Help! Suggestions needed to plan our trip, please.

J&J Express

New Member
Oct 1, 2017
12
New Jersey
Boat Info
50 Sea Ray
Engines
QSM11 660 hp
We are looking to take a trip from the Atlantic City area down the Chesapeake. Just wondering about how long the trip is from AC to Chesapeake City, and should this be our first stop? We are traveling in a 50 ft. Sea Ray. We’ve only gone south to Ocean City Maryland so this is new territory for us. We were thinking about making stops in Chesapeake City, Annapolis, St. Michaels, the Baltimore Harbour. Any recommendations on where to go, stay, see would be greatly appreciated.
 
Lewes Delaware is across the Bay from Cape May and is a very nice town, good food and shoppng all close to the water. Slips are scarce so call the harbor master to reserve one being that you are on the large side.
If you don' stop in Lewes, don't stop until Chesapeake city, not enough water in the small creeks along the DE. BAY for a boat your size.
 
I'll take a stab at your first question. Looks like about 118 statutory miles. 6-7 hours? depending upon how fast you're able to go, which is usually a function of the sea conditions. Delaware Bay can be real bad, I've heard, if the wind and the tide are opposing each other. I did it once on a friend's boat and it was beautiful.

I'll let the Chesapeake guys give you guidance on where to stay!
 
In Delaware we say, 'wind against tide means a rough ride' 'winds from the north (over about 10 kts) don't go forth.' In a 50 foot boat you have more of a wave tolerance than smaller craft but watch the winds just the same.
 
Lewes Delaware is across the Bay from Cape May and is a very nice town, good food and shoppng all close to the water. Slips are scarce so call the harbor master to reserve one being that you are on the large side.
If you don' stop in Lewes, don't stop until Chesapeake city, not enough water in the small creeks along the DE. BAY for a boat your size.
Thanks for the info. I’ll look Into Lewes Delaware. We were actually thinking about our first stop being Chesapeake City.
 
I'll take a stab at your first question. Looks like about 118 statutory miles. 6-7 hours? depending upon how fast you're able to go, which is usually a function of the sea conditions. Delaware Bay can be real bad, I've heard, if the wind and the tide are opposing each other. I did it once on a friend's boat and it was beautiful.

I'll let the Chesapeake guys give you guidance on where to stay!
Thanks for responding. We’ve been estimating about 6 hours from LBI to Chesapeake City but are trying to get confirmation. Don’t know if we want to make that run in one day or two. We’ve never traveled the Delaware Bay we usually stay in the ocean so we are looking for guidance.
 
In Delaware we say, 'wind against tide means a rough ride' 'winds from the north (over about 10 kts) don't go forth.' In a 50 foot boat you have more of a wave tolerance than smaller craft but watch the winds just the same.
We’ve never ventured this way. We usually stay in the ocean so we’ve been looking for advice.
 
Not sure when you are planning to go but there are 5 (or 6) boats coming from NYC area starting July 28th-ish headed to Chesapeake for 2 weeks, hitting every port you have listed, your more than welcome to join us for some or all. Link to details below.

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/csr-northeast-flotilla-2018-heading-to-chesapeake-bay.87178/

I haven't fully detailed my travel to/from plans but it looks to be about 5-6 hours from AC to Chesapeake City assuming you have good weather.
 
Not sure when you are planning to go but there are 5 (or 6) boats coming from NYC area starting July 28th-ish headed to Chesapeake for 2 weeks, hitting every port you have listed, your more than welcome to join us for some or all. Link to details below.

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/csr-northeast-flotilla-2018-heading-to-chesapeake-bay.87178/

I haven't fully detailed my travel to/from plans but it looks to be about 5-6 hours from AC to Chesapeake City assuming you have good weather.

Thank you for the invite. That would have been fun. We love meeting new boating friends. Unfortunately we are traveling the middle of August. Have a safe trip.
 
Cape May is another mid point. Lots of good marinas and slips. Then you can take the “cut” out to the west into DE Bay. The comments about wind and current are valid. At a min you will burn excess fuel if going up the Bay with the tide falling. So time that run accordingly, regardless if you stop or not.

You can make the run from Ches City to Baltimore or Annapolis in one day easy. I’d see both. Fuel up outside the Key Bridge, however. Prices are nuts inside the bridge. Annapolis is a must visit. If you have a dinghy, it would be more affordable to grab a mooring ball in Annapolis. If not, the harbor taxi will still come fetch you and take you ashore. St Michaels is worth the visit too. Neat town. Make sure you take the long way - down The Bay and around Bloody Pt. The trip up the East Bay is beautiful, esp in early evening.
 
Baltimore Harbor East Marina. Nice location. Try the Loch Bar for drinks and oysters. Also makes a great Lobster Roll.

If you want crabs, go to Rock Hall or the Kent Narrows. Harris Crab House at the Kent Narrows or Watermans in Rock Hall

St Michaels is nice, but it has been discovered by the “pretty people”. Be prepared for crowds and high prices. Good restaurants in St Michaels. Try Lemoncello. Don’t waste your time at the Crab Claw.

Oxford is a nice overnight. Low key with some nice restaurants. Best ice cream on the eastern shore at the Highland Creamery.

The Cambridge Municipal Marina is a short walk from downtown Cambridge. Great pizza and wings at Stoked. Don’t miss the RAR brewery.

Annapolis is always fun, stay at Mears on Back Creek or the Annapolis Yacht Basin. Both are an easy walk to downtown. Lots of great bars and restaurants. I like the Boatyard and Davis’ Pub.
 
Personally, I would do Atlantic City to Baltimore in one shot. At my pokey 23 knot cruise it’s about a +/-7 hour trip depending a bit on current. I would consider Chesapeake City a good stop only if you need to stop, it’s geographically convenient, but not a destination in and of itself. Baltimore is a destination, as are the other ports you mention. Push a bit on day one and enjoy your time on the Chesapeake.

Try to catch the current, which can be 1.5 knots on the Delaware, 2 knots in the C&D canal, and 1+ in the bay. And as previously noted, you may have to slow down when wind and current are in opposition on the Delaware.

Enjoy!
 
Personally, I would do Atlantic City to Baltimore in one shot. At my pokey 23 knot cruise it’s about a +/-7 hour trip depending a bit on current. I would consider Chesapeake City a good stop only if you need to stop, it’s geographically convenient, but not a destination in and of itself. Baltimore is a destination, as are the other ports you mention. Push a bit on day one and enjoy your time on the Chesapeake.

Try to catch the current, which can be 1.5 knots on the Delaware, 2 knots in the C&D canal, and 1+ in the bay. And as previously noted, you may have to slow down when wind and current are in opposition on the Delaware.

Enjoy!

Damn, you can average 23 knots? Ah.... nice to have a big boat! LOL
 
Cape May is another mid point. Lots of good marinas and slips. Then you can take the “cut” out to the west into DE Bay. The comments about wind and current are valid. At a min you will burn excess fuel if going up the Bay with the tide falling. So time that run accordingly, regardless if you stop or not.

You can make the run from Ches City to Baltimore or Annapolis in one day easy. I’d see both. Fuel up outside the Key Bridge, however. Prices are nuts inside the bridge. Annapolis is a must visit. If you have a dinghy, it would be more affordable to grab a mooring ball in Annapolis. If not, the harbor taxi will still come fetch you and take you ashore. St Michaels is worth the visit too. Neat town. Make sure you take the long way - down The Bay and around Bloody Pt. The trip up the East Bay is beautiful, esp in early evening.
Thank you so much for the info.
 
Baltimore Harbor East Marina. Nice location. Try the Loch Bar for drinks and oysters. Also makes a great Lobster Roll.

If you want crabs, go to Rock Hall or the Kent Narrows. Harris Crab House at the Kent Narrows or Watermans in Rock Hall

St Michaels is nice, but it has been discovered by the “pretty people”. Be prepared for crowds and high prices. Good restaurants in St Michaels. Try Lemoncello. Don’t waste your time at the Crab Claw.

Oxford is a nice overnight. Low key with some nice restaurants. Best ice cream on the eastern shore at the Highland Creamery.

The Cambridge Municipal Marina is a short walk from downtown Cambridge. Great pizza and wings at Stoked. Don’t miss the RAR brewery.

Annapolis is always fun, stay at Mears on Back Creek or the Annapolis Yacht Basin. Both are an easy walk to downtown. Lots of great bars and restaurants. I like the Boatyard and Davis’ Pub.
Thank you so much for the info.
 
Personally, I would do Atlantic City to Baltimore in one shot. At my pokey 23 knot cruise it’s about a +/-7 hour trip depending a bit on current. I would consider Chesapeake City a good stop only if you need to stop, it’s geographically convenient, but not a destination in and of itself. Baltimore is a destination, as are the other ports you mention. Push a bit on day one and enjoy your time on the Chesapeake.

Try to catch the current, which can be 1.5 knots on the Delaware, 2 knots in the C&D canal, and 1+ in the bay. And as previously noted, you may have to slow down when wind and current are in opposition on the Delaware.

Enjoy!
Thank you so much for the info.
 

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