I just moved to WASH DC area and trailered my H26 with me. There is a nearby marina that provides "adequate facilities" for the season, but water depth is limited (2 ft at low tide). Depth of the water in the upper Potomac is also pretty shallow. I do not have much experience sailing in shallow water. I've always sailed in pretty deep water (Narragansett and Chesapeake Bays) with keel and rudder all the way down. Any one have any advice? I'm specifically interested in swing keel position (can I sail with it up?), rudder position, draft of the boat (I've read it's 1 ft 10") and actions in case I go aground. Any one else with experience sailing on a river is also invited to comment. Thanks !!
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Flan, I haven't owned a WB boat but have done . .
a fair amount of lake sailing. Generally, you do not want to try much sailing w/ board/rudder all the way up. You cannot get the bite or lift needed to point worth a nickel. You can sail with the board part-way down but you'll have to trim your sails differently as the center of resistance shifts sternward. My advice is to learn the area you want to sail in; have a good depth meter and avoid the really skinny water except for those neat areas where you can anchor in thigh-deep water. If you do find yourself dragging keel, you can ride through the shallows and get to deeper water without too much drama (one of the nice things about a swing CB).
a fair amount of lake sailing. Generally, you do not want to try much sailing w/ board/rudder all the way up. You cannot get the bite or lift needed to point worth a nickel. You can sail with the board part-way down but you'll have to trim your sails differently as the center of resistance shifts sternward. My advice is to learn the area you want to sail in; have a good depth meter and avoid the really skinny water except for those neat areas where you can anchor in thigh-deep water. If you do find yourself dragging keel, you can ride through the shallows and get to deeper water without too much drama (one of the nice things about a swing CB).
kedging out wo a dingy
I have heard you can kedge out using a PFD for yourself and one for the anchor. This will at least keep you out of the mud up here on the Potomac and you don't have to tow a dingy.
I have heard you can kedge out using a PFD for yourself and one for the anchor. This will at least keep you out of the mud up here on the Potomac and you don't have to tow a dingy.
Sailing on the Potomac in DC
Get used to wading in waist deep muck, paying REAL close attention to the tides and then there's the aquatic flora to deal with besides. Unless you stay in the real narrow channel there is very little room to "sail" above the Wilson bridge. You can however get lots of practice in close quarters tacking
There's a good sized area from National Airport to the 14th St Bridge at the confluence of the Anacostia where you can generally stay away from trouble and some room between the Wilson Bridge and the Alexandria waterfront. I had a O'Day 19 with a centerboard and still got fouled on occasion. I moved up to a shoal draft 22 which is a perfect boat for the river. My Hunter 25 with a 4 draw is in the Potomac but waaaay down in Colonial Beach Va, past the 301 river bridge.
Get used to wading in waist deep muck, paying REAL close attention to the tides and then there's the aquatic flora to deal with besides. Unless you stay in the real narrow channel there is very little room to "sail" above the Wilson bridge. You can however get lots of practice in close quarters tacking
There's a good sized area from National Airport to the 14th St Bridge at the confluence of the Anacostia where you can generally stay away from trouble and some room between the Wilson Bridge and the Alexandria waterfront. I had a O'Day 19 with a centerboard and still got fouled on occasion. I moved up to a shoal draft 22 which is a perfect boat for the river. My Hunter 25 with a 4 draw is in the Potomac but waaaay down in Colonial Beach Va, past the 301 river bridge.
