Boating the Upper Chesapeake

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

tidewater is not too expensive, IMO. But it's not too cheap either.
At tydings, you can tie up near the skipjack, next to the fuel docks.
And they have a little grill there, where you can buy burgers and stuff like that.
it's pretty cheap.
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Cool, thanks for the info guys...

I kinda figured most will be expensive, ah well. Can't wait to get back out there this weekend. We were at blue marsh this past weekend and now that seems lame :)

We are going to put in sunday mid to late morning sometime, probably do some geocaching in elk neck untill our friends arive then we'll tube and swim untill it's fireworks time. Hopefully we will get a chance to stop somewhere and eat.

I'm thinking this weekend I'm going to try the Lapidium launch up the river, do you think it will be full on sunday before lunch time, I don't mind waiting in line I'm just worried I won't get a spot. I'm sure by the evening it will be a mess. Also, anybody know how much the fee is, doesn't really make a difference, just curious. Last time I put in at Charlestown, the ramp is free and parking is $10 at the Wellwood yatch club, however even two sunday's ago when it wasn't very nice weather the parking lot was packing and the ramp had a long line. So I can imagine this weekend will be insanity.

If you see us your welcome to say high. Here is a pic of our boat http://www.amcarterlawncare.com/imageboat.html

Austin
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Lapidum is $10. I think you'll be ok on Sunday morning for a parking spot. I was concerned about this past Sunday because it was an IDEAL day weather-wise and I was launching at 11:00. There were plenty of spots.
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Lapidum is $10. I think you'll be ok on Sunday morning for a parking spot. I was concerned about this past Sunday because it was an IDEAL day weather-wise and I was launching at 11:00. There were plenty of spots.

Oh that's not too bad. I think I'm going to try the city marina launch first and if that's too full I'll head up to the Lapidium launch. I'll be a little closer to all the action and then I can drop off the tubing stuff in the evening so we don't have to deal with it on my little boat.

Austin
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

That's a far inferior Spectrum Blue Fin I'll have you know :p

Hey now, she's a starcraft on the inside ;), and after a fresh paint job in a couple weeks you'll never know :D


Austin
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Next to the Kayak ramp, (the ramp on water st, next to to amtrack bridge) there is a grass lot, right next to the park.
On the map, this property is green, indicating that it is a park. Part of the same park as the boat ramp.
But I just saw that this piece of land is for sale. So maybe it's not public property?

Because I would park in this grass lot when parking was full. But I guess you can't? I'm confused.
 

Billdc

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
270
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

tidewater is not too expensive, IMO. But it's not too cheap either.
At tydings, you can tie up near the skipjack, next to the fuel docks.
And they have a little grill there, where you can buy burgers and stuff like that.
it's pretty cheap.

Sorry, I said Tydings when I was talking about Tidewater. Tidewater is a nice place, with good food but the dock will beat your boat up.
I think the city marina is closed due to the fair, As far as launching, have you tried Tidewater marina in town? I have heard that they were not too busy the last couple of 7/4's and I have not seen them overbooked the few times I've used the ramp. They would be just a short ride after the show.
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Sorry, I said Tydings when I was talking about Tidewater. Tidewater is a nice place, with good food but the dock will beat your boat up.
I think the city marina is closed due to the fair, As far as launching, have you tried Tidewater marina in town? I have heard that they were not too busy the last couple of 7/4's and I have not seen them overbooked the few times I've used the ramp. They would be just a short ride after the show.

Yep, I called city marina today and they are closed all day sunday and half of monday. I'm just going to put in at Lapidium and explore some of the river in the morning. It's supposed to be nice and hot sunday :D

Austin
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

just eat carnival food. I LOVE that type of food. You should have plenty of choices at the fair.
 

SuperNova

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Messages
1,455
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

We're headed down tonight after work to see the Northeast Fireworks show. We'll be on the boat rafted up with Lime4x4 and HappierWet over near the train tracks and the beach. It'll be a blue/white Searay 268, a white Wellcraft V20 and a tan Checkmate Diplomat if anybody wants to swing by. We'll also be out July 4th on the Bohemia up at Ski Beach (Georges Point) just above the Rte 213 bridge, same 3 boats probably. Hope to see some of you out there. --Stan
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Well, the fireworks sunday night were great, awesome weather and good fun. We dropped in at the carnival for a bit and filled up. Hung out untill the show then anchored out for the night next to one of those little islands just south of HDG. I brought a tarp with and covered it from the windshield to the transom (my seats pull out) and we slept on the floor with some sleeping pads. I'm glad I had the tarp because at about 2 or 3am it poured and blew for almost an hour :). We stayed pretty dry. We were headed back to Lapidium at about 5:30am and we got flashed by a boat out in the flats, we cruised over and met a very nice couple in a small cuddy cabin that woudn't start. Turned out they were parked at Lapidium too, so we gave them a tow back. Was a great weekend over all.

Austin
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey guys,

Am I reading this right

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/regulations/regindex.asp?page=bluecrab

I don't need a crab license if we don't keep more than 2 dozen /person and use the cheapy net traps.

We are thinking of cruising down to baltimoore inner harbor, seeing the historic ships (maybe aquarium) later this month. And will probably sleep on the boat one night. I'm thinking while we are in that area we can try to catch some crabs. Would probably just anchor and drop one or two in at a time.

Austin
 

gn85

Cadet
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
25
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hung out untill the show then anchored out for the night next to one of those little islands just south of HDG. I brought a tarp with and covered it from the windshield to the transom (my seats pull out) and we slept on the floor with some sleeping pads. I'm glad I had the tarp because at about 2 or 3am it poured and blew for almost an hour :). We stayed pretty dry.

Austin

Sounds like you had a good time on the water.

Not that I'm going to do this regularly, but I might spend the night on the water a few times. What size/type boat do you have? Just curious. Thanks.
 

acarter92

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
198
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Sounds like you had a good time on the water.

Not that I'm going to do this regularly, but I might spend the night on the water a few times. What size/type boat do you have? Just curious. Thanks.

It's a 17ft blue fin (alluminum), scroll up a half dozen or so post's and there is a link to a pic. This sunday was the first time we slept on it, was better than I though and we even stayed dry through the storm.

We put a 7x10 tarp from the windshield to the back, left in some air from the sides (when it started to rain I pulled them down a bit). All my seats are on pedestals so they pull out and there is plenty of room. It's not ideal, but I've done my share of backpacking and tent camping so this is luxurious compared to that :). I haven't seen any of the bay's rough water, but I haven't had any come over the sides and we've gone through some pretty big 3 or 4 foot wakes. I like the small boat, it keeps it interesting :)

Austin
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

yea, you don't need a license if you catch less than 2 dozen. But the licenses are only 5 bucks. But you can't buy em at wal-mart anymore, so that's an issue.
 

NeedaBiggerBoat

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 28, 2011
Messages
46
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Nice to know there are a lot of folks who go to the upper Chesapeake, I have been there 3 - 4 times on my little jet ski scoping things out I would really like to take my new to me boat out there it is a Four Winns 205 Sundowner 21 foot cuddy. I have to of course get all the bugs worked out of it first but when I do I want to spend some over nights on the boat close to the island across from fishing battery.

I usually put in at Havre de Grace that carnival had the ramp closed there and the other one was not a very good ramp so I ended up walking around the town for a little.
 

DBreskin

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
799
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

The island you're referring to is called Sand Island.
If you want to try a different ramp go to Lapidum in the Susquehanna River. Be sure to check the charts first since there are lots of shallow areas in the river.
There's an active boating community on Face book; search for Upper Chesapeake Recreational Boaters.
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

the anchor light at the top of my mast is not working.
I think If I just and a light at the bottom of the stern, and one up front, you could still see a white light from every direction.

I really don't wanna climb to the top of that mast.
 
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