Reviews: Utsch's Marina

Reviewed by: Richard Kohler , Rich Kohler, on Sep 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Loved this Marina. Great old fashioned family run Marina. Full service with ships store and fuel on site. Short walk across the parking lot to the Lobster House dockside restaurant which is a must. And Cape May is an incredible historic town that really took us by surprise! Must take the trolley tour and plan to spend a couple of days to check it all out.

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Reviewed by: Lyle Grossmann , What A Day, on Aug 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

Great stay at Utsch's. Very friendly staff. Nancy in office was great. Sent two dockhands on our arrival. Mr Utsch even made my wife tea in the am. Loved the ships store/ parts dept. Bathrooms were well kept, plenty of hot water. Nice to patronize a long standing family business- plenty of history on display here. Great town- lots to see and do. Free jitney 1600-2200 during summer- stops near Wawa. Also golf cart rental place will give free rides around town( tip only). Lucky Bones and Mayers both good eats right across street. We'll be back.

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Reviewed by: Bev Hewitt , Blue Odyssey, on Jun 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Staff is great - helpful and friendly. Stay close to wall on approach to entry - shallow to port!! Bathroom key is a little strange...giant piece of painted wood - should be updated, wanted to use bathroom after walk to town and had to go all the way back to boat to get the key, just an inconvenience. Bathrooms were clean - docks had small posts to tie up to rather than cleats. Bow in only on floating docks.

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Reviewed by: Kevin Williams , m/v Blue Tortuga, on Jun 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They go out of their way to make sure your needs are taken care of. Water is pretty thin at the entrance to the marina, especially at low tide. The biggest issue with the marina is that it doesn't appear to have had any real investment in a very long time. It's maintained reasonably well, but is showing its age. Well stocked ships store. Restrooms clean but dated. They give you a key to the restroom on a giant plank, like 12x8. Like the old gas station bathroom keys. Why not install a restroom security system like others do? Overall a good marina though, we would return.

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Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on May 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 4

Floating transient docks with good power and potable water. Stay about 25 feet off the wall when coming to the marina. We stirred up a little muddy water at low tide with 4'9" draft but no problems. Bow in only.

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Reviewed by: Geoff Kalka , the preview, on May 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Wonderful and welcoming marina.

We stayed on anchor, however Marina staff still made every effort to meet all of our needs.

Would highly recommend.

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Reviewed by: Philip LeNoach , NC Sport, on Nov 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 29'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 5

Called in a Sunday afternoon for a slip and had just had a easy time with Ernie and company. Easy going place warm folks great tackle shop. Great recommendations on where to stay in Beautiful Cape May Off season.

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Reviewed by: Lance Williamson on Oct 12, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

We spent several nights at Utsch's Marina. The staff were friendly and helpful. There is a well stocked ship's store and fishing store. There are two sets of bathrooms/showers - the newer ones have individual rooms with toilet and shower. There is a Chapel on site that has a Sunday worship service (not sure if it goes throughout the winter).

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Reviewed by: Debbie Blair , Princess Gis, on Sep 21, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Wonderful place to stay in beautiful Cape May. The staff were all very friendly and went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Bathrooms and showers were very clean and convenient to our dock. Wish we could have stayed longer! We will be back.

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Reviewed by: Angela on Jul 15, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

We spent the night of June 28, 2023 in the marina and were impressed by the helpfulness of the staff and the marina. This was the nicest welcome we have ever had in our 40 years of sailing. The new yachtsman building contained an air conditioned lounge and amazing showers. In fact the shower facilities were better than some of the 5 star hotels we have stayed in. The marina is near restaurants and chandlers, including one within the marina. Bicycles are available for hire. We will definitely return if we are in the area.

