The Pirate's Guide to Boating

One of the Potomac River’s biggest raft-up parties is scheduled for this weekend on June 21 at Belmont Bay, located at the mouth of the Occoquan River. This is a rain-or-shine music and booze-fueled overnight party that you really don’t want to miss. Over the years, this party has becomeContinue Reading

This year marks the 250 anniversary of the US Army, and they are putting on a massive parade in Washington D.C. on June 14, ending in a fireworks show. Unfortunately, it looks like you won’t be able to see it from the boat. The US Coast Guard and Secret ServiceContinue Reading

This has been the most asked-about event of the year, and for good reason. Each year the owners of Holiday Island (Mark Richards, James Sejd, and Terry Hill of Hampton’s Landing Marina) throw a massive raft-up party and concert, and they are doing it again this year! Every year the raft-upsContinue Reading

This year George Washington’s Mount Vernon will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of George Washington taking over command of the Continental Army in 1775. To celebrate this occasion, there will be a huge boat parade that day starting at noon, and anyone can participate! If you’ve never been in aContinue Reading

We first saw it reported on the Occoquan River Maritime Association’s Facebook page, that the green channel marker “9” on the Occoquan River was missing. This marker is located right outside the no-wake zone, and if you’ve ever been there you know this marker is rather important because it marksContinue Reading

Every year the Charity Poker Run is held to benefit the Alzheimer’s Support Network. This year it will be on June 7 and it looks like a blast! Registration is $125 per person and includes a T-Shirt, breakfast, lunch, dinner, 2 drinks and one poker hand! That’s a whole dayContinue Reading

Every year, since basically the dawn of time, the Occoquan River Maritime Association has put on their annual Blessing of the Fleet event. This is a very special event that dates back to the old days when fishermen would get their boats blessed before heading out to the fishing groundsContinue Reading

With a cough, a slight sputter, and maybe a bit of leaking oil, The Pirate’s Guide to Boating is starting out yet another boating season, and this one promises to be even better than the last! Right out of the gate, we caught wind (not the “passed” kind) of aContinue Reading

This winter has been one of the harshest in memory. Most of us made it through, but the butcher’s bill was pretty high. Off the top of our collective heads, we counted 6 boats sunk, and at least 3 boat fires. Seems like after all this, we have earned aContinue Reading