Spring in DC

ZZ13 said:
Just got home from spending a few hours anchored at Mattawoman Creek with my daughter. She was in town and has never been on the boat. Anyway, are they intentionally dumping big dense fields of sticks and boards and stuff in the water because I'm there. Where does all this crap come from?
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What the hell? Is that normal?!? Can't they burn it like normal people?


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The heavy recent rains wash out the low level flood plain areas which are filled with dead trees and cut wood tossed there by hillbillies or lazy home owners. Instead of taking the wood to one of the waste transfer operations in the area they dump it in unoccupied flood plain properties. The result is that the rains wash the wood into the Potomac and create a serious boating hazard.

We call them "Potomac Alligators" for the damage they can do to a boat. The worst are the ones you can't see that are waterlogged and barely floating just below the surface.

-John
 
Aero Nautical said:
What the hell? Is that normal?!? Can't they burn it like normal people?
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I think it's pretty normal. I don't boat often on the Potomac. But, every time I've been out I've had to be cautious. In fact, just yesterday a buddy was heading out south of the Wilson bridge and I warned him regarding logs and debris. I got a call from him last night saying it was bad.

So, be very cautious navigating the Potomac. Many of these logs are not small and IMO will do damage.
 
I think the one I hit a couple weeks ago had some metal in it. Dinged the prop a bit and took a quarter size chunk off my skeg. At least I have an I/O because an inboard would have been trashed by what I hit over near Leesylvania park.
 
Mikemapva said:
Bill,

Was it bad the entire way from Belmont Bay to Mattawoman, or just in places? I'm hoping to get out some this weekend, but don't know when. I always wonder where all of that comes from too. It hasn't been raining enough to wash a significant amount of junk into the water.

Mike
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Mike on that particular day there were two big fields of it. First was on the way out just before the last channel marker before I turn to port to go to Mattawoman. I was able to navigate through that at speed. Interesting while we were anchored, we watched it all slowly drift towards us and then past us. We waited until it was past us before we pulled anchor and departed. Then, on the way back a new field magically showed up where there wasn't one on the way out - in the channel to the Occoquan just after I turned to port from the Potomac. I had to slow to idle to crawl through it. I could have turned around and gone around it, but by the time I thought of that I was 1/2 the way into it. Hope you got out and didn't run into anything on Sat/Sun.
 
Bill,

Thanks for the heads up. It sounds like a continuously moving target.

We didn't make it out yesterday, but are heading to the marina shortly for a BBQ. We'll see if we head out, or just putz around on the boat.

Mike
 
Spent some time out on the bay this weekend, mostly in belmont and down to Tims, didn't see alot of crap in the water around there. Never been over to Mattawoman, but I have heard about it from friends that used to go there. They said the weeds took it over..
 
What's this Potomac River Poker Run going on this Saturday? We planned to take the family for a ride to Tim's II for a family birthday event, but I just learned of this event and am wondering should I steer clear of that part of the river on Saturday? Looks like their route starts at Tim's Rivershore at 10am, then on to Goose Bay, then to Colonial Beach, then Gilligans and ends at Tim's II around dinner time.
 
Bill,

Tim's has sponsored that event for many years. I'm not sure how many participants they get which I guess would determine whether you needed to stay clear or not. I would reach out to Tim and see if he would give you the straight scoop on it.

At the very least, I think you would want to be seated at Tim's II before they got there.

Mike
 
ZZ13 said:
What's this Potomac River Poker Run going on this Saturday? We planned to take the family for a ride to Tim's II for a family birthday event, but I just learned of this event and am wondering should I steer clear of that part of the river on Saturday? Looks like their route starts at Tim's Rivershore at 10am, then on to Goose Bay, then to Colonial Beach, then Gilligans and ends at Tim's II around dinner time.
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I have been at Tims Rivershore a couple of times when this event has taken place, and it hasn't been anything to be concerned about...in fact it has been an interesting spectacle to behold. I wouldn't let it change your plans.
 
Beer Hunter said:
I have been at Tims Rivershore a couple of times when this event has taken place, and it hasn't been anything to be concerned about...in fact it has been an interesting spectacle to behold. I wouldn't let it change your plans.
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Beer Hunter are you docked up in DC?
 
Bill,

Did you end up going to Tim's 2 during the Poker Run? How did it work out?

Mike
 
Mikemapva said:
Bill,

Did you end up going to Tim's 2 during the Poker Run? How did it work out?

Mike
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We did not. We just anchored out all day and had a great time. It was a 2-year olds first time on the boat so we decided not to go so far away should we need to return unexpectedly (which we did not need to). Here he is manning the helm.
CaptainWilson_zps7cf58db2.jpg
 
To close out the Spring/2013 I anchored out yesterday afternoon on the Potomac. Can't beat this river:

IMG_0818_zps21dba58d.jpg
 
Can't really tell, what is that? (Other than a log)

We were at the boat last evening at the dock in DC. Awesome evening. We're heading up to Gtown today.
 
Just a guess. Dead bird and a log. Maybe a Blue Heron. Hard to tell though.
 
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