Boating in MD

H

HardHead

Member
Jan 9, 2015
77
Kent Island Maryland
Boat Info
1996 Sea Ray 370 Sundancer
Previous boats:270 Sea Ray, 230 Sea Ray
Engines
Twin 454 Mercruiser Inboards
Is anyone boating in MD?
Are any Marina's open?
Anyone just leaving their boat on the hard?
 
The marina policies in MD are unevenly and arbitrarily applied. Some marinas have essentially taken slip holders money and impounded their boats, and other marinas allow full access for govt approved boating activities (fishing and maintenance)
Most marinas allow owner access. You can use your boat to go fishing (make sure you eat the fish) and perform essential maintenance. Some, such as Haven Harbor North and South, and Safe Harbor, Kent Narrows, prohibit all access by owners. No using your boat for fishing and no maintenance or safety inspections.
 
Just released from State Officials. Recreational Boating Restrictions may be eased up as soon as this week per Republican leader Kipke and Minority whip Szeliga. Gov Hogan to have update tomorrow, hopefully this will be included.
 
WARNING.......Rant to follow!

First off, Korkie, that is great news. Let's hope someone has some sense!

So the People's Republic of Maryland, in addition to closing their waters to recreational boating, has also closed their golf courses. So they have managed to keep me off of my boat because we boat in the Potomac River, which they own from shore to shore. And today, my buddies and I go to play golf here in Virginia. The parking lot is jam-packed. And about half of the cars have Maryland license plates!!!! Pisses me off. Their gooberner screws me on boating and then basically screws me again on the golf course! We should station VSP at the border crossings and turn back all Maryland cars!

Rant over......
 
Yup, feel for ya. There are so many things that don't make sense. So Breton Bay Golf Course was told to close, but Wicomico Golf Course was at first allowed to stay open. Guess since Wicomico is owned by the County Government, they had different rules. Don't see MD shitting down the lottery either. People are out EVERY DAY buying their lottery tickets. Standing in lines, handling cash, touching doors, etc. Why hasn't MD shit down one of their primary sources of income which is also high on the ladder of socializing? Different set of rules I guess. We all have at least a handful of rants. Hang in there, this crap will ease up soon.
 
Jaybeaux said:
WARNING.......Rant to follow!

First off, Korkie, that is great news. Let's hope someone has some sense!

So the People's Republic of Maryland, in addition to closing their waters to recreational boating, has also closed their golf courses. So they have managed to keep me off of my boat because we boat in the Potomac River, which they own from shore to shore. And today, my buddies and I go to play golf here in Virginia. The parking lot is jam-packed. And about half of the cars have Maryland license plates!!!! Pisses me off. Their gooberner screws me on boating and then basically screws me again on the golf course! We should station VSP at the border crossings and turn back all Maryland cars!

Rant over......
Click to expand...
Korkie said:
Yup, feel for ya. There are so many things that don't make sense. So Breton Bay Golf Course was told to close, but Wicomico Golf Course was at first allowed to stay open. Guess since Wicomico is owned by the County Government, they had different rules. Don't see MD shitting down the lottery either. People are out EVERY DAY buying their lottery tickets. Standing in lines, handling cash, touching doors, etc. Why hasn't MD shit down one of their primary sources of income which is also high on the ladder of socializing? Different set of rules I guess. We all have at least a handful of rants. Hang in there, this crap will ease up soon.
Click to expand...

https://www.boatingunited.org/take-action/protect-boating-access/

https://www.boatingunited.org/
 
@techmitch the only problem with that petition is it will only send it to the governor of your home state. My problem is that the governor of the neighboring state has got me tied to the dock!
 
Jaybeaux said:
@techmitch the only problem with that petition is it will only send it to the governor of your home state. My problem is that the governor of the neighboring state has got me tied to the dock!
Click to expand...

Yea, that is F***** up! I remember reading your post about the MD/Potomac in that other thread.
 
Well, I left the dock Sunday morning and went for my maiden putt-putt. No wake zone, to about a 2 mile channel until I hit a WALL. A big, beautiful wall, aka the Maryland State Line. I idled right up to it, spun the boat, emptied my holding tank, and headed back. That's what I think of Maryland.

(all true except emptying holding tank)
 
Jaybeaux said:
Well, I left the dock Sunday morning and went for my maiden putt-putt. No wake zone, to about a 2 mile channel until I hit a WALL. A big, beautiful wall, aka the Maryland State Line. I idled right up to it, spun the boat, emptied my holding tank, and headed back. That's what I think of Maryland.

(all true except emptying holding tank)
Click to expand...


Jay....I'm just confused. Is your boat registered in MD or VA?

