Hart Miller Island

S

SeaRenity

Member
Mar 31, 2008
200
chesapeake bay / Back river
Boat Info
320 Sundancer 2005
Engines
350 Mag hor.
Has anyone had problems entering Hart Miller Island from the southern inlet near the lighthouse? Last season I tapped the bottom twice, and I was certain I was in the channel. Any local tips?
Rich
 
I have been boating in this area for 20 yrs, I won't use that channel , safer to go around, Bob
 
The "Cut" was dredged last year.
But you still have to be carefull and stay within the marked channel.
When you leave the channel going west, you must / should go out and around G "3" (G = starboard side going north) if you are going up and around the inside in "Hawk Cove".
 
We live just north of the cut in Back River...with the 320 for three years no issues, four trips through the cut with our 40" draft and no issues this year either, just mind every marker...
 
I've run the "cut" for the past 5 years, the last 2 with a 44 Sundancer. Last year's dredging improved it but I found it was still thin at low tide. I "tapped" once last year, while in the channel, and since then would only use it during high tide. I'm not in Middle River any longer so I don't see myself with that decision in the future.
 
standers said:
......Last year's dredging improved it but I found it was still thin at low tide. I "tapped" once last year, while in the channel, ..........
Click to expand...

Maybe they missed a few spots when they dredged?
A few humps...... or bumps....... still remain?
 
I keep my boat at Bill's Boats, right next to the Dock of the Bay restaurant. I have to run the cut twice every time I use my boat. I went through it about 30 times or so last year without touching bottom in my "rookie" season. :thumbsup:

Just north of the cut is a cable crossing. We were catching rumors last season that some boats hit the cable, but I didn't speak with any actual witnesses.

Michael
 
skibum said:
I keep my boat at Bill's Boats, right next to the Dock of the Bay restaurant. I have to run the cut twice every time I use my boat. I went through it about 30 times or so last year without touching bottom in my "rookie" season. :thumbsup:

Just north of the cut is a cable crossing. We were catching rumors last season that some boats hit the cable, but I didn't speak with any actual witnesses.

Michael
Click to expand...

Is there any difficulty getting into the Dock of the Bay's pier? I've seen the man made jetty but never ventured to the other side.
 
Last spring it was a cable that had broken free that runs from the shore to hart miller. The cable was encased in a plastic tube that floated to the surface but was just under the water. there were reports that three boats hit it with only one suffering any major damage, mostly dinged props. The cable , again this was last year in the spring, was located by the red marker # 2 just north of middle river towards the mouth of the Gunpowder. The issue was corrected by mid MAY last year, thats when the dredging was ongoing. I suspect that the dredging broke the pipe free and caused this.

I have a question. Is there any place someone can go to to check on dredging operations to find out if local shoaling has been cleared in the bay. I always hear reports about the channels going into Still Pond, Kent Narrows (on the Chester River Side) knapp narrows and some other places. Be nice to know what winter dredging took place and what is planned for the upcoming months

thanks

Craig
 
gredmer said:
Is there any difficulty getting into the Dock of the Bay's pier? I've seen the man made jetty but never ventured to the other side.
Click to expand...

It's not really difficult, but the trick is to exit the channel right by the green marker (#5, I think - my charts are on the boat) in the middle of the channel. If approaching from the south, make the turn to port right after you pass it, if approaching from the north, turn to starboard just before you get to it. After you make the turn, you will see another green marker ahead on your left by the barrier. Make a straight line from #5 to within 20-25 feet of that marker. Once you pass the barrier, turn to port, and then to starboard into the fairway. The DOTB's piers are on the left side, opposite Bill's forklift launch area on the right. The whole area behind the wall is at least 5' deep. Just do NOT try to go around the other end of the barrier when you leave, most boats get stuck over there.

I always try to make a straight line in and out between the 2 markers, and right angle turns into or out of the cut. So far, that has kept my bottom off of the bottom...

We hang out down there quite a bit just dockalounging. If anyone sees us while at the DOTB be sure to say hi... I should have ordered that burgee... Months ago...

Michael
 
[QUOTE I should have ordered that burgee... Months ago...

Michael[/QUOTE]

NO, you shouldn't have ordered the burgee!!!

I have been going thru the "cut" ever since I got into boating many years ago, in my boats and other boats. Only bumped the bottom once, my wife had distracted me, if you know what I mean. When the outside is rough, it is a nice little break.........stay in the channel and you will be fine.

John
 
Last year, I was going though the 'cut' when my depth reader got shallower and shallower and started reading ONE FOOT. I had to cut the engine... got turned around as it was windy.... got pushed sideways and hit one of the pilings for a marker. That left me with some fiberglass damage I had to get fixed.

I was smack dab in the middle of that channel when it happened. I was just before the lighthouse as I was heading out to the bayside.

I hope they dredged it a lot deeper.
 
Did you actually hit bottom? There are a few areas around HM Island where we seem to get erroneous readings on our depth finder. I have a 40" draft, and have seen the 1 foot reading in spots where I know there is over 5 foot of water. I've been chalking it up to grass or seaweed on the bottom causing a bogus reading.

I never saw it in the channel, though.

I'll ask the owners of my marina today if they did any dredging over the winter. I can't imagine that they would let it go too shallow. There is a fairly large work boat that ferries the state workers to and from HM Island that uses our marina. That sucker has to have more draft than we do. It comes and goes through the cut on the side with the lighthouse.

Michael
 
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Ok, I'm less than clear on what the different areas are being called. There's the channel from the south, the passage at the north end, and a deceptively open looking, but VERY shallow, area at the south end of the island just north of the channel. Which one of these are you referring to as the 'cut'?
 
The cut is the narrow highly marked channel or "cut through" between Millers Island and Pleasure Island/Hart-Miller. Just southwest of the islands.
 
I didn't actually feel the props "hitting" bottom but as you know, it's a soft mud bottom so I am not sure if I would feel anything. Did see a bunch of mud stirred up in the water.....

To answer the other question... the "cut" is clearly marked on the charts and there are markers galore on the water.... stay AWAY from the APPARENT pathway on the NORTH side of Pleasure Island.. it is VERY shallow there.

<HAN>
 
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