Suisun Marina. Has anyone ever been there?

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Waynepj4

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Hello All,

Has anyone ever been to Suisun Marina? Are there any nice, nearby restaurants or activities I should be aware of? How are their guest docks?
 
I haven't been there in awhile, but it is a nice new marina. There is a Mexican restaurant within walking distance which I remember as being good along with a host of others to check out. Suisun City put a lot of effort into the waterfront and I think they did a great job.

Make sure you have enough water under you as it does tend to get shallow as you wind your way up Suisun Slough. Go at high tide if possible. In many places the mud flats at the points extend way out into the slough. This becomes apparent at low tide.

As for events, you should check out the Jetski Races which are happening this weekend. I wanted to go but I'm forced to go to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin festival. It wouldn't be so bad except that I hate anything pumpkin. So I'll just get drunk.

http://www.diablojsa.com/id2.html
 
Use this tide predictor. Click on the fourth one down which is Suisun Marina and it will give you the tide. Select graphic plot and it will give you a nice graphic representation of the tides.

Looks like you'll have at least +2 feet the whole weekend except for around midnight on Saturday, so you should get up there early on Saturday. Or if you can do it, get up there Friday late afternoon and spend the night there if you can. Guest dock is only $12 per night.

http://www.californiadelta.org/deltatides.htm
 
Isn't this where the "dead fleet" was in the 1960's? It was old Liberty ships waiting to go to the cutters-as I recall.
 
Wow! I just Googled and they are still there fouling the water. I moved away from Northern California in 1973 and hadn't thought about them 'til today.
 
Bliss, those are out in Suisun Bay. The marina, city and yacht club are at the end of Suisun Slu. It is called the Mothball Fleet.

Wayne, check out this info:
http://marinas.com/search/?search=1&q=suisun marina

I haven't been up to Suison for several years, but I believe they still maintain channel markers to keep boats in the deep water. even at minus tide, there is plenty of water as long as you stay in the squiggly channel!
 
There are channel markers going into the slough, but after that it's just like any other slough in the Delta and you're on your own.

I know the area very well since we always used it for training when I was in the Navy.
 
Suisun City Marina is one of my favorite destinations. It has a very large guest dock, the city runs several events on the waterfront in season (art fairs, concerts, etc,)there are several blocks' worth of historical buildings, and many restaurants worthy of a visit by themselves. My favorite is a Greek grill -- I believe it's called the Athenian Grill -- but there are others.

The boat ride there is worth the trip by itself -- very scenic and a little challenging as well. From Martinez, go up the river and past the Reserve Fleet, and follow the markers to enter Montezuma Slough. Then take Hunter Cut into Suisun Slough, and follow the slough to the marina. Unless you have a sailboat with deep keel, this can be done at low tide as well, as long as you avoid the lower Suisun Slough (south of Hunter Cut)which is really, really shallow. Watch the channel, watch your depth, don't go without a chart (GPS navigation would be better), and watch your depth.

Realistically, the main peril in the slough, in my opinion, is not grounding, but collision with speedboats coming at full tilt around the several blind curves. Also worth mentioning is that there are several privately maintained markers on the slough, showing shallow areas. In my experience, they tell the truth...
 
quote:
Originally posted by sixnt

Realistically, the main peril in the slough, in my opinion, is not grounding, but collision with speedboats coming at full tilt around the several blind curves. Also worth mentioning is that there are several privately maintained markers on the slough, showing shallow areas. In my experience, they tell the truth...

Click to expand...
Yes, I remember those. I always liked the looks on their faces when they came screaming around the curves only to look down the barrel of twin .50 caliber machine guns.
 
ROMSLMAO.gif
 
Yep, the fifties and the cold eye stare of the salty Chief... I can just imagine...
 
No markers once inside the slough, and my Navionics Platinum chip (couple of years old), is way off up there. Point is, I think the charts are way outdated up there.

I sturgeon fish up there, and there are shallow areas not shown on the charts. Take your time, and try to go during an incoming tide, so if you do hit bottom, the tide may take you off.

Lots of friends I work with live and spend a lot of time at the Marina area, they seem to have a lot of events. Seems to be a good Family atmosphere.

I would even suggest you go up to Montezuma slough, then turn left in to Hunters Cut, then right on Suisun slough. I've been unable to travel Suisun slough on low water, just downstream of that juncture. That's in a 21' boat.

If I was you, I'd plan 1 hour ahead, and anchor out and wait for a passing boater, then follow them.

Be sure to report back!

Maybe Capt Phil of VA has current info?
 
I do have VERY current info...you will have to ask Wayne why that is. ;)
There are a couple of private red and or green markers above Hunter Cut that do seem to give good "advice". If a newbie wanted to go up there, I would try it at mid to low tide when rising. If you were to go agound up there at high tide, it could be a long wait to get going again, or to get help as this area is off the beaten path abit.
 
Oh oh. Wayne did your boat get baptized???? Happens to all of us. That and getting the props dinged. Just part of the fun of boating in the Delta!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

Oh oh. Wayne did your boat get baptized???? Happens to all of us. That and getting the props dinged. Just part of the fun of boating in the Delta!

Click to expand...

Unfortunately yes. It was an otherwise great trip. Suisun Marina is gorgeous and the Athenian grill was great. On the way back however the engine started to get hot (200 degrees) and I thought I could smell something burning so I shut it off. The engine could restart but I didnt want to risk it. Can anyone recommend a mobile marine mechanic in the Suisun area? I would like to get the boat fixed, checked out and back home sooner rather than later.
 
So did you go see the Jetski races? You did the right thing shutting it down. My guess is that you sucked some mud into the cooling system and it needs to be flushed out.
 
quote:
Originally posted by UpperDecker

So did you go see the Jetski races? You did the right thing shutting it down. My guess is that you sucked some mud into the cooling system and it needs to be flushed out.

Click to expand...

Yes I saw some of the jetski racing. pretty cool. I hope its just mud..because then it just needs to be cleared out and Im good. Im definitely going to take it slow through suisun slough next time.
 
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