US Powerboat Show Annapolis

[Bobby P.]

Anyone going to the US Powerboat Show in Annapolis this weekend? If the weather is right, we are going to come on Saturday by boat and check things out.

Suggestions for where to drop the hook for the day? I'm sure it's gonna be a madhouse!

Bobby

 

[Mr. Ed]

Yep, it's already a madhouse. I was just there to check on my boat, which will be the 31' RT demo boat for Pocket Yachts this year. Here's a link to the Annapolis City anchorages: https://www.annapolis.gov/170/Anchorages
You can buy tickets online and avoid (some of) the wait: https://www.annapolisboatshows.com/united-states-powerboat-show/
You can contact the Annapolis Water Taxi on channel 68 to get a ride from your anchored boat to the show. I think it's up to $5/person now.

 

[Bobby P.]

Thanks, Mr. Ed.
Do you know if you can you anchor in Eastport?

 

[rstrott]

There is a large area outside of the harbor, just in front of the naval academy, where you can drop anchor and take the dinghy to town.

 

[Mr. Ed]

Thanks, Mr. Ed.
Do you know if you can you anchor in Eastport?

I don't really know for sure. Right now I imagine ALL the mooring balls and slips are going to be booked due to the show. Although there are usually a good number of mooring balls off the Naval Academy, the boat show might have encroached onto that area a bit. And the mooring ball field above the Spa Creek Bridge has been usurped by the brokerage boat dock. Anchoring is going to be hit or miss, and is also likely to be very crowded.

If you have a dinghy and relatively shallow draft you might be able to find something farther up either Spa or Back Creek (Annapolis and Eastport). IIRC the water taxi doesn't usually venture too far beyond the mooring fields, hence the need for a dinghy. There are dinghy docks at the water end of several streets in Annapolis, and you can find them on the harbormaster's website I think.

If it were me, I'd call the Annapolis Harbormaster at 410-263-7973 and see if they can help. Mooring and anchoring are going to be challenging for the next two weeks. Wish I could be more helpful. I have a love/hate relationship with these shows, after attending them as a customer or 40+ years, and working them for 4 years. Excedrin headache #21401. :mrgreen: