DC Georgetown Docks

[AllTideUp]

Hey all,

I'm thinking of taking the boat up to Georgetown during memorial day weekend. Have any of you docked up at Georgetown before? From what I gather its free to dock right?

I was thinking of going to dinner while there, think its safe enough to leave the boat tied up there for couple hours?

Thanks

 

[WDCboater]

Hey all,

I'm thinking of taking the boat up to Georgetown during memorial day weekend. Have any of you docked up at Georgetown before? From what I gather its free to dock right?

I was thinking of going to dinner while there, think its safe enough to leave the boat tied up there for couple hours?

Thanks

You can tie up at Georgetown for free, but it's first come first served. On a busy weekend night the boats will be 3-4 deep. Also, the yachts Firefly and Mooksha often take up a big chunk prime real estate.

It's perfectly safe to leave your boat there while you go to dinner, but other people may tie off of you or you may have to do that to someone else. This means people walking across your swim platform.

Also, if you're on the inside you're stuck until people leave. All boats must be off the dock by midnight. DC Police are usually parked in Gtown in the evenings and they will enforce this.

I usually avoid docking in Gtown on weekends because it's just so busy, but if you don't mind the other boaters go for it.

 

[WDCboater]

By the way are you in the water full time or do you trailer? Where do you normally boat? We're in DC and anchor up near Three Sisters and Roosevelt Island frequently.

 

[AllTideUp]

By the way are you in the water full time or do you trailer? Where do you normally boat? We're in DC and anchor up near Three Sisters and Roosevelt Island frequently.

Thanks for the info!

We are in the water full time now. I'm out of the occoquan river, and usually raft up in belmont bay. Only get up to DC every once and a while. I usually hit up Tims I/II alot during the summer, will be at Aquapoloza this year as I hear its at Tims II this time.

Just got the cruiser a couple weeks ago so havent been up to DC with it yet. Only day trips in the 185 the last couple years.

 

[WDCboater]

Thanks for the info!

We are in the water full time now. I'm out of the occoquan river, and usually raft up in belmont bay. Only get up to DC every once and a while. I usually hit up Tims I/II alot during the summer, will be at Aquapoloza this year as I hear its at Tims II this time.

Just got the cruiser a couple weeks ago so havent been up to DC with it yet. Only day trips in the 185 the last couple years.

Very cool. My old boat was a 240DA. It's a nice cruise up to DC. We've done the cruise many times down to PWM.

Alexandria's city dock is a nice place to stop for dinner as well. I think they are $20 for the evening. Same rate as National Harbor.

If you park your 240 in Georgetown have extra fenders on the dock side of your boat. It's a fixed wooden dock and they have steel loops under the dock you can tie off to. My 240 bounced when docked there as people were getting off and it hit one of those loops. It made a nice little knick in the gel coat. When the tide is just right your bow will be right at those steel rings.

Side note, where did you hear about Tims II for Aquapalooza this year? I've been waiting for word on a location. It was at Tims I two years ago and then much farther south last year so we skipped it. Thanks!

 

[AllTideUp]

Very cool. My old boat was a 240DA. It's a nice cruise up to DC. We've done the cruise many times down to PWM.

Alexandria's city dock is a nice place to stop for dinner as well. I think they are $20 for the evening. Same rate as National Harbor.

If you park your 240 in Georgetown have extra fenders on the dock side of your boat. It's a fixed wooden dock and they have steel loops under the dock you can tie off to. My 240 bounced when docked there as people were getting off and it hit one of those loops. It made a nice little knick in the gel coat. When the tide is just right your bow will be right at those steel rings.

Side note, where did you hear about Tims II for Aquapalooza this year? I've been waiting for word on a location. It was at Tims I two years ago and then much farther south last year so we skipped it. Thanks!

Thanks for the tips! I was talking with the wife about it some and think since its memorial weekend we might actually go somewhere else. Was gonna try for dinner in georgetown and thought the boat would be a good way around traffic but the girls wanna make sure they get off the boat looking fresh and I'm not sure 30 MPH wind on the way up is how they wanna dry their hair..... lol

Yeah I stopped in alexandria once in the old boat and twice at national harbor. Was pretty fun to do. Didn't realize how shallow that bay in front of national harbor got the first time I ran through there. Didn't have a depth finder and next thing I knew I was pulling along a bunch of seaweed. Was glad I was only putting along.

I talked with they guys at PWM alot, bought my last 2 boats there. They were telling me it was gonna probably be at Tims II this year. I think they would know since its a Sea Ray event. At least I hope so heh, I like the sandy bottom at tims II.

I went to the one at Tims I but when they moved it to giligans last year I figured that was a long way to go in a 185 and not have a place to sleep so we skipped it.

 

[WDCboater]

Thanks for the tips! I was talking with the wife about it some and think since its memorial weekend we might actually go somewhere else. Was gonna try for dinner in georgetown and thought the boat would be a good way around traffic but the girls wanna make sure they get off the boat looking fresh and I'm not sure 30 MPH wind on the way up is how they wanna dry their hair..... lol

Yeah I stopped in alexandria once in the old boat and twice at national harbor. Was pretty fun to do. Didn't realize how shallow that bay in front of national harbor got the first time I ran through there. Didn't have a depth finder and next thing I knew I was pulling along a bunch of seaweed. Was glad I was only putting along.

I talked with they guys at PWM alot, bought my last 2 boats there. They were telling me it was gonna probably be at Tims II this year. I think they would know since its a Sea Ray event. At least I hope so heh, I like the sandy bottom at tims II.

I went to the one at Tims I but when they moved it to giligans last year I figured that was a long way to go in a 185 and not have a place to sleep so we skipped it.

