A few weeks back one of the regular posters suggested that I check-out the marina where he keeps his boat in Rio Vista. (sorry, don't remember his name) Well, I went to their web site, liked what I saw and am going down there this weekend to see it in person. Couple of questions, though, about sailing on the delta. First, isn't the delta 'brackish' water, that is, not fresh but not really saltwater? Should I paint the bottom with anti-fouling paint or would that be a waste of time? I've only harbored the boat in freshwater before, and though she got a little 'furry' after 4 months, it all came right off with pressure washer. Will the delta water have a lot more 'stuff' in it that will grow on the hull? If I should paint her bottomsides, what would be the reccomended product? Second, my boat doesn't have radar, is that going to be a problem? Every summer we hear of accidents on the delta with one boat running into another (almost always a powerboat was at fault) so I'm wondering if radar is considered a nescessity for safety. Third, do most of the marinas have guest slips that can be used when going to their store, restaurant, etc. or should I plan on anchoring and using a dingy to get back and forth? I know these probably sound like dumb questions to most of you, but as a beginner I'm curious as to what I'm gonna need and run into as I expand my sailing horizons and move-up from lake sailing, so any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeff
Sailing Sacramento Delta-a few questions...
- Thread starter Jeff M21319
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Delta
Jeff, You want to talk with Steve Dion, and I'm sure he will see this post. If you are coming down to Hidden Harbor on a weekend, Steve might well be there and he would be great for you to talk to about your questions. I would urge you to contact him and arrange such a meeting. The only question I feel somewhat qualified to answer is the one regarding radar. I don't think it will help you much with the boaters unless they are out playing in a fog, which isn't usually the problem. Having said that, I think radar could be helpful if you were caught out in a fog and that certainly could happen in that area. Two summers ago we spent a week at Hidden Harbor amd Steve helped us set up the guest dock. We had a great time and had no problems getting to the places we wanted to go. Sometimes by dinghy, sometimes in the boat. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Jeff, You want to talk with Steve Dion, and I'm sure he will see this post. If you are coming down to Hidden Harbor on a weekend, Steve might well be there and he would be great for you to talk to about your questions. I would urge you to contact him and arrange such a meeting. The only question I feel somewhat qualified to answer is the one regarding radar. I don't think it will help you much with the boaters unless they are out playing in a fog, which isn't usually the problem. Having said that, I think radar could be helpful if you were caught out in a fog and that certainly could happen in that area. Two summers ago we spent a week at Hidden Harbor amd Steve helped us set up the guest dock. We had a great time and had no problems getting to the places we wanted to go. Sometimes by dinghy, sometimes in the boat. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Caution
Previous post is quite correct in that Steve Dion is the resident expert. I used to work in nearby Stockton, and every year someone got terribly lost and stranded in the Delta. It's treacherous inasmuch every intersection is the corner of Canal & Canal. Take charts, GPS and survival gear.
Previous post is quite correct in that Steve Dion is the resident expert. I used to work in nearby Stockton, and every year someone got terribly lost and stranded in the Delta. It's treacherous inasmuch every intersection is the corner of Canal & Canal. Take charts, GPS and survival gear.
Thanks!!
I thought I remembered the fellows name was Steve, thanks for the reminder. I called Hidden Harbor yesterday and talked to a friendly chap (also named Jeff) who is the harbormaster there and he told me that they just happen to have 1 slip available, so I'm heading down there tomorrow morning to check it out. I'll ask around and see if Steve is down there. And Bill, I know what you mean, I was looking at a chart of the Delta area and holy cow, there are canals off of canals off of canals! It would be really easy to get lost in there! Definitely a good test of ones navigation skills. All those years in SAR working land nav problems are about to pay-off I think. Anyhow, thanks for the help you guys, much appreciated! Jeff
I thought I remembered the fellows name was Steve, thanks for the reminder. I called Hidden Harbor yesterday and talked to a friendly chap (also named Jeff) who is the harbormaster there and he told me that they just happen to have 1 slip available, so I'm heading down there tomorrow morning to check it out. I'll ask around and see if Steve is down there. And Bill, I know what you mean, I was looking at a chart of the Delta area and holy cow, there are canals off of canals off of canals! It would be really easy to get lost in there! Definitely a good test of ones navigation skills. All those years in SAR working land nav problems are about to pay-off I think. Anyhow, thanks for the help you guys, much appreciated! Jeff
Sloughs and Rivers, not Canals in the Delta
Jeff You'll have a great time there. There's NO fog in the summer. There is tule fog in the winter. It's HOT in the summer. GPS won't help, unless you've found some source of way points. You need charts. Just keep track of where you are, carefully. If you get lost, just turn around and go back to a known point. It's not that hard. It's all freshwater there. The sea water only gets as far up as between Benecia and Antioch. Can't wait for our summer trip up there this year. Have fun, hope you found Hidden Harbor this morning.
Stu
Jeff You'll have a great time there. There's NO fog in the summer. There is tule fog in the winter. It's HOT in the summer. GPS won't help, unless you've found some source of way points. You need charts. Just keep track of where you are, carefully. If you get lost, just turn around and go back to a known point. It's not that hard. It's all freshwater there. The sea water only gets as far up as between Benecia and Antioch. Can't wait for our summer trip up there this year. Have fun, hope you found Hidden Harbor this morning.
Stu
delta facts
1. You WIll go aground. 2. You WILL get lost. (At least at first, until you learn the fine art of levy navigation.) 3. You will spend most of your summer Delta time in a bathing suit, jumping into the water on an hourly basis to cool off. 4. You will discover, ultimately, that the Delta is heaven, served with all the blackberries you can eat.
