Potomac River Stops recommended to make

[Gimme Time]

Headed to DC for the weekend/week of the 4th of July going up the River from the Bay. Would love to know where/what you recommend as good stops for overnight, dinning lunch or dinner.

 

[CJ Martin]

Lower Potomac, Port Kinsale marina. We haven't been further upriver in several years.

-CJ

 

[PlayDate]

It is a nice ride from the bay.....about 90 miles to D.C.. You get a real sense of what it must have been like to bring a boat with sails that distance. While there are some places to stop along the way, there isn't much to see at those stops. It simply depends if you want to make it a two-day trip or not.

If you get an early start and the weather is good, you will make DC in 5 hours or so. Along the way you will pass over a sunken U-Boat (nothing to see), Mt Vernon on your port side, some really beautiful homes, and a number of civil war forts which guard the river.

Fort Washington is the last of the civil war forts as you approach Alexandria. It will be on your starboard side (I hit a "Potomac alligator" (log) there and lost a prop near there). The Fort Washington Marina is located there and they can lift your boat if the need arises.

My choice would be to stay overnight at National Harbor, which is a little further North, if they have space. That is a great facility, shopping, fuel and resturants. National Harbor is also on you starboard side as you approach the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

You can take a water taxi from National Harbor to Alexandria and tour Old Town which is pretty amazing.

Then you can head up river (a few miles) to Georgetown, The Washington Channel and have a great view of the monuments.

-John

 

[Gunn]

Along the way you will pass over a sunken U-Boat (nothing to see),

It is worth the quick stop though on your way through...a large white buoy marks the spot where 90ft. down rests a German U-boat from WWII.

Last I heard was that Mt. Vernon lets you dock for the day @ 2.00/ft, and you can't stay overnight.

St. Mary's Yachting Center, just a little ways up the St. Mary's River (Maryland side) has decent overnight facilities, swimming pool, a restaurant and tiki bar. It's basically across the Potomac from Port Kinsale.

I've been to National Harbor a few times by car. Beautiful area; everything in the new "town" is within walking distance of the marina.

Have fun!

 

[Redhook98]

You can stop at Colonial Beach. It is the last deeper water port and actual town on the water before you hit DC. Great little marinas and such. Recommend the Colonial Beach Yacht Center. Thats where I keep my boat. Great bar and restaurant there.

Port Kinsale is also great!

 

[alnav]

One detail you need to make sure you have covered for your visit. The District of Columbia requires all boat operators to have completed a boating safety course. The water police will check for it and you'll get a citation without evidence of having completed one. BoatUS's online course qualifies.

 

[Al Gross]

Yesterday 10:06 PMGimme Time
Potomac River Stops recommended to make

Headed to DC for the weekend/week of the 4th of July going up the River from the Bay. Would love to know where/what you recommend as good stops for overnight, dinning lunch or dinner.

Agree 1000% on National Harbor, but unlikely you'll get slips for 4th at this late date. National Harbor only has I believe 9 transient slips, but if you can get a slip, it is well worth it. Chris the harbor master is great and there certainly is plenty to do. Suggest you research on-line. We like it so much that we try to do it 1-3 times per year.

 

[Gimme Time]

Gentlemen,

Many thanks for the info and suggestions. Probably will hit Colonial Beach either Friday or Saturday weather depending for fuel for the little boat Hoo's All Over the Bay that will lead if it's smooth or follow otherwise. We will probably spend the night as there is no reason to be in DC before Sunday most likely. Probably will drop anchor in the Washington Channel and use tender to go ashore.

Boating courses all in order and will have documentation with us as we are sure to get boarded somewhere along the way.

 

[Hoo'sdave]

Does anybody else have any help full information.

 

[themikehyde]

Recommend Monroe bay marina if the yacht club is full. Nice new wide slips, deep water and reasonable. A little shorter walk to things in the town and they will be doing fireworks Saturday night, as opposed to the town which will be doing them on the actual fourth. Plus, c-dock is having a dock party that night.

 

[Redhook98]

Does anybody else have any help full information.

