Havre De Grace Municipal Marina

rpwillia · Sep 19, 2011

My $0.02

We bought our boat in Havre De Grace and the only experience I have is I recall it took an hour to 45 minutes to get to the bay. OTOH, HDG is one of my favorite places to visit as there were two restaurants in town that were excellent (just up the street on the North from Tidewater Marina) and the people and town were nice.

RichH · Sep 19, 2011

Id wait until the upper Ches. is re-surveyed due to the major recent flooding on the Susquehanna. In 1972 a flood of equal size and volume doubled in size what is known as the Susquehanna Flats .... and the long 'channel' that now runs from HdG to the 'sailable' bay essentially doubled in length to the 'bay'. Before 1972 you could sail directly from HdG and North East, etc. now after 1972 the water is 'very thin' in that area by essentially an additional 4 sq. miles that 'filled' in during the 1972 flood.

That 30 minutes you save now may be needing an additional 30-45 minutes of extra travel down the HdG channel ... to the sailable bay. It will take some time to discover/ascertain how much or how little the bottom of the upper bay has changed due to the recent mega-flood on the Susquehanna basin.
;-)

Ross · Sep 19, 2011

There are several good restrurants here and a casino up on the hill above Perryville. Up river above the bridges the fishing is good. Be sure to use the chart and your depth sounder. much of the water is quite thin. While you are waiting for a slip at the town docks Oqens across the river at Perryville has a few vacant slips.
Fresh water is good 12 years and I have never found a barincle.

Ross · Sep 19, 2011

Where the flood water left silt at Owens it ranged to 3 inches but the current was fairly swift. About a half inch in the floors in the bath houses. It is about the same distance from HdG to Turkey Point as it is from North East harbors to Turkey point. I always enjoy the ride down the channel most of it is sailable if there isn't too much traffic. On weekends there is always too much traffic in the summertime.

RichH · Sep 19, 2011

So, you enjoy the 'drive' of about 6 miles from HdG to North East? Id rather be sailing.

regards
:-o

Manny · Sep 19, 2011

I spent two seasons at Havre de Grace and I really enjoyed the town. For me it was a great introduction to the bay, and a world of difference from sailing the Delaware River. The town dock is definitely the best deal in town as far as marinas and the promenade has great cheeseburgers and milkshakes. There is a great triangle for day sailing from the Town marina across to Perry Point and up to the bridge. Just got to watch for the moored barges. Up the Susquehanna theres some nice sailing also but you cant go too close to the dam, it gets a bit thin. Traveling down the channel to the bay can take quite some time and it is narrow. I've hit bottom a few times just a few feet outside the channel, but fortunately its soft mud. If you want to go anywhere, Sassafras, Worton's Creek, Fairlee Creek, or Still pond, it is a very long trip to get there at 5 or 6 knots.
If I can make a suggestion, not knowing where you live, check out the Middle River area. Marinas are plentiful and reasonably priced. A large sailboat community resides there and theres great sailing and quick access to the bay. If I motor at 5 knots I can make it to Fairlee in about 2 1/2 hours, sailed back in a good blow once in under 2! Rock hall is about 3 1/2 hours at 5 knots (made it back in 3 hrs in a good blow with too much canvas up), Baltimore inner harbor 4 hrs at 5 knots. Annapolis is not too far either, I think about 5 hours.
The drive for us was only an additional 20 minutes further than HdG but well worth it for the sailing. That being said I do miss the town, but there are nice restaurants and other attractions around Middle River, like a drive in Movie theater! There are at least 3 or 4 restaurants that have slips so you can tie up and have dinner. At Hart Miller island (a very popular spot to anchor and swim there is a boat that comes out and sells all kinds of food.

M

THECUSCUS · Sep 20, 2011

Having said you sailed in the North East river, why not checkout a slip there? It's closer than HDG and there are plenty of nice friendly places to keep your boat (Bay Boat Works, North East River Yacht Club, Hances Point Yacht Club to name afew). The town of North East has some good eateries, a West Marine and plenty of stores for provisioning. Oh, and you won't have any tolls to pay to get there (unlike the $5 to get across the river to HDG)! One more good point (since all the recent flooding) for NE is you don't have to worry about all the crap that comes down the Susquehanna during stormy weather.

Manny · Sep 20, 2011

Save your money, you can buy a sticker for the Hatem bridge. It went up, I think it's 10 bucks now and it is good for a year.
I think there is only one marina with a pool at HdG, it is at Heron Harbor.
One negative about HdG is the spiders, what a nightmare. I don't miss that at all.
Like I mentioned, take a look at middle river. I know there's a couple of places with pools.

M

MLampner · Sep 20, 2011

Love HdG, is a nice town to walk around in and the sail in from the bay dependent on wind and what you draw is as someone else said very do able.

Middle River is nice as well its where we currently tie up. Easy to get to Baltimore Harbor or up to Harve de Grace. ROad time can be an issue.

Ross · Sep 20, 2011

Owen's has a pool. Year round fees total about 2000. The toll decal is 10 dollars this year, goes to an easy pass good for that bridge only, next year for a fixed 20 per year and no service charge. Owen's is about fifteen minutes longer drive than Hance's Point from the intersection at North East. I have friends at Red Point so I have often checked the time from Perryville to North East and from North East to Red Point.

JimGo · Sep 20, 2011

I was out at Hance's Point a few weeks ago to look at a boat - that area is beautiful. TONS of sailboats all over, and lots of quiet. I was really amazed, because it really isn't that far off of 95. If my in-laws didn't have a home at the NJ shore, I'd be sorely tempted to keep a boat there.

Dan Johnson · Sep 21, 2011

Calypso...

In your search for a sailing port, give consideration to the North East River Yacht Club in North East (on the river between McDaniels and Hances Point). We have a very active sailing program for racing and cruising, and a summer sail camp for the youngsters. We have a number of young families as well as "old salts" like me.

True, "deep Bay" is about an hour and half ride down the river, but day sailing on the river is possible over a wide area, especially with your shoal draft boat, and its just off the dock. Many good locations "down Bay" are a half day's sail away. We have reciprocity with other Clubs, making overnighting a reasonable proposition compared to many of the commercial marinas.

Contact me for more info if you're interested.

Dan Johnson · Sep 21, 2011

Calypso...

If Linda or Josie don't call you back from NERYC today or tomorrow, let me know and I'll get a prospect kit out to you ASAP to whereever you direct.

RichH · Sep 21, 2011

Calypso -
I would strongly advise to minimize travel along the 'I-95' corridor, as at 'rush hour' or on weekends it can be mostly 'crawling' bumper to bumper and your travel time will be greatly 'enhanced'.
I too live near Allentown in N. Bucks and over the years have come to 'despise' I95 and simply minimized that hassle by moving my boat to the upper eastern shore (Worton Creek) as the total travel time, including motoring 'out to the bay in my boat' was actually reduced although the driving distance increased. Once you leave I95 in eastern Del, (going 'down' Del 1 and then to US 301) the roads are mostly rural and not as crowded as you will find from the Newark area 'all the way down' on I95; the toll booths on the Del/Md borders are 'the greatest problem' when the traffic is 'heavy'. My travel time from N. Bucks to "Worton" is typically 2 1/2 hours ... less if I wait for the 'rush' to subside, and under 2 hrs when - real early or real late in the day and when the roads are 'relatively empty'.

Being at the very head of bay leaves you with only one direction to sail - south.
Being in the middle of the Upper Eastern Shore ... you can go north, south or 'across'.
;-)