Each and every one of his points is 100% correct. I spent 15 years in the USCGAUX teaching boating safety and crewing on safety patrols. I cannot emphasize enough just how important are his points. Thank you for making this video. Anyone who boats on the Bay needs to watch this!
I grew up on the Chesapeake. My Dad was a WWII vet and LOVED the Bay. He won most the regattas on the Eastern Shore at one time or another. He's passed now, but if you mention Capt'n Don Dunn around Rock Hall, you might meet a few old timers who remember him. Your advice is great, and right on point! I would only add to the sailors out there that "light and variable" is a real thing on the Chesapeake!
I’m often surprised when I’m out in the bay just how shallow some areas are. I look for the crab pots because it seems they set them on the edge of the shallows. And HELLO from just across the bay!
thanks for watching, you will have a GREAT time, be sure to stop in Rock Hall and North Point Marina. this was my home point for several years. If you get there please let Lorin, the owner know i Recommended them. ⛵🍷😎
This is probably the third time I've watched this video and I seem to learn something new every time. I've been out of the water for the past couple of years and will be downsizing from my 50' schooner to my old 25' Westerly Centaur that's been patiently waiting in my barnyard for me to come to my senses and go back to her. I've finally retired and I want to spend the next few years "cruising" the Chesapeake Bay in a way that I couldn't back in the days of my work-week life. It was a 'real busy' time trying to single-hand that steel behemoth, but the Centaur was always a good-keeping, easy sailer. With a tiller-steering auto-pilot, sailing (even motoring) was always pleasant and it'll be nice to get back to it. Thanks for a great video!!
I was Sailing on the White Lighting from Middle River to the Point Naval Academy and she Sank .. Swam too those big rocks and Lived for another 50 years ! Now she was donated St Michaels Maritime Museum .
I'm learning how to drive my boat on the northern end where all those rivers meet we call it the convergence and you will learn how to drive the Chesapeake on those waters my friends. Safe travels.🤘
As new owners of a Catalina 27 on the Rhode River, this video is super helpful for my husband and I. We're trying to learn all we can before we get out on the bay in the spring, so thank you for making such an informative guide!!
It’s so interesting to know you are living and fishing on Top of Meteor crater that is 53 miles in diameter. The meteor hit 35 million yrs. Very close to Cape Charles. The diameter reaches across the Chesapeake Bay toward Hampton. If you look at a map of the mouth of the James River near Hampton you can see where the River turns upwards slightly before it enters the Bay. That is a ridge of the crater.
Great video and real pertinent information. I spent time on the bay and it’s a great place. The only thing I’d add is look behind you often. It may be 95 and sunny in front of you and completely black behind you and coming faster than you think. Like maybe 15-20 minutes and you think it’s an hour away cause it’s hard to judge the distance on the water when you can barley see the hazy shore. Also keep an eye out for ships coming up behind you. The bay is great. Relax and enjoy. But don’t become complacent.
As a new cruiser, long time beer can racer, I appreciate your advice. DNR has some pretty good maps showing active pound nets. I was able to digitally upload them to my plotter. Thanks for the great video!
Very informative! Thank you! My husband and I moved onto a 1987 Silverton last year and since it’s not a sailboat and gas is pretty expensive on it, we are still exploring the bay even after a year!!! Our marina is right outside of Chesapeake City.
The lower bay can get very nasty FYI, waves slap the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel 28'+ quite often just with usual storm surges. I've been aboard a 50' crab dredge boat off of Cape Charles and had the pilothouse blown out by a wave.
Great video, feel like I got a personal tour guide of the Cheaspeake! Would love to see a similar style one done on the Delaware Bay, beaches and Cape May cruising. Looking forward to the next one
There is close to NOTHING on the Delaware Bay.... no marinas or gas. There’s plenty once you reach the ocean, but in my experience, the DE Bay is just an obstacle to cross, and with all of the large ships & barges and the tendency for the bay to get choppy, it’s important to only travel it during the day and in good weather. There’s not much online about it though, simply because there’s simply just not much there. It’s not so much a cruising place for pleasure boaters, just a way to get to the ocean.