Not sure what else your looking for??? There is really only one "town" on the water between the mouth of the Potomac and DC. That is Colonial Beach. The rest are just nice marinas to stop at, or bars on the water. The info you see above is, well, pretty much it. You have Colonial Beach, national Harbor and Alexandria for towns to stop at. You have Kinsale, Coles Point, Tims-2, Gilligans and a few others for playing at.

 

[Hoo'sdave]

Many thanks for the info and suggestions.

 

[Gunn]

So this past weekend we headed up to "Sharks Tooth Island" for the first time. It may not be a destination stop for non-locals heading to D.C., but we found it a great place to hang out for a few hours. We were easily able drop anchor and back stern to within about 15-20ft of the beach in a couple of feet of water. Nice long sandy beach, and yes, there are plenty of shark's teeth to be found. There were a dozen or more boats there when we arrived, but plenty of personal space for everyone. It's in Nomini bay right across from St. Clement's Island on the Virginia side (may be called Hollis Island on charts?).

Speaking of, St. Clement's Island is also a nice stop for an hour or so. There's a pier on the south east side that leads right up to some tourist information about the island and the newly built replica lighthouse. Nice beach too.

 

[blaster]

My daughter has been begging me to go to shark tooth island. It's a long haul from occoquan though and I am considering trailering down there but I really don't want to go down 95 because of the traffic. Should I just burn 50 gallons of gas on the water or is it worth while to trailer down? I have been down to Pt. Lookout on the water and if the weather turns it can be a really slow trip back up the Potomac.

 

[Mikemapva]

Gunn,

Did the person who supposedly owns Shark Tooth Island try to charge you a fee? I've heard that he charges boaters an annual fee to use the island. We stopped there a couple of years ago and managed to avoid paying, but I'm not sure if that is still in place or not.

Mike

 

[Gunn]

Gunn,

Did the person who supposedly owns Shark Tooth Island try to charge you a fee? I've heard that he charges boaters an annual fee to use the island. We stopped there a couple of years ago and managed to avoid paying, but I'm not sure if that is still in place or not.

Mike

No, that person was not around that day. But it was our first trip. We heard from friends who have been there a few times that it is hit or miss. At worst he'll give you a sheet detailing the fee or whatever and let you enjoy it for the day. But remember, the water and beach are public property up to the mean high tide line, so at worst, you still get to enjoy the main part! I don't think I went much higher than a couple feet onto the beach anyway... But there are signs "Members Only", "Private", etc. up and down the beach...

As far as the 50 mile ride in a 205 bowrider, that would be iffy. If you've been down to Point Lookout, then you know it can be done though I guess. I was always leary of going that distance in my 175, it was a once or twice a year trip to St. Clements. It's a pretty comfortable trip in the 280DA on near every day. When we visited, there were ~2' whitecaps from Ragged Point to the Island...

 

[themikehyde]

Gunn, Isn't the property line at MLW (Mean Low Water?) We were there twice in the past month and had a blast, although we never got on the beach, just anchored and hung out in the water. Our kids did go up to the "Tiki-Tent" that someone had set up. I think we will probably become members next year.

From Occoquan to Nomini would be a nice ride in a 20' on a good day. The problem is, on a bad day it could become an "interesting" ride. Heck, I have had rought rides in our 28 many times in the Potomac. If you go, just stay tuned to the weather. I would leave your truck/trailer hooked up and the keys with someone who can come get you if it turns nasty. I have had to do that more than once with my 21 several years ago.

 

[blaster]

Thanks for the advise. It's good to have a backup plan. I have been to Cobb Island several times over the years but I don't go any further than that. When I went to point lookout that was back in 94 when I had my 18 foot stingray. I camped out at Sea Side View for a couple days in early october. It was quite an adventure. I made it down in 3 hours on a nice day and I couldn't understand why everyone I told was shocked I made it so far south from Occoquan. I met some really great people and the fishing was excellent and I didn't want to leave. Unfortunately the weather turned the day of my return and I fought a head sea from a 20 knott north wind. My stingray had a removable ridgid fiberglass bow cover. That thing was very handy in the 4' chop I fought for a good 20 miles. Things finally calmed some and I could make way on plane but it still jolted my kidneys. 3 hours down and 8 hours back.