Taking the Boat to DC??

[69starcraft]

I have done an extensive search on both Iboat forums and google. Can't find much info so I thought I would post a new thread.

We are going to DC June 16th - 20th. We will be staying at the Greenbelt State Park Campground. I found only one thread by Blue Crabber with some good info, but he put it in farther down river than I am going to.

I did some calls to the Harbor Patrol, the Marina we are thinking about parking at for a few hours, and the park rangers concerning the Gravelly Point boat ramp. I need to put insurance on the boat (not required in my state) to park at the marina. The Harbor patrol just told me to make sure my boats paperwork is in order, and all safety equipment etc.

We have a 1989 15ft Sunbird Open Bow with an Evinrude 48spl.

I am wondering if this boat will be all right on the Potomac River? I know that the Bay can get very choppy and have no plans to boat there, but am assuming the waves on the river won't be all that bad? Has anyone else ever boated the sites in DC in a smaller boat? There are a few threads on google on other forums, but the posters all seem to own 25ft+ cruisers.

The Plan would be to put in at Gravelly Point, which I am told is only a mile or two from the entrance to the river and it sounds like it would be a good "three hour" cruise. Tie Up at the marina, Have lunch and see a few sites, then motor back before it gets dark. I just thought it would be really neat to see DC from the Water side.

I just don't want to drag the boat all the way up there and find out the water is too rough regardless of weather. I am an experienced and cautious boater....so I want to make sure I cover all my bases.

For example I have been prepping the boat for this excursion in "foreign" waters with extra safety measures:

1. Dual Batteries (brand new)
2. Solar Panel Charges battery #2 at all times, while Battery #1 Charges from motor.
3. VHF radio installed (will I hear boat traffic? Ships? Right now at our little lake all I get is the weather repeater)
4. Emergency Propulsion system (my own design) which consists of an old bass boat trolling motor, cut the shaft down to 1 ft. Rigged a mount for the swim platform. If gas engine fails, pop on the electric motor to the swim platform, and i should have at least 3 hours of electric thrust with two fresh new batteries...maybe longer, depending on river current. It should be sufficient to at least be able to motor to shore vs sitting in the middle of the river trying to "paddle" a ski boat.

Any info, Insight, or warnings would be great.


Thanks in advance!

 

[JimKW]

Re: Taking the Boat to DC??

When I lived in Northern Virginia back in the 80's we used to get into the Potomac River at Dumfries (maybe 20 miles south of DC) and boat up to Geargetown and dock there and walk around Georgetown and eat lunch there. We were driving a 19.5' Wellcraft with a Mercruiser 470 and never had any problem with the water being too rough for the boat. There were times when it was rough enough that we would not be able to get up on plane though and that would make for a long time on the water. I'm not sure what the river is like south of Dumfies though.

It's really neat to come up past Fort Belvoir and then past Mount Vernon and then when you go under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge you see the Washington Monument on the horizon. We would go under the 14th St Bridge, the Memorial Bridge and then pretty sure under the Key Bridge. Once past the Key Bridge you can not go much further if I remember correctly and that is the Georgetown area and where you want to dock. I remember tying up next to some really big nice boats.

I think our normal time to get to Georgetown from Dumfries was somewhere between 1 and 2 hours. It was a very enjoyable cruise and would love to do it again with the new boat, but would not want to tow it all the way from Columbus, Oh just to do that cruise.

I'm not sure where you are talking about when you say get in the river at Gravelly Point and it's a three hour cruise? I just Googled Gravelly Point and it's right across the river from the Ronal Reagan Airport which is pretty much means it's right across the river from DC. So I don't understad the "three hour cruise"?

 

[69starcraft]

Re: Taking the Boat to DC??

I'm not sure where you are talking about when you say get in the river at Gravelly Point and it's a three hour cruise? I just Googled Gravelly Point and it's right across the river from the Ronal Reagan Airport which is pretty much means it's right across the river from DC. So I don't understad the "three hour cruise"?

It was a joke, referencing Gilligans Island...that "Fateful Trip"....

Yes Gravelly Point is across from the airport. I mean to put in there, closer to DC than 20 miles downriver, and then just putt around whatever is "close by" like the sites, and whatnot. Since I have never been there on the boat I was trying to get feedback on my plan. I am not sure I want to do 20 miles from Dumfries in a 15 footer. But to putt around the river by putting in closer should be an enjoyable day.

We hope that by putting in at Gravelly we will be closer to the attractions and things to see, and that we won't encounter 5 foot swells....

Like I said Everything I search on the net just brings up folks with big boats....I am trying to make sure it will be an enjoyable time in a little boat as well.......

 

[JimKW]

Re: Taking the Boat to DC??

Sorry I didn't get the joke, but I actually thought of Gilligan's Island when I read three hour cruise. Just didn't realize it was a joke.

I think you will be fine in your boat right around the DC area. If the weather is nice and river not too choppy I would head down to the Mount Vernon and Fort Belvoir area. It's a very scenic ride down the river. Pretty sure that the majority of the river right around DC is all No Wake zone. I also bet that there will be a lot more security in that area since 09/11 than there was when I boated there in the 80's.

 

[bullcity101]

Re: Taking the Boat to DC??

My dad lives right on the river on the East side about two miles south of the woodrow wilson. Really depends on which way the wind is coming from. If its enought to catch a lot of fetch from north to south or vise versa, you could get a lot of chop. But up in the city you should have a problem with 15 mph winds. If it is fairly calm with a easterly wind (which it normally is) I would suggest going down to national harbor, etc. I have seen 15ft's pulling skiers and tubes all the time south of the bridge. You should be fine on a nice day.

I have a 15ft skiff and I have thought about running up to DC from south of the bridge.

 

[rpaldrich]

Re: Taking the Boat to DC??

Gravelly point is fine, I've boated out of there on a calm day in a jon boat. Bullcity is right--sometimes it could get a little choppy, but I've experienced more chop from boat wakes than wind. That area is an awesome place to boat. Head south a few miles and dock in the transient slips in Old Town, Alexandria, a very fun place to hang out in the evenings, or head north and if you are early grab a spot in the Georgetown harbor for some waterfront dining, and watch the kayakers, rowers and boaters. I'd call Old Town first though and make sure they still have transients...but if they do they should have space, Georgetown doesn't have docks at the waterfront plaza area, just a long stretch of waterfront that people tie up on, so after about 5 - 30'ers come in, it gets tight. But you get to see the kennedy center.

Me personally, I'm not a fan of the national harbor, but depends on what you want to do I guess. Gravelly point can get busy, and it is right off the beltway, which can get very busy. Sounds like you have a good plan. Marine patrol is out plenty though so make sure your stuff is in order and have fun!