Boating the Upper Chesapeake

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Boating season is almost here once again. I picked up a new boat trailer along with a chevy crew cab with a duramax deisel. So towing to the bay should be easier now..lol

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Nice upgrades! Are you planning on coming down to the bay for the week of July 4th again?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Yes were there june 30th thru july 7th. I was down your way yesterday. I had to go to hanover to pick up the trailer

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Yes were there june 30th thru july 7th. I was down your way yesterday. I had to go to hanover to pick up the trailer

Nice! Maybe we can get a raft-up going while you (and presumably Stan) are down for the week. My wife and I are will be staying aboard the new boat from Tuesday night through Saturday or maybe Sunday if all goes well.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

For those interested, I edited my signature to add the thread for my new boat. Its over on Club SeaRay as there are several active members with identical boats and they have been a huge help providing very specific info as I start to tear into her. Hoping to update the thread later today.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Brandon, does you wife know about the boat yet? If not, when's the big reveal?

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Brandon, does you wife know about the boat yet? If not, when's the big reveal?

Not yet Doug! Somehow I have managed to keep this one a surprise for this long. Even though I have come so close to slipping or just out right telling her. The closer we get to spring, the more excited I get and the more I want to share it with her! I have no idea how I thought I could keep this a surprise for so long, its killing me!!!!! But, I have made it this far so I plan on going the whole way now

I am looking at the weekend of April 21st as a tentative date to bring the boat home to HDG. Although the are several factors that will play into that decision, not the least of which is the weather. I want as close to perfect of a weekend that I can get for the trip. Still thinking I will go from Cape May to Chesapeake Inn and spend the night (either in a slip or on the hook, I would prefer the hook) and then into Tydings on Sunday. If that weekend doesn't work, then we have to wait until May

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Boating season is almost here once again. I picked up a new boat trailer along with a chevy crew cab with a duramax deisel. So towing to the bay should be easier now..lol

I have made the mistake before of having a tow vehicle that only seats 2. I had a ranger, with only the tiny jump seats in the back. not something you could take an hour ride in. We would often go crabbing down in the wye river, and you would have to take 2 cars if you had more than 2 people.

Now I have an F-150, with a bench seat in the back, a LOT more spacious. Something you can sleep on while you headed back from crabbing.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

So I was headed down to Washington DC tonight for work first thing tomorrow morning. This capital city is quite messed up if you ask me. It a pain in the butt to go anywhere or get anything done!!

Anyway, since I was headed down I-95, I took the opportunity to stop by HDG city hall and drop my payment and all paperwork off for the slip. Slip 510 is officially mine until 12/31/12

While in HDG, I took a few minutes stopped by the marina. I walked out Piers 4, 5 & 6 as I wanted to see my slip from different perspectives. I also wanted to see how other boats were secured in their slips. I made several interesting observations:

1. Out of all 3 piers, only about 3 boat owners used any kind of anti-chafe guards on their lines.
2. The majority, but not all, boats crossed their stern lines and secured to the opposite cleat. (I expected all of them to do this.)
3. Several boats were using some kind of a pulley and weights system to keep their boat centered in the slip instead of adjusting lines appropriately. I read in the rules that you are not allowed to do this without express permission from the Dock Master.
4. Not as many boats used spring lines as I expected

I purchased 6 New England Ropes Double-Braid 1/2" dock lines for all 6 locations. Here is how I plan to secure the new boat in the slip:

1. 2 aft-running spring lines from the outer most pilings to the mid ship cleats
2. 2 bow lines from the outer most pilings to the bow cleats on the same side of the vessel. (Port to Port)
3. 2 stern lines from the pier cleats to the boat cleat on the opposite side of the vessel. (Port to Starboard) Will start by using anti-chafe guards on these lines where they run across the edge of the pier boards for protection and add elsewhere as needed.

I am planning to keep the factory whipped "eye" for the boat end. I figure that this will make it simple to tie up upon entering the slip. No need to worry about adjusting it each time, just secure to the cleat and done.

Rob - I looked at "Winter Dream" today and I believe the method I described above is basically identical to how you have secured her.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas for improvements?

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Rob - Sent you a PM buddy!

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

That's why i went with a crew cab. I regular cab wasn't gonna cut it. An the extended cab actually has 9.5" less leg room in the back

I have made the mistake before of having a tow vehicle that only seats 2. I had a ranger, with only the tiny jump seats in the back. not something you could take an hour ride in. We would often go crabbing down in the wye river, and you would have to take 2 cars if you had more than 2 people.

