Good Location Near Richmond?

[Viturina]

We have just launched our 76 year old wooden boat, and are endeavoring t live aboard. The boat needs to swell, so we don't plan on heading too far south (Virginia). We're in Mass right now. Looking for a relatively small, peaceful marina where we can get to with a 65 foot mast height. Planning on being there about 6 months, so hoping to get a seasonal rate. Any thoughts? I know Richmond can get cold but since we were thinking of living aboard in Maine, cold is a relative thing. We are more concerned about worms in warm water getting into the seams (which are still swelling, since the boat's been out of the water for 6 years). So colder water is a plus, and we have no problem covering the deck with some type of plastic/greenhouse type arrangement. Cruising will come later. Right now we just want to give the boat time to swell, and also be able to live aboard. We have our own business, and can work that anywhere we have cell phone coverage. We will also drive a car down from New England, so this is really not the cruising lifestyle, but we also don't want/need to be in a marina that's high end, price wise. Nice showers, friendly people, 6' of water and the ability to get to the marina with 65' mast. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Jen

[ranger58sb]

WaterWriter recently asked a similar question. You might review that thread and then confab with her, see what she's learned so far...

-Chris

[hugosalt]

Had recently (within few days) read about Deltaville Va.
either here on CF or on Sailnet.
No first hand experience, but poster seemed to be very
happy with attitude of yard and whole town experience.
Thinking is located near Richmond with no bridges.
Hugo

[PapaBruce]

Salt Ponds Marina in Hampton VA is not small (250) slips, but very friendly and we pay $335/mo on 41' sailboat. No mast height restrictions. Check it out online.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by hugosalt

Had recently (within few days) read about Deltaville Va.
either here on CF or on Sailnet.
No first hand experience, but poster seemed to be very
happy with attitude of yard and whole town experience.
Thinking is located near Richmond with no bridges.
Hugo

Deltaville's about an hour and a half drive away from Richmond.

It's the main boating center in Virginia, and has been for decades. There was an active boat-building community there back in the day. The marinas are accessed from either the Rappahannock River or from Jackson Creek and the Piankatank River on the south side of the peninsula. It's got a small town atmosphere--people are polite and friendly.

[Viturina]

Hi - thanks for all these great suggestions. We can be a few hours from Richmond by car w/no problem. I'll research the Hampton marina & Deltaville too

[Viturina]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

WaterWriter recently asked a similar question. You might review that thread and then confab with her, see what she's learned so far...

-Chris

How do I find the thread that you are referencing?

[AfterHoursNLCT]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ce-109484.html

[CaptFrankM]

There is really only one marina in the Richmond area that would fit your requirements, and that is iffy. There is a marina called the Richmond Yacht Basin located about 8 miles down river from Richmond's downtown area. The marina is located in a former ox box of the river, so it is well of the main channel. There are no controlling bridges, other than a lift bridge near Hopewll. It lifts on demand. The entry to the marina is deep all the way until you are in view, but there is a bar that I could only cross at half tide or higher. I kept a Morgan 542 there for about 8 years. We left last year and moved to Urbanna - about three hours upriver by boat from Deltaville.

The reason we left was that the marina was old and getting older. The electrical system was iffy and the marina is just down river from a coal-fired power plant. In the winter this wasn't too bad, but during the summer, the fluctuating power and the high water temperature from the plant combined to make water cooled air conditioning problematical.

Since we left, the marina was sold and the new owner is putting some effort and money into it. I believe the electrical system is being upgraded and I have heard that they are working on getting it dredged. If these happen, this would be a good marina, given your requirements.

There really are no other choices. there is a marina just upriver and one in Hopewell, but both of these have serious depth restrictions. There is one on the Chickahominy, but it is behind a 30 foot tall fixed bridge. There is one in Richmond, but it is expensive, unprotected, and very restrictive on how long you can stay aboard per month.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Viturina

Hi - thanks for all these great suggestions. We can be a few hours from Richmond by car w/no problem. I'll research the Hampton marina & Deltaville too

Deltaville is out in the country ..............very nice with lots of boatyards, a sail loft, and sailboat experts in the area.

Salt Ponds Marina is dead center in the middle of everything: overpasses, bridges, interstate highway, shipyards, tons of traffic to and from etc.

If you like the city, there's also Bay Point Marina on Little Creek in Va Beach/Norfolk where you also have 3-4 large Amphib Ships parked across from you. But you get to see the super speedy, radar absorbing (Stealth) Seal Speed Boats coming and going when you go out. And there's Cobbs Marina and Boatyard a couple hundred yards " up the Creek."

[Hud3]

Marinas.com has a search feature, aerial photos and charts. Good way to see what's where.

[Viturina]

Kind of leaning towards Deltaville - not sure we want to be in the thick of things - anyone have any specific marina experience there? Seems to be quite a bit to chose from

[CaptFrankM]

As I mentioned above, we currently live in Urbanna, which is about twenty minutes closer to Richmond. There are three marinas in town. Urbanna town dock is nice, but no live aboards. Dozier's Port Urbanna is nice and has brand new floating docks. That's where we are now. Urbanna Yachting Center is older and a bit rough. We were there before moving here. UYC has the closer thing to live aboards. Officially, they don't allow it, but times are tight. They make allowances.

The best part about Urbanna is that it has all of the services that Deltaville has, just more compact. Everything in Urbanna is within an easy walk.

[Viturina]

Hi Capt Frank - thanks for the details - we will check out Urbana!

[saltwaters wife]

Deltaville is the best kept secret to marina's for sailboats. We have up here, yes I am sitting in the heart of Deltaville. We have up here Deltaville Marina, Norview Marina, StingRay Point Marina. These are just to name a few of the big marina's here. It is lovely, quaint, and peaceful not too mention "safe" to live here. Depending on your lifestyle will depend on how you like the area. I would check out these marina's on the web call them and see what they can and cannot do for you. I know they all lowered their boat slip prices and have both covered and uncovered slips. Oh another thing I just called Norview the other day. They do not allow ANY liveaboards! You will need a car to get around. There are no major shopping centers here. Deltaville Market for groceries, a gas station, and of course fire dept, medical care. You may also want to check out Gloucester, VA area. They have quite a view marinas but I do not know what they allow and don't allow. It is a bit bigger town with hospital, shopping centers. Only big chain store there though is Walmart. Richmond has it all the big city around here.
Hope this helps