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John H.[_5_]

On Sun, 13 May 2012 10:29:25 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 13 May 2012 07:27:28 -0400, John H.
wrote:

If that's the case, the Chesapeake isn't as rough as X-Man would have us
believe.

It has rough days and calm days and in-between days. It is not, as has been suggested, continuously
in turmoil. Besides which, there are plenty of very nice, scenic, and calm rivers dumping into the
Chesapeake, many with little islands and/or boaters beaches which provide great areas for simple
relaxing.

Being in the middle of the bay with a 25mph breeze and 3' chop would be no fun for a family outing
in anything less than about a 34'er.

Some folks are naysayers, no matter what.

The problem I used to have with the bay was the expedition necessary
to load and trailer the boat down, launch the boat and then figure out
it was too rough to get much out of the break water.
If it is a bunch of guys fishing you will put up with more banging
around than a family trip with wives and kids.
We still decided 22' was about the minimum size for going out and not
getting the **** beat out of yourself on those unpredictable bouncy
days.
As long as you stick to the rivers you can have a small runabout and
on a calm day, poke around the bay but watch out for those afternoon
gusts kicking up.

In Chesapeake Beach is a bait shop (Tyler's). Those folks can look across the street and see how
rough the bay is. I've always been able to get good advice from them. There is also a big US flag
almost on the beach at the end of Chesapeake Beach Road (Hwy 260). If it's flying horizontally, then
it's too damn rough for a 21'er, or even a 25'er. If it's hanging real loose, then the bay is nice
and flat - maybe too calm...the big horse flies come out then.