Protocols for visiting marinas

[Shippy]

Finally have all my ducks in a row and planning on doing some longer distance cruising this summer (week at a time kind of deal versus day sailing and overnighters on the hook). Since I've only ever docked in my home port, what is the proper (best) protocol for arranging moorings and/or slips in other marinas*o? Should I call them ahead of time on the phone and schedule a slip/mooring? Do I hail them again as I approach the marina for specifics of which slip? What about dock lines. I typically leave mine at my slip and only carry two extras on-board. Should I carry extra dock lines? And finally, what types of costs should I expect for a slip/mooring. I'm looking at the upper Chesapeake area just north of Baltimore on the eastern shore. thanks in advance.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Best......

ShippyYou'll need at least five dock lines: four for fwd and aft and one spring line. I don't understand why people don't have dock lines with them at all times - you never know what circumstances will dictate. We leave ours on our dock, too, but have plenty ready to go on board.As to protocol, it's like going on a road trip. Do you call ahead or do you wing it? Try calling the potentially most crowded. But, if you're cruising, you shouldn't be on a tight schedule, so may not end up at a given place on a given day. If it's a weekend, you may HAVE to make prior arrangements.Have a great trip.Stu

 

[Tim C350 April IV]

Hints in a Cruising Guide

I'm not familiar with your area, but you usually can find some sort of "cruising guide" to the area you are interested in. It should include all sorts of good information about the area, what services (gas, ice, etc) might be available at a particular dock, and give you a phone number to call - the marina may take reservations, or it might be first come, first served - and the guide might also provide the appropriate VHF channel to contact them when you get into the area. What looks from the water to be a marina might turn out to be a private concern with no transient moorage.The link below is to an example book for Northwest waters (where I hang out).Enjoy, be flexible.Tim BroganApril IV C350 #68Seattle

 

[Ian McGain]

Baltimore Inner Harbor your first stop

A nice run down the bay would be the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Cost for two night stay for 30' is about $125.00 You will have to call ahead and make a slip reservation. From this marina you can walk into Little Italy for dinner and choose from about 50 great places to eat. Walk into Fells Pont or the Inner Harbor with great atractions.Expect to tip the young lads handling your lines. You will need two line fore and two lines aft plus your spring lines, if you use them. Inner harbor is a floating dock type marina. Lots to see, just bring your credit card.

 

[s sauer]

Chesapeake Bay Cruising Guide

You should be able to get a Cruising Guide to Chesapeake Bay in the Ship's Store at Tidewater Marina in Havre De Grace for around $35.00.A slip in most of the Baltimore area marinas is probably around $2.00 / ft with a two night minimum on holiday weekends. Eastern Shore marinas are probably a different story. With fewer transient slips, you should call ahead. Don't just show up at the gas dock hoping for the best, but at least on the Eastern Shore there are a lot of decent anchorages nearby.

 

[John]

Protocols for Marina

I'm docked in Annapolis. I usually head south to ports like St. Michaels, Oxford, and Solomons. Stu is right--you should have a set of "transient" dock lines to go with you that mirror your permanent dock lines. He's also right in that during the week, you may be able to get away with hailing a marina about a slip, but on a weekend you should make a reservation in advance. If you've made a reservation in advance, you usually hail them when you're 10-15 minutes out, just so they can be ready for you. Even if you don't ask for assistance, they'll usually have a dock hand waiting for you.Marinas charge by the foot, and there may be a difference between Friday and Saturday nights and the rest of the week. The slips get cheaper on the Chesapeake as you head away from Annapolis, but I would suspect Baltimore marinas charge at least as much as the Annapolis marinas. You will also be charged an extra $5 or so for a 30amp power hookup.Here's a web sit that might help:http://baydreaming.com/headofbaymarinas.htm