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Have a 20ft CC w/ 150HP4stroke and am planning to boat from annapolis to hampton this summer. I'm guessing about a 6-7 hour trip, and I'm thinking of leaving on a Friday afternoon, and cutting the trip in half somewhere...Any recommendations on where to stop for cheap hotel and cocktails without going too far out of the way? Any other recommendations?
Solomons Island is a little less than half way and has a holiday Inn on the water. I don't know about transient slips, but there marinas all around. As far as cocktails, they can be found most anywhere.
If starting on a Fri afternoon, Solomons is a good choice. That would give you a longer trip on Sat. I've stayed at the Hol Inn and there is a Marina behind the hotel. You will have to arrange for a slip separately. Lots to do in Solomons
Pick up one of the cruising guides. They have info on every port, marina, hotel, restauarant, etc. It makes planning alot easier.
Thanks for the info. I'll check around Solomons for a stopover. Not planning on doing the trip until May at least, but will post info afterwards....I'm guessing 6-7 hours total travel time cruising at 23-25....Thoughts?
With a 20' CC, you are going to have to pick your days carefully.
A couple of years ago I decided to take my 24' CC from South River to OC, MD. I estimated 6 hours running. When we left in the AM, it was flat as glass. The winds soon picked up and made for a rough trip up the Bay. We talked about turning around when we made Schaeffers in the C&D Canal. We didn't and Del Bay was worse than the Ches Bay. The chop was awful. When we cleared Cape Henlopen, the ocean was big swells, but spaced far enough apart to allow slow but more comfortable running. We entered OC inlet & saw that Small Craft Warning Flags were flying. This was 11 hours later. 11 hours, standing on a small boat is a loooong time.
It sounds like a fun trip and one I would like to do. You will have to be prepared to cancel if the weather isn't PERFECT.
That sure is a big trip in a 20 ft cc. Nor did you say which brand 20ft boat you have. Some are better suited to the job and others I wouldn't consider it in.
Hope you're young and have a strong back. That's a lot of banging down the bay in a small boat.
I take my boat there several time a year to fish the Cape Charles and CBBT area. Your better off trailering your boat. It can get really nasty Down there, and in a 20 foot boat your going to have to really pick your days.
Hey I just noticed you also live in Grasonville. If you want to go down there, my first trip to Cape Charles will be the first week in July for cobia. Last year we crushed them.
Sounds like an interesting trip - but it COULD get nasty in a heartbeat! Hard to anticipate 2 GOOD days of running in the Bay in a 20-footer.
One thing you'll have to be careful of is the Nor'easter winds that can make things pretty snotty - even on a BEAUTIFUL day!
I would ALSO plan on mapping out EXTRA places to pull in that you may not anticipate - in case you need to get in QUICK!
Norview Marina is JUST about at the mouth of the Rappahannock (Deltaville - south side of the riva') and Broad Creek runs directly in to the marina from the river. It's a FULL-SERVICE one with transient slips, GAS/diesel bathhouse (with SHOWERS!), ship's store, ice, boat ramp, mechanic(s), etc.. Sea-Tow is just around the corner, too! There's a restaurant/bar right across the creek - can't remember the name? There's also a smallish motel near the marina - 3min. walk - but I can't remember the name (either! ). NICE folks at Norview, too! Taylor's Restaurant is in Deltaville - about 3/4mi. or so from the marina. Not sure if you want to walk that far for grub, but a lot of folks staying at the marina do?
Deltaville looks to be about 1/2 way between Solomon's and Hampton, so it could be a decent place to stop off, even just to stretch your legs. It's only about a 10min. run out of the course you'll probably be taking.
The Coast Guard also has a station at Milford Haven - behind Gwynn's Island - in case you need them.
Not much near the mouth of the York River, as far as stopping off - most of the marinas/motels/restaurants are in the Yorktown area (or almost up to Yorktown).
Actually that time of year a hard south west wind would probably be worse that a North east. Either way I wouldn't want ot make that run in a litlle 20' boat
Wow. Great information. I'm modifying plans based on all of your input. I'll now plan on leaving in early AM, just before sunrise to catch the AM flatwaters. I'll look at Solomons & Deltaville for potential stopoffs, as well as places in between, and chart extra emergency stop locations. Somebody also mentioned stopping at Smith Island on the eastern side of the Bay, since it's about halfway...thoughts?
I'll be in a Jones Bros CC, and recognize that my two day trip could take three days, even if I watch the weather like a hawk. Keep the input coming-
I've made this trip twice this year...make sure you have back up gps and maps in case she gets nasty...I've seen big water off windmill both times..3-4 bay slop...every wave over my 36 contender...be careful. don't go unless winds under 10knts...20 foot is too small imop for that trip...
As noted above, Solomons Island is a good place to stop for Friday night if you get started mid-day on Friday.
It is 90nm from inside Solomons to the entrance to Little Creek (made the trip already). It will be just about the same to Hampton, as you have to round Old Point Comfort and head up the Hampton River. We made it down from Solomons to Little Creek in four hours, at a comfortable cruising speed.
The other comments above about the wind and waves on the Bay are very appropriate. The Bay rarely has an east or west wind - the geography tends to make the wind run up or down the Bay.
Have some "harbor of refuge" spots picked out. For example, you can round Point Lookout and head five miles up the Potomac and find harbor on the north shore. Or duck into the mouth of the Great Wicomico River, south of Smith Point, for shelter in Reedville.Or round Windmill Point and enter theRappahannock River - Windmill Point Marina & Resort close by on the north shore, or enter Broad Creek a bit further on the south shore.
A friend came down from Solomons last August in a Grady Marlin 300 and he had a snotty trip..
Wow! Long trip for a small boat. Watch the weather closely. Try to plan while running with the tide. I would trailer to ports of interest but that is me. Too high of chance that the seas could make any part of the trip miserable and not worth it. Like I said, that is me.
I'm not sure about the "status" of Windmill Point Marina & Resort - last year, at one point, ALL work had stopped on the "refurb" and the owner owed various folks over $600K for work done! None of the new docks/slips had been finished and I don't even think the gas dock or restaurant was open?
Someone else here may have an update on the facility?
SAD - it's a BEAUTIFUL location and has a lot to offer boaters, including a motel, condos, and a golf course!
SOMEone will get it outta' hock - hopefully before the season starts!
This really does sound like an interesting trip - just gotta' be CAREFUL with Mother Nature!
Great info. I appreciate the significance and unpredictability of both wind and waves, but always wanted to navigate the lower bay in a small boat. It's as much about the journey as the destination in this case.
Any other recommendations on favorite places in Solomon's to spend the evening?
Trip to Hampton from Bay Bridge 
). NICE folks at Norview, too! Taylor's Restaurant is in Deltaville - about 3/4mi. or so from the marina. Not sure if you want to walk that far for grub, but a lot of folks staying at the marina do?
None of the new docks/slips had been finished and I don't even think the gas dock or restaurant was open?
