Reviews: Cape Charles Town Harbor

Reviewed by: David Sire , Tortuga, on Oct 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Nice floating docks. Restaurant adjacent to the docks. Marina office is by the fuel dock, a short walk to the east. It's also a short walk to restaurants and shops in town. The showers consist of very small stalls with no place to put your stuff. The lights are on a motion-sensitive switch that doesn't detect movement in the showers.

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Reviewed by: David Waugh , Winds of Change, on Jun 29, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Floating docks were good but some of the boards are a little rough. Easy in and out from both the slip and fuel dock. Bathrooms were clean and serviceable. Agree with some of the other reviews - price is high for what you get.

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Reviewed by: Tommy Samuel on Jun 17, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Cape Charles is one of our favorite destinations we come 3 or 4 times a year, on June 13 we stayed, called and made a slip reservation and the next day when leaving we fueled up, when I checked in I ask how much is diesel, 3.52/ gal was the reply. I checked the Waterway Guide, great resource for marinas and to check out destinations, and it stated 3.52 tax included. First they ran out of fuel so I couldn't fill up, my wife handed the card to them we paid and left. Once under way I looked at the receipt and there was a 26.00 charge for tax? I called and the response was we don't put the price on the waterway guide? Who does? I ask did they think it was important to disclose the change in fuel tax charges? The response was you always pay taxes, this was not the case in the last few years and I thought it would have been said when I ask what the price of diesel at check in. Overall it was a good stay, the bathrooms were cleaner than ever we just did not have a happy ending.

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Reviewed by: Ed Tillett , ACTAEA, on Jun 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Fuel dock is easily approached. Plenty of room to turn around. Helpful staff. Had trouble getting anyone to answer the radio or the phone. It was a regular business day during normal hours. Voicemail and redirecting calls during published operating hours seems a bit troublesome for vessels seeking assistance and information.

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Reviewed by: Tommy Samuel on Jun 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Great marina, nice bathrooms, easy in and out. Matt and the staff are great to work with. It is a fun town with lots to do and weekly events during the season. We usually stay 3 or 4 rimes a year.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel on Sep 12, 2022
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Let's get this out up front: $3.00 a foot for a marina on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a bit excessive. Having said that, we really enjoyed our stay in Cape Charles and would think about coming back again, either by boat or car. The town and beach were very nice and we could have easily spent an extra day exploring.

The marina is well maintained. The docks are clean and in good repair, power pedestals are in good working order, water is available with good pressure, and there were even bumpers on the floating docks, making the need for fenders optional. As the harbor is also an industrial/commercial harbor, it is quite large and has sufficient depth for working boats and barges. Approach depths were over 20 feet and we had 12 foot depth on the T-head that we were docked on. Protection is excellent except with strong winds out of the west. The staff is responsive, the marina is well maintained and the trash had been emptied. The showers have just been redone and are in good order. The marina Wi-Fi was good and there was good to very good Cellular reception for the Big Three.

There is a good restaurant on the dock and a 300 yard path that drops you off in the middle of the four block long "downtown" with restaurants, brew houses, souvenir shops, and a gourmet grocery store. The hardware store, unfortunately, has closed.

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Reviewed by: Christopher Carmody on Oct 29, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Rates are up to $3/ft now that CC Yacht Center is managing the town docks. Staff is excellent, especially all those at the fuel docks. A western swell can come through, as well as early morning crab boats. Docks are lit well enough if you need to arrive after dark. Short walk to town/restaurants/beach. Frequent festivals and music check local calendars, spinsheet/proptalk. Decent Wifi, good ATT & Verizon coverage. Sadly Watson's hardware has closed, if you need ships chandlery items, there is a decent marine store at nearby oyster farm/kings creek marina as well as numerous slips if the the town harbor is full - it is best to rent a golf cart if you stay there to get back to town.