1. You WIll go aground. 2. You WILL get lost. (At least at first, until you learn the fine art of levy navigation.) 3. You will spend most of your summer Delta time in a bathing suit, jumping into the water on an hourly basis to cool off. 4. You will discover, ultimately, that the Delta is heaven, served with all the blackberries you can eat.
Yes it was me.
Jeff: You will need to paint your bottom. There is a slime and grass that grows on the bottom. I would suggest Petit SR as a good bottom paint. It works well in the delta. I think you have a shoal draft boat so going aground is not a big deal (even though you do not want to do that). It can get very warm in the summer, but you almost always need a jacket or sweat shirt in the evening. Winds will range from almost nothing to 30-40 mph. We go thru cycles in the delta with high pressure and then we get the "Delta Breeze" more like Force 6. I will not be there this weekend but there are plenty of sailors and the harbor masters (Scott and Jeff) that will fill you in on the do's and dont's. I have never seen real fog in the summer in the delta. There are not a lot of powerboats in our area. When you get back towards Stockton they are there by the thousands. If you are real adventurer you can go to the Hilton Fireworks for the 4th. There are usually 5000-8000 boats there for the event. There are some decent (not great) restaurants in the area (Mexican, Pizza, steak joints etc). You can contact me by email at steve@sdcsoftware.com We sort of love the place, we have only been there for 18 or 20 years (lost track). The rent is $5.75/ft/mo and that includes your water and electricity. If you have kids 12 and under they MUST wear lifejackets even if they are swimmers. PS: Do you know how to get there? Take Hiway 50 to Jefferson Blvd. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp and follow the road to the end. Turn right and follow the road around until it takes you to the bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left. Follow the road for 10 miles to HHM. The gate is secured so you will need to park to the right of the gate. Good luck
Jeff: You will need to paint your bottom. There is a slime and grass that grows on the bottom. I would suggest Petit SR as a good bottom paint. It works well in the delta. I think you have a shoal draft boat so going aground is not a big deal (even though you do not want to do that). It can get very warm in the summer, but you almost always need a jacket or sweat shirt in the evening. Winds will range from almost nothing to 30-40 mph. We go thru cycles in the delta with high pressure and then we get the "Delta Breeze" more like Force 6. I will not be there this weekend but there are plenty of sailors and the harbor masters (Scott and Jeff) that will fill you in on the do's and dont's. I have never seen real fog in the summer in the delta. There are not a lot of powerboats in our area. When you get back towards Stockton they are there by the thousands. If you are real adventurer you can go to the Hilton Fireworks for the 4th. There are usually 5000-8000 boats there for the event. There are some decent (not great) restaurants in the area (Mexican, Pizza, steak joints etc). You can contact me by email at steve@sdcsoftware.com We sort of love the place, we have only been there for 18 or 20 years (lost track). The rent is $5.75/ft/mo and that includes your water and electricity. If you have kids 12 and under they MUST wear lifejackets even if they are swimmers. PS: Do you know how to get there? Take Hiway 50 to Jefferson Blvd. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp and follow the road to the end. Turn right and follow the road around until it takes you to the bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left. Follow the road for 10 miles to HHM. The gate is secured so you will need to park to the right of the gate. Good luck
Bill O, where did you work?
Bill: Where did you work in Stockton? We had our Hunter 25 at Buckley Cove (Stockton Sailing Club) for several years before we move out of the congestion.
Bill: Where did you work in Stockton? We had our Hunter 25 at Buckley Cove (Stockton Sailing Club) for several years before we move out of the congestion.
Salty - depends
The Bay is salty, by the time you get to Antioch there is very little if any salt. We haul out and paint our boat every two years with the same bottom paint as one would use anywhere. Bring a chart, GPS, and Depth sounder and you will be fine. Avoid cutting turns close, watch for freighters!! Good Luck
The Bay is salty, by the time you get to Antioch there is very little if any salt. We haul out and paint our boat every two years with the same bottom paint as one would use anywhere. Bring a chart, GPS, and Depth sounder and you will be fine. Avoid cutting turns close, watch for freighters!! Good Luck
A few more hints
1. If you feel your keel bump the bottom, tack immediately, don't wait for the second bump to make sure that you aren't imagining things. 2. The delta is tidal, so allow for this when anchoring for the night. 3. Eat at the Breadfruit Tree at Paradise Point Marina. Great Caribbean food and nice people. This isn't easy to sail to so you might want to drive. Check out their website (attached). 4. Rig up a sunshade. I like to use nursery-type shade cloth since it lets the breeze through and doesn't flap in the breeze. It's also inexpensive. Use two layers if you want more shade. 5. In a sailboat, you'll probably get stuck before you get too lost. 6. Get a delta map plus charts, both have their purposes. 7. Come visit us at the Stockton Sailing Club. 8. Come early, don't wait until it gets too hot. Enjoy!
1. If you feel your keel bump the bottom, tack immediately, don't wait for the second bump to make sure that you aren't imagining things. 2. The delta is tidal, so allow for this when anchoring for the night. 3. Eat at the Breadfruit Tree at Paradise Point Marina. Great Caribbean food and nice people. This isn't easy to sail to so you might want to drive. Check out their website (attached). 4. Rig up a sunshade. I like to use nursery-type shade cloth since it lets the breeze through and doesn't flap in the breeze. It's also inexpensive. Use two layers if you want more shade. 5. In a sailboat, you'll probably get stuck before you get too lost. 6. Get a delta map plus charts, both have their purposes. 7. Come visit us at the Stockton Sailing Club. 8. Come early, don't wait until it gets too hot. Enjoy!
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