Reviews: Aberdeen Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

The best thing that can be said about the Aberdeen Marina is that it is there for you if you need fuel, or it is getting too late in the day to make it to your original destination. The first interesting thing about the marina is that they do not monitor VHF channel 16/68, and the person who answers the marina office phone doesn't know where the marina is from the river. It seemed to confuse him when we said we were at mile marked 358 on the river. We were given another phone number to call for directions to find the channel to the marina from the river. The person at that number insisted that marina was south of the Aberdeen Lock and Dam, and texted me a Google Maps photo to show me. When I pointed out that the photo was upside down, he said "Ok, then I guess it is north of the dam." The second interesting aspect of this marina is its access channel from the river. The channel entrance is located at mile marker 358.2 (LDB), just north of the Aberdeen Lock and Dam, on Tadpole Creek. There is an old green sign that says "? Aberdeen" on the northwestern tip of the unnamed island on the south side of Tadpole Creek, but it is faded, falling down, and hard to see. The channel is marked with PVC pipe with the tops painted red/green. The channel is actually well-marked as it snakes through a flooded wooded area of trees and tree stumps. As you proceed you find yourself saying "this can't be right" because there is no sign of a marina anywhere, but it is. We moved through the channel at idle speed, very closely watching our depth sounder. We never saw less than five feet, but noted that in most places the channel would have been too narrow to pass another boat. As you proceed through the winding channel you do not actually see the marina until you make the final turn. As you enter the marina you see the fuel dock with dock walls to the left and right of the fuel dock. These two dock walls are the transient areas, and have 30/50-amp connections for power. We did not look for water connections, but we were told they are there. The dock walls are old and in need of repair, so fender accordingly. The Waterway Guide says the marina has ten transient slips, but that can only be true if the boats are less than 10-12 feet. It also says that the marina can accommodate vessels up to 100 feet, but a 100-foot vessel could never make the turns in the access channel, or have a draft that would get through the five-foot deep entrance channel. The final interesting thing about this marina is that it is actually a gas station and convenience store on Old Highway 25 that happens to back up to a creek. It seems that the marina part of this business was an afterthought. There are no marine services other than fuel, no dock hands, and the store clerks do not know anything about handling dock lines or tying up boats (so they just watch you struggle to loop the cleats on the dock wall). As for amenities, they have a restroom with a shower, and a separate shower, but both are in need of a good cleaning and updating. There is no laundry room, and the grounds are only moderately pet-friendly. Given the available amenities of the marina, its $2.00/foot slip rate is expensive. The good news is the convenience store is open from 0800-2200 and sells beer and wine.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: William Mcnutt , Excellent Seas, on Jun 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 1

I called to check their hours and we had a some audio issues. Then I got "none of your business" and a hangup.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Gary Harkins , Nauti-Dog, on Nov 19, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 35'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

The docks are still in rough shape from the tornado,but usable. Extra fenders are recommended. The straight wall before you come to the gas dock has water and electric. The way in is for shallow draft only 4.8' in some places. The office has you call John to guide you in. Call before you leave the main channel. There is a green sign on the LDB that says Aberdeen. The channel to the marina is marked with homemade markers. John stayed on the phone until we were at the marina. He loved helping and is very friendly. Best diesel price we've seen $3.79.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer