Annapolis MD to Oswego NY best route

[LaBomba]

Looking at a boat in Annapolis MD and wondering if there is an inside route or short cut to get to the Hudson and ultimately to Oswego NY?? How many days approximately would it take weather dependent??

 

[Comodave]

We took 5 days to get from Annapolis to NYC. We stopped at Bear, DE, Cape May, Atlantic City, Manasquan. We had several weather days not counted and an extra day for my wife to have her appendix removed.

 

[Maerin]

Looking at a boat in Annapolis MD and wondering if there is an inside route or short cut to get to the Hudson and ultimately to Oswego NY?? How many days approximately would it take weather dependent??

We've made that trip 5? times. wThe run up the Bay, across the Canal, and down the Delaware Bay is influenced strongly by current. If you have favorable current, you can make good time. Conversely, it can go the other way. The Delaware Bay can be miserable when current and wind are opposing, so yes, very weather dependent. If you're planning the run in the summer months, the weather tends to be more stable and there won't be as much trouble finding a good weather window, plus you have more daylight in which to travel.
We did the trip from Croton, NY to Middle River, MD in a single 36 hr. run last fall. We've done the trip from Middle River to Oswego a number of times, but we've never been on a delivery timetable. A reasonable itinerary from Annapolis might have stops at Chesapeake City, Cape May, Atlantic City, Sandy Hook, Croton, Kingston, Waterford, Scotia, Ilion, Sylvan Beach & Oswego. So maybe 11 days. There is an inside route from Cape May north, but we choose not with our 5 ft draft. It's weather dependent, and of course, the cruise speed of the boat, & how hard you want to push. If it's the 1st trip with a new (to you) boat, there's something to be said for a relaxed pace. Your crusing experience should temper your itinerary. It might be unwise to try to cram into a short time the learning curve that comes with a new boat plus coastal cruising, plus New York Harbor, the Hudson, and the locking experience - all that is a lot to absorb. Even for an experienced cruising couple, that's a LOT to compress into a small time window. If it's all new and things don't go as planned, it could be very stressful. Allow yourself enough time to enjoy the cruise!

 

[Flatswing]

Plan on a couple of weeks - possibly more if you don't get a good weather window for the Cape May to NYC run. You can do it faster but why not enjoy the trip?

If you get a really good weather window -overnight Cape May to NYC. We did Cape May to Manesquan, Manesquan to Liberty landing marina Northbound and Liberty Landing Marina to Atlantic City, Atlantic City to Cape May Southbound in a 7 knt boat with ease. NYC harbor (even for newbies) isn't that bad, just stay situationally alert, you can't sightsee and keep track of the ferries etc. Recommend Liberty Landing Marina - expensive but great views so you can catch up on all the things you were too busy at the wheel to notice.

 

[psneeld]

Boats with 4 foot or less draft can do the inside route from Cape May to Manasquan (about 30 miles from NYC).

Collect advice till you feel comfortable, like, travel on the top 6 hrs of the tide if you decide to do it. Its not a whole lot different than other parts of the ACIW.

It can be a nice trip and see parts of NJ that people dont know exist....plus no need to sit if you do need to keep moving.

There is no short cut, other than not waiting for strong easterlies off NJ to subside to do the outside route.

 

[High Wire]

When you get in the ship channels, don’t forget to look behind you.

 

[SOJOURN4]

Cruising speed?

At about 17 to 20 MPH -
Annapolis to CM 6 to 7 hrs.
CM to Liberty Landing - < 8 hrs

Once past AC only real inlets are Barnaget and Manasquan.

CM to Barnaget +/- 4 hrs

Agree with Delaware Bay - Could be nasty - play the tide and the wind. (+/- 50 miles from CD to CM)
I would not run the inside from CM to AC - way too many blood pressure raising areas.

Good luck

 

[caltexflanc]

I second Steve's thoughts. It's a great wonderful cruise, and obviously one you'll be taking for the first time. Take your time and enjoy it!

We just crossed the mouth of Delaware Bay today... on the Cape May-Lewes ferry. Brought back many happy memories. As usual, was rocking pretty good with the outgoing tide. Boats headed from the north were rare, and having not much fun, but far from it's worst.

 

[HenryD]

It really depends on the boat and how you want to cruise. How fast does it cruise at? What is the draft?
As everyone has said - no shortcut from Annapolis to the Hudson. We have done it a few times and our route is Annapolis to Delaware City (the dock master gives a 5:30pm briefing on timing the tides, currents and weather down the Delaware bay). From Delaware City, we run to Cape May. Then Cape May to Atlantic City anchorage at Rum point. Then Atlantic City to Hudson - either anchor at Sandy Hook, or marina at Great Kills or anchor behind Statue of Liberty. Next day up Hudson to Croton/Haverstraw anchorage or marina. The next day is a long run to Houghtailing. Then to Waterford. Once in the Erie Canal, it depends on where you want to stop, the locks, etc. Waterford to Amsterdam (Lock 11). Amsterdam to Canajoharie (short day be we wanted to stop here). Canajoharie to Little Falls. Little Falls to Sylvan Beach. Sylvan Beach to Brewerton. Brewerton to Oswego.

So we are in the 12-15 day runs for us. Twice we have lost 4 days in Atlantic City waiting for weather. We usually spend two days in Waterford. Have stopped in Half Moon Bay to spend time in NYC and Westpoint.

Not sure if this answers your question but make it a fun trip not just a delivery.

