I am relocating to Northern Virginia (Fairfax County) for the Boston, MA area. Need marina for my Hunter 32. Suggestions and any info appreciated Thanks, Randy
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Contact Laura Dent
Suggest you contact Laura Dent - see Hunter 30 directories as she is acquainted with many of them in that area. If you can't find her email address, email me. Jim
Suggest you contact Laura Dent - see Hunter 30 directories as she is acquainted with many of them in that area. If you can't find her email address, email me. Jim
Contact Laura Dent
She and Stan live in Warrenton to your west. They have tried several marinas convenient to the area. If you can't access her email address via the directory, email me, or post such here, and I will have her contact you. Jim
She and Stan live in Warrenton to your west. They have tried several marinas convenient to the area. If you can't access her email address via the directory, email me, or post such here, and I will have her contact you. Jim
Lots to Choose
Randy, I live in Ashburn, VA (Loudoun County) near Dulles Airport and was in your position this past spring with my H34. Your first decision is the Potomac or the Chesapeake. The size of your boat suggests the Chesapeake. From Baltimore (north) to Solomons Island (south) there's lots to choose from. The first thing I did was get a copy of Chesapeake Bay magazine and looked at all the ads. The next thing was a copy of Spin Sheet magazine to do the same. This gave me lots of places to call and to look at. I then took off with one of my kids and combed the area. A good place to start is Annapolis. If you want a big time sailing town this is definitly it. It's a great place. Great sailors, great restaurants, has everything a sailor needs, but there's lots of traffic and it's very, very pricy. To the north of Annapolis towards Baltimore is heavily populated. Lots of marinas there. To the south of Annapolis is beautiful country, much less populated, and very laid back (I'm from NY). I chose a marina near Deale, MD. I'm about five miles (by water, 15 miles by land) south of Annapolis off the West River. There are many, many marina's in my area. I'm at a small family owned marina and my slip cost me $140 per month. There are no services other than showers and a pumpout but right next door is a full service marina. As is the case everywhere else some marina's offer everything from a pool, picnic area's, restaurants, fuel, pump out, yard, mechanics, etc to the ones like mine. I like mine because I get a nice marina at a good good price and don't pay for the extras. When I need them I literally go next door. There are lots of small marina's like the one I'm in right next to bigger marina's. As far as proximity from Fairfax County the closest marinas will be in Annapolis and south. From Ashburn it takes me just over an hour to get to Deale, MD. Here's how it breaks down: Annapolis: 1 hr
Randy, I live in Ashburn, VA (Loudoun County) near Dulles Airport and was in your position this past spring with my H34. Your first decision is the Potomac or the Chesapeake. The size of your boat suggests the Chesapeake. From Baltimore (north) to Solomons Island (south) there's lots to choose from. The first thing I did was get a copy of Chesapeake Bay magazine and looked at all the ads. The next thing was a copy of Spin Sheet magazine to do the same. This gave me lots of places to call and to look at. I then took off with one of my kids and combed the area. A good place to start is Annapolis. If you want a big time sailing town this is definitly it. It's a great place. Great sailors, great restaurants, has everything a sailor needs, but there's lots of traffic and it's very, very pricy. To the north of Annapolis towards Baltimore is heavily populated. Lots of marinas there. To the south of Annapolis is beautiful country, much less populated, and very laid back (I'm from NY). I chose a marina near Deale, MD. I'm about five miles (by water, 15 miles by land) south of Annapolis off the West River. There are many, many marina's in my area. I'm at a small family owned marina and my slip cost me $140 per month. There are no services other than showers and a pumpout but right next door is a full service marina. As is the case everywhere else some marina's offer everything from a pool, picnic area's, restaurants, fuel, pump out, yard, mechanics, etc to the ones like mine. I like mine because I get a nice marina at a good good price and don't pay for the extras. When I need them I literally go next door. There are lots of small marina's like the one I'm in right next to bigger marina's. As far as proximity from Fairfax County the closest marinas will be in Annapolis and south. From Ashburn it takes me just over an hour to get to Deale, MD. Here's how it breaks down: Annapolis: 1 hr
Definately Chesapeake
I live in DC and keep my 37.5 off the West River too, opposite side from Joe on the Rhode River. You really have to consider the highway traffic around here (one of the worst in the country)and your use patterns to make the best decision. Like Joe M says, Annapolis is great but very expensive and hard to come by. You need to get on the waiting lists now for next season. (Port Annapolis, Annapolis Landing, Mears). Galesville/West River is great and there are a number of marinas, also with waiting lists. A good temporary spot is Libery Marina on the South River (close to us.) Lots of power boats but they always have space and will do short term leases, I think. There's a lot of boat traffic throught there (i.e., wake) which is why I think they have a lot of turnover. Driving from VA to the bay is always a challenge because of the beltway traffic. The Potomac is nice, but it's a long drive (generally) by boat down to big water on the bay. Email me if you want more information. dcdon@hotmail.com
