Delta in the Summer, no better place

kgd

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Sitting here in the cool breeze with a cold beer after a 100 degree day. Tomorrow will be another hot day with smooth water and a full day of water sports with the kids.

No place I'd rather be!

Keep the summer going.
 
Kris,
With your experience of boating in the Delta, I wish you would write a few words (or many) and PRACTICAL advise from a boater point of view on:
1. Where to go in the Delta
2. Where to anchor
3. Where to dock
4. Where to have lunch or dinner
5. Which marina to stay for a few nights
6. Where to anchor for the kids to swim
7. Areas to avoid
Of course it would be nice to have pictures
Think about it.
 
Reminds me of why Hal Schell is so missed..... He wrote about all of that stuff. He had a column in the Bay & Delta Yachtsman. Is that mag still around? Does anyone cover the Delta for it? If not, maybe Kris would like a part time job?????
 
We use to spend many weekends anchored out in Mildred Island. You can always find a spot and the swimming is good since it is away form a channel.
Here's a few Delta pics

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There's an entrance on the north side as well as the south side
From the San Joaquin, you would probably enter from the north. You have to go around Frank's tract on the norht, then head south

just google mildred island on google maps
 
Head south from Mandeville tip on the SJ, I think it may be connection Sl. The bugs were so bad the last time I was there I haven't went back. That was a few years ago. I took a dinghy ride thru there on Sunday, there were about 10 boats anchored.
 
Bugs? Of all the times we anchored, I don't ever recall bugs being a major problem
 
We have stayed at Oxbow for the last five years in the summer.
You will be hard pressed to find nicer people and the location is great. Tropical setting with the marina protected from foul weather and boat waves. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the Delta.

Oxbow
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Close to Stockton and Discovery Bay can be fun as long as you are just cruising and not wanting to swim or do water sports. The closer to these areas you get the more boats there are which means there will be some boaters that you need to be watching out for. Stockton has great guest docks which we have stayed at before. There are also some fun restaurants / bars in the area

For water sports we spend most of our time near the B & W / Tower Part areas. I keep our ski boat at Delta Boat Storage which is at B&W Resort. Have had it there for the last 7 or 8 years now. Great service and a nice location for water sports. They also have cabins there. I have never stayed there but have friends that have that enjoyed there stay.

Water Sports
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The Meadows is a great trip. It is way up the Delta past Walnut Grove on the San Joaquin side. Beautiful area and a good place to anchor.

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We don't eat out a lot while on the Delta, mostly BBQ in the evenings, but when we do eat out we really like Giusti's.
Giusti's Guest Dock. We have stayed there quite a few times, they have fabulous food and a beautiful area on the water.
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That's my quick run down.

Kris
 
Sure doesn't look like the kids are having any fun. LOL

Getakey, the bugs may be a certain time of the year. It cant be to bad because there are a lot of people staying there.
 
Amazing that your kids can have that kind of fun behind a boat like that. Must be the difference beteween the two left coasts-Im really jealous!!!
 
The bugs only come out when there is no wind or breeze. Choose your anchorage accordingly. I had screens made for all of windows and hatches. That keeping the lights off keeps the bugs away. Also a swaying fan will help. The bugs can't fly through the air stream....

I loved Mildred Island! I usually anchored in the "Apple Orchard Cove" in the southwestern cove of Mildred. No through traffic and/or wakes; peaceful and secluded when I was going there.

BTW it is best to enter Mildred at high tide unless you know the water depths really well. At low tide there are lots of snags, some large rocks and shallow openings......
 
quote:

Originally posted by cmariner32

Amazing that your kids can have that kind of fun behind a boat like that. Must be the difference beteween the two left coasts-Im really jealous!!!






If you are referring to wakeboarding behind the big boat, that was not happening. Pretty sure they were behind a ski boat for that fun
 
Kris, how did you swing docking space at Giusti's in your big cruiser? Lotta luck I guess. Even in my 25' Maxum and 21' Crownline, the dock was always packed when I cruised by. Flutterby, yes the Bay & Delta Yachsman mag is still around. I only recently stopped my subscription. It is available online:

http://www.yachtsmanmagazine.com/
 
Thanks ginman! Do they still have a column of happenings in the Delta? Who writes it?
 
For all interested, the online version of the Yachtsman mag does seem to carry all the major stories and pics.
 
We generally just do Giusti's during the week. Pretty much always there by ourselves until Friday afternoon and the weekends are quite packed. During the week a few boats will stop by during the lunch and dinner hours. That is probably my favorite place to stay as they have great food and some power. Will likely spend a few nights there week after next. Can't wait.
 
I usually went by Giusti's on the weekends which would explain the crowded dock. Liked hanging out at Railroad Cut. Would have loved one of the long gone cottages that used to dot the shore.
 
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