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Reviewed by: Grant Eagle , Call Me Curly, on Jul 3, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

We arrived on a Sunday, June 25 and left on Friday, waiting for the weather to co-operate before travelling North. Apparently, their pump out has not worked since last year some time, and there is no indication that they have any intentions of ever fixing it. Had we been informed of this when we booked, we would have pumped out in Delaware City before leaving. Waterway Guide should immediately remove this amenity from their listing for this marina. There was a gift bag provided when we checked in, which is a nice gesture. However, included with our check-in items was a washroom/shower key attached to an oversized ugly wooden fob the size of a dinner plate. I asked the next day if I could swap this monstrosity out for just a key, but apparently all keys were on the same ugly fobs and the keys could not be removed from them. Please folks - where has common sense gone. Such an easy fix to an annoying issue! On the goods side, the personnel, (especially in the ships store) were very good and helpful. The marina was very busy during our time there, and there were few empty slips. It appears that the money being taken in by the owners is not being re-invested into upgrades. As noted in a previous review, I see little need in advertising their political views in the fishing/tackle store and elsewhere. Most transient boaters are not interested, or may think twice about supporting you if that is your view. Keep it to yourself.

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Reviewed by: Chris Ensing , Pau Hana, on Jun 23, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.4'

Rating: 4

Nice folks, very accommodating. The entrance is tough, as soon as you exit the Cape May Canal, turn to starboard and hug the marina bulkhead off 20'. Docks are rough and it is a hike to the bathrooms but...the bathrooms are nice. There is plenty to do in Cape May

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Reviewed by: Graeme Walker , Confirmed Aquaholic, on Jun 23, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Starting to show it's age but very friendly staff and gift basket on arrival with WINE and Biscotti. Great little town for bicycling and apparently the Trolley is a good deal. Very tight entrance but doable. Ended up staying in slip #1 fuel dock, not an issue. I don't appreciate the obviously anti-Democrat anti-woke sign in the fish/tackle store.

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Reviewed by: Paul Steindorf , Ohana, on Jun 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Cape May is a great NJ beach town. Utsch's has floating docks, the basic services, but no pump out. Rental bicycles. Full grocery store about 1.5 miles into town. Could use a little maintenance catch up. Several good restaurants within easy walk.

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Reviewed by: Alison Morrow on Jun 5, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 0.0'

Rating: 4

Rustic Marina with great marine store. The docks are floating and some are longer than others. Good location to town and 3 restaurants. Lobster House has 5 restaurants at one location with different menus. Try the clam Pizza at Crazy Bones and the scallops and clams at Mayors!

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Reviewed by: Shannon Wilkins on Jan 22, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great stay after coming off of a hard long journey in 6 foot seas from Barnegett Bay. Staff was courteous and helpful. Well kept marina and bathroom facilities. I would highly recommend a stay here!

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Reviewed by: C W on Oct 3, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Nice place to tie up and wait out the weather, good restaurants nearby, town is 1 mile walk and worth the walk.

Great marine parts store on site with a fantastic staff.

Would be 5 stars if the pump out worked and anyone seemed to be getting it repaired or cared about it getting fixed in the 6 days we were there.

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Reviewed by: Capt Sam , Here's To Us, on Aug 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Always a pleasure to visit the folks at Utsch's Marina. Got to see Mr. Utsch again! The docks are starting to show their age, but are functional. Wifi was fair to good at Slip 14. Good T-MOBILE and Verizon. We stayed a short night there and were gone at sunrise headed to NYC. Two sets of bathrooms. Welcome bag with maps and information, biscottis, and a bottle of wine. Tight fairway and busy place. Hug the bulkhead on entry and exit by 20 feet. Sam & Rev on Here's To Us!! WhatYachtToDo.com

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Reviewed by: Teresa Scott , Vayu, on Aug 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Stopped for fuel after anchoring in harbor for the night. Tight getting in with 5.5 draft but marina staff was super friendly and helpful.

