Delaware Bay

[JZammetti]

Are any of you seasoned old (or young) salts familular with the Delaware Bay? This is my second boating season, I mainly boat on rivers but want to expand my trips. I have a Bayliner 185 Bowrider with a Merc 3.0L. My question is simple, with a bay having bigger waves then I am use to on the river, can my little boat go on Delaware Bay safely? Do I need any different training on how to operate my boat in Bay waters? I live like 2 miles from a Bay launch and 31 miles to the river. Any help as usual is greatly apprecieted.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Delaware Bay

Where on the bay are you thinking about cruising? I've had a couple bad experience up toward Delaware City upstream towards Wilmington with tugs and barges and their wakes. No help further South than a little below the C&D.

 

[Philster]

Re: Delaware Bay

Grew up running an 18' bowrider with 115 2-stroke Evinrude on the Delaware Bay.

You'd be fine. Been through storms, too. If wind is okay and no t-storms forecast, you will be fine. You have all the room you want to go far around wakes, so there is no problem there.

You will feel free for the first time as a boater when you go into an actual body of water. I will bet you get home feeling like a new person.

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Delaware Bay

Thanks Philster,

Since I am mostly a river rat my biggest wakes are 12 to 18" high. I just hear horror stories about boats my size getting swamped by the natural ebb and flo of water. Not being able to debunk these myths, and having my 7 year old daughter as First Mate I tend to play too cautious... Have you ever boated from Ferry Terminal in jersey to Delaware?

 

[rcracerx]

Re: Delaware Bay

I fish the Delaware bay in a 21 ft Chris Craft walk around and it can get snotty real quick. I usually take what ever NOAA says for wave heights and add them together. 1-2 ft seas is usually 3's. If the wind turns against the tide you better get out of there in a hurry.

My boat is self bailing with a huge bow flair and I have taken green water over the bow on more then one occasion. Not to mention if you are near the channel you will have huge ships and tugs creating rather large wakes.

The best advise I can give you is to pick your days, watch the weather and be careful, the bay can blow up real quick.

Rc

 

[pole position]

Re: Delaware Bay

I agree with RX,pick your days. I fish on a 15 foot bowrider and if the weatherman isn't right then I go crabbing in the back. Sometimes, I've had to a u turn and head home which is an hour and change away.

 

[arks]

Re: Delaware Bay

Have you ever boated from Ferry Terminal in jersey to Delaware?

Well, I went from the C and D to Cape May (and back). Went thru the canal and right past the ferry terminal.
Gotta agree with pole position and rcracerx, especially concerning the opposing wind/tides.
The Delaware Bay is like a huge funnel, so a northerly wind and ebbing tide will create some short, nasty chop. It's uncomfortable in a big boat and can be downright dangerous in a small one.
As mentioned, pick your days and keep a close eye to the sky.

Big ships? well maybe!
Here's my 34 footer approaching one on the Delaware Bay near the entrance to the C and D canal: