Looking for a Slip Near Washington, DC

[MARC D]

Hello everyone, we would like to rent a slip near Washington,DC for June, July and August 2012. We are living aboard. 37' sailboat. 6 ft draft. Is someone has an idea where we could find that?? Thank you!
Marc & Catherine s/v Mirliflore

[eisselhardt]

Unfortunately, your liveaboard options near DC are very limited. Washington Yacht Club does not take liveaboards unless they know you very well--and it is expensive. Gangplank is booked several years in advance and people often sell their boats with their slips, and people either resell the boat or junk it in order to keep the slip. Down river, the National Harbor (where we are slipped) is nice, but also very tight.

NH is probably your best bet for a short-term liveaboard contract. Call and speak with the Marina Master, Eric Bradley.

[Auspicious]

I agree with Eric.

You might also call Capital Yacht Club. Sometimes members go sailing for the summer and you might get a slip.

[virginia boy]

If anchoring is an option, the Washington Channel is smack in the heart of the city, is a one minute dinghy ride to shore, walking distance to supermarket, and subway. Capitol Yacht Club charges 15 dollars per day to use their facilities and have very clean showers, nice lounge with Wi-Fi, Bar, laundry, friendly people, and a secure dinghy dock. It can be noisy (14th street bridge) and smelly (fish market) in the Channel but hey, your in the city. I've seen people stay anchored all year long in spite of the rumored two week anchoring limit.

4TH of July in the Washington Channel will be the BEST fireworks celebrations/ party you'll ever see! You should show up the day before to claim your spot. (at the end of the Capitol Yacht Club's dock)

National horror...err...harbor is in a remote location and is not a warm and friendly place. It was designed as a tourist trap so prices in their isolated compound are through the roof and the atmosphere is sterile and contrived. I believe they are in the process of eliminating, or have ceased to allow live-aboards. It's completely open to wakes from passing commercial charters, dinner boats, etc. The same company who developed National Harbor are the ones who will soon be destroying the only anchorage in Wash DC, the Wash Channel, in order to build another National Horror.

Eric