Atlantic highlands, raritan bay area marina

[Calypso]

I'm looking to get closer to home. We live in the Allentown Pa area and we are about 2 hrs to the highlands. Are there any marinas with a pool and/or kid friendly as our girl will be one next year and we'd like other things to do than just stay on the boat (we stay every weekend but don't go out much right now). We are also looking at the northern Chesapeake as it's also 2 hrs. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[Mike B]

Calypso, if you're considering the northern Chesapeake then look into Havre D' Grace or the marinas at Georgetown on the Sassafras River. We live in Hatfield and it used to take us 1:45 to get to Skipjack Cove. There are a half dozen other marinas within spitting distance, many with pools for the kids. The Sassafras is a beautiful river but it will take you apx 45 mins to get to more open water at the rivers mouth. Another 30 mins to actually reach the bay. While you can sail on the river it's narrow and the power boat traffic is constant. On the plus side are the beaches across from Skipjack where you can dinghy the kids, dog, family to shallow water and enjoy a swim, cold beer, etc. Not to mention some of the best starry night skies and gorgeous sunsets. I mentioned Havre D' Grace and it too is a nice place but more limited in beach areas to go play on. It too is a long way to more open water. Not sure what impact the recent storms and all the silt flow will have on the Susquehanna flats but I'm betting it wont be an improvement that's for sure. That I know of there's really only one marina, Tidewater Marina, unless you go upstream to Port Deposit. Others on the site will be able to give more detailed info on options on the area. Good luck with your search.
Mike

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Frankly, I'd be surprised if you found any nice ammenities.

I looked into marinas at the Highlands and found several problems. Prices are very high. Available slips seem to be very scarce. Amenities, other than a slip, are virtually non-existent.

I could be wrong, so I will be happy to hear an alternative point of view.

I think that the sailing in Sandy Hook Bay is probably pretty good so I fully understand the desirability.

Besides that, after a long drive from Allentown, the last place I would want to complete the drive is that looooong, traffic-light infested stretch from the Parkway to Atlantic Highlands via Route 36. I would guess that there are far more options further south in Barnegat Bay or even south of there with better accessibility.

I wonder if it is easy to find available slips or moorings anywhere on Raritan Bay or near Sandy Hook without going to Staten Island. Our boat came from Sea Bright and was located at a Marina on the Shrewsbury River. It took two lifting bridges to get out to sea - but now only one as the gateway to Sandy Hook has been re-built with higher clearance. There is sailing on the Shrewsbury and Navesink for shallow draft boats.

Did you know that the high point over Sandy Hook Bay in Atlantic Highlands is the highest point on the Atlantic coast from Maine all the way down to the Yucatan Peninsula? It's a bluff that is only about 250' high. Great view of NYC on a clear day.

 

[Deadhead]

Ditto the Sassafras

I also recommend the Sassafras River. I live in Bethlehem and it is 2 hours portal to portal from my doorstep to Georgetown Yacht Basin. Like you say Atlantic Highlands on a summer Friday is probably close to the same time.

Georgetown has a nice pool, air conditioned bath houses, paddle boats & kayaks free of charge, the Kitty Knight House restaurant onsite and a water taxi to the restaurants at Skipjack Cove & the Granary. Not to mention an excellent chandlery.

Skipjack is also nice but I don't think they have a chandlery. Although I got an e-mail from Skipjack a couple of days ago offering 50% off on a slip for next season. (I have heard they are under new ownership and are doing all they can to lure new customers.)

Like Mike says it is a bit of a hike to the sailing area (45 minutes or so); however, I don't find that too much of an issue. There are nice anchorages at Still Pond & Worton Creek (see pic) that are only a couple of hours away. A little farther are the Swan Creek & Magothy River. (Beats sailing out to Ambrose Light & back on a regular basis.)

 

[Calypso]

Deadhead, can you tell me your route to the sassafras? Also 45 minutes? At what speed? I really liked Skipjack cove and my wife liked Georgetown yacht.

 

[Blitz]

The Highlands is where I keep my boat. Even kept it in the water over the Hurricane with no problems - granted, we were lucky. No you are not going to get a pool or added amenities like they have on the Chesapeake but you are going to get a lot more wind in Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay and out in the Ocean. So if you like getting out on the water - it's ok. You will need to venture along the shore to amusement parks for your little ones entertainment.

Yes, the area is sort of expensive, but that's the costs and plenty of fishermen take up slips for thousands of dollars for the few keepers each weekend that they get. Slips are available if you ask around, and now is the time everyone is putting deposits down on next year's slip. If you can do a mooring, call up the local clubs in Keyport, Atlantic Highlands or Perth Amboy. I have even heard good things about the Liberty marina in Jersey City across from NY City. Wind is usually good near the city - take a look at buoy data from Robin's Reef.

I'm sure you'll get some traffic along the way, but many people do come from PA to sail out of Atlantic Highlands. I wouldn't go to Staten Island - just more traffic that way but there are some clubs and marinas along the south shore.

Hope this helps

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Blitz ...

do you race your boat in that area or do you belong to Atlantic Highlands YC?

I've recently thought about moving our boat back to Sea Bright ... does the new bridge make a difference?