Willowberm Marina to Old Sacramento

M

mickster

Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
RO Number
21343
Messages
14
Hey Everyone. I just had my new boat shipped from San Diego to Willow Berm Marina (Delta Boat Works) and this weekend I will be taking her up to Old Sacramento (hopefully). I am upgrading from an express style to a flybridge (Silverton 330) I have never made this trip before and I am wondering which is the best route where I wont get stuck by a non opening bridge. I was thinking Georgiana or Steamboat routes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mahalo
 
Georgiana is a very nice cruise. When you see the "no wake" or 5 MPH signs, obey it. The county sheriff patrols the water way from the roadway and will radio a waiting patrol boat to give you a ticket at the Sacramento River end of Georgiana Slough, I have seen other boats fly pass me I see the same boat latter along side the sheriff patrol boat tied up & talking. I think you will enjoy the peacful slow cruise through Georgiana Slough. Also there is a bridge mid-way (check your charts). I get my express cruies through OK, just need to fold down my VHF antenna for vertical clearance.

Hugo
"Another Toy"
 
I second the Georgiana route. The Mokelumne, Tyler Island and Georgiana Slough bridges are open from 6:00am to 10:pm right now and all the rest of the bridges on the Sacramento are open 24 hours. I cruise about 11-13 knots and the trip takes me about 5 hours. A good stop for lunch is at the Walnut Grove public dock. There are a Mexican restaurant, a pizza parlor and and an ice cream shop within an easy walk.

Have a great trip and let us know how it was. The Steamboat route is also very scenic, but there are more shallow spots, 5mph zones and it will take a little longer.
 
It should be a beautiful trip and a great way to get to know your "new" boat! Take a different route to get home. It will make the trip more interesting and the time will go faster.

I often take the Georgiana Slu route upstream and then stay on the Sac Rive downstream to 3 Mile Slu and up the San Joaquin. However, if it is very windy, you may want to stay away from the Sac River downstream of Walnut Grove. Avoid the lock at Walnut Grove; your boat will not fit under it.

A Trip Report will be enjoyable to read next week!
 
Mickster, the Delta Interconnect is a short man made canal with gates, not locks, that keep the flow of water into the river and not into the heart of the delta. Lots of excuses by government have been made for them, but they do exist and the clearance is 9'. You definitely want to take a trip to the area behind the gates but with your new boat you will have take a circuitous route to get there. It is a gorgeous area and a great place to anchor out. Geographically, you are at the base of the tallest TV towers west of the Mississippi.
 
Thanks for setting the record straight! I guess I confused "locks" with "Locke", the little town near Walnut Grove......
 
Georgianna is beautifull and a really nice route - I do it all the time. Sounds like a nice boat - I'm jealous!! I agree, if it's windy, it is also a good way to get home because it is better water than the "big" river - and I think it might be shorter?? If you do the stop at Walnut Grove, don't forget about Al The Wops in Locke for lunch - a little longer walk, but great fun and good food. I've never done it, but I hear a really nice trip home would be to cut to Steamboat - I've always wanted to do it, but just have not had time. Soon I hope...

Google Earth says the tower is 2029' high and the 3rd or 4th highest in the world - this is going from memory as I just went to Google earth and it did not have the stats listed. Corrections anyone? Anyway, it is REALLY REALLY TALL!!! If you do the walk from Walnut Grove to Locke, you can walk down the access road by the "gate" and a really good view.

Jim
 
Dave,
How much notice is needed to have those bridges to open during the working hours?
 
Just checked - both bridges are operating until 10:00pm. I would call ahead to be safe - I always use my cell to talk to the bridges as they sometimes miss the vhf..
Mok bridge - 916 777 6660
Tyler Island Bridge - 916 777 6649
Walnut Grove- Georgianna Br - 1916 776 1341

Here is a great link and a printable list of all the bridges, but be aware the Tyler Br number is missing...

http://www.cal-northdir.com/Bridges.asp

I'm not going to be down this weelend, otherwise I would walk out on the point at Oxbow and take a good photo of your new toy!!

Have a great trip!

Jim
 
Mickster....congratulations on your new boat. I found a boat in San Diego and wondered about having it shipped north. What was your experience like and who did you use? Did they have to remove the bridge?
thanks
 
quote:
Originally posted by Arnold

Dave,
How much notice is needed to have those bridges to open during the working hours?

