 200 hours and boated in 15 states.” GPS chart plotter is a must when navigating the marsh lands that comprise the South Jersey Coast.

Lake George and the Thousand Islands

Our long-awaited family trip of the summer finally arrived in July. With grown children, it is increasingly difficult to arrange times when everyone is available. This year’s trip came in two parts. Part one was to Lake George, which lies on the edge of the Adirondack region of New York State. It is certainly one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. We stayed at the Sagamore Resort

# Martin Needle getting ready to release another Cape Lookout,

North Carolina Albie.

# Carli Needle on East River in front of NYU Medical Campus.

# Martin, Barbara, and Ryan Needle stopping for a photo opportunity in front of the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan.

that is situated on a bluff near Bolton Landing on the western shore of the lake. We were able to launch and dock the boat during our stay at Norowal Marina, a short walk from the Sagamore. One thing to note about Lake George is that it can be very busy during the short summer season, so you must make reservations far in advance. Also, be prepared to pay high fees for almost everything including lodging, launch fees, docking, and even trailer parking.

Boating in Lake George’s pristine blue waters is truly amazing! Surrounded by mountains and incredible houses, the lake’s scenery is spectacular. One area of particular interest is the “narrows” section of the lake that is made up of numerous small islands and rocks. A good chart or GPS plotter is a necessity as any wrong turn could be catastrophic. We enjoyed four wonderful days that included sunrise waterskiing and wakeboarding, cruising, swimming, and terrific dining at some great restaurants, including family owned Beyond the Sea, The Chateau on the Lake and the Algonquin.

Part two of the family trip included a three-hour drive through the Adirondack Mountains to Clayton, NY, and the Thousand Islands region that lies on the St. Lawrence Seaway. This body of water separates the United States and Canada at the entrance to Lake Ontario. We stayed at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, which is located on the water and a short walk to the Clayton Harbor Municipal Marina, where we docked our boat during our stay. Clayton is an old town which is going through a refreshing renaissance. The waterfront has been largely redeveloped and has many wonderful restaurants and shops. The Antique Boat Museum, home to one of the country’s most extensive collection of mahogany speedboats, is a must see.

With Clayton as our base of operation, we cruised the St. Lawrence Seaway to Alexandria Bay, stopping by the impressive Boldt Castle and literally thousands of islands. Heading in the opposite direction, we passed Cape Vincent on our way to the entrance to Lake Ontario. How exciting to actually be boating on one of the Great Lakes for the first time! With our 17-foot Whaler in tow, we were easily able to explore many of New York’s most noteworthy boating destinations.

Michigan

To end the summer, we had our longanticipated trip to Michigan. We find that much of the fun of these adventures is the advanced planning that is required. Having just visited Lake Ontario, the idea surfaced—why not try to visit as many of the Great Lakes as possible? So, on our way to Michigan, we squeezed in a quick detour to Sandusky, OH, which lies on the shores of Lake Erie. After launching at the Shelby Street Boat Launch, we passed by the Cedar Point Amusement Park and Marblehead Lighthouse and headed into Lake Erie.

Compared to our home waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes feel more like an ocean. The wind was blowing 10-15 knots, so we had to deal with some bumpy seas, but our Whaler kept us safe and dry. After reading a local tourist brochure, we were intrigued by an island called Put-In-Bay. What a surprise! Often described as the “Key West of the North,” this island in Ohio was a real treasure.

# Barbara and Ryan Needle enjoying the nice weather in Harbor Springs, Michigan.

After a day on Lake Erie, we headed for a quick overnight in Ann Arbor, MI, on our way to Petoskey, a town situated at the top of the lower peninsula of Michigan. We had made arrangements in advance using the Dockwa app to dock our boat at Bay Harbor Marina, which sits on the south shore of Little Traverse Bay on the north side of Lake Michigan. Our son, a junior at the University of Michigan, joined us for this part of our trip. We enjoyed the next few days cruising between the towns of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and Charlevoix. Having boated around the country and many destinations in the world, we found this little slice of Michigan to be truly special. The water resembles the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas, and the towns that line the shores are so unique and beautiful, similar to the Mediterranean. We even managed to arrive just in time for an art fair that occurs only one day each year in Charlevoix. The port of Bay Harbor is a must see for any boater; the launch ramp is ideal, and there is free trailer parking a short distance away.

Before heading home, we had one more stop, a one-hour drive north to Mackinaw City. We launched the boat at the Mackinaw City Marina and headed across Lake Huron to Mackinac Island. After circling the island, we tied up and toured the Grand Hotel, a National Landmark since 1887. We had a wonderful lunch on the impressively landscaped outdoor terrace at the Hotel Iroquois before heading back to the boat. On our journey back to the ramp, our son strapped on his wakeboard, and we towed him from the Island all the way to the Mackinac Bridge that separates the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. With this trip complete, we had now boated in four of the five Great Lakes this summer!

Connecticut

With fall upon us, my wife and I decided to return to one of our favorite destinations, Mystic, CT. As we like to think of it, Mystic is the gateway to coastal New England. After experiencing more traffic than we would like on I-95 North through New York, we were able to squeeze in a few hours on the water after launching in Old Lyme, CT. Old Lyme is situated on the east end of Long Island Sound and a short distance from the “North Fork” of Long Island. After a short 30-minute crossing we were rounding Orient Point Lighthouse on our way to Greenport, NY, a quaint seaside town. After a quick stroll through town, we headed back before sunset passing Shelter Island to the south. After hauling the boat, we traveled the short distance to Mystic, our base for the next few days.

