Potomac Rinkervous '18

Handymans342

LaRea said:

Once they get to DC, I might drag them up to Chain Bridge.  That would give them bragging rights that they covered the entire navigable Potomac.  

Watch out for the cop boats .They like to run into you for no reason. 

2youngns1stBowrider

We are also on Long island sound, we are in CT. Although I must say we are Rinker Rookies by far.
                                     2youngns 1st Bowrider
                                         Connecticut

onislandtime

Nanjemoy creek is not a good anchorage. Alot of bass boats and crab pots!!  Across from Nanjemoy Creek (Virginia side) next to Choptank Creek. We call it "sweetspot". Protected from winds and boat wakes. Gilligans Pier is great place to slip or anchor (they have a water taxi) just north of the Nice Bridge ( Maryland side). Bands, restaurant and tiki bar! great sunset views! Keep going North there is a great spot, sandy bottom called Wades Bay (Maryland side). Just north of fairview and Ricks Marina. Ricks marina is a great anchorage with bands and restaurant etc but you're exposed to the winds and boat wakes if not a great day. Let me know when it happens and I can help anyone coming north or south with great spots etc. Have that weekend marked on calendar. We already have plans to be at Wades Bay June 29th to meet my brother (rain day 30th).

onislandtime

Nanjemony Creek is full of crab pots and bass boats. There is a place just across from there on Virginia side called "sweetspot". Its near Choptank creek. Another place on Maryland side north of Ricks Marina and Fairview called Wades Bay. Sandy bottom and protected. Gilligan's Pier just north of Nice Bridge on Maryland side. Bands, Restaurant and Tiki bar. Can slip or anchor. They have a water taxi.
If Gilligan's is a stop, I can coordinate with the owner to make sure everyone has a blast!

LaRea

Ahh - good to have local knowledge.  What about Elm Bar on the Wicomico?

Is this what you're talking about across from Nanjemoy?
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nanjemoy+Creek/@38.3648529,-77.0968801,1041m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b71c92786170c3:0xcbc3a4db64344406!8m2!3d38.4332892!4d-77.1168753 

onislandtime

@LaRea yes but not in the creek. We all raft from the creek mouth and south along the shoreline

onislandtime

@LaRea Most people raft in Charleston creek on the Wicomico. Nice and quiet and calm water.

Dream_Inn

Great local knowledge!  We are looking for a sandy bottom that we can back the boats up to and wade in the water with drinks and plenty of food!  Preferably not open to wind or boat wakes either.

onislandtime

@Dream_Inn is the raft up still happening?

Stodge

Took a river boat tour from Alexandria to Mount Vernon with a stop at National Harbor.  Wish our marine gas was a cheap as there.  I was surprised at how shallow the Potomac is.  Nice ride though.  Pretty area.  I did see some boats rafted in the river as we drove home on the GW.

onislandtime

Great to hear good things about our river. Outside the channel is sometimes very shallow, but must of it is 4 feet close to shore. Been on this river since 1976. 

Dream_Inn

onislandtime said:

@Dream_Inn is the raft up still happening?

@onislandtime - Yes, still happening for sure!  We've got some decorations/prizes for the Luau Party theme as well.  If you know of other Rinkers around, invite them!  (we even take wannabee Rinkers ) It sounds like you are the local with the best knowledge of where we should go.  Biggest thing is that the anchorage is calm and would like to be able to swim & touch bottom if possible.  Also need a spot to take a little dog every now and then   I think you mentioned Nanjemoy? 

Maybe you can help us as well with fuel stop?  I'm planning on fueling up at Solomons before we leave that Friday morning, unless there is a better place on the way inside the Potomac.

@rinker270 - Patrick, do you know of a decent, good price place maybe near colonial beach or near Nanjemoy that we could get fuel?

@LaRea, do you know a good fuel stop?  I'm just not sure if we'll wait on Friday morning for the fuel to open in Solomons before we leave.  I like to leave early and take advantage of calm weather, which would leave us needing fuel when we get into the Potomac.

onislandtime

@Dream_Inn How far can you go from Solomons in the Potomac before fueling?

onislandtime

The red arrow is a popular place for sandy bottom and beach area. The arrow is pointing to best of the best spot along that shore however any place in Wades Bay is fine. Wades Bay is an hour away from DC at 25kts (30mph) cruise.
The red circle is called sweet-spot to the locals. Its has a nice bottom and away from boat traffic etc. At 25kts its about an hour and 15mins from DC.
Everyone has to be aware to use extreme caution in the Potomac for debris. The floods in Great Falls has brought alot of debris (trees) down stream into the Potomac. It has settle down in the lower Potomac but the northern part (Wades Bay and North) is still bad.

LaRea

Sweet-spot would be better.  Wades Bay is so close to the main channel and all those boat wakes.  