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Reviewed by: Captain Gene , Galene, on Jun 26, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

June 25 2022 stopped for fuel and a nights stay. Nice welcome bag with a bottle of wine. Did laundry in nice facility. Two locations for restrooms and showers. One newer and other original. Both were nice and clean but no soap for washing your hands. Old floating docks without cleats. Tight maneuvering in narrow fairways. Docking is bow in only. Nice restaurants a short walk. Must stay in fairly shallow and narrow channel to enter the marina. Staff friendly. Two travel lifts on site. Ships store on site.

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Reviewed by: Rudy Or Jill Sechez on May 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

Entrance is tight along the facing of the marina's bulkhead with the turn into the marina hidden though marked with a small Dutch Windmill. Marina is old and can be considered rundown. Fairways are narrow and suited for boats under 40 feet, though thrusters could be of benefit maneuvering within the marina. Most of the finger piers that we made note of where short or very short, though might be longer if choosey with which slip to accept. Though the turn into the fuel dock is tight, there is some wideness at the dock to allow minimal maneuvering. The dinghy dock that is offered to cruising folks is at the inner end of a narrow floating dock, under the ramp that leads to shore and provides little head room and poor tie offs if any. Having arrived only for fuel, the offered restroom consisted of a port-a-potty, though there may be other restrooms and showers for slip holders. Service was adequate and reservedly friendly.

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Reviewed by: Captain Bulldog on Feb 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

I love Charlie Utsch's family run marina. Probably my favorite anywhere. Just important: Go to day marker "16" then turn into and run along the bulkhead until you get to the Dutch Windmill or you will stray into 2 foot waters!!! Convenient to The Lobster House and Lucky Bones restaurants. The Utsches will spoil you with service. Very clean restrooms.

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Reviewed by: Louis Peloubet on Nov 6, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 5

Pleasant and efficient - a well run marina

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Reviewed by: Ross Wiltse on Aug 13, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 2.9'

Rating: 4

On entry, hug the Utsch's marina wall. Water is a bit thin away from it. Friendly staff. Clean restrooms and great laundry facility, nearby West Marine and several boating stores. Good protection from traffic on the channel. A 1.2 mile walk to downtown Cape May, worth the trip, groceries there. Cape May is worth the stop. Utsch's is the place I would do it.

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Reviewed by: Nj Ken on Jul 18, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Came in unexpected on one engine. Nancy, Charlie, Wayne and everyone else there went the extra mile! From the thoughtful welcome gift to the super nice bath & laundry building and even the offer of a sweet bun in the morning made me feel welcomed and appreciated. Utsch's, I appreciate you! I won't go past Cape May ever again without stopping!

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Reviewed by: Wade A. on Jun 11, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

Pros: Good location off the Cape May Canal, Well-stocked marine store. Helpful dockhand. Floating docks.
Cons: Docks and walkways are old. Marina is surrounded by a junky old boatyard. Fuel dock is not well laid out. Carts are rusty and heavy. Bathrooms and laundry are a long walk. Other staff not too friendly.
Conclusion: Sometimes "family-owned" is code for poorly maintained and underinvested. You can do better in Cape May.

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Reviewed by: P Berg on May 5, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 51'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

This used to be the go-to place, but their prices have gone through the roof. Transient rate is now $2.50/ft, and their diesel price is currently 3.29/gal. The upper end of the prices while heading back north from Florida. It is likely that this will not be the go-to stop anymore.

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Reviewed by: David Bello on Dec 7, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Excellent staff got our stay off to a great start. Good services here and we were able to get parts directly from the ship store and repairs done. Cape May was a surprisingly interesting destination. Can't say enough about the staff at the marina

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Reviewed by: Robert Webb , Doc's Aweigh, on Aug 10, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

A good place with particularly helpful staff for docking as well as in the office; great ships store. The docks are floating. Water a bit skinny at low tide - you must dock bow in because low tide can sometimes put all the bows in the mud.
We were there for Isaias storm and fortunately in a slip so we could cross-tie in all directions.
We would definitely go there again.

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Reviewed by: Captain Dave on Aug 7, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

We developed engine trouble due to a busted hose so we were towed to Utsch’s by Boat US, and we are glad they took us there. The staff was super friendly and the facilities were great. We also walked to Lucky Bones for dinner and it was AWESOME! They really know how to do outside dining due to Covid.

