Any Mac owners in Casa Rio, MD

[BNG]

Is there anyone here that sails out of Casa Rio Marina.MD ?
I always have slipped my boat and was thinking about storing it on the trailer with the mast up at the marina when not in use to keep the bottom cleaner and not having to worry about storms that come up the bay. I live an hour away . I'm not sure if it would be a pain having to launch it when I go out. Unfortunately I only got out twice a month this season and it's hard to justify letting it float all season.

Thanks
Brian

[Sea Wind]

Hey Brian,
I have been at Casa Rio for almost three years. It is very simple to leave it mast up and once you have the routine figured out it takes very little time to be on the water.
Let me know what kind of information you are looking for.
Pedro

[BNG]

Thanks Pedro

Does the single ramp get crowded on weekends? How do you charge your batteries? Are other macs plugged in all the time? Do you keep the boat there all year round? I think have see you on the water around. My 26x is named "Drift Inn"

[BNG]

Pedro

Is the water deep enough at the ramp to have rudder and centerboard down

[Ammiraglio]

I have had my X there since 1999, when I bought it (the dealer used to be there, until he retired). I keep my Mac on a trailer all the time. They can put it in the water for you on the spot (if the person who does that is available) or you can call ahead or send them an e-mail. Management is very nice and friendly. Never had any depth problems with centerboard or rudders (depth on the charts is marked as being 5ft). I keep my battery topped off with a solar panel, but there are electrical outlets (and water hoses) in several places around the yard.

I don't know if you have ever seen the place during the winter. It becomes very crowded because they pull out a lot of boats for winter storage, so your Mac may end up behind two or three large boats and you won't be able to pull it out until spring. If you ask them in advance (meaning in a couple of weeks at the latest, i.e., mid- to late October) sometimes they move it so that it's accessible during the winter.

Overall, a very good place to keep your Mac. Convenient to everywhere in the Rhode and West Rivers for a quick sail or motor with friends. This year I swam twice (once right outside Cadle Creek and once near High Island) with no jellyfish, maybe I got lucky... I have a nettle pool but I was too lazy to set it up .

Bob

[BNG]

Thanks Bob for the information. I think I will try it out this coming summer.
Brian

[Uncle Jim]

We kept ours there for a number of years as well very good marina not alot of frills but good access to the bay.

[Sea Wind]

Yes, I keep it there year round.
I agree with Bob, it gets crowded during the winter so it is important to let them know if you want to use the boat before April. I still go out until December if there is no ice on the creek.
I have a 40W solar panel for the batteries.
Never had a problem with depth. In the middle of the summer it gets a little crowded, but never really had to wait much and it is well protected from all sides.
The location is great, across the bay from St. Michaels and 13 miles from Sandy point and the Bay Bridge.

[BNG]

If given the choice and the price was the same would you keep your boat in the water or trailor store there with the mast up ready to go? I feel like if I trailor store it the boat may stay cleaner and I wouldn't have to rush A hour away to secure the boat when a storm/hurricane came up the coast .Casa Rio may be the best location to keep it on the trailer and put it in the water when I use it and the access to the bay is good

Your thoughts

[Ammiraglio]

If you feel comfortable maneuvering a trailer (I'm totally incompetent), I'd say it's almost a no brainer: keep it at Casa Rio on the trailer, mast up, and in a few minutes your Mac is in the water. Plus, when it's out you can easily do your maintenance. Mine has gone through whatever bad weather has hit the area since 1999, including Isabel, with no problem at all, and no need to take any particular precautions, e.g., tie it down or move it (maybe I tempted fate and was just lucky).

I'll add to what Sea Wind wrote about the location that it's about a half hour motoring, maybe a bit more, from Galesville, with a couple of restaurants with their own docks, and the city public pier, where you can tie up. It's very popular with friends who enjoy an hour on the boat but not much more: you go there, walk around, or have lunch or a drink, get back on the boat and motor home. The restaurants on the South River are a bit further away, but still reasonably close.

Bob

[Sea Wind]

If given the choice and the price was the same would you keep your boat in the water or trailer store there with the mast up ready to go

If price was the same I would keep it on the water April to October and on the trailer October to April, but a slip is double the cost of keeping it on the trailer.
To me the biggest benefit of a slip would be to not have to drive the tow beast every time I go sailing.

[BNG]

I have slipped for 4 years on the south river and about every few weeks I get a lot if growth around the water line. When hurricane Sandy came through it cost me $1200 to repair the damaged fiberglass around the rub rail that kissed the pilon a few times. I live and hour away so it can be a pain running down there. It sounds like you guys have a pretty good setup there.