Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-20

tQelf IcQueSLS IuiIllicQ.
National Capital Par
studying means Of provid
ramps. One would Be Ger
Potomac River and the third
up the Anacostia.
Harry 7. Thompson. super
intendent. said that National
Capital Parks was sympathetic
TO the long-standing appeals
from boating clubs and indi-
viduals, but that there were
many factors to consider.
sites First Problem
First there Is the question Of
sites. Planning experts are now
scanning the waterfront for
possible locations. Then there
Is the problem Of money.
Whether National Capital
Parks would be able 10 finance
the project out Of It's own bud
get is uncertain.
In considering o site, Thomp-
son said, parks officials must
decide whether 1t Is In q safe
location. That Is, would trailer
traffic be able to move of and
on the adjacent highways with
out danger.
Second. Is the site conveniently
Is 1t q spot where Il would get
the widest possible use by the
greatest number Of outboard
owners2
Third, how about parking?
Parking space must be avail
able for trailers as well as cars.
Water supply Necessary
Finally. sanitary facilities
and an adequate water supply
must be provided.
This writer was prompted to
look into the launching ramp
question by an indignant letter
from q Silver Spring reader.
II have been q small-boat
owner for the last two years."
1t read, land have q trailer
which I had hoped would be
used for the purpose Of moving
my boat to new fishing grounds
and TO change the scenery.
However, ] am disguised with
the limited facilities that WASH
ington offers for slips and
ramps for storing and launch
ing your boat,
Perhaps ] am comparing
Washington (facilities) with
the conveniences that Florida
offers to its boating enthusiasts.
Florida incidentally doesn't re-
quire club membership or ex-
orbitant fees to enjoy family
boating. With the growing in
terest Of more families in small
boating, certainly something
has to be done to provide neces-
sary facilities"
Marinas Crowded
So far as mooring places 60,
there is no hope Of immediate
relief in the Washington Area
until the new Bladensburg
Marina on the Anacostia is
completed this fall. Practically
every marina In this vicinity is
crowded to capacity and the
same is true Of many places
along Chesapeake Bay.
AS for launching sites, boats
can be launched at Columbia
Island Marina opposite the
Pentagon for a small fee. Sail
boats also are launched from
the ramp at the Washington
Sailing Marina and some boat
clubs have railways or other
facilities.
However, about the only
place an cupboard can be
launched without cost is under
the northbound 18th Street
Bridge. Outboards are put over
from the beach but there is
room for only one trailer ct a
time.
Other Ramps Available
Down the Potomac, there is
q ramp at Occoquan Marina
where q small fee Is charged.
At Colonial Beach, outboarders
are offered free use Of q con-
crete ramp at the Yacht Club.
On the Patuxent, there Is q
concrete ramp at Cape st,
Mary's Marina where q fee Is
charged.
Solomons, Md, at the mouth
Of the Bay has q free launch
ing place beside the old ice
house where an oyster shell
roadway leads into tho water.
Parking fees are collected on
an honor basis.
Up the bay, there are ramps
with small fees at Chesapeake
Beach and at Rose Haven. Gus
Berlitz Of Deale also has q
ramp. There are some ramps
at rowboat rental places on the
South and Severn Rivers but
beyond these, outboarders must
find hard beach to do their
launching.
HSA
CRUISE PLANNED Boat
men who keep their craft at
OccoQuan Marina are getting