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Reviewed by: DOUGLAS WAY on Aug 11, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Nice marina with helpful staff; will stay again.

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Reviewed by: Jim Snyder , Jim Snyder, on May 28, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Very accommodating, nice marina. Would stop there again. Staff was very pleasant and helpful.

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Reviewed by: Robert Sherer on Oct 12, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Everybody stops here, it's very popular. It's a family run business since 1950 and they've always been helpful in docking. The approach can be shallow if you get too close to the sea wall, be sure to stay off by 30 ft for 6.0 MLW. Be sure to tell them your draft since some of the slips are shallow. They have commercial grade washers and dryers. The WiFi is spotty and will overload with when everybody is using it. The cellphone signal is excellent.

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Reviewed by: MALCOLM FARREL on Sep 25, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 4

Utch's is always a pleasant experience. Good people and fair prices. Docks could use some upgrades.

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Reviewed by: Robert Sherer on Jun 26, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Everybody stops here, it's very popular. It's a family run business since 1950 and they've always been helpful in docking. The approach can be shallow, I saw 4.5 MLW on the way in on May 2018 but the bottom is soft mud. Be sure to tell them your draft since some of the slips are shallow. They have commercial grade washers and dryers. The WiFi is spotty and will overload with when everybody is using it. The cellphone signal is excellent.

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Reviewed by: Howard Entman on Jul 27, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

The folks here are great; they guided us into the marina and away from the shoal that we were about to enter. They have a 'family' touch that always makes a business just a bit nicer. However, there are some negatives:

The wifi is poor. You MUST pull into the slip bow first, meaning that if you come and go from your swim platform, you will have to find a different way, since the finger piers are only about 40 feet long. They have some wooden platforms so you can disembark midship, but they weren't tall enough for my boat. It was difficult!

The water spigot is located at the bulkhead. Our 50 foot hose was about ten feet short of our water inlet. Fortunately, I had an extra 50 foot hose on board. This is the first time I had to get the extra hose out of storage.

Even with these negatives, we'll stay here again (unless they won't let us in because of this review).

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Reviewed by: First Mate on Aug 21, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 49'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This review is somewhat delayed - but now having made it all the way to Canada, this is one of the marinas we still look back fondly upon. The NEW bathrooms are GREAT! A real game changer in the marina world. The location is ideal, staff are friendly and docks adequate. Approach can be a bit tricky, but staff is great over VHF with instruction.

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Reviewed by: Russ andrews on Aug 18, 2016
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 0.0'

Rating: 5

I have to say I could not speak more highly about this marina.
Stopped here bringing up my bcc28 up the icw.
Highly recommend.

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Reviewed by: Captain Bulldog , Carpe Diem, on Aug 16, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

I love the Utsch family touch. From the welcome basket with homemade biscuits and wine to local information, great fuel prices and very reasonable dock rates, clean bathrooms and 2 of my favorite restaurants, The Lobster House and Lucky Bones right next door. Tony marine store steps away, but it's when you need mechanics....there is no finer resource on the East Coast then Charlie Utsch. Call him and if you can't make it all the way to Cape May he will send out the best people to your location!!! He is unbelievable!!! A true family-run full-service working marina.

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Reviewed by: BOB Nordstrom on Jul 22, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Nice basic marina with wonderful folks. Walking distance to very good restaurants. Rented bikes for the 1.5 mile ride into downtown Cape May. A pretty town with wonderfully restored Victorian homes ,

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Reviewed by: Chris Caldwell , AskCaptainChris, on Jul 20, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Basic Marina with great people. Listen to their instructions to enter their harbor. Best restaurant on Jersey Shore, The Lobster House. Walk through gravel parking lot early and insist on dining in the restaurant. You can wait aboard the sailboat or in the oyster bar.
Cast off early next morning for NYC or Atlantic City.

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