anybody do any Indian River/Rehoboth boating?

alk

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Every year I like to spend at least one weekend somewhere out of our usual cruising grounds, which I guess are the NE Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, or NJ coast from OC to Cape May. Last few years have been west or south on the Chesapeake, but I was considering giving the DE beaches a try this August. Even though I lived in DE for several years, I've never been down to the DE coast.

Haas anyone ever done any boating down there, and if so, any tips on where to go? I'd only be taking the little boat down, via trailer. I guess most important find for us is sandy beach with clean water to anchor at, followed by decent waterfront restaurant/ bar. Active Captain shows some restaurants, but light on anchorages/beaching spots. Anybody know this area? thanks.
 
I used to rent boats and motors in Lewes, DE until I got divorced and the state licensing laws put us out of business. Indian River Inlet from the ocean is real nasty. Get some local info before you traverse it. Not much in the vein of restaurants on Indian River area. Rehobeth / Dewey has a few restaurants, Rusty Rudder being one of them. Watch the markers in Rehobeth Bay, as it is quite shallow. There is an island in the middle of Rehobeth Bay wher you can run your boat up on the beach and hank out. Also there is a canal that runs up from Rehobeth to Lewes. Its real scenic, and after you go under the drawbridge in Lewes you can dock / eat at Fisherman's Wharf (my ex wife's folks place) and have some food and drink. From there you can take the canal all the way up to Milton, DE. On a nice day, you can also go out of Roosevelt Inlet in Lewes - inlet is tame. You can go out to two sea walls and the rock piles a couple of miles off shore. Say Hi to my son Parker - he's home on leave and hanging out there.
 
I keep my boat in Lewes on the canal. What Jay said is very accurate. I'll add that Irish Eyes in Lewes is another decent place to eat with some docks available. Rehoboth Bay is nice for a small boat and the canal trip is a nice scenic ride. Lewes harbor is a neat place to cruise and very historic.

Jay, was your ex one of H.D.s girls?
 
wow, been five years already! Well we never made the trip back in 2011, but are booked in a hotel in Dewey in two weeks. Hope my trailer makes it down there.
 
Well you have a few new places to go by boat to eat. Hammerheads has a nice restaurant at the Indian River North side marina. Also, up Indian River Bay is Paradise Grille, the place is huge and has a stage, plenty of docking and good food. There is a marked channel off the main channel that takes you right in to the place. IRB is shallow so watch your depth but you should have no trouble in a trailerable boat, there are tons of them back there. Have a great time!
 
Any good spots for water skiing you can think of?
 
Ended up having a pretty nice weekend, got a slip at upper end of Rehoboth Bay and did plenty of skiing and tubing up there - most time I ever spent boating in 4 feet of water, but didn't have any problems once I got used to the depth alarm constantly sounding! Planned on going to Paradise Grille, but that never worked out. Did have a nice breakfast at Hammerheads at the marina near the inlet; some pretty nice rigs in those slips. Would like to spend some more time down there next summer. thanks Chris & Jay for the tips.
 
Scorpio

Ex was Dale Parsons daughter. He's 85, still active in the business. His son pretty much runs the place. HD wax my brother in law. Nice folks, all of them.
 
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