Now I have an F-150, with a bench seat in the back, a LOT more spacious. Something you can sleep on while you headed back from crabbing.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Ahhh, DC- I mean 'Fun City'....I got stuck there for 2 1/2 months last year. Hope you can get outta there soon!
Remember, the 'new' boat can be used as a weekday apartment when working south of Baltimore.
I do it regularly to save travel time and tolls. I hate hotel living.

I am planning to keep the factory whipped "eye" for the boat end. I figure that this will make it simple to tie up upon entering the slip. No need to worry about adjusting it each time, just secure to the cleat and done.

Rob - I looked at "Winter Dream" today and I believe the method I described above is basically identical to how you have secured her.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas for improvements?

Not really. Sounds like you've got things covered!
Keeping the eye at the boat also enables someone to adjust a line from the dock if needed.
Those pully systems are used by persons who, IMO, don't have the confidence to tie their boat properly to a fixed dock.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

but how do you account the high and low tide? do you just give it 4 ft of slack, if its high tide when you tie up?

I would wrap the eye end of the rope around the pylings, to let them side up and down.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Lines won't slide along a wood piling- way too much resistance.
Somebody markets a contraption that rolls along a pile, but around our area it's not needed. Up in Maine or Nova Scotia, sure- they deal with extreme tides every day.
Remember- by design, dock lines aren't tied perpendicular to a cleat. For example, consider crossed stern lines. They're crossed for a reason- it allows the lines a greater angle, thus permitting the hull to move vertically without much lateral movement. Hope that makes sense.
The REAL 'secret' is spring lines. I only use forward springs because I keep the bow lines short.

Here's an excellent description of how to do it.
http://www.sandbarhopper.com/boatips/bt8.htm
The author's name is Pascal. He's an experienced delivery captain and a good guy. Never met him personally, but we've chatted a few times on messageboards. He often sets up a live webcam when making yacht deliveries.
Here's a shot of him transiting the Cape May canal on a 70 footer:

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

The REAL 'secret' is spring lines.

I 100% agree with you on this. I think they are great when docking at a restaurant, pier,etc as well used properly they can make docking or departing so simple. The problem is that most people don't know how to properly use them.

Good description and Link Arks. Thanks for sharing.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey, anyone want to make plans to meet next weekend at Jackson Marine? It's their annual St Patricks Open House. I always enjoy it, and in years past they've had free green beer.....
http://www.jacksonmarinesales.com/events/events.htm

Another thing- all my signal flares have expired so yesterday I bought new ones at West.
GOOD LORD $55! And why do they only sell 'em in packs of 4??

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

Hey, anyone want to make plans to meet next weekend at Jackson Marine? It's their annual St Patricks Open House. I always enjoy it, and in years past they've had free green beer.....
http://www.jacksonmarinesales.com/events/events.htm

Another thing- all my signal flares have expired so yesterday I bought new ones at West.
GOOD LORD $55! And why do they only sell 'em in packs of 4??

The Jackson Marine thing sounds interesting...see if I can talk the Boss into it.

I haven't bought flares in years. They aren't specifically a requirement and there are better options that don't have an expiration date. And if you boat in different states, some arial flares are illegal anyway.

 

[arks]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

You're absolutely right Stan, but the only other option is 'an approved electric SOS distress light'.
This is pulled directly from the USCG website:

ELECTRIC S-O-S DISTRESS LIGHT
APPROVAL CATEGORY: 161.013

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This is an alternative to flares for recreational boats. It is required to automatically flash S-O-S. Light intensity and duration requirements apply. Electric S-O-S distress lights are self-certified by the manufacturer. The Coast Guard does not issue approvals or keep an authenticated list of manufacturers. Approval standards for these lights are found in Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 161.013.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, what's your choice for a non-pyrotechnic nighttime distress signal?
I haven't found ANYTHING that's 'self-certified' (whatever THAT means).
West Marine used to market an ACR brand spotlight with SOS function, but they're out of production.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

So, what's your choice for a non-pyrotechnic nighttime distress signal?

I have stuck with the flares myself as it was all that seemed to be available. Although I will agree that they are pricey little buggers. I am curious too Stan, war do you use? If there is something better, I would love to know about it.

I won't be able to make it Saturday, although I wish I could. Have some work to do at my rental in between tenants and I fly down to Orlando for the week on Sunday, so lots to do. Have fun there!

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake

I found a light at a local boat show last year. I had just been stopped for a nonworking stern light and I thought this would be a great replacement in an emergency. It also has a 360* repeating SOS pattern. A magnetic base and eyes to attach with zip ties if needed, and it floats if things get real bad. I still have flares that I bought when I got all the new equipment for the boat, and I will probably replace them when they expire, but this light seems to be a nice backup for a few different situations.
http://www.nhboli.com/products.asp