Great video Dom! Thanks for sharing! ... Oh also you might want to have your starboard front piling checked.... It was moving around. Might not be good in a storm.... 😎👍⚓
Excellent presentation! Lots of knowledge and experience. The only question I have is: Is the water in the Chesapeake Bay wet? Thank you very much for passing your experience on to us!
@@VagabondEpicurean Glad you caught the humor! I grew up around that part of the bay and after 40 years away, we're planning on moving to the Kent Island area in the next year or so. I hope to be able to meet you in person if we do make it back. Thanks again!
Thank you very much, Dom. That was a very informative video. And the shirt you were wearing is much nicer than the HORRIBLE ones you have worn in the past. ;-)
It's been a couple of years since I've done it, but there are two range lights you can line up as you're coming out of Baltimore, down the Patapsco. Once, we went straight across the Swan Creek Bar into Rock Hall that way. This was on a 50' schooner with a 4-foot draft. I plan to get over there sometime this year in my little Westerly Centaur (3-foot draft) and sound out as much of the Swan Point Bar approach as I can. I hate it when I have to go all the way down to GC-1 or GC-3 to get into the channel. With the schooner and a little breeze, I can always heel her over a bit and get unstuck. With the Centaur's twin keels, it's a little different. In sand, grounding the Centaur's not a problem, the keels act like a water tunnel and the prop wash digs her out. In some of the Bay's sticky mud it's a bit more of a problem to get unstuck.
the prior response is correct. Line up on the range lights- I come in direct across Swann Point Bar at the the range light, aiming just to port as you pass the inner light. You may have only inches to spare, but over many years with a 5 foot draft never once even "touched bottom" (there).
You can also fish from Fort Howard (Dundalk) or Fort Armstead (Curtis Bay) I forgot that if you are a veteran there is no charge for a lot of the county and state parks You can also fish at North Point state Park in Dundalk
depends on the weather, i know a person who travels all around the bay in Whaler, not sure of the size but i know its around that 13ft mark. Be safe, have fun and thanks for watching
This is full of good advice for beginning boaters.
Each and every one of his points is 100% correct. I spent 15 years in the USCGAUX teaching boating safety and crewing on safety patrols. I cannot emphasize enough just how
important are his points. Thank you for making this video. Anyone who boats on the Bay needs to watch this!
thanks and thank you for watching
I grew up on the Chesapeake. My Dad was a WWII vet and LOVED the Bay. He won most the regattas on the Eastern Shore at one time or another. He's passed now, but if you mention Capt'n Don Dunn around Rock Hall, you might meet a few old timers who remember him. Your advice is great, and right on point! I would only add to the sailors out there that "light and variable" is a real thing on the Chesapeake!
thanks and thanks for watching
I’m often surprised when I’m out in the bay just how shallow some areas are. I look for the crab pots because it seems they set them on the edge of the shallows. And HELLO from just across the bay!
I don't have a boat, but I still found this video REALLY informative.
Thanks! I plan to start using the bay in 2023 and this is all great information.
thanks for watching, you will have a GREAT time, be sure to stop in Rock Hall and North Point Marina. this was my home point for several years. If you get there please let Lorin, the owner know i Recommended them. ⛵🍷😎
Somehow I missed this video. Thanks again for the solar/ battery install advice last year, the project was a huge success. See ya around Rock Hall.
thanks for watching. Happy holidays 🎄🥂🍻
This is probably the third time I've watched this video and I seem to learn something new every time. I've been out of the water for the past couple of years and will be downsizing from my 50' schooner to my old 25' Westerly Centaur that's been patiently waiting in my barnyard for me to come to my senses and go back to her. I've finally retired and I want to spend the next few years "cruising" the Chesapeake Bay in a way that I couldn't back in the days of my work-week life. It was a 'real busy' time trying to single-hand that steel behemoth, but the Centaur was always a good-keeping, easy sailer. With a tiller-steering auto-pilot, sailing (even motoring) was always pleasant and it'll be nice to get back to it. Thanks for a great video!!
Thank you for watching. I am sure you will have fun on the Bay :)
Centaur’s, Westerly’s in general, are perfect Bay boats.
I will be cruising the bay for the first time, this year. This is good seamanship. Many thanks.
