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jeudi 7 avril 2016

How To Select A Chesapeake Marina For Your Boat Trip

By Larry Brooks


Chesapeake Bay is the largest body of its kind in the entire United States. Its northern headwaters are Susquehanna River and its outlet is the Atlantic Ocean. It is 200 miles long and 2.8 miles at its narrowest point. Dotted around its shoreline are dozens of Chesapeake Marina where local and visiting boat owners may keep their boats. This area of astounding natural beauty was the subject of a book by James A. Michener published in 1978..

The estuary has several distinct regions, all of which are well catered by mooring facilities. South to north, these are the mouth of the bay, lower and upper eastern shores, mid peninsula and northern neck of the bay in Virginia, southern and central Maryland, and the head of the bay. The various marinas offer a wide range of amenities, including accommodation and boat servicing facilities. Many cater specifically for families.

One thing locals have learned to live with and casual visitors need to learn about is the huge numbers of sea nettles, known commonly as jellyfish. They are common in the Caribbean, on the east coast of the United States, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The environment of Chesapeake Bay is particularly favorable, as there are more sea nettles here than anywhere else. As graceful as they look, they are capable of delivering a debilitating sting. Information on where they are congregating at any given time is easily available and visitors are advised to check before going for a swim.

Bohemia Bay is tucked away in northern Maryland at the head of the bay. Facilities include a lighted entrance channel with lighthouse and jetty. There is a large swimming pool, a separate pool for children, a private beach that is free from pesky sea nettles, picnic area, and playground. The club lounge offers free wifi to slip-holders, a free swap library, dock carts, laundry room, and more. Moorings are accessible via water taxi.

South of Bohemia Bay and accessible by state highway 301, the marina at Skipjack Cove handles 365 slips that can accommodate ships as long as 150 feet. In addition to a full service restaurant, athletic courts, and large swimming pool, there are bath and shower facilities and a laundromat.

For those looking for peace and quiet away from the pandemonium of family resorts, there are small, family-run marinas in Sunset Harbor and Worton Creek. One of the smallest marinas is located off Mobjack Bay. There are 17 slips that are able to accommodate boats from 25 to 50 feet in length.

Chesapeake Bay caters directly to the boats that make family holidays possible, too! Halfway between Baltimore and Philadelphia at the headwaters of the estuary is a massive, full-service marina, complete with 40-ton travel lift and not one but, two 22-ton forklifts, a state-of-the-art high and dry boatel, and certified service departments for several boat manufacturers. There are 200 slips, both fixed and floating.

The bay itself is mostly shallow. While it has an average depth of 21 feet, nearly a quarter of the waterway is less than six feet deep. The ambient climate is described as humid subtropical. Summers are hot and steamy, while winters are cold to mild. The surface of the bay freezes only rarely, the last instance being the winter of 1976-77.




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