The next day we launched in New London, checked out the Coast Guard Academy, and headed past the shipyards of Groton on our way to Mystic and ultimately Watch Hill on Block Island Sound. After a morning of cruising, we tied up at Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough for a terrific seafood lunch. Heavy winds kept us from exploring beyond the coastline. The next morning, we headed about an hour east to Port Judith, RI.

Knowing that we were in the middle of “Albie” season, I was fully prepared with an array of lures. The false albacore did not disappoint. Despite adverse conditions with winds gusting over 20 knots, I managed to catch and release several of these speedsters. We were able to stay in protected waters while we hugged the shoreline of Narragansett Bay on our way to Newport. Nothing like maintaining my “trails” on the GPS chart plotter from a prior trip which allowed me to head straight to a small municipal pier to tie up for an hour while we grabbed some lunch. After a quick four days we were able to add this trip to our list of fond Whaler Weekends.

# Ryan Needle wakeboarding near Harbor Springs, Michigan.

North Carolina

Our final excursion of the season was a return trip to Beaufort, NC. Situated seven hours from Washington, this gem of a boating destination lived up to our great expectations. The boat ramp and Boat House Marina are adjacent to the Beaufort Hotel. The set-up could not be easier. The next few days were spent cruising and fishing the beautiful waters around Cape Lookout down to Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. The Spanish mackerel and blues were breaking everywhere, while the albies proved a little more challenging. I did manage to catch and release two false albacores along with countless mackerel and blues. We enjoyed wonderful meals at some of the area’s best restaurants, including Moonrakers, Aqua, City Kitchen, and Bahia Beach. The Crystal Coast of North Carolina has earned its spot on our annual “must visit” list!

After another terrific year on the water, we look forward to next year’s adventures. Possible new locations include the Gulf Coast and Florida along with return trips to New England and North Carolina. Our 17-foot Boston Whaler has proven to be a wonderful purchase that is affordable to operate and allows us to explore a wide array of exciting boating destinations. After three seasons, we have logged over 200 hours and boated in 15 states. #

Scan the QR code to catch up on this family’s past boating adventures.

Winter Boating, the Warm Way

By Mike Pitchford Warning: reading this article about fun boating times in warm climates while your boat is winterized and you are hunkered down in snow and cold may be expensive, as you plan your escape. Whether it is living vicariously or actually planning a future warmer climate winter, we hope you enjoy anyway.

At this time of year there are two kinds of boaters from in and around the Chesapeake. There are oh so many who are dreaming and maybe even planning trips on their boat when the world warms up. There are also the smaller group, who are using their boat in the warm waters of South Florida.

Maybe you have a boat you can live on for a while? Maybe you need to rent a condo for the season and keep your boat nearby? Doing so, you would join thousands of your Bay boating friends. In the Jupiter, FL, area alone, there are over 50 Annapolis-based boating couples, enjoying sunshine and warm boating weather while their Bay home sits empty and cold.

With this in mind, let me present to you the top 10 reasons to get yourself and your boat to South Florida for the winter. 10 No winterization needed. If your boat is on the Chesapeake, you have already made peace with the pink and purple stuff (antifreeze). Sure, by August you won’t taste the pink stuff in your onboard water tank, but why use it in the first place? 9 No land storage contracts. Your boat may be propped up on spindly jack stands or a trailer with a slightly forlorn look… Boats were made to float and float they should! 8 No shrink wrapping. The cost of shrink wrapping can probably pay a month’s slip fee in South

Florida. Besides, as good as it is at covering your boat for the harsh winter weather, where does that stuff go year after year? Surely the hidden environmentalist in you can claim: “No more shrink wrap, we’re headed south!” Maybe a fun ICW trip? As has been documented in the pages of PropTalk in great detail, an ICW trip can be so much fun. It is even more fun when compared to crawling around an engine room to winterize or struggling with a ladder to check your baby out in the yard on a cold February day. Where was that ladder anyway? Bahamas anyone? From South Florida the Bahamas are but 60 miles away. The allure of a quiet anchorage, surrounded by crystal clear blue-green water that is about 80 degrees, is almost more than one can stand. The colder it is on the Bay, the more you want the Bahamas. No snow and snow shoveling. Our mild December brought us to a very cold January. This winter has delivered plenty of snow already, and we could see more before Mother Nature sounds the “all clear.” Snow shoveling is no fun and a documented health hazard. So, snow shovel or sand shovel? It really is your choice. No frozen pipes. Did you get caught in that last cold snap? Being in South Florida can’t guarantee your pipes back home won’t freeze. However, supported by a local margarita, you may not care. And I can assure you, they won’t freeze in South Florida.

# Bahamas anyone? From South Florida, the Bahamas are but 60 miles away.

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# There are miles of sandy beaches or sandbars in Florida that become a communal gathering place in season, like this group lunchtime raft up off the ICW in Hobe Sound, FL. # Snow shovel or sand shovel? It really is your choice.

# Get yourself to south Florida for the winter - no winterization needed!

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Lunch at your favorite waterfront restaurant. In South Florida, everybody wants to go have a meal or happy hour by boat. The savvy local restaurateurs are all too happy to make you and your boat comfortable for a visit. What could be more perfect? Bikini beach (well actually it is called “thong beach,” but this is a family publication). There are miles of sandy beaches or sandbars that become a communal gathering place in season. You can take your boat and anchor close to shore or just nudge up on a bar or sandy beach with hundreds of your closest friends. No need to bring your own music. There is always some guy with a sound system with more horsepower than his engines. And the top reason to get your boat to Florida for the winter: You can get a head start on your goal of 100 days a year on your boat and log them at the SpinSheet Century Club challenge! #

# Warning: reading this article about fun boating times in warm climates will make you want to plan your escape. Photo by Ben Cushwa