Reviews: Peoria Boat Club

Reviews Summary

The Peoria Boat Club has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from visitors, highlighting its friendly atmosphere, helpful staff, and good amenities. Key points from the reviews include:

1. Access and Depth: Most reviewers noted that the marina has a depth of around 4 feet, which can stir up mud but is manageable for boats with a draft of 4 feet or less. Clear directions for entering the marina were provided by staff, particularly Brandon, who was praised for his communication and assistance.

2. Amenities: The marina offers several amenities, including free laundry, ice, and a functional in-slip pump-out system. The clubhouse features a kitchen and a fire pit, enhancing the overall experience for transient boaters.

3. Safety and Security: The marina is described as secure, with gated access and a friendly community of liveaboards who help keep an eye on things. Many guests felt safe walking into town, even at night.

4. Location: The marina is conveniently located near biking and hiking trails that lead to local restaurants and museums, making it an attractive stop for visitors.

5. Affordability: At a rate of $1 per foot, many guests found the pricing to be very reasonable, especially given the quality of service and amenities provided.

Overall, the Peoria Boat Club is recommended as a relaxing and accommodating stop for transient boaters, with a welcoming community and good facilities, though it is best suited for smaller boats due to the shallow water.

Reviewed by: George Biles , Roam, on Sep 22, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Based on the last review, we decided to come into Peoria boat club. There is definitely a hump coming in. We draw 4 feet and are a single engine. Definitely turned up some mud, but never felt like we were grounding. We also turned up some mud docking, but let the engine idle until the disturbed silt settled out of the water.

It's a pretty chill marina and right on the bike trail. We walked into town a few times. If it was dark, we took the Uber home, but we never felt unsafe. There were multiple gates here and there was pump out in your slip which was appreciated. The free laundry was a real bonus. The town has some great museums and some great restaurants, an unexpected surprise. We stayed an extra day has it felt very relaxing here.

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Reviewed by: Deborah Stephens on Sep 17, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

Brandon is great with communication. We draft 3.8 in our Mainship 390 and he gave clear direction about entering the marina. We did stir up a bit of mud here and there, but did not see depths less than 4' entering and tying up. Had a very nice night here. Free laundry, free ice, very nice boat house with full kitchen and grills outside. There is even a fire pit, and if it hadn't been so warm, I would have had a fire! Doug met us upon entry and helped tie up. At $1 per foot, it was well worth it!

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Reviewed by: Tony Green , Dragonfly, on Sep 7, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

The people here love transients and couldn't be nicer! Easy to make reservations by voice or text. We left our boat here for two months without worry and even got a ride to the airport. Gated, secure location, with a few liveaboards that keep an eye on things. Great amenities, as others have mentioned, but no fuel. On a bike path that is 1.3 miles from restaurants and museums. Shallow water was not an issue for us, but bigger boats reported that they could not get in. We loved our stay and would definitely return!

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Reviewed by: Bill Kight , Cookie, on Aug 25, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.2'

Rating: 4

I visited on August 11, 2025.  Brandon contacted me via NEBO when I was in Chicago. He gave me clear directions on how to enter the harbor. Depth is 4', but that is really just to the top of a layer of loose silt.

I took an outside end slip. Some of the inside slips have unfendered spud poles, so use caution if taking one of them. I pointed them out to Brandon and they may now be fendered.

There is an in-slip pump-out system that WORKS and is FREE! Rarely have I EVER seen an in-slip pump-out system that actually worked, but the one at this neat little boat club does!

Transients have use of the clubhouse, which features an equipped kitchen and a laundry with a washer and dryer. There is one shower, period. It is small, but functional.

Brandon was just a pleasure to deal with. He came to the marina after his son's evening activities to accomplish a pump-out of my vessel. The club wants only trained club members to operate the in-slip pump-out system. It has incurred some expensive damage in the past by untrained users. Despite the pump-out being included with the modest slip fee, I gave the club $10 for use of their system. It was the right thing to do.

This club is not fancy, but it is functional and friendly!

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Reviewed by: Lee Ensminger , At Last, on Aug 21, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Brandon Bullock contacted me through NEBO when we were in the Chicago Area and offered space at the Peoria Boat Club as we would be passing through Peoria. We are so happy we took him up on that. Brandon stayed in touch as we got closer and made sure to meet us at the dock to take lines when we arrived. As others have mentioned, it's $1.00/ft which is hard to beat. The marina is quite secure, being completely fenced in with a coded gate. There is also a coded main gate to gain access to the docks. On site is a nice clubhouse with restrooms, shower and kitchen. If you have bikes, turn left OR right out of the gate and enjoy very nice biking/hiking trails which will take you to restaurants/town/shopping. Tip: If going to Walmart, stay on the north side of the big bridge across the river; there is a two lane bike/hike passage on the north side. Yes, there's only 4 ft. of water, but if you draft less, just follow the very well marked channel from the river. The floating docks are not new, but serviceable. Free pumpout. Brandon, bless him, came out after work, after his son's practice, after a company dinner, after a major thunderstorm, and pumped us out before we left the next morning. This was an excellent experience, in large part because of our experience with Brandon. If you have the draft to allow entry, this is a highly recommended stop.

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Reviewed by: The Borings on Aug 20, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 33'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Purchased a boat from a charity auction, site unseen. The club welcomed us with open arms. Offered us the Looper rate $1/foot with 24x7 access. Couldn't ask for more. We appreciate the hospitality & hope to return.

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Reviewed by: Robert Jeff LaPlaca , Oyster, on Sep 17, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Really nice stay. The management and boat club members couldn't be more gracious and accommodating. Lots of help at the dock, a $1/foot, and laundry is free. The only issue is that a 4' draft or less is necessary to handle the shallow water depth.

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Reviewed by: Thomas Folwell , Last Pairing, on Oct 5, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 2.6'

Rating: 5

Great marina with very friendly staff. They offer free pump out, ice and laundry. The town is close by. The approach is easy, but your draft needs to be 4' or less due to the low water level on the Illionois River at the time of the year (Oct 2022).

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