Delta cruising suggestions

A

Arnold

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Oct 14, 2003
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12330
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We are going to leave on Monday from Alameda for our yearly week in the Delta. In the past we spent most of the time at the Delta Yacht Club and cruised around with the dinghy but this year we like to explore different areas. We also would like to spend more time on the hook and, possibly, a couple of days at the dock at Windmill Cove and around the Delta Loop.
I would appreciate suggestions on where to anchor, where to eat and comments on staying at Windmill Cove. The boat is a 60 footer with a 16' beam and a draft of 5 feet.
Thank you in advance.
 
quote:
Originally posted by MarcJ

I place I like is the Sugar Barge on Bethel Island.

Click to expand...
Sugar Barge was a great place about 10 years ago when they had a good restaurant. They still have a great location, but the burger and fries are just run-of-the-mill. Good place to get drunk, though.

I think Marina West would be a great place to spend a night or two. They have Garlic Brothers as well as a burger place as well as some of the cheapest fuel prices on the Delta. And if you bring a bicycle, it's just a short ride to the Marina Market as well as a bunch of other restaurants.

I guess it's all about personal preference, but if Arnold is considering staying at Windmill Cove, Marina West is not much further and there are more options available there.
 
Yeah, don't waste your time at Bethel Island.

Visit Village West, Tower Park and Willow Berm. Just be sure and keep your eyes on the depthfinder...

That would be a nice "taste of the Delta!"... [:-thumbu]
 
+1 on the depthfinder. Stay out of the middle of the channel on the last leg into Village West. It would be a problem with a 5' draft at lower tide conditions.
 
As far as anchoring out, Mildred Island would be a good bet. Especially since the winds seem to be calming down. Make sure you enter on the north side though with a boat your size.
 
quote:
Originally posted by etyppo

+1 on the depthfinder. Stay out of the middle of the channel on the last leg into Village West. It would be a problem with a 5' draft at lower tide conditions.

Click to expand...
good point. It does get a little skinny down there at low tide. But there shouldn't be a problem at high tide for him and I think it would be worthwhile to check out if he hasn't been there before.
 
As you enter the Mokelumne river from the San Joaquin the charts show an island in the middle of the river. Do you pass on the left or on the right of the island?
 
With all of my various boats which include up to my current 41'er, I have always stayed to the right of the middle berm. Once past the entire berm, then I cross over to enter Moore's.

There is an opening to access Korth's, but depending on the tide, it can be a little shallow.

I have seen large boats that are entering the SJR traversing from the left side (Korth's side) and I have done so in my smaller boats, but not my larger ones. You have to continue straight out into the SJR to go past a shoal(actually, in between two shoals), but once you are in the actual channel, you will be fine.

Since yours is 60', I'd take the safe route. Just be sure and watch for (faster) boat traffic...

BTW, Moore's can be shallow as well. Watch the tide. I have seen larger boats anchor out and take their dinghy in to their dock. Besides, your 60'er will probably fill up an entire slip and on a busy day, that will be a tough one to pull off. But then again, it has been a long time since Moore's has been busy...
 
Prospect Slough is a nice anchorage, as is the "cove" just off Cache Slough right above where Prospect Slough cuts over. Pretty and a good base for dinghy exploration. If you don't want to go that far north, White's Slough and some of the tuck-ins in the middle of Potato Slough offer fun spots.
 
Arnold, I have also always gone to the right and then crossed over. In our Meridian drawing 42inches, I did touch bottom, which is very soft silty sand. Just go slow. I didn't suffer any damage other than picking up some silt in my leakless, dripless, etc. shaft log which created a small drip. PPY told me to run clear water through it and it did solve the problem. Apparently the debris kept the surfaces from a pefect mating seal.
Before we left the Delta, Windmill cove was going to deepen their anchorage. Hope they have done it, because the spots directly below the back door balconey would put you on the bottom at low tide.
 
I'd stay out of Windmill Cove in your large boat. Along with other great suggestions above, check out the new Stockton Marina! You will have plenty of depth even at low tide.

Hope you post a post-Delta Trip report!
 
"As you enter the Mokelumne river from the San Joaquin the charts show an island in the middle of the river. Do you pass on the left or on the right of the island?"

Coming from the Bay I have always went on the left side of the Channel marker 45 setting a course to the center of the channel on the left side of the island in the middle of the channel. You can monitor your depth guage but I haven't seen less than 8 feet using that course. It gets really shallow if you pass through the middle between the islands. I have seen many boats go through there and they have always stirred up a lot of silt / mud behind them. He is a screen shot of my last track through there.

091992bf.jpg


As for Windmill cove, I have only been in there in the ski boat but my depth gauge showed 3 feet in most of the cove.

Kris
 
Check with Windmill cove. The inside has limited draft, and 3 feet is about right at low tide. They usually let the bigger boats tie up on the outside by the gas dock. Great place to people and boat watch on weekends. And as Flutterby has said check the Stockton marina and go see a Ports game. Boats stern in and the ball park is 100 yards away. Lots of room.
 
KGD-

That is EXACTLY what I was referring to!

Thanks for posting a visual of it! [:-thumbu]
 
If you're going to be up in that area, potato slough is a great place to anchor out. Even for a big boat like yours. real close to the loop, but far enough away that you feel like you're away from everything.
 
kgd, that's a great graphic of the proper approach into the Moke. That's how I was taught by the locals. Great to see you're still hanging out here.
 
Just got the boat back to the SF Bay after spending a good portion of the summer on the Delta. Wasn't able to spend as much time as I would have liked on the boat this year but plan to make up for it next year. Hope to see you out there.

Kris
 
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