Boating guide
Chesapeake Bay
PowerTime Annapolis Boating Guide
Great Location
Eastport Section of Annapolis
PowerTime Annapolis runs from 105 Eastern Ave., built at the mouth of Back Creek where the marina basin faces the Chesapeake Bay, the Severn River, and Back Creek itself. Our Annapolis boating guide takes you from this launch point, where Kent Narrows sits about 10 nautical miles across the Bay (roughly 30 minutes at cruise speed), Rock Hall is 17 nautical miles north (about 51 minutes), and St. Michaels is 27 nautical miles south (about 81 minutes). For dock-and-dine, boaters head to Fisherman’s Inn in Kent Narrows or Harbor Shack in Rock Hall. For overnight anchoring, Whitehall Bay’s Browns Cove and the South River’s Harness Creek are the closest protected spots to the marina.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
PowerTime Annapolis's home marina sits at the mouth of Back Creek, with an eight-foot-thick pier and breakwater protecting slips from weather.
The fleet includes Beneteau Flyer 9, Jeanneau NC 1095, and Aquador 250 HT models — PowerTime is the exclusive North American dealer for Aquador.
Find Osprey nest on channel markers and dock pilings throughout the Bay each spring and summer.
Annapolis calls itself the "Sailing Capital of the World" and is home to the U.S. Naval Academy, founded in 1845.
Maryland requires a Certificate of Boating Safety Education for anyone born on or after July 1, 1972, operating a motorized vessel.
Your Launchpad
Horn Point Marina,
Back Creek
PowerTime Annapolis operates out of 105 Eastern Ave. in Eastport at Horn Point Marina, built at the mouth of Back Creek where the marina basin opens directly onto the Chesapeake Bay, the Severn River, and Back Creek. An eight-foot-thick pier and breakwater protect slips from weather while still giving members some of the best open-water views in Annapolis. From here, the entire Chesapeake — from the Eastern Shore’s crab houses to the upper Bay’s quiet rivers — is a straight shot out of the creek. Jump into our Annapolis boating guide to show you some great destinations to explore by boat.
Chart Your Own Course - Annapolis Boating Guide
Day Trips from Annapolis
6 nm, about 18 minutes
Thomas Point & the South River
The shortest trip on this guide, and a great warm-up run: Thomas Point Shoal Light, one of the Bay’s last screw-pile lighthouses still in its original location, sits just south of the Severn River mouth, with the South River opening up beyond it toward Harness Creek.
Dock & Dine
Make a lunch stop part of the run with waterfront dining along the South River. Tie up for seafood, steaks and sunset views at Yellowfin Steak & Fish House, or keep things casual at Harper’s Waterfront at South River Marina before cruising back toward Thomas Point and the Bay.
10 nm, about 30 minutes
Kent Narrows
A short crossing of the open Bay puts you at Kent Narrows, the channel separating Kent Island from the rest of the Eastern Shore. It’s one of the Bay’s busiest dock-and-dine hubs, with restaurants, live music, and a working watermen’s harbor all in the same stretch of water. Watch for heavy weekend boat traffic and the Kent Narrows Bridge.
Dock & Dine
Fisherman’s Inn offers complimentary dockage for boaters and a menu of Chesapeake classics — baked jumbo lump crab imperial and cream of crab soup among them. Harris Crab House, right next door, is the area’s classic down-and-dirty crab house, with fresh seafood delivered to the docks while you eat.
17 nm, about 51 minutes
Rock Hall
North up the Bay on the Eastern Shore, Rock Hall trades Annapolis’s bustle for a quieter watermen’s town, with sheltered marinas and anchorages tucked into Rock Hall Harbor and Swan Creek.
Dock & Dine
Harbor Shack sits on the Bayside in Rock Hall, built as the town’s go-to spot for drinking, dining, and entertainment — an easy tie-up after the run up from Annapolis.
27 nm, about 1 hour 21 minutes
St. Michaels
The longest run in this Annapolis boating guide and one of the best-loved towns on the Bay, reached via the Miles River. St. Michaels pairs a protected harbor with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, one of the region’s top attractions, plus a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants.