I was Sailing on the White Lighting from Middle River to the Point Naval Academy and she Sank .. Swam too those big rocks and Lived for another 50 years ! Now she was donated St Michaels Maritime Museum .
wow
#17: leave a float plan with landlubber and call them as soon as you've safely returned. Radios sometimes break. Phones can fall into the drink.
good points, thanks and thank you for watching
Excellent advice never before spoken ! Thank you !
thank you for watching
Fabulous. Wish I saw this 3 years ago!
thanks for watching 🚤⛵
I'm learning how to drive my boat on the northern end where all those rivers meet we call it the convergence and you will learn how to drive the Chesapeake on those waters my friends. Safe travels.🤘
You'd be surprised how silent a tugboat pushing a barge at Waterside Norfolks Elizabeth River is .
As new owners of a Catalina 27 on the Rhode River, this video is super helpful for my husband and I. We're trying to learn all we can before we get out on the bay in the spring, so thank you for making such an informative guide!!
I glad this was helpful, thanks for watching and i hope you will Subscribe
Great Video! I'm an Eastern Shore Native, we claim the Bay as our backyard.
Thank you for sharing a lifetime of lessons learned. Very insightful!
your welcome and thanks for watching, Happy boating
I’m a new sailor learning in Wisconsin and I find this very informative even for the Great Lakes
Great points... worth watching a few times. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the precious details as I am planning my first cruise on my Cherubini across the bay from Baltimore. Great information!
We’re heading to the Bay in less than 25 days. 🎉
Great video on the Bay, sailed here for the last 25 years, you nailed it.
thank you :)
It’s so interesting to know you are living and fishing on Top of Meteor crater that is 53 miles in diameter. The meteor hit 35 million yrs. Very close to Cape Charles. The diameter reaches across the Chesapeake Bay toward Hampton. If you look at a map of the mouth of the James River near Hampton you can see where the River turns upwards slightly before it enters the Bay. That is a ridge of the crater.
thanks for the info ☺
I dont sail but this video applies to both, power and sailboats. Very informative, very helpful. Thank you !
thanks for watching 🍷🚤
That is a great list of things to be aware of period thanks for sharing
Good morning ☀️
What a nice guy! Thank You for all these tips.
your welcome
Great video! Really good information, presented in straightforward way. I plan to be sailing those waters next month. Thanks!
Thank you
Great video and real pertinent information. I spent time on the bay and it’s a great place. The only thing I’d add is look behind you often. It may be 95 and sunny in front of you and completely black behind you and coming faster than you think. Like maybe 15-20 minutes and you think it’s an hour away cause it’s hard to judge the distance on the water when you can barley see the hazy shore. Also keep an eye out for ships coming up behind you. The bay is great. Relax and enjoy. But don’t become complacent.
good advice, thank you and thanks for watching
Thank you. Great Video.
thank you for watching, happy cruising :)😎🌞
Hey neighbor! I grew up in Deale and now live in Friendship.
As a new cruiser, long time beer can racer, I appreciate your advice. DNR has some pretty good maps showing active pound nets. I was able to digitally upload them to my plotter. Thanks for the great video!
Thank you! Such a lot of really good information about the cruising area. We really appreciate your local knowledge!
This was really great to watch. Good to see you Dom
Excellent video, thank you.
your welcome, thanks for watching
I have had wild times om the Potomac in a john boat up river.
Very informative! Thank you! My husband and I moved onto a 1987 Silverton last year and since it’s not a sailboat and gas is pretty expensive on it, we are still exploring the bay even after a year!!! Our marina is right outside of Chesapeake City.
same i’m 14 my grandparents have a 2000 silverton we are on the bohemia
The lower bay can get very nasty FYI, waves slap the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel 28'+ quite often just with usual storm surges. I've been aboard a 50' crab dredge boat off of Cape Charles and had the pilothouse blown out by a wave.
[thank, you again for you're info and you're video]👍
Thank you for this.
Great video, feel like I got a personal tour guide of the Cheaspeake! Would love to see a similar style one done on the Delaware Bay, beaches and Cape May cruising. Looking forward to the next one
There is close to NOTHING on the Delaware Bay.... no marinas or gas. There’s plenty once you reach the ocean, but in my experience, the DE Bay is just an obstacle to cross, and with all of the large ships & barges and the tendency for the bay to get choppy, it’s important to only travel it during the day and in good weather. There’s not much online about it though, simply because there’s simply just not much there. It’s not so much a cruising place for pleasure boaters, just a way to get to the ocean.
Great vlog, might want to include jellyfish.
Great video Dom! Thanks for sharing! ... Oh also you might want to have your starboard front piling checked.... It was moving around. Might not be good in a storm.... 😎👍⚓
She's gotta little flex for such calm conditions
Excellent!
GREAT ADVICE!!!
#17
Eye protection......
hat, glasses, umbrella, tarp, ect...
good ideas, thanks
Very instructional video!!!
[thank, you for you're video]👍
Thank you for watching 🥂
[I, own a 1989, 25ft fiberglass searay cabin boat]
Excellent presentation! Lots of knowledge and experience. The only question I have is: Is the water in the Chesapeake Bay wet? Thank you very much for passing your experience on to us!
yes, most of the time LOL thanks for watching
@@VagabondEpicurean Glad you caught the humor! I grew up around that part of the bay and after 40 years away, we're planning on moving to the Kent Island area in the next year or so. I hope to be able to meet you in person if we do make it back. Thanks again!
😄
Can get pretty rough around the Wolf Trap light too.
Dom can you recommend a good cruising guide to the Chesapeake?
“Not being involved”term goes a long way for safe boating.
[im 5 mins to the Chesapeake bay I'm on the va and Potomac side of the Chesapeake bay]
[I, normally run to the mouth of the bay on out to the ship channel to bouy #48
Thank you very much, Dom. That was a very informative video. And the shirt you were wearing is much nicer than the HORRIBLE ones you have worn in the past. ;-)
Anyone able to advice on how to cut through the shoal coming into Rock Hall? I draw 4 feet in a Tartan 34c.
It's been a couple of years since I've done it, but there are two range lights you can line up as you're coming out of Baltimore, down the Patapsco. Once, we went straight across the Swan Creek Bar into Rock Hall that way. This was on a 50' schooner with a 4-foot draft. I plan to get over there sometime this year in my little Westerly Centaur (3-foot draft) and sound out as much of the Swan Point Bar approach as I can. I hate it when I have to go all the way down to GC-1 or GC-3 to get into the channel. With the schooner and a little breeze, I can always heel her over a bit and get unstuck. With the Centaur's twin keels, it's a little different. In sand, grounding the Centaur's not a problem, the keels act like a water tunnel and the prop wash digs her out. In some of the Bay's sticky mud it's a bit more of a problem to get unstuck.
the prior response is correct. Line up on the range lights- I come in direct across Swann Point Bar at the the range light, aiming just to port as you pass the inner light. You may have only inches to spare, but over many years with a 5 foot draft never once even "touched bottom" (there).
Thank is there a place that I could fish from the shore I am in baltimore city had a stroke can't get around as good as I use to
i will look in to it
Are you near Harbor Hospital? If yes, there is a boat ramp in there lot and I’ve seen lots of folks fishing there.
You can also fish from Fort Howard (Dundalk) or Fort Armstead (Curtis Bay)
I forgot that if you are a veteran there is no charge for a lot of the county and state parks
You can also fish at North Point state Park in Dundalk
Hello, Would it be alright to cross the bay from Chesapeake Beach to Cambridge in a 13 ft Boston Whaler?
depends on the weather, i know a person who travels all around the bay in Whaler, not sure of the size but i know its around that 13ft mark. Be safe, have fun and thanks for watching
I would like to take my 12 foot inflatable, 10hp motor on the chesapeake this year. Is there a place that is reasonable on a calm low wind day?
You can launch from Sandy Point State Park right off of rt50
It’s at the Bay Bridge
Common sense boating , the only way to boat,sail or power.
Sounds to me like the best thing to know is not to go there
what! this is a great cruising area. Thanks for watching
@@VagabondEpicurean Perhaps but the whole video was full of warnings
@@SongSwan i would like people to be safe and have fun :)
I stopped watching right at the start… “it’s a Sandy bottom”… LOL!
Please join Tostmasters as you are very difficult to listen to.
Thank you kind sir!
your welcome, happy holidays ❄