Flan, I see few boats to the south of Wilson bridg
I have sailed out of the marina on the southside of the airport. Not bad but the River in the area is shallow and narrow. You will be tacking you ass off. Plan to run aground. We NEVER EVER took our H260 into that area. We had a Capri 14.2 that we would sail around in and still was hitting botton outside of the main channel. You really don't get good water until you are south of Colonial Beach on the Potomac. Don't get me wrong there are places to sail - just limited. Jim S/V Java
I have sailed out of the marina on the southside of the airport. Not bad but the River in the area is shallow and narrow. You will be tacking you ass off. Plan to run aground. We NEVER EVER took our H260 into that area. We had a Capri 14.2 that we would sail around in and still was hitting botton outside of the main channel. You really don't get good water until you are south of Colonial Beach on the Potomac. Don't get me wrong there are places to sail - just limited. Jim S/V Java
Get a marina in the Bay
even if you have to drive an hour to get to it. No, you cannot operate a swing keel boat with the keel completely up as any weight shifting on deck or disturbance in the water may cause it to tip over. Raise the sails and you are sure to tip over with the lightest breeze. Also the rudder does not work well in a horizontal position. Sounds like a good place to keep a Kayak but not a sailboat.
even if you have to drive an hour to get to it. No, you cannot operate a swing keel boat with the keel completely up as any weight shifting on deck or disturbance in the water may cause it to tip over. Raise the sails and you are sure to tip over with the lightest breeze. Also the rudder does not work well in a horizontal position. Sounds like a good place to keep a Kayak but not a sailboat.
Sailing in DC
The Potomac is tricky because there are lots of shoals and lots of power boats. Then there's the noise from the air traffic. The Washington Sailing Marina channel is narrow, runs parallel to the prevailing wind and is right off the southern end of the main runway at National Airport. Short-tacking up the channel with jets on final approach screaming overhead was no fun. However, the scenery in the summer is hard to beat and you'll have afront row seat for the fireworks on July 4. Belle Haven Marina (just south of the Wilson Bridge) was quieter but you had to watch out for thin water there too. My suggestion would be to get charts and a fishfinder. Fishfinders are cheap(under $100 at Walmart). More importantly, the graphic display lets you see how fast the water is shoaling, which I find far more useful than just a bunch of numbers. Even if you decide to keep the boat on the Chesapeake (or anywhere else for that matter) charts and a fishfinder are worth their weight in gold. Good luck and happy sailing. Peter H23 "Raven"
The Potomac is tricky because there are lots of shoals and lots of power boats. Then there's the noise from the air traffic. The Washington Sailing Marina channel is narrow, runs parallel to the prevailing wind and is right off the southern end of the main runway at National Airport. Short-tacking up the channel with jets on final approach screaming overhead was no fun. However, the scenery in the summer is hard to beat and you'll have afront row seat for the fireworks on July 4. Belle Haven Marina (just south of the Wilson Bridge) was quieter but you had to watch out for thin water there too. My suggestion would be to get charts and a fishfinder. Fishfinders are cheap(under $100 at Walmart). More importantly, the graphic display lets you see how fast the water is shoaling, which I find far more useful than just a bunch of numbers. Even if you decide to keep the boat on the Chesapeake (or anywhere else for that matter) charts and a fishfinder are worth their weight in gold. Good luck and happy sailing. Peter H23 "Raven"
Shallow Water - Not Sailing
My Hunter 26 is on a shallow creek on the lower Potomac. The nice thing with these boats is that you can get around in shallow water - less than 2 ft. However, you cannot use much of the swing keel and the rudder has to be raised when you get under 4 ft. Thus, it needs to be under motor, going slowly (because a rudder raised is a rudder under stress) and this can be tricky in windy conditions. There are places where you can have a nice sail on the upper Potomac, but follow the earlier advice and pay attention to charts and tide conditions. Sailing improves farther down the river.
My Hunter 26 is on a shallow creek on the lower Potomac. The nice thing with these boats is that you can get around in shallow water - less than 2 ft. However, you cannot use much of the swing keel and the rudder has to be raised when you get under 4 ft. Thus, it needs to be under motor, going slowly (because a rudder raised is a rudder under stress) and this can be tricky in windy conditions. There are places where you can have a nice sail on the upper Potomac, but follow the earlier advice and pay attention to charts and tide conditions. Sailing improves farther down the river.
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