Marina Hopping the Chesapeake on the Cheap?

[Dennis Drenner]

I have a Tartan 27 that I like to single-hand around the Chesapeake. I'm self-employed and can often find a two or three day window to take sailing trips, but that never allows me to get too far from my home waters near Baltimore city (which is getting boring).

I'm looking for a way to leave my boat somewhere for a week or two at a time, without paying $50 a night at a marina, which can really add up. I'd like to be able to sail south for a few days, leave my boat and come home via bus/wife/etc., return to the boat later and keep exploring for a few days, etc. etc.

I guess technically I could anchor out somewhere for free, but I don't think I'd sleep too well.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Dennis

[S/V Antares]

One of the best deals on the bay....or anywhere else.... is the State docks in Chrisfield Md. They have great deals all the time.

[Pendragon35]

That's a long way from Baltimore. I also single hand out of Baltimore (Anchorage Marina) an Alberg 35. I wouldn't say I'm bored with the local waters but I'm following this thread. For me the limit circle seems to be about 20 nm for a three-day cruise: a day to sail there, a day back, a day to either just rest/relax or to have as insurance in case the weather goes south. (After reading sailing disaster stories for a lifetime, I note most begin..."w were on a schedule/we had to be somewhere"...).

[TheOffice]

Rock Hall/Swan Creek. You can get a mooring ball in Swan Creek.

[ranger58sb]

I've heard the municipal marina in Cambridge is inexpensive...

-Chris

[Suijin]

You might check out ads in Spinsheet or Craig's list for private slips for rent, which come up fairly often. Owners might be amenable to short term rentals while they wait for a longer term tenant to show up. You could also post a want ad yourself.

Another potential option is to anchor in Back Creek in Annapolis. There are almost always a few boats there anchored longer term and they look out for each other, some even leaving for months at a time. The water taxi will pick up and drop off at anchored boats as well.

[Dennis Drenner]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

One of the best deals on the bay....or anywhere else.... is the State docks in Chrisfield Md. They have great deals all the time.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll check that out. In general this also gives me the idea of looking for blue collar marinas away from Annapolis and St Michaels where I might find better deals.

[Suijin]

Also give Rockhold Marina in Deale a call. My cheapskate ex-BIL keeps his boat there and always extolled how inexpensive it is. It’s a small marina, up the creek with quite a few liveaboards in boats that never move...

[Drew13440]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Also give Rockhold Marina in Deale a call. My cheapskate ex-BIL keeps his boat there and always extolled how inexpensive it is. It’s a small marina, up the creek with quite a few liveaboards in boats that never move...

2nd this. A slip rented for a full month will be ten bucks a night and there're plenty of 2/3 day jaunts can be done from Deale. There are also tons of private residences in Deale/Shady Side with 'slip for rent' signs. Just knock on someone's door...

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Dennis Drenner

Thanks for the feedback! I'll check that out. In general this also gives me the idea of looking for blue collar marinas away from Annapolis and St Michaels where I might find better deals.

If you are going as far South as Crisfield, MD, you may want to go ahead and checkout Deep Creek Marina, Onancock Wharf (with free anchorage), Davis Wharf, and Cape Charles.

You'll need to be an hour or so near high tide to get into Deep Creek if you have a 4' draft or deeper.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/De...!4d-75.7504475

About the same with Davis Wharf up Occohannock Creek:

https://www.waterwayguide.com/marina...arine-services

Davis Wharf Marine Services - Atlantic Cruising Club

Onancock Wharf

https://www.waterwayguide.com/featur...ck-town-marina

[Dennis Drenner]

Originally Posted by thomm225

If you are going as far South as Crisfield, MD, you may want to go ahead and checkout Deep Creek Marina, Onancock Wharf (with free anchorage), Davis Wharf, and Cape Charles.

You'll need to be an hour or so near high tide to get into Deep Creek if you have a 4' draft or deeper.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/De...!4d-75.7504475

About the same with Davis Wharf up Occohannock Creek:

https://www.waterwayguide.com/marina...arine-services

Davis Wharf Marine Services - Atlantic Cruising Club

Onancock Wharf

https://www.waterwayguide.com/featur...ck-town-marina

Great tips, thank you. Onancock's a nice little town I visited a few years ago. You all have given me some fun winter homework.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Dennis Drenner

Great tips, thank you. Onancock's a nice little town I visited a few years ago. You all have given me some fun winter homework.

Yeah, it's changed a lot though. Our high school used to be there back in the day.

We used to launch our small 14' power boats from the wharf there in the 70's and fish as far out as Tangier Island without radio, accurate weather reports, etc

[Alberg30Shill]

Originally Posted by TheOffice

Rock Hall/Swan Creek. You can get a mooring ball in Swan Creek.

Ha! I sailed my Alberg 30 out of Anchorage Marina in Baltimore last week and sailed to Swan Creek with a friend and anchored overnight. We really need to catch up over a drink sometime :-)

[rwidman]

If you're capable of doing the research yourself, Active Captain is your tool of choice. Marinas are identified and rates are posted.

[4arch]

I won’t argue the usefulness of ActiveCaptain but some of the more backwater marinas that don’t get a lot of transients either aren’t on AC at all or don’t have complete, up-to-date information.