Advice needed on finding Transient dockage, in advance.

[John E3]

Now that we've done a few shakedown cruises (new to us bigger boat, and post emergency engine rebuild), we are looking to make a trip to Annapolis this coming weekend. I've got lots of time on the water (like, since I was born in '59), but near zero experience with transient docking with my own boat. We boated the Delaware for many years with our last boat, but rarely docked anywhere other than gas and pump out.
I certainly understand the process but we wanted to reserve space so we know we have a place when we get there. We've looked at the usual websites, and all we get is 'nothing found'. I was reading a couple nights ago that The City dock manages Fawcetts dock now, and they take reservations there, but for the life of me, I can't find that webpage again. It might be a website issue as when I go to my browser history from that night the link that looks right gets a 404 not found error.
Anyone have some advice on making reservations, for Annapolis in particular? Our plan is to spend about 4 hours there.

 

[techmitch]

Here ya go. https://www.snagaslip.com/explore?utf8=✓&st=city&marina[keyword]=Annapolis
Safe travels.

 

[mdolesh]

If you want to get a slip in ego alley or a mooring ball there contact the harbor master. There is an online form but its way easier to just call them. https://www.annapolis.gov/165/Harbormaster

 

[John E3]

Here ya go. https://www.snagaslip.com/explore?utf8=✓&st=city&marina[keyword]=Annapolis
Safe travels.

Thanks for the info. I hadn't found snagaslip, but another was not very helpful.

If you want to get a slip in ego alley or a mooring ball there contact the harbor master. There is an online form but its way easier to just call them. https://www.annapolis.gov/165/Harbormaster

I had read that the City Dock does not take reservations, but this suggests otherwise. We're going to give this a try.
Thanks!

 

[mdolesh]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't found snagaslip, but another was not very helpful.

I had read that the City Dock does not take reservations, but this suggests otherwise. We're going to give this a try.
Thanks!

They take reservations. I have one for next weekend.

 

[techmitch]

This is a good aid for finding marinas that you may or may not be aware of.
https://marinas.com/map/Annapolis M...ndmark&style=dockwa/cja1gtn25aemq2rt24d01c57w

 

[Pirate Lady]

I got a friend who always puts ‘Doctor’ in front of his name when reserving. Never ever had a problem. He repos cars for a living.

 

[John E3]

City Dock only take overnight reservations. Transient is FC/FS.

 

[mdolesh]

City Dock only take overnight reservations. Transient is FC/FS.

John - I think its a 3-hour maximum on transient. Might want to check with them. If you wanted 4 hours or more it might be worth reserving a slip for the night for $100 or so and not have to be on a schedule. OR...just stay the night =)

 

[John E3]

John - I think its a 3-hour maximum on transient. Might want to check with them. If you wanted 4 hours or more it might be worth reserving a slip for the night for $100 or so and not have to be on a schedule. OR...just stay the night =)

$4/ft over night, check in 1pm. We will be there earlier. $152 for our 38ft
$10/hr, max 4hrs, for transient.
Min cost is $40 for any stay.

We have guests onboard, and dogs at home, so overnight is not an option on this trip.

https://www.annapolis.gov/180/Reserved-Dockage
https://www.annapolis.gov/178/First-Come-First-Serve

Lots of other options, but the City Dock is far away the better choice. Most everything else is on Back Creek.

 

[mdolesh]

Sounds good! Enjoy!

 

[quality time]

For future transient trips to other marinas download the Dockwa app. I'm not a fan of Snagaslip but sometimes you don't have a choice. The majority of Chesapeake Bay marinas are on Dockwa.

 

[techmitch]

For future transient trips to other marinas download the Dockwa app. I'm not a fan of Snagaslip but sometimes you don't have a choice. The majority of Chesapeake Bay marinas are on Dockwa.

That's the one I couldn't remember.

 

[FootballFan]

active captain is dead as far as good crowd sourced cruising data, but it still shows where the marinas are with contact locations.

Waterway guide - which integrates nicely into some of the apps (such as aquamaps) also identifies marinas with contact info.

I use dockwa when I have to. Some marinas we frequent will only go through dockwa, so I use it.

 

[Richard Carlisle]

Dockwa, Snag-A-Slip and just calling marinas at our intended destination. Marina info’s on Navionix and probably AquaMaps. Finding transient space same day is really hard, but if you book a few days out, you could easily be delayed. Some marinas will still bill your card if you don’t show up. We had marinas lined up spaced about 60-80miles apart, then this storm delayed us almost 2 weeks.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Dockwa is great. Last summer we booked a holiday multi day slip. About a day before, the weather went to hell. Canceled and Dockwa had our funds credited to visa in an hour.

 

[Skybolt]

Just to be clear about Ego Alley, they do take reservations but it cost almost $1 more per foot to get them. Unless they changed it this year, they don't want to deal with reservations. They are also not on any of the apps, Snag-A-Slip or Dockwa.

If you want to stay in Annapolis, the Yacht Basin is a nice place to stay, right next to Pussers. But there is no place to walk your dog, if you have one.

 

[John E3]

We made a successful trip over, hardly anyone out on the bay, a little busier at Spa Creek, got gas, looked at empty spots in ego alley, only to be turned away. Grabbed a ball and had a great afternoon.
My BIL lives nearby and graduated from the Naval Academy, so he came and gave a great guided tour of the city.
Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Richard Carlisle]

It’s kind of like when you walk into a restaurant, see rooms full of empty tables, yet there is a 1 hour wait.

Marinas rent seasonal and annual slips. Some keep very few available for transient and they fill up fast. All of those empty slips you see are rented on seasonal or annual contracts.

 

[John E3]

It’s kind of like when you walk into a restaurant, see rooms full of empty tables, yet there is a 1 hour wait.

Marinas rent seasonal and annual slips. Some keep very few available for transient and they fill up fast. All of those empty slips you see are rented on seasonal or annual contracts.

That is more like a "post pandemic" view of restaurants, due to lack of staff. A couple small places around us don't even open on occasion due to lack of staff.

Ego Alley is all transient dockage, owned and managed by the City.

Clarify got turned away? Harbor Master?

Yes, we were told no space available, in spite of FCFS. We watched the empty spaces fill as we sat at Pussers for lunch.
We barely got a ball too. There were at least 6 when we hit the gas dock. By the time we got over there and snagged one, there was only 1 more left. We tried to just stay at AYB but they only do overnight.