Our first on-the-river-overnighter

[DAVA390]

The Admiral and I are rookies. Most (well,all) of our sailing has been 2-3hr day trips onand about Middle River.Although we thought we would like to overnight somehwere,someday,with our grandchildren,olderparents,work schedules, terrible heat al summer, we just never planned anything yet. Herin is the real important word,(Plan).
Staurday afternoon, we launch about 3:00 P.M. Wind promptly dies (on schedule) and we are motoring around the ,hunting wind like a Monty Python troop, just not lost yet.
We motored to a waterfront restaurant and over dinner Annie brings up the subject (we haven`t overnighted yet) We discussed it for a while,bottm line ,if we don`t do it tonight, might not happen this summer given end of season and calendar filling up fast.
So, ok lets be spontaneous and do it, make our kids proud!
Stop by a friends house on the river,getting dark now,(I am still SO proud of myself for fixing the lights last winter)then back to park somewhere for the night.

We motored back to our local marina (Md. Marina)fetch a blanket out of the truck,pull float plan off of windshield of the truck (although no one would have ever read it anyway) then across the river to a small beach where we take the grandchildren swimming occaisionaly. Bye the way, no more swimming here this summer for us,Susquehhana toxins and rubble will be around a long time).
Now comes the stupid part.
We anchored stern to the beach. The river is not very wide here (500,600yds.2 football fields?) Off the port bow is the local Bull roast, Crab feast venue. Very Happy there tonight.Off the starboard bow is the local waterfront bar, Tiki bar and bandstand are running full throttle tonight. about 200-300 yds behind us, A-10 Jets are practicing touch and goes on the runway. The occaisional freight train moaned mournfully in the not- so-far-distance.
As I`ve said before, we learn something every time out.This time the learns are on`t forget earplugs, bug spray and proper pillows. Schrunched up life vests and beach towels won`t cut it. We won`t rule out doing this again but it`s not on this summer schedule!!

Finally to sleep sometime after 12 when last band quit. (dreams about slipping anchors)woke up about 4:30 feelling creeky and stiff.Waited till about 7 to motor into marina at a crawl,trying not to wake anyone else. We`ll get points with the kids, laughs from the adult s in the family with this one.
A friend of ours (Our sailing mentor) want s to take us on an overnighter to the Eastern Shore on his 32 O`day center cabin. He`s been hinting he wants us to buy his boat, I suspect this might be part of a sales pitch. We are looking forward to the trip, I just hope Annie doesn`t throw rocks at our boat when she gets back. The end.
OK, D. Scribner, Your turn, David

 

[Ross]

From Middle river it isn't very far over to Still Pond. That is such a nice quiet anchorage. Or you could go over to Fairlee Creek. Warton Creek is not my favorite anchorage.

 

[DAVA390]

Thanks, Ross. We are thinking about next spring or summer trips.The O`day trip i mentioned is to Swan creek, I believe. Never been to any of `em. I`ve been enjoing your photos of HdG,by the way. I assume the sunken sidewalk is there? David

 

[Ross]

Perryville, Just across the river and up a mile. Swan Creek in behind Rock Hall is one of our planned stops when ever we go down there towards kent Island and the Chester River. I will probalby go down to the boat tomorrow and see how things are looking. The river should be back in its banks now.

 

[sinnettc]

David,

If you're handy with a saw you can make yourself a set of screens to go in the companionway and keep the bugs out. I made a pair that match the crib boards for my Capri 22. They''re each made out of two pieces of 1/8 or 3/16 plywood; the middle is cut out, leaving about 1-1/2 inch of wood. A piece of nylon window screen is sandwiched between the pieces which are bolted together. Works wonders and we can mix/match with the regular boards depending on the weather.

I also made a cover to go over the forward hatch using the same nylon screen with lead fish weights stuffed into parachute cord tubes that are sewn into the edges to weigh it down. I can open the hatch 6-8 inches and still keep the bugs out.