Click to expand...


There is no notice required for the bridges during operating hours. I believe outside of normal operating hours 4 hours notice is required, but it varies by bridge. The Millers Ferry Bridge on the North Fork of the Moke requires 12 hours notice outside of normal operating hours. We often do that to time our arrival in the Meadows area to coincide with a high tide.
 
Many bridges go onto winter operating hours on November 1st. Usually that means 5PM instead of 10PM. Some will only open with advanced notice........

Jim, thanks for that bridge website! Great info there.
 
Hey Birdog,
I found the moving experience to be pretty low key. I found a reputable boat transport out of San Diego. They didnt have to remove the bridge on my little boat as after the bimini was taken off, it measured out to 13'11" There is a low bridge going under highway 12 on Brannan island road. I think it is 14' to 15' clearance. If you want to launch in stockton, you can probably can even higher. Most transport companies can map out a route that avoids low overpasses. Of course that cost more fuel which equals more transit cost.

If you are still interested in a boat in san diego, let me know as I can hook you up with a local san diego broker, or if you need a survey done down there, I can give you a few reputable buyers surveyors.

Have a good day and good luck.
 
not sure what days u r going to old sac
i go there alot overnight rates are 1.00 ft
dont keep anything on deck for grabs
there are alot of young kids on the dock up to
2 am sat friday nights, ill be there 101708
i also run a locked metal line to the dock or
aleast run your extra line back to the boat cleate on deck and ties it there too

come up to the american river about 1m north
watch the channel going in dont take the south
portion in its too shallow, i go about
center with the river in 5 mph all the way
go up about 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the 2 bridges
i normally answer as "NO explanation"

bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by rubyray

bill

larson 254"no Explanation"
ham call KK6DM

Click to expand...


I notice you have a Larsen now. You sounded really happy with it, what happened to your 32' Bayliner? Inquiring minds want to know :-)
 
When entering the American River, do NOT go on the north side either. There is a wing dam made of rock and cement which protrudes from the bank, but is usually not visible. It is better for your prop to get polished in the sand on the beach side then to have it hit the wing damn. Don't ask how I know this......
censoredface.gif


shockface.gif


Wing dam
A wing dam is a manmade barrier that, unlike a conventional dam, only extends partway into a river.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search="wing+dam"&fulltext=Search
 
FB
thats why i go in center that wing dam is also where many swimers went under

absolute

sold 32 its at ox bow closest to the store
in the 3 unit ships with the stern facing
the loading ramp
ive met the owner several times
hes added webers, new intakes new fuel tanks
a lot and plans to re prop too

i then had a 3488 for 1 year sold that too
for what the rents are i decided to go with a 25
foot that i can trailer and keep at home
will be at old sac friday 17th and am river
to monday ,
i also started a new work at home job
income taxes as iam an licensed EA with IRS
maybe ill even do some while on the boat
next year.
stay in touch
bill
 
FB

iam going to ask !!!!

hope there was not a big problem after.

i lightly hit last week at discovery dock
i knew it was shallow and saw just going to shut down the motor and i had a light scrape
D park is real shallow also now
i heard last year a 40 or 50' was way down river going into the american river a went
aground some, i think he was lucky

also my old 3488 went to LA ( flat bed)
 
rubyray, the second summer I had my first boat, a 19 ft Bayliner Cuddy with a 125 HP outboard, I took it up the Sacramento Riv to the Jazz Jubilee. One day my son drove over and joined me and we decided to explore the American River. I had never been in any boat on the river, though I have whitewater rafted the river above Folsom.

As we were idling along into the approach to the river, I was staying far away from the beach/swim area. I had no charts and had never heard of the term "wing dam". Well, I hit that damn dam at idle speed. The damage to my prop was so bad it could not be repaired! Of course, I had NO spare onboard, so we hopped into my son's truck and drove the waterfront, trying to find a replacement prop. It took most of the day......

After that I have always had a spare prop onboard my boat!!!!! I learned alot in the four years I had that boat!
 
fb
u can really see it now since the water is so low went last weekend to sac yc

now iam done for a while boat going on the hard
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top