I am wanting to move a sailboat by water from the upper NJ area and get into the Chesapeake bay by water with the mast up and not do much traveling in the Atlantic?
Is it possible to motor a sailboat from NJ to Chesapeake Bay
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Re: Is it possible to motor a sailboat from NJ to Chesapeake
If you can get to the Delaware River, or make it around Cape May, you can take the canal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_and_Delaware_Canal
If you can get to the Delaware River, or make it around Cape May, you can take the canal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_and_Delaware_Canal
Re: Is it possible to motor a sailboat from NJ to Chesapeake
RE: Is it possible..............Yes, many things are possible.
Coming through the Cape May canal can be very exciting due to fast power boats and big wakes. Several years ago we were passed so quickly and closely that we did not have time to turn our 34 Oday's bow to the oncoming wake. Consequently, we found ourselves surfing the wake toward the edge of the canal! Scarey! No one hurt and no boat damage, but we called that boat operator many names and none of them were Captain!
Other than that......bring a good chart of the areas, bring a VHF radio, watch for bridge openings (the rail road bridge is a low one), and check the tide tables to use the tide to your advantage going up the Delaware Bay. Not too many places to duck in , so check the weather. The Cohancy River is interesting, but it is a "snake path" in to the marina.
C&D canal is a "no sail" area and tidal current can be formidable. Bring lots of fuel and plan your stops. Chesapeake City is a good stop with restaurants, docking, and an anchorage. Nice shops depending on the time you get there.
Upper Bay...Eastern Shore... Stop by the Bohemia River and say hello! We will be in the middle one of the three marinas. We bought a boat yesterday and will move it from south of Annapolis later this week.
Best Wishes, Phil
RE: Is it possible..............Yes, many things are possible.
Coming through the Cape May canal can be very exciting due to fast power boats and big wakes. Several years ago we were passed so quickly and closely that we did not have time to turn our 34 Oday's bow to the oncoming wake. Consequently, we found ourselves surfing the wake toward the edge of the canal! Scarey! No one hurt and no boat damage, but we called that boat operator many names and none of them were Captain!
Other than that......bring a good chart of the areas, bring a VHF radio, watch for bridge openings (the rail road bridge is a low one), and check the tide tables to use the tide to your advantage going up the Delaware Bay. Not too many places to duck in , so check the weather. The Cohancy River is interesting, but it is a "snake path" in to the marina.
C&D canal is a "no sail" area and tidal current can be formidable. Bring lots of fuel and plan your stops. Chesapeake City is a good stop with restaurants, docking, and an anchorage. Nice shops depending on the time you get there.
Upper Bay...Eastern Shore... Stop by the Bohemia River and say hello! We will be in the middle one of the three marinas. We bought a boat yesterday and will move it from south of Annapolis later this week.
Best Wishes, Phil
Re: Is it possible to motor a sailboat from NJ to Chesapeake
At a quart an hour and 20 gal (guessing here) that would give you max endurance of 80 hours. guessing that you can maintain 4 knots that would mean 240 miles. That is a lot of guessing and some very optimistic cruising speeds. I'd say that it is not possible under motor alone simply due to the lack of sufficient fuel tank size. using the same numbers a 5 gal jerry can will extend your range about 80 miles.
The current in the Deleware Bay are 3-4 knots so if you get there at the wrong time you could be motoring just to stay in place for 6 hours. Not the best use of fuel IMHO
At a quart an hour and 20 gal (guessing here) that would give you max endurance of 80 hours. guessing that you can maintain 4 knots that would mean 240 miles. That is a lot of guessing and some very optimistic cruising speeds. I'd say that it is not possible under motor alone simply due to the lack of sufficient fuel tank size. using the same numbers a 5 gal jerry can will extend your range about 80 miles.
The current in the Deleware Bay are 3-4 knots so if you get there at the wrong time you could be motoring just to stay in place for 6 hours. Not the best use of fuel IMHO
Re: Is it possible to motor a sailboat from NJ to Chesapeake
If the boat draws less than 5' it is possible to go on the inside from Manasquan to Cape May. From there you can take the Cape May canal into the Delaware Bay and to cross into the Chesapeake Bay through the C&D Canal. Like Bill indicates it is imperative you time the tidal currents in the Delaware Bay as besides the possibility of sailing into a standstill the ride can be miserably uncorfomtable. The Delaware Bay has been dubbed as the "home of the square wave" which gets formed when the strong current faces an opposing wind. Careful with the heavy traffic in the Bay. We did the leg from Atlantic City to Manasquan without never touching bottom and understand from locals that from Cape May to Atalantic City can be done as well. Being from Florida we are not afraid of bouncing on the bottom here and there.
If the boat draws less than 5' it is possible to go on the inside from Manasquan to Cape May. From there you can take the Cape May canal into the Delaware Bay and to cross into the Chesapeake Bay through the C&D Canal. Like Bill indicates it is imperative you time the tidal currents in the Delaware Bay as besides the possibility of sailing into a standstill the ride can be miserably uncorfomtable. The Delaware Bay has been dubbed as the "home of the square wave" which gets formed when the strong current faces an opposing wind. Careful with the heavy traffic in the Bay. We did the leg from Atlantic City to Manasquan without never touching bottom and understand from locals that from Cape May to Atalantic City can be done as well. Being from Florida we are not afraid of bouncing on the bottom here and there.
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Several years ago
I brought a boat back to Louisiana from Keyport, New Jersey. I looked long and hard for an inland route to the Deleware Bay. I don't think there is one. With that size boat, it might be possible, but I don't think so. How bout you trailer it to the Deleware River. That would be a short, quick and easy trip. I went down the coast outside to Cape May. Wouldn't want to do that in your size boat.
I brought a boat back to Louisiana from Keyport, New Jersey. I looked long and hard for an inland route to the Deleware Bay. I don't think there is one. With that size boat, it might be possible, but I don't think so. How bout you trailer it to the Deleware River. That would be a short, quick and easy trip. I went down the coast outside to Cape May. Wouldn't want to do that in your size boat.
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