I have a USCG Documented boat registered in DC and can go wherever I want. I don't know if National Harbor (MD) is open but nothing stops me from waving to them or going up to Georgetown. To the best of my knowledge.....Maryland cannot close the river except to people with MD registered boats. Even then.....there appears to be an exception if you are: "fishing to get food for your family".
 
PlayDate said:
Jay....I'm just confused. Is your boat registered in MD or VA?

I have a USCG Documented boat registered in DC and can go wherever I want. I don't know if National Harbor (MD) is open but nothing stops me from waving to them or going up to Georgetown. To the best of my knowledge.....Maryland cannot close the river except to people with MD registered boats. Even then.....there appears to be an exception if you are: "fishing to get food for your family".
Click to expand...

I'm documented. Home port Occoquan, VA.
 
Jaybeaux said:
I'm documented. Home port Occoquan, VA.
Click to expand...

So what's the deal.....you can go wherever you want. MD marinas are closed but I don't know of anything that stops you from using the river. The last law case asserting Maryland's control over the river north of Chain Bridge and south of the 14th Street Bridge was tossed by the Supreme Court years ago. Am I missing something?

http://nsglc.olemiss.edu/SandBar/SandBar2/2.4supreme.htm
 
Last edited:
I called Maryland DNR Police this morning and specifically asked if Governor Hogan's order applies to Virginia boaters, and was given a resounding "YES".

However, I agree with everything that you provided. I have even read Hogan's order and it starts with "Maryland residents....". I just don't know if I have the stones or the $5,000 to tell the Maryland marine police that I don't recognize their authority in the Potomac River because as a resident of Virginia and the Compact of 1785, I have every right to be there.....all being said as the handcuffs go "click". :D
 
Jaybeaux said:
I called Maryland DNR Police this morning and specifically asked if Governor Hogan's order applies to Virginia boaters, and was given a resounding "YES".

However, I agree with everything that you provided. I have even read Hogan's order and it starts with "Maryland residents....". I just don't know if I have the stones or the $5,000 to tell the Maryland marine police that I don't recognize their authority in the Potomac River because as a resident of Virginia and the Compact of 1785, I have every right to be there.....all being said as the handcuffs go "click". :D
Click to expand...


I just went through the Order and DNR response. Frankly.....it is purely stupid reflecting the ignorance that so many politicians have these days.

I have not seen a Maryland cop on the water north of the Wilson bridge. I have seen the Virginia and DC cops but no Maryland cops. Both VA and DC cops wave and go about their way.

So my interpretation is this is a legacy venue issue. Maryland in its draconian ways wants to keep its residents at home. They could ticket anyone with Maryland plates but cannot close their Federal highways to anyone else. I'm okay with that but the reality is the Potomac river is governed by Federal law just like a Federal highway. While VA and MD dispute "ownership" make no mistake it belongs to Federal government and policed by multiple jurisdictions including the USCG.

So in traditional nonsensical fashion they threaten to arrest and fine people even though they have no legal basis to do so outside of their own citizens violating a stay home Order. Even the head of the MD DNR said if you have fishing rods out....they are not going to stop you. They will if you have a group of people on your boat.

I will be on the water this weekend so .....we will see. No one from Columbia Island, James Creek, The Wharf or The Navy Yard has reported being stopped by MD cops.
 
Thanks...you and I are reading things the same way. I reached out to the PRYCA and received a reply stating that they are working on a statement to be released soon. We are going to the boat this weekend and will go out. It would be fun to cruise up to Mt. Vernon and see George's place, which in essence, where this conundrum originated!

Hope to see you on the water.

Jaybeaux
 
Jaybeaux said:
Thanks...you and I are reading things the same way. I reached out to the PRYCA and received a reply stating that they are working on a statement to be released soon. We are going to the boat this weekend and will go out. It would be fun to cruise up to Mt. Vernon and see George's place, which in essence, where this conundrum originated!

Hope to see you on the water.

Jaybeaux
Click to expand...
Get a pic if you are pulled over....and especially of the handcuffs :)
 
Jaybeaux said:
Thanks...you and I are reading things the same way. I reached out to the PRYCA and received a reply stating that they are working on a statement to be released soon. We are going to the boat this weekend and will go out. It would be fun to cruise up to Mt. Vernon and see George's place, which in essence, where this conundrum originated!

Hope to see you on the water.

Jaybeaux
Click to expand...

Updated map https://boattest.com/article/nmma-updates-boating-access-map

Yep, ain't we lucky... F'ers!
 
Yet you can go out on a head boat with ten random people and spend the day fishing.


Can charter boats work next month since they technically fall under the recreational quota from a fisheries standpoint?

As part of the food supply chain, charter boats can continue operating but must abide by social distancing guidelines and the prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people. Charter boats and head boats should NOT have more than 10 individuals (including captain and crew) on the vessel at any time.
 
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