 

[LaBomba]

Thanks guys, it is a Mainship 350 we are have been eyeing. We are retired so time is not an issue but have never played with tides before. Once in the canal systems there is no issue as we have done lots of that stuff. You have been very helpful

 

[BandB]

Thanks guys, it is a Mainship 350 we are have been eyeing. We are retired so time is not an issue but have never played with tides before. Once in the canal systems there is no issue as we have done lots of that stuff. You have been very helpful

Run outside from Cape May north and don't get into playing with the tides this time. Wait for a good window. So, you get stuck a few days at Cape May or Atlantic City. Cape May is a great place to be stuck and some of us like Atlantic City ok. Our last trip, we just ran from Ocean City to NYC, but Cape May to NY is only 128 nm so find the perfect day and nice trip if you have the speed to do it in 14 hours or so.

 

[caltexflanc]

With that Mainship the NJ intracoastal is feasible. We have a member here, psneeld who has excellent local knowledge and experience. A lot of it is very pretty, as I was thinking to myself this morning as we drove up the Garden State Parkway and some of our exploration via the Whaler.

 

[Maerin]

Thanks guys, it is a Mainship 350 we are have been eyeing. We are retired so time is not an issue but have never played with tides before. Once in the canal systems there is no issue as we have done lots of that stuff. You have been very helpful

If your Mainship can do 12 kts, you probably won't have to be too concerned with current. "Playing the tide" refers to timing travel to coincide with favorable current. There can be current on the Delaware Bay as well as the C&D. If you're fortunate enough to time the current so it's going the same direction you are, it'll give you a bit of a boost and can cut travel time, particularly in a 6 kt vessel. If you can do 12 kts or so, it's simply a matter of a bit more fuel burn since you can compensate for the current with the throttle. At 6 kts, fair current can cut hours of travel over the course of a day.



Conditions on the Delaware Bay can range from benign to downright treacherous, there have been times we've turned back with our 43 ft 52,000 lb. boat. Heading north with a north wind 20G30 and a flooding tide makes for a very uncomfortable ride. Point being, you don't necessarily have to play the tides, but should be aware of the weather/tide and plan accordingly. Summertime travel tends to be much more predictable and benign, so travel is easier.

 

[High Wire]

If you can time your arrival at the Delaware River end of the C&D Canal (Reedy Point) at high tide, you can ride the outgoing tide most of the way to Cape May. This will give you a 2-3kt assist for 55 miles.
Yes Del Bay gets a nasty short chop about 5 ft, 2-3 sec period when a strong wind bucks the current. The worst I've seen is NW wind after passage of a deep low pressure area and an incoming tide. The bay turns to chocolate milk from the stirred up mud.
PS, study your chart for Reedy Island Dike. Many recreational boats have met their ends on this submerged hazard.

 

[caltexflanc]

If your Mainship can do 12 kts, you probably won't have to be too concerned with current. "Playing the tide" refers to timing travel to coincide with favorable current. There can be current on the Delaware Bay as well as the C&D. If you're fortunate enough to time the current so it's going the same direction you are, it'll give you a bit of a boost and can cut travel time, particularly in a 6 kt vessel. If you can do 12 kts or so, it's simply a matter of a bit more fuel burn since you can compensate for the current with the throttle. At 6 kts, fair current can cut hours of travel over the course of a day.



Conditions on the Delaware Bay can range from benign to downright treacherous, there have been times we've turned back with our 43 ft 52,000 lb. boat. Heading north with a north wind 20G30 and a flooding tide makes for a very uncomfortable ride. Point being, you don't necessarily have to play the tides, but should be aware of the weather/tide and plan accordingly. Summertime travel tends to be much more predictable and benign, so travel is easier.

Steve, I am surprised at you of all people. Current plays a very big role in sea conditions at any inlet, and Delaware Bay is definitely no different. When that outgoing tidal current runs against an opposing wind and swell is when things can really get treacherous.

A place where current can really be your friend is the Hudson River. There's a reason the Indian name for it meant "river that runs two ways".

 

[Maerin]

Steve, I am surprised at you of all people. Current plays a very big role in sea conditions at any inlet, and Delaware Bay is definitely no different. When that outgoing tidal current runs against an opposing wind and swell is when things can really get treacherous.

My point was misunderstood...

Point being, you don't necessarily have to play the tides, but should be aware of the weather/tide and plan accordingly.
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Meaning, the current boost isn't something that's really critical in a 12kt boat, but you're spot on; my intention was never that the current/wind is something to be ignored. Yes, it can turn conditions nasty in the right combination. Not to be overlooked. Thanks for pointing out the ambiguity.

 

[gator749]

With a slow boat (8 knots+/-) a good way to go is to do the jump offshore from Cape May to Sandy Hook or NY overnight. You can leave in the afternoon and arrive in the early morning. Obviously, this is weather dependent but in reasonable seas it's an easy passage with no depth worries as long as you ride the 30-40' line offshore.

 

[slowpoke2]

Just finished the run from Annapolis to Oswego a few days ago. We travel at just under 9.5 kn. This time of year the days are long and we made good use of the daylight. On the Erie Canal you're limited by the lock hours which are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here's our timing:

Day 1: to Cape May
Day 2: to Staten Island
Day 3: to Kingston NY
Day 4: to Waterford NY

on Erie Canal
Day 5: to Amsterdam
Day 6: to Ilion
Day 7: to Brewerton
Day 8: to Oswego (arrived early afternoon)

In total 7 1/2 days, but we did time the tides on the Delaware Bay for Day 1 and had absolutely perfect weather allowing for the long ocean passage on Day 2.

Tim

 

[tomdove]

It was easy 100 years ago. The Delaware & Raritan Canal linked the upper Delaware river to Raritan Bay, near Staten Island. I have wished for that route many times...

Tom Dove