Low (48-feet) Fixed Bridge Proposed to replace Dover Swing Bridge

The Maryland State Highway Administration is proposing to build a new fixed bridge on MD 331 to replace the historic Dover Swing Bridge. The swing bridge will remain in place in the open position, at least until the state has decided its fate under the historic structures act.

The problem as I see is that the proposed replacement bridge will have a vertical clearance of only 48 feet MHW. This will make it two feet lower than the fixed 50-foot bridge across the Choptank River at Cambridge. This bridge already excludes a great many sailboats, whose rigs exceed 50 feet. The 48-feet clearance of the new Dover bridge will then exclude many that can just clear 50 feet.

 The proposal is open to comment until September 20. I plan to write asking that the bridge have at least a 50-foot clearance instead. It would seem to make sense and would keep the beautiful upper Choptank open to at least to the same sailboats that can clear the first bridge.

If you'd like to comment on the proposal too, the address is: Commander (dpw), Fifth Coast Guard District, 439 Crawford Street, Room 100, Portsmouth VA 23704-5004. Attn: CWO Mike Davis

Please feel free to comment here as well.

For the complete text of the Coast Guard notice, see the CBM Notices to Chesapeake Mariners page here.

—Jody Argo Schroath, Cruise Guide Editor

 

Sarles Boatyard in Annapolis changes hands

Look for changes soon to the century-old Sarles Boatyard on Spa Creek in the Annapolis. Just what those changes will be, however, is merely a matter of conjecture at this point. According to an August 11 story in the Capital newspaper, the venerable Eastport marina recently was purchased by Bret Anderson, president of Pyramid Builders. According to the Capital, Anderson is also in negotiation to purchase Petrini Shipyard, next door to Sarles. Read the full Capital story here.

Schaefer's Returns

The new Schaefer's restaurant and marina is set to open at the end of this month, giving visitors to Chesapeake City at the western end of the C&D Canal a new place to stop, eat and spend the night. The former Schaefer's was a popular spot for many years, but closed some time ago. The new owners have rebuilt the docks as well as the facility buildings. I snapped this photo when I stopped by in mid-August. The fuel dock (gas and diesel) is already open, and is located at the bridge-end of the dock.

Kent Narrows gets narrower

Here is the recent discussion regarding the Kent Narrows channel—in particular the approach to the north entrance. If you've been through this passage lately, let us know what your experience has been. To post, simply click on "Comment" below or email jody@chesapeakeboating.net.

August 13, 2012

Was returning thru the Narrows from the north yesterday at approx. 5:00 pm the 12th and hit bottom twice on the starboard approach; the last turn into the harbor. My boat drafts 4' of water. Very scary . . . thinking of moving my boat to Stevensville.

Glenn Reilly

August 12, 2012

We transited Kent Narrows Friday 7/20/12 heading south at low tide. Approaching from the north, the second set of channel markers have been altered by blanking out the former red and converting the former green marker to red. A new temporary green is moored to the east of the new red (former green). At that location the channel is narrowed to approximately 1/2 its normal width. We had a reading of 5.2 feet depth at the point where the channel is altered. We draw 5 feet, so it was a bit dicey. We returned the other direction on Sunday, 7/22/12 at high tide and never saw less than 6.8 feet depth.

David Wood

August 10, 2012

Jody,

The tide was not low at the time since I was very surprised that I had less than 3 feet under my boat and had been through Kent Narrows several times last year and never saw depths like that.  The tide was closer to being high, but I can’t say with confidence exactly what it was, except that it was not low tide.

As far as the newly remarked channel goes, I was in the marked channel with other boats and got these readings approaching the inlet and then through the inlet into the narrows. I'm not sure about the newly remarked channel, sorry.

Bill

August 10, 2012

William

Do you remember what the tide was doing at the time? Was that the newly remarked channel?

Jody, CBM

August 9, 2012

Went through Kent Narrows three weeks ago and there was less than 5 feet of water in the middle of the northern entrance to the channel.

William J. Griffin

July 29, 2012

We went through Kent Narrows from N to S on 7/20 at 12:30 PM.  The second set of markers approaching from the north have been altered.  The former RED is now blanked out with a white cover and the former GREEN has now been converted to RED.  There is a new small temporary GREEN moored to the East of the old GREEN (now RED) about 1/2 the normal (already narrow) width of the former channel at that location.  Basically the channel has been moved over to the East at that location.  Our boat draws 5' and as we were passing the repositioned marks the depth gauge read 5.2', so it was a bit dicey.  Coming back the other way on 7/22 at 12:00 noon we saw a measurement of 6' at that location.

Dave Wood

July 24, 2012

We went through the Kent Narrows on Friday the 20^th and Sunday the 22^nd.  The Coast Guard has moved one of the markers.  The moved the channel at the green #3 over by installing a temporary green marker.  We went through at about 2 ½ hours before low tide.  The lowest depth we saw was 7.2’ at one or two spots.  Most of the channel was much deeper.

You may want to contact Mears Marina at Kent Island.  They were very helpful providing info about the markers to our friends in advance of our passage.

Fred Fortunato

s/v Fortune Teller

Welcome to Chesapeake Bay Magazine's update blog for the 2012 issue of the Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay. Stick with us for changes to navigation information, closings, openings and changes.