Marina Review for St. Michaels Marina LLC

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Jun 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This is a first-class marina in every respect. Excellent restaurant on site and very close to shopping in town. The bathrooms and showers were clean and well-maintained.

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Marina Review for Annapolis City Dock and Harbormaster's Office

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Jun 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

Great location! This marina is close to everything including restaurants, retail establishments, the state capital, and the U.S. Naval Academy. We received excellent staff assistance when mooring.

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Anchorage Review for Magothy River - Dobbins Island

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Jun 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Anchored 0.5 miles directly north of the Dobbins Island on the other side of little Island. Good holding mud in 7 feet of water.

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Anchorage Review for Sassafras River - Turner Creek

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Jun 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Tricky to enter Turner Creek but a beautiful anchorage once inside. We anchored in 6-7 feet of water. The anchor held well and came up very muddy. If you need a cell signal, this is NOT the place for you.

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Marina Review for Solomons Island Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Jun 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

We loved this marina and town! We were greeted by one of the club members and guided to our slip. The docks are fixed and in very good condition. We met a number of club members who were all very friendly and interested in what we were doing. As noted earlier, the slip comes with 2 drink coupons and free laundry. Will definitely stop here again.

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Marina Review for Parks Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Jun 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

This marina could best be described as no-frills. The dock was adequate and, at $30/night (+$5 for 30 amp), it was priced appropriately. Payment for the dock was payable in cash to a small mailbox at the brick house at the head of the pier. Bathroom and shower were great. Several of the restaurants seem to have closed permanently but, what remained, was good quality. We wouldn't feel the need to go back but we appreciated our time there and were happy to have visited.

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Anchorage Review for Jackson Creek South Branch

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Jun 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Anchored adjacent to the Deltaville