Dock & Dine
Foxy’s, right in St. Michaels Marina, serves Caribbean-style dishes alongside Maryland crab cakes and local seafood — about as easy a dock-and-dine as it gets after the longest cruise on this guide.
Chesapeake Bay Anchorages
Whitehall Bay — Browns Cove
Depth: 9–10 feet throughout. Bottom: thick Chesapeake mud, very good holding. Protection: open from the north, protected from all other directions. Source: Waterway Guide anchorage listing. A dinghy dock connects to walking paths under the retired Navy transmission towers at Greenbury Point.
Swan Creek (near Rock Hall)
Depth: 5–7 feet. Bottom: mud, good holding. Protection: all-around. Source: Waterway Guide anchorage listing. A quiet, well-protected stop with marinas nearby for provisioning.
San Domingo Creek (St. Michaels)
Depth: approximately 5 feet at low water, per boater-reported soundings (deeper than charted). Bottom: mud, good holding. Protection: varies with wind direction. Source: Waterway Guide anchorage listing and reviews. Known as the "back door" to St. Michaels, with a free dinghy dock a short walk from town.
South River — Harness Creek
Depth: 8–11 feet. Bottom: mud, excellent holding. Protection: all-around. Source: Waterway Guide anchorage listing. Known locally as one of the Bay's classic "storm holes" for quick shelter close to Annapolis.
Why choose us
Why
PowerTime Annapolis
Traditional ownership is priced by the calendar — you pay for the boat every day of the year whether you’re using it or not. Membership is priced by the use. With PowerTime Annapolis, every member gets guaranteed monthly time aboard a Beneteau Flyer 9, Jeanneau NC 1095, or Aquador 250 HT, all built within the last five years and professionally maintained, cleaned, and fueled between reservations. All four destinations in this guide sit within roughly 90 minutes of the Back Creek dock — with St. Michaels as the outer edge of what’s reachable in a single day. There’s nothing to trailer, launch, winterize, or haul — you show up, complete the pre-cruise checklist, and go.
Do you have questions?
Frequently asked questions
- Where does PowerTime Annapolis launch from?
- PowerTime Annapolis operates out of 105 Eastern Ave. in Annapolis, MD, at the mouth of Back Creek, with the marina basin facing the Chesapeake Bay, Severn River, and Back Creek.
- Do I need a license to operate a powerboat in Maryland?
- Yes. Anyone born on or after July 1, 1972 must carry a Maryland Certificate of Boating Safety Education while operating a motorized vessel on Maryland waters, regardless of horsepower.
- How far is St. Michaels from Annapolis by boat?
- St. Michaels is about 27 nautical miles from Annapolis, roughly an 81-minute cruise at 20 knots via the Miles River — the longest day trip covered in this guide.
- What kind of boats are in the PowerTime Annapolis fleet?
- The fleet includes the Beneteau Flyer 9, Jeanneau NC 1095, and Aquador 250 HT — PowerTime is the exclusive North American dealer for Aquador, a Scandinavian powerboat brand.
- What wildlife can you see boating on the Chesapeake near Annapolis?
- Osprey nest on channel markers and dock pilings each spring and summer. Rockfish (striped bass) season reopens September 1 and runs through December 10, a popular stretch for anglers.
- Is there a protected anchorage close to the Annapolis marina?
- Yes. Whitehall Bay's Browns Cove offers 9 to 10 feet of water over thick mud with very good holding, protected from all directions except the north.
- What makes Annapolis a good place to learn to boat?
- PowerTime Annapolis offers hands-on training with USCG-certified captains, and the Chesapeake Bay's mix of open water, rivers, and creeks gives new boaters a range of conditions to practice in close to the marina.
- When does blue crab season open in Maryland?
- Recreational crabbing officially opens in Maryland on April 1 each year, with the South River and its creeks near Annapolis among the more productive local spots.
Ready to Go?
Join the club
The Chesapeake Bay puts the Eastern Shore’s crab houses and quiet rivers within reach of a single day’s cruise from Annapolis. Request info on PowerTime Annapolis membership and start planning your season on the water.