Montross VA

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walterv

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I am planning my vacation next yer. My cousin has a house on the water in Montross VA. I will be leaving from Lindenhurst NY (Long Island).

Looks like the house is on the Potomac, any online sites where I could chart out the trip?

I would also like suggestions on places to stay on the trip there and back. I would like to just travel no more than 4 or 5 hours at a clip.

Thinking 2 weeks to do this trip round trip.

This will be the first time I have ever gone south with the boat

Suggestions, Ideas, Warnings, etc welcomed.

Thanks
Walter

Also,
What would be the best time of the year to make a trip like this (weather and seas)?
 
my suggestion would be to leave the boat in that area for a while to explore new stuff and drive down when you can get away.
 
I thinking hit jersey coast follow the coast. Maybe do a stop in AC. Then go around Cape May into Delaware Bay. Take c and d canal over to Potomoc.
I am thinking it is a easy 10 hour boat ride.
 
Im thinking it's 300+ miles and more than 10 hours
 
Montross itself is landlocked. There are some small lakes etc, but no navigible inlets or creeks off of the Potomac near it. The nearest marinas would be Coles Point and Coles Point Plantation. Nomini Bay is also close, but there are no facilities other than boat ramps. Try googling Westmoreland County, Va.
 
It takes me the best part of a day to run from Cape May to Annapolis. It also would be a day trip to Potomac, from Annap. I would be considering Cape May to Bohemia River ( East side of Chesap.) after the C&D Canal. Maybe to Solomons after that and your last leg the day after that. When I do this Walter, my only concern is the Del. Bay. I prefer it in the am before anything decides to kick-up.
 
Are you planning on going up the Delaware Bay into the C&D and then down the Chesapeake; or taking the ocean route to the mouth of the Chesapeake?

Like Dusty says, it's a looong day from Cape May to Annapolis. Delaware Bay is very boring, and get pretty nasty.

I presume you would head straight to Cape May the first day...

When we did the trip, we had four days of 6-8 hour runs.

Get the cruising guide for the area.
 
Do you anchor out or do you like to stay at marinas ? Or have a certain mix of each? Do you have a dinghy? If you are going to the expense of going by boat, you might as well stop and smell the roses to and from. The cruise itself isn't particularly scenic but the various types of stopping points are numerous, scenic and fun.
 
The Delaware Bay might as well be the Ocean from Cape May to the C&D if there is wind out of the North west or North east.. It can get really snotty prepare for bad weather and if the weather isn't good I would not even attempt Cape May to the C&D canal. I would plan on having a few layover days instead of hammering it and trying to go from NY all the way to the Cape May. Perhaps 1st night stay over in Belmar, NJ then down to Atlantic City, then Cape May. From there I would stop at someone else's recommendations at or inside the C&D. Your definately going to have to plan your fuel stops Walter.
Hogan did a similar trip last year Walter I would check with Mike. George (CalTexFla) knowing Walter I doubt he will be anchoring out.
There are few safe havens from Cape May to the C&D Walter.
Bill
 
Active captain now allows you to enter routes and WP and of course has all the anchorages , local knowledge and marina I do you need

From LIS, go thru the East river and stop in Sandy hook. Next day it s a 100NM run to cape may which may be worth a lay day if you have time and if you be never been there

Next day, indeed the Delaware can be nasty but it s a pretty short run to the canal, about 40nm. The canal and the elk river on the west side is a nice avenue run, the Bohemia and Sassafras are two possible stops. I usually anchor at the mouth of the Bohemia, very scenic.

Further south Annapolis, st michaels, solomons, rock hall are stops worth making if you have time

Again active captain has all the data you want to plan the trip
 
A good time of the year would be June or early July. Otherwise the fall is a nice time to cruise depending on the hurricane activity.
I see Mike already commented. In a 40 footer the Delaware Bay can beat the heck out of you especially depending on the weather, wind and tide. 40NM in a smaller boat can get pretty dangerous on that section of the Delaware.
Active Captain is an excellent way to plan the route Walter great suggestion Pascal.
Walter mind if we tag along at least to the C&D?
Bill
 
Mike,
no plans on which way we are going, that is why I am asking questions.
No anchoring out
Thanks Pascal
Billy, the more the merrier, no problem, Dave will be coming along with his boat.
 
If I am able to Walter I would love to tag along in my boat with my wife or I should say the navigator. Sounds like a nice trip but as we all know it will be based on the weather conditions. I would stay outside of the Jersey ICW to the Cape May Canal. I could bring you and Dave into our marina for a free overnight stay or we could all meet up in Atlantic City at the Farley Marina.
As the trip gets closer keep in touch.
Bill & Jan
 
Billy,
Yes, no doubt weather will play into this and will be prepared for the worse. I definitely want to stay at AC, but on the way back would stay at your marina if it fits in.

PS,
appreciate the offer at your marina, but really have no problem paying.

thanks

Will be planning this out and will keep you in the loop.
 
Walter, I am in Colonial Beach, Va. About a 30 minute ride from Montross. We have a great marina with amenities on site and nearby in town. Would be more than happy to make accommodations to fit your situation. Vehicle, etc...
I'm sure you would enjoy your visit. We are 38 miles up river from the bay.

Let me know if you'd like additional information.
 
Thanks Jamie,
Will definitely be in touch. Never traveled this far, never traveled south. Lots of great info so far and I am sure more to come. Once I absorb all, then shoot out plans, and then finally have a plan, we will talk.

This is my winter project.
I appreciate all the input.

Walter
 
Walter, I'll get my log book, I have charts/cruising guides I can share with you. The Chesapeake is beautiful, I wish we spent more time exploring more of it.
 
Walter, see if you can find the thread from when you and Dave were planning this last year. I recall that your cousin's house is on Nomini Bay. I offered some local knowledge tips on navigating the entrance to the bay around what is locally called "Shark" or "Sharktooth" island.

As you round Point Lookout and enter the Potomac, there are marinas on the Maryland side up the St. Mary's River. Further up is Tall Timbers Marina...pretty rustic but has a rip rap channel entrance and a safe haven bay, as well as slips, if the river gets snotty. Again, further up is Colton's Point Marina just up St. Patrick's Creek. Colton's is a bit further than you want to go...but it's there if you would need it.

Across the Potomac from there is Coles Point Plantation Marina. Had been bankrupt and was just purchased by some folks from Richmond. From there, you are hard by Nomini Bay.

Having said all that. I'd suggest an overnight stop at Solomon's (good marinas, repair services, restaurants, West Marine, etc.) From there it's an easy day run to Nomini.

The area you would be on in the Potomac runs NW/SE. If the wind is opposing a tide change you can get 3-4' short-interval bumps in the road.
 
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