Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

B

brandnewtoboating

New Member
Sep 21, 2006
23
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Hi,

We just bought our 1st boat about 2 months ago and have been exploring SML. I see a ton of SeaRays whenever we go out. Anyone out there have any suggestions on places to explore, restaurants, etc.?

It would be great to get this forum going!

Thanks!
 
Alex D is on your same lake and I am sure he will have some suggestions for you. If you are out and see some Sea Rays tell them about the site. Who knows Jim may even give you guys your own section, if you get enough people :thumbsup:
 
We are on SML as Wes pointed out ... BNTB ... we are also at the same marina ... I can see your boat in the fork lift launch area of SMYC. We have our slip in the A dock at SMYC.

Detailing all the opportunities on SML goes far beyond the post here.

I suggest you peruse
http://smith-mountain-lake.com/
in detail ... there are 13 marinas and tons of restaurants ... too much to discuss here.

We like Mitchell's Point marina for a quick lunch run and great barbeque sandwiches. Easy docking and patio tables with view of the water. A natural stop-over is Bridgewater Marina with tons of restaurants and shops and a lot of transient slips. Crazy Horse Marina is good too. There are a lot more ...

Here are a few pics of us and our 340 on the lake

http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/AlexD_MyAlbums/SML 102106/

... if you have specific questions, I'd be glad to help anytime ...
 
Alex, Thanks for the link again, it looks like a great lake. I'm going to have to pull MS Judy up there and check it out. Where would you recommend we stay with a slip for MS Judy?
 
Chuck,
I would stay at the Lake Inn in Westlake and slip the boat at Bridgewater Marina. You can launch/retrieve for $5/day on the other side of the bridge from Bridgewater. there are tons of places on the lake. The state park has log cabins for rent and a beach. The log cabins have even floating slips for you to dock.

Or better, you go here http://www.westlake-waterfront-inn.com/ they have rooms at $85 off season and you can launch and slip your boat while you stay here.

Let me know if you get serious to come up here ... and we'll talk
 
Thanks for the link, just read the guest log book. Looks like a great place. Added the link to my boat traveling section. Places like this is why I stayed with smaller trail-able boat. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the suggestions Alex. I'll make it a point to stop by and check out your boat next time I'm at SMYC. I'm on a waiting list to get a covered slip, but who knows how long that will be. I really like the folks at SMYC, they all seem to have an easy going way about them.

Chuck-you should make the trip. The lake is beautiful. I took some family from out of town onto the lake last week and they just loved it.

Hey Wes, thanks for the comments on my boat in the virtual marina.
 
Hey BNTB ... if you are looking for a slip, bridgewater may have some opening right now. might be a solution until you get into SMYC, which could take some time. You might already be in the drystack there, so maybe that's not an issue for you. let me know, I can give you the phone of the owner of bridgewater if you decide to call.
 
Thanks for the suggestion Alex. I'm in the rack at SMYC now, so it's not such a big deal. I live in Forest and to call them when we're on the way out the door to splash the boat works well for us. I just want to get a covered slip to have a place to clean the boat and hang out. Besides I like the laid back ways of SMYC as opposed to busy Bridgewater.
 
brandnewtoboating said:
Chuck-you should make the trip. The lake is beautiful. I took some family from out of town onto the lake last week and they just loved it.
Click to expand...

Yes I've added it to my list of places I need to go to. So much water so little time. :thumbsup:
 
brandnewtoboating said:
Sounds like we are on the same page Alex. BTW, did you go to that aquapolooza this past year? Is that something they do every year or was it a special event?
Click to expand...

BNTB .. I did sign up for Aquapalooza this year but ended up not going because my 340 was just ready for me to do the cockpit and cabin after SMYC did the hull, deck and they ahd a professional steam cleaner come and do the cabin carpet and everything. So I decided to spend a day on the cockpit and a day on the cabin rather than going to AP.
Aquapalooza is a Searay sponsored event at particiapting Searay dealers. I am not sure, but I think this year was the first ever AP and SMYC sponsored one for SML. They all had a great time at the Pointe.
 
Alex D said:
Aquapalooza is a Searay sponsored event at particiapting Searay dealers. I am not sure, but I think this year was the first ever AP and SMYC sponsored one for SML. They all had a great time at the Pointe.
Click to expand...

It was the 1st time for dealers this year.
 
Thanks for the tip on Smith Mountain Lake. We pickup our boat in April and I am going to book a few days in May to take the boat out there. West Lake looks like a great place especially for 85 bucks a night.

Greg
 
Hey Alex...

We booked 4 nights at West Lake toward the end of May... Any other tips you can share? Routes to take, problems to watch out for, other good easy access places to stop besides Mitchells and Bridgewater? Anything you can share would be appreciated. Thanks much...
 
Greg,
Get a good lake map. there are numerous shoal areas that are not easily spotted andsome go far into the lake body. The worst is around the lighthouse stay away from it and in the channel. We ran from 50 feet to 2.5 feet of water in only about 50 feet of distance and ground our skek into the rocks two years ago. You need to study the shoal areas well.


Lots of nice camping areas and private coves around the state park for anchoring or walking. Try the beach at the state park just to the north of the S-curve beginning.

Consider staying at the http://www.westlake-waterfront-inn.com/ you can slip your boat directly at the hotel and moor it there overnight too since it is on the water.

We like to stop at the Virginia Dare marina ... good fast food as well as Mitchells Point. Crazy Horse marina is busy and a party spot.

If you want to get some quick sandwiches to take along I totally recommend the "Mouse Trap" at Bridgewater. They have the BEST subs I have ever eaten to take a long on the boat. Fresh crunchy bread and great meat and fixins. SUPER!
Smith Mountain Dock has a nice waterfront grill.

For fine dining off the water, I'd go to the Blackwater Cafe. Super spot but not cheap.

Other things to do is to visit the Dam Visitor Center. Great stuff about the history and building of the dam. Can't get there by boat though.

Consult http://smith-mountain-lake.com/ for more ideas info and to plan for your trip. Let me know if you have specific questions and I try to help if I can. Also check herehttp://www.visitsmithmountainlake.com/ for events. You don't want to be on the lake during the Poker Run. Too crazy and loud for my liking. Boat speeds up to 130 MPH on the lake ...
 
Alex... Perfect, thanks for the great information :thumbsup:

We actually are staying at the westlake. I had seen your earlier recommendation and have already booked with them. I really liked the idea of slipping the boat rather than pulling it out each day. Thanks again...
 
Well we just got back from our 4 days at Smith Mountain Lake. All I can say is WOW. First we picked the perfect time, we basically had large areas of the lake to ourselves. We had a great time exploring and just crusing. West Lake Inn was great also, especially having our own dock right outside the Inn. We did find it hard to locate some of the spots you mentioned Alex, even with the maps. They are not noted and there is very little in the way of markings for the Marinas on the lake. Maybe if you get the chance you could list the channel markers where they are located. We especially loved the Blue Ridge mountains right there in the backdrop. We took a lot of pictures and once I sort through them I will post a few of the good ones.

Great recommendation Alex...thanks again.
 
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