Log In
Reviews: Potomac River - Mason Neck
These are observations from the boating community. Waterway Guide information is verified regularly and all efforts will be made to validate any new updates submitted here. Thank you for taking the time to share comments about your experience.
Waterway Guide reserves the option of editing reviews and comments for grammar, clarity and the removal of defamatory or potentially slanderous language. When appropriate, reviews are forwarded to businesses for response prior to being made public. We will make every effort to be objective and impartial when posting reviews, but do not publicize details of disputes between parties.
-
Review for Potomac River - Mason Neck
Reviewed by: Cynthia Thomas on Aug 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 69'
Draft: 6.0'Overall Rating:4Holding:5Wind Protection:3Current Flow:3Wake Protection:3Scenic Beauty:5Quiet and beautiful anchorage. Very challenging to negotiate a plethora of crab pots and ended up further north than marked. Not much wind protection from the south. Very happy to find 12' plus to anchor in.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
-
Review for Potomac River - Mason Neck
Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 28, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'Overall Rating:3Holding:5Wind Protection:3Current Flow:3Wake Protection:3Scenic Beauty:3Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:1Pet Friendly:1Cell Service:2Mason Neck Anchorage sits in the middle of the Potomac River and, under many circumstances would be the last place you would want to anchor. With winds from the Southwest around to the North, however, the anchorage provides an excellent wind break and is close enough to shore to provide a calm anchorage in 20+ knot winds.
Leave the Potomac channel at Red "54" and west towards the Virginia shore in no less than 10 feet of water MLW. As you approach shore depth deepens to as much as 15 feet with 14 feet at the anchorage icon. Anchor with good holding in mud, staying clear of the cable crossing area to the south. Current through the anchorage will reach 1 knot and you will swing with the current so make sure you have adequate swing room. There is room for any number of large boats in a line along the shore with plenty of room between boats and everyone will swing in unison with the change of the tide. The anchorage is far enough off the channel that wakes are not an issue but there is some boat traffic through the anchorage as it provides a shortcut for vessels with local knowledge to transit the area.
Mason Neck is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. Shore access is not permitted by the Refuge rules. In order to get to shore you would have to go to the state park in Belmont Bay. We did not bother trying. On the other hand, cellular reception is very good with 4 bars of 5G for ATT and T-Mobile and four bars on our 4G LTE Verizon phone as well. Even with the heavy weather in the afternoon, we spent a quiet and comfortable night before moving on. We were surprised that we did not hear the trains come through at this anchorage. When we stayed five miles down the river they were clearly heard. We will definitely come back here again when the winds warrant it.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
/-77.175464868,38.619943464,12/500x250?access_token=pk.eyJ1Ijoid2F0ZXJ3YXlndWlkZSIsImEiOiJGRmM1RDdzIn0.Wya5yV5QEqbz0-fct8zyIA)