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Dav-
I want to give you and Annie a big thumbs up for doing your first overnighter. It is always a big step but you did it (and with style I might add) and now you are over that hump. I especially admire that you did it on a Precision 18-I am not that hardy of an adventurer I am afraid. Cruising is all about learning lessons and finding better ways to do things but mostly its just getting out there and having the experiences good, bad and everything in between.

Again, kudos to you both.

 

[DAVA390]

Chris : thank you for the screen ideas.They could be a good wintertime project.



Potl : thank you for your gracious thumbs up. Ann and I read these together,we appreciate your compliments.. We live about 50 minutes north of Annapolis, (still lots of family tree there). I am hoping to make the Pussers meet-up on Friday,schedule permitting. Even if I don`t we will both be at the show Sunday,maybe we could all shake hands at the GOB booth if you are still in town. David

 

[Fly_H23]

Great story! I hope to sail the bay side of the Eastern Shore someday soon.

We did our first overnight on our Hunter 23 a few weeks ago. We tend to over plan and over prepare yet still forgot a few things.

 

[Ross]

Nancy and I have spent many nights anchored out in some often quiet cove. Know the tidal range and how much water you need and find little places. Try to remember that on a 1:80,000 chart, your boat is smaller that a pencil point dot. For the boats that you have almost any place is a god place.

 

[higgs]

I always keep sleeping bags, pillows, toiletries, and a change of clothes aboard so that if the urge hits me to stay aboard I can do so comfortably.

 

[MrBee]

Dava there are plenty of nice spots to anchor in your area. We are at Stansbury Y Basin.
The bands on weekends across the river can get pretty loud. Sue Creek is easy to slip into for the evening, a bit shollow along the edges but with your draft you will be able to pull off the side of the channel and drop the hook. Well protected and a nice area.

Brian

 

[Ross]

Just some things that should be kept on any boat and some more that should be kept on boats that have berth space.
A couple of gallons of bottled water.
Towels, wash cloths and hand soap
Fisrt aid kit of course.
Some canned or preserved food that doesn't need cooking.
I have found that lunch box size snack bags of chips and crackers keep for a year.
If you have a sleeping berth then it should always have a blanket or two. If the boat isn't perfectly dry, get a dry bag.
You should have at least some means to boil water.
and you should have a bag of pasta.
a can of red pasta sauce is useful.
You probably need a can opener that stays on the boat.
Edit to add the obvious:
a pot, dishes,cups, spoons and forks.
I consider these as basic.

 

[DAVA390]

Thanks again everyone for all replies ans suggestions. David

 

[DAVA390]

Fly H-23 I`ve been offline a while, thanks for your reply. I thought I read earlier you grew up on the Eastern Shore. I` think if you come up here now, you will find the bay pretty messy. David

 

[Ross]

After the floods the upper bay is very messy. But on the up side the powerboaters are being rather cautious. I guess 2 foot diameter logs are hard on propellers.

 

[dscribner]

Dave!

Nice read!

Congratulations on your first all-you-can-eat bug buffet! Boy can I relate to worrying about dragging anchor. Is the river tidal at all? Nothing like your scope changing in a blow. Next time, bring the Coleman stove for pancakes and coffee and a bottle of Merlot for . . . . making memories.

What I did for screen was pretty easy. I bought one of those screen curtains that you hang in an exterior door. It has metal weights sewn into the bottom to keep it from blowing around. I cut it to the shape of the companionway plus about three inches. I sewed a border around the edge and Velcro to the top. A few stick-on strips of Velcro on the inside of the sliding hatch and I'm good. It takes no room to store at all and about 20 seconds to install. Simply slap it on the Velcro and push it out the companionway.

68 degrees today. Instead of sailing, I rebuilt my gin pole, installed a Barber hauler (on one side so I can see how well it works), fixed my errant fuel line and drank one of my son's PBR's. It's been a good day!


Fair Winds!