Looking for a marina in the Haver de Grace/Perryville area.

[Joe Pyrat]

I'm planning on launching at Havre de Grace August 4th or 5th and I'm looking for a marina with transient slips, travel lift/crane, and parking for truck and trailer (approx 45ft) for a few days. For the first few days I'll need a slip for ease of outfitting, but after that a mooring would work, or even an anchorage with access to a dinghy dock, showers, etc. While there isn't any schedule, I figure I'll be there not more than a week at the most before heading out to explore. While it would be convenient, the launch site and berth site do not necessarily have to be the same marina.

I would greatly appreciate any insight or advice on which marina(s) might fill the bill. I am not opposed to the more eclectic locations so it doesn't have to be all that upscale as long as the people are friendly.  :D

[Godot]

Havre de Grace is a nice little town with a very nice town run Marina, the City Yacht Basin

They have a launching ramp that will work for vessels up to 35'.  Transient slips are 1$/ft/night.  Gas/Diesel, snack bar, bathrooms, showers.  An easy walk to lots of the city.  They don't have a travel lift, however.

Also try Tidewater Marina.  They do launch boats and accept transients at $1.50/ft. 

I enjoy Havre de Grace.  It is a pretty, but laid back, town.  Not quite as commercial as some waterside towns; but they have got a lot of restaurants and shops (especially antiques) if you are into that sort of thing.  Every friday evening they also have a "Concert in the Park" music series which is right by the City Yacht Basin.

[Joe Pyrat]

Thanks Adam,

It does look like Tidewater is the only place to get launched.  I figure a few days in one of their transient slips to get things squared away, then anchoring out.  They offer some of the ASA classes, and another thread on Sailfar got me thinking that might be interesting to do, so I may be in the area longer than I initially thought.  I couldn't find anything on dinghy dock costs, do you have any idea who offers these?  I would think each marina would, but you never know.  I'm planning on giving Tidewater a call later today to make a reservation for the travel lift and transient slip.  If I have to get a slip after that it will most likely be the City Yacht Basin.

Havre de Grace does sound like an interesting town, and I'm looking forward to my visit.  I do like to shop and especially enjoy checking out antiques.  Fortunately, small boats don't lend themselves to a lot of shopping, which helps keep cost down and preserve the cruising kitty, not to mention, keeping my spouse happy.  :D

Thanks again,

[Godot]

I've never been there by boat, Joe.  It is a little more than a half hour drive so I've been there once or twice by car.  I'm told that the bottom is not the best for anchoring.  If the weather is settled there shouldn't be a problem; but if things get blowing it might not be good.  I suppose if you anchored up near the bridge somewhere, and you have a good motor on your dinghy, you might be able to use the Yacht Basin.  They are on opposite sides of town, though, so it would be a trip.  Given the reported holding, I might feel uncomfortable leaving my boat unattended for any period of time.  At least until I established that it wasn't going anyplace.  I don't know of any other place (and I'm not even sure of the Yacht Basin) where you could tie up your dinghy.

But why anchor at all?  The marinas aren't too expensive for a few days (you said you would use them for a few days anyhow), and by the time everything is sorted out you'll have probably seen all you need to see of Havre de Grace, and you could head out into the Chesapeake.  Lots of places to explore, lots of great anchorages, and even the occasional place to tie up your dinghy.

[hearsejr]

how far are you from Reedville VA? there is a small yard there, thats cheap, has a nice lift, and there's some space around the yard big enough to park.

Bill

[Joe Pyrat]

Adam, I just got off the phone with Tidewater and that's kind of what we came up with.  I'll spend about three days at Tidewater then maybe move to City Yacht Basin for another three days or so before heading south.  I was kind of surprised there were no dinghy docks available.  Is this common on the Chesapeake?  Which makes me wonder about pump out stations.  :-\  I might have to move along a bit more deliberately than I had intended, but oh well, one way or the other off we go...   ;)

Thanks for the holding information, that will come in handy.

Thanks Bill but Havre de Grace is at the extreme northern end of the Chesapeake and we are trailering in from near Augusta Maine so it's a bit to far, although it sounds like just the place to visit while I'm heading south.  Do you have a name or website on this marina? 

Edit:

Bill, here's what googled up on Reedville VA.



I was intending to visit the Smithsonian and this might be just the place to base out of.  It'd probably be cheaper to stay here and rent a car than find a place in DC to tie up.

[hearsejr]

the name of the place is Jennings boat yard. I'm not sure if they have a website. I have some freinds there who are living on a cat, in the yard and redoing the rudders and bottom paint there.  I'll get the contact info for them later today.
Bill

[Joe Pyrat]

Thanks Bill, I'll put that on my "To Visit" list.  Sounds like my kind of boatyard, nice and laid back. ;D

[hearsejr]

 yeah it's a pretty laid back place. let me know when you get ready to go there.

Bill