I live in DC and keep my 37.5 off the West River too, opposite side from Joe on the Rhode River. You really have to consider the highway traffic around here (one of the worst in the country)and your use patterns to make the best decision. Like Joe M says, Annapolis is great but very expensive and hard to come by. You need to get on the waiting lists now for next season. (Port Annapolis, Annapolis Landing, Mears). Galesville/West River is great and there are a number of marinas, also with waiting lists. A good temporary spot is Libery Marina on the South River (close to us.) Lots of power boats but they always have space and will do short term leases, I think. There's a lot of boat traffic throught there (i.e., wake) which is why I think they have a lot of turnover. Driving from VA to the bay is always a challenge because of the beltway traffic. The Potomac is nice, but it's a long drive (generally) by boat down to big water on the bay. Email me if you want more information. dcdon@hotmail.com
Shipwright Harbor
We also live in Fairfax county near Dulles airport. There are many excllent marinas on the bay. Our boat is kept in Deale, MD at Shipwright Harbor. We found it to be the closest to our home and the bay. Shipwright harbor offers full services, pool etc, and is a very social place. The managment throws parties, cookouts and such. It is located on Herring bay which has direct access to the bay, not to crowded but yet convinet to alot of locations. There are several marinas there that are great.
We also live in Fairfax county near Dulles airport. There are many excllent marinas on the bay. Our boat is kept in Deale, MD at Shipwright Harbor. We found it to be the closest to our home and the bay. Shipwright harbor offers full services, pool etc, and is a very social place. The managment throws parties, cookouts and such. It is located on Herring bay which has direct access to the bay, not to crowded but yet convinet to alot of locations. There are several marinas there that are great.
Anywhere in Annapolis! Try Mears.
Anywhere in Annapolis will be grat for you. I had my C-30 at Mears Marina in Annaoplis for almost 15 years. I loved that place. They have a VERY acive yacht club (Severn River Yacht Club) that has tons of group activities, cruises, and parties. The marina is beautiful and has everything you could want. Check it out at http://www.mearsannapolis.com/
Anywhere in Annapolis will be grat for you. I had my C-30 at Mears Marina in Annaoplis for almost 15 years. I loved that place. They have a VERY acive yacht club (Severn River Yacht Club) that has tons of group activities, cruises, and parties. The marina is beautiful and has everything you could want. Check it out at http://www.mearsannapolis.com/
Solomons Island
When I lived in N Virginia I kept my boat at Spring Cove Marina on Solomons Island. By far the nicest marina I've ever used. There are lots of choices available. You'll probably want to dedicate a few days driving around to check out the many good recommendations that you will receive.
When I lived in N Virginia I kept my boat at Spring Cove Marina on Solomons Island. By far the nicest marina I've ever used. There are lots of choices available. You'll probably want to dedicate a few days driving around to check out the many good recommendations that you will receive.
Have I got a place for you!
We just moved from Sterling, VA just up from Fairfax. We sailed our 30 ft. Catalina there from Kittery, ME 6 years ago and just returned with a 42 ft. Catalina one year ago. We kept our boat at Herrington Harbor in Deal, MD. It's 1 hour (sometimes longer on Fri night) from where you'll be. It has a pink hotel, small beach, restaurant, olympic size pool, store with little sandwich and b'fast across the street and great slips (no moorings to speak of in MD). It's also go easy access to the bay with loads of places to to visit. Go to hhsa.org to see our club pictures. We had a wonderful time while there. Contact Don Gentry or Paul Goldwasser for more info. They are great guys (Paul races his boat). Tell them Linda Hutchinson says hi! You'll love it there. Good Luck
We just moved from Sterling, VA just up from Fairfax. We sailed our 30 ft. Catalina there from Kittery, ME 6 years ago and just returned with a 42 ft. Catalina one year ago. We kept our boat at Herrington Harbor in Deal, MD. It's 1 hour (sometimes longer on Fri night) from where you'll be. It has a pink hotel, small beach, restaurant, olympic size pool, store with little sandwich and b'fast across the street and great slips (no moorings to speak of in MD). It's also go easy access to the bay with loads of places to to visit. Go to hhsa.org to see our club pictures. We had a wonderful time while there. Contact Don Gentry or Paul Goldwasser for more info. They are great guys (Paul races his boat). Tell them Linda Hutchinson says hi! You'll love it there. Good Luck
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