Good to know about Aquapalooza. Tims I two years ago was about 105 degrees and the water was 98. It was fun, but very hot. Tims II would be a nice trip down if that's where it's going to be. I thought last year was a bit to far to venture and the weather was rainy if I recall.

National Harbor is very shallow if you don't stay in the channel. My first year with my 240 my transducer was faulty for the first month or so and I cut right across. I knew when I could actually see things in the water that I had chosen poorly. Thankfully I didn't hit anything. It's also a tricky spot to dock when it's windy. I was there back in early April on a day that was ridiculously windy.

 

[AllTideUp]

Good to know about Aquapalooza. Tims I two years ago was about 105 degrees and the water was 98. It was fun, but very hot. Tims II would be a nice trip down if that's where it's going to be. I thought last year was a bit to far to venture and the weather was rainy if I recall.

National Harbor is very shallow if you don't stay in the channel. My first year with my 240 my transducer was faulty for the first month or so and I cut right across. I knew when I could actually see things in the water that I had chosen poorly. Thankfully I didn't hit anything. It's also a tricky spot to dock when it's windy. I was there back in early April on a day that was ridiculously windy.

Yeah I remember Tims that year was very hot. We didn't have a cruiser then and I'm not sure if I even had the bimini on either. I'll be glad I have the cruiser this year. Still getting used to the fuel usage however lol... Used to only needing maybe 100 gallons the entire season. LOL

Think this is gonna eat up a bit more!

 

[WDCboater]

Yeah I remember Tims that year was very hot. We didn't have a cruiser then and I'm not sure if I even had the bimini on either. I'll be glad I have the cruiser this year. Still getting used to the fuel usage however lol... Used to only needing maybe 100 gallons the entire season. LOL

Think this is gonna eat up a bit more!

Tell me about it. Just filled up my 350. Only needed half a tank and it cost me $510.
Wth my 240 we usually went throug 3-4 tanks a season. That was for about 75-80 hours.
We keep a boat checking account with a debit card attached and automatically put some money in each month to pay boat expenses. It helps cushion the sting at the gas pump.

You'll love having the cruiser. Despite the fuel.

 

[AllTideUp]

Tell me about it. Just filled up my 350. Only needed half a tank and it cost me $510.
Wth my 240 we usually went throug 3-4 tanks a season. That was for about 75-80 hours.
We keep a boat checking account with a debit card attached and automatically put some money in each month to pay boat expenses. It helps cushion the sting at the gas pump.

You'll love having the cruiser. Despite the fuel.

Yeah I bet that 350 can go through it, especially with the 8.1s you have in there.

I have thought about doing the same thing and keeping a card just for boat gas, docking and such. I have an account that I use for rainy day funds now that I automatically put money in, maybe that will just have to become my boat gas money.

I'm sure this season will be great with the cruiser, despite the recent weather. We've already been just hanging out on the boat even with the rainy weather, its nice to have the camper canvas so we can stay dry! =)

 

[Mikemapva]

Welcome to the river!

Ryan has given you as much information on Georgetown as I could give, so I'm not going to weigh in there. I'm also adjusting to a new normal for fuel as my new boat has a 150 gallon tank versus the 70 gallon that my old one had.

What marina are you in on the Occoquan? There are several of us on here in different ones. I'm at Fairfax Yacht Club.

Mike

 

[dpmulvey]

D.C. on a holiday weekend on a boat is like drinking and driving on New Years Eve. Something's gonna happen and odds are it's not going to be good.

 

[blaster]

Don't forget to bring your coast guard boating skills and seamanship card with you, It's required beyond the Wilson bridge. They are tight on the regs in DC waters.

 

[AllTideUp]

I'm at Captain John Beach so right next to Fairfax Yacht club.

I haven't gotten my Coast Guard skills card, I started to take the online course but never got around to finish it. I went into DC waters a few times with my old boat but haven't been this year. I really do need to finish that.. lol

 

[Mikemapva]

I used to keep my old boat at Captain John Beach, and that's where the new boat spent the winter on land.

There are several courses that you can take to satisfy the requirement for DC. We took a course offered by Virginia. We keep our certificate on the boat, but we've never been stopped.

Mike

 

[WDCboater]

I'm at Captain John Beach so right next to Fairfax Yacht club.

I haven't gotten my Coast Guard skills card, I started to take the online course but never got around to finish it. I went into DC waters a few times with my old boat but haven't been this year. I really do need to finish that.. lol

DC MPD's boat hangs out at Gtown frequently. They also hang out near the start of the Washington Channel near the Anacostia and Potomac junction. It is also not uncommon to see them hang out between the 14th street bridges. They watch for people who don't slow for the no wake zone.

USCG often hangs out anywhere from the Washington Channel to the 14th St Bridge. I've already been boarded once this season and the FIRST thing they will ask for is your boater safety card. EVERY person driving the boat must have one.
USCG station is right at James Creek so they patrol the area often.

I used BoaterExam.com. The course was easy to do online. You just have to have a certificate or card that is NASBLA approved.

On a busy holiday weekend the police and Coast Guard will be out in force. I've seen people literally driving with a beer in their hand.

 

[WDCboater]

FYI for anyone heading to the Georgetown waterfront. There is word spreading that the National Park Service is enlarging the no-docking area to allow for more tour boats. The no-docking area will now extend from the north end of the dock to the middle of the curved area. This leaves a much smaller area for free docking of private boats.

Also, keep in mind many yacht charters arrive very early in the day and take the prime free locations. They do not allow people to tie off of them.

They should have just enlarged the dock to the north and made the tour boats pay for it.