Every fall, somebody on the river asks the same question: is the Annapolis show worth the trip? This year there’s a one-word answer floating at the end of Ego Alley: Askari. The Askari 65, an aluminum explorer cruiser with a range figure that reads like a typo (see below!), isContinue Reading
If you spent any part of this summer walking into a West Marine and finding bare shelves and a “liquidation sale” vibe, you weren’t imagining things. The company, which is the closest thing boating has to a national hardware store, filed for Chapter 11 back on May 17, buried underContinue Reading
Holiday Island party has come and gone, the big raft-ups are mostly in the rearview, and the Potomac just flipped from “event season” to “don’t do anything dumb” season. That doesn’t mean the river’s closed, it just means the easy excuses are gone. No fireworks barge to blame for theContinue Reading
This remains one of the most anticipated events of the boating season on the Occoquan and Potomac, and rightly so! Each year the owners of Holiday Island (Mark Richards, James Sejd, and Terry Hill of Hampton’s Landing Marina) host a massive raft-up party and concert, and they’re bringing it backContinue Reading
Tim Bauckman, a living legend on the river, never disappoints! You thought the fireworks were over on July 4, but nope! Every year Tim’s II at Fairview Beach puts on one massive fireworks show, and it’s become a Potomac River tradition! This year Tim will be lighting them off onContinue Reading
Note: This story has been updated with new information from US Coast Guard One of the best perks of owning a boat near our nation’s capital is getting a front-row seat to DC’s July 4 fireworks every year. This year is supposed to be the biggest fireworks show in history!Continue Reading
One of the biggest raft-up parties on the Potomac is back and bigger than ever. Belmont-a-Palooza is scheduled for Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, 2026, but this time it will be held at Mattawoman Creek in the second cove (see map below). Of course the traditional spot forContinue Reading
I remember two years ago, walking the docks and seeing someone get towed in. Of course I helped them tie up, and once tied, I got the pleasure of listening to the boat owner complain about the cost of the tow. It seems this tow cost him around $800, whichContinue Reading
Annual Charity Poker Run Returns June 6 Benefiting Alzheimer’s Support Network The popular Charity Poker Run is back for 2026 and will take place on Saturday, June 6. This full-day event on the water continues to be one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a Saturday while supporting aContinue Reading
Once again, its time to kick off the 2026 season with the annual Occoquan River Maritime Association’s Blessing of the Fleet event! This is a yearly event that ORMA has been doing forever, and its always a lot of fun. This is a very special tradition that dates back toContinue Reading
The 2026 boating season is getting an early start with a new community event at Occoquan Harbour Marina. On Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Occoquan Harbour Marina and The Harbour Grille will host the First Annual Occoquan Harbour Marina Cars, Boats, and Bikes Show. The freeContinue Reading