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Reviewed by: Mark O , DIVERSION, on Jul 4, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 5.4'

Rating: 4

Formerly Cape Charles City Docks, now Cape Charles Town Harbor and incorporated for operation with Cape Charles Yacht Center. Check rates prior to committing and make value decision of cost versus "experience". Advertised rate for Cape Charles Town Harbor Dock and Yacht Center is $3.00/foot (Rates | Chape Charles Harbor (capecharlesharbor.com);

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Reviewed by: Tom Anderson on May 13, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

This marina mirrors the community it supports. It is small, growing and packed full of surprises. The entrance is pretty straightforward with enough turns in the channel to keep you focused and feeling like a true mariner.
We were “warned” that a west wind could make your stay uncomfortable. With that in mind we choose to dock bow in facing the west. Of course, we ended up with a low front with fierce westerly winds. We were moved around quite a bit but had a quiet sleep filled night.
The marina is new with floating docks and all the basic amenities. This is a working harbor with a Coast Guard station and a twenty boat crab fleet. The Shanty Restaurant, located right next to the marina is a must stop. The clam chowder may just be the best you will ever have. There is a short two block long connector path from the marina right to the middle of town.
Matt, the marina manager was a kind and helpful voice when we called for a five day reservation. We noticed his smile right away when he welcomed us at the dock. Believe it or not, this type of experience was routine.
We had some minor maintenance and repair done by the marine services staff while we were here. I think it is a testimony to the manager, Charlie, but everyone we dealt with, Renee and Joseph in particular, were friendly and attentive.
In short, this is a no frills marina with small town appeal. While certainly not glitzy, the Cape Charles Marina and Yacht Center certainly ticks off all the boxes for an enjoyable stay.

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Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Apr 30, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Way overpriced for what you get at $3/FT. Bathrooms signs stated cleanliness was not guaranteed and they weren’t that clean. Nice wide docks and helpful dock hands. We were put in slip B10 and with a 10 MPH Southwest wind our 40000 Lb boat was like a bobber. We had to move slips. The sea wall is not protecting the entrance side of the marina. Next to the marina is a very large area that used to be a railroad yard. It has danger signs due to debris and an environmental issue. This makes for a very long walk just to get the dog to a safe spot.

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Reviewed by: John Charlton on Jan 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Stayed here for Thanksgiving 2020. Off season price $1.75 a foot. Great location right next to town with shops, restaurants, pubs an most importantly, pizza. Great place to explore.

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Reviewed by: Timothy Keen , Slow Dance, on Aug 6, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

Cape Charles Town Harbor is very nice. Stayed here in early July 2020. There were plenty of available slips on the floating dock. Didn't use it, but there is a restaurant at the marina. It is a short walk to downtown or beach. The whole town is pleasant for walking.

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Reviewed by: Vl on Jul 10, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Super convenient to town and you are paying for that at $2.25 per ft. Nice floating docks... BUT...NO LAUNDRY, NO WIFI, NO BIKES or CAR and Bathhouse is open to the public during the day. If all you want is convenient access to town then this is fine. Especially since the other marina is even more expensive at $3 foot. Staff is nice and helpful

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Reviewed by: Pete ScubaPete , A Pretty Penny, on Jul 10, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Nice marina with helpful staff. Close to town with restaurants, shops, candy store, ice cream, distillery, etc. New bulkhead sea wall helps to mitigate the western exposure and cuts down on wave/wake action. I just wish there was a pool!

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Reviewed by: Andrew McLeland on Jul 3, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 60'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Friendly marina staff. Good floating docks and clean restrooms. Close to town with tourist attractions (restaurants, icecream, shops, brewery, etc.)

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Reviewed by: Charlie on Aug 18, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Nice marina, floating docks. Just don't come on the weekend. Music blasts from Shanty's Restaurant until 1am. Good Luck sleeping.

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Reviewed by: Capt. T on Sep 15, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Great marina to stop in and walk into town to enjoy a old small town trying to reinvent itself as an artist colony. Fantastic public beach and great restaurants and ice cream shops. NOT well protected from the West.

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Reviewed by: Paul T on Jun 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 4

New marina in good condition. There is a swell that works into the bay that makes the marina work a little but nothing too bad. WiFi is weak. The town is a great feature of the stay and we were told gets busy. The marina is adjacent to a bar and grill and on our stay (Friday night) was noisy and rowdy until closinfg after 12:00.

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Reviewed by: Kelly Thorp , Lynx, on May 29, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Agree with Bob. In winter 2017/2018 they did major maintenance on the floating docks. We have stopped in twice so far this year - we like the town - plenty for the Scouts to do. Folks in town and at the marina are very nice and helpful. Wifi seems to be working fine now.

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Reviewed by: Bob Menches , Sea Shanty, on Jul 15, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 35'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Nice newly updated Marina with floating docks. Strong wifi signal but super slow bandwidth. Nice bathrooms and showere. Close to town and Shantys Seafood restaurant is right next to the Marina. Channel is well marked with 2 legs having range markers. Would give a 5 star rating if wifi was decent.

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