Fuel:  Just on the north side of the 301 bridge is Aqualand Marina (aqualandonthepotomac.com), which has fuel and easy access.  If you want something closer to Solomans, I'd recommend Coles Point (www.colespointmarina.com).  

The debris has been bad!  Until that crap makes its way out to sea, gotta keep an extra pair of eyes on watch.  

Dream_Inn

onislandtime said:

@Dream_Inn How far can you go from Solomons in the Potomac before fueling?

We can probably make it all the way to DC, but I know we will want to top off before we anchor, so we have enough for our generators over the weekend. That Monday, we will leave for Mt. Vernon area.  I've heard fuel is a bit sporadic on the Potomac, so I want to make sure we don't stretch it too far. 

Maybe Friday/Saturday nights at Sweet spot and Sunday night at Wade's Bay?

Hmm, I see you are hitting Wade's Bay?  If you think that is a good spot for several large boats to back up to, I'd be game for it Fri - Sun.  It'd just be nice to meet up with some of the local Rinkers on the Potomac and get a little Rinkervous action going there!   You also say there is some sand in that area?  I sure appreciate the local knowledge and will owe you a cold one!

LaRea

There's also Lewisetta, but it's usually best to get up into the river ASAP because the water tends to be rough around Point Lookout.  

Dream_Inn

I agree LaRea.  Further up a bit into the river would be good, just to get out of the rougher water.   It looks like it would be about 100 miles for us from Solomons to Wades Bay.  The day before we will log around 50 miles.  So maybe a good fuel stop would be around colonial beach area.  Not much sense to fuel up at Solomons, because we'd want to fuel up before we drop anchor after the 100 miles up.  This would also allow a really early go to enjoy the sunrise and nice (hopefully) calm weather.

Dream_Inn

I just saw LaRea's post while I was typing earlier.  I agree that sweet-spot looks better because it's away from the main channel.  It also shortens the ride that day a little bit, which is nice.  Are you up for that @onislandtime ?  And aqualand marina sounds like the perfect fuel stop!  I like it!

Too bad we can't get some of those Rinkers to come out of Stepps Marina and meet up??  anyone know anyone there that can post something up about it?  I love meeting new Rinker owners!!  @rinker270 ??

onislandtime

Aqualand is one of the highest priced on the river 89 is $4.14 a gallon a couple weeks ago. Colonial Beach the gas is at Colonial Beach Yacht Center, but very strong currents and its about 10 mins off the river. I would suggest my marina (Goose Bay) for gas (87 $3.26 89 $3.49 93 $3.74). They have ship store but no important beverages are sold. It will get the 342's to DC and back to Goose easily. That way you don't have to buy gas in DC!!!! Now if you are a Gov or Active/Retired Military you can stop off at Quantico Marina (North of Wades Bay) and probably save some more money. You will need a CAC (card) or your Military ID. 

What day will we be rafting at sweet spot and or Wades and how many boats?

Handymans342

What about the Colonial Beach area??

Dream_Inn

well, sounds like Goose Bay would work and close to the raft up area.  Looks to be an easy navigation and only a couple miles off the path.  I'd hit Quantico, pretty sure all the boats with me could but it's past the raft-up, so that doesn't make sense to go up and back.  Maybe we can fill up there on the way back down.  Does Goose Bay have Diesel too?  One boat with us will have diesel, but (handy will like this) they may not need fuel at that time.  I guess they could stop somewhere else.

It looks like we'll have two 400s, a 390, a 370, and you, your brother and whoever else shows up.  A 350 is following us to the Potomac, but it's probably too far up the Potomac. (he was following us and then going further south from the Potomac, but could stop in for a night).  Not sure about @Rasnan ?  he has a 342, but this may also be a tad too far for him as well?

Handy, we thought about CB, but it'd be nice to be somewhere a little more secluded and have our own party.

onislandtime

Goose has diesel. 

Dream_Inn

onislandtime said:

Goose has diesel. 

Even better!  We'll fuel up there then!  Anything to watch for when coming in?  Is the fuel dock big enough to have two 400s and a 390 at the same time?  No big deal if not, just wondering if we can all fuel at once.  We will aim to be there I'm guessing around 9am on the 29th for fuel.   That should allow us to get a good spot at the anchorage and have a cold one before noon!

onislandtime

2 boats can be at the fuel dock at the sametime

onislandtime

Fuel Dock is bigger then it looks in the picture but we have 50 footers in there at the same time.

Dream_Inn

Yep, looks like we can fit two of us in there without a problem.  That'll save a little time when putting in 250 gallons each.

onislandtime

I usually get it during the week so I can use both pumps lol

Dream_Inn

Weather is really shaping up to be very nice!  Low winds, clear skies, little toasty too!!

McGarnicle

Grew up on the Potomac, lived in King George. Loved reading through this thread, a lot of familiar places that I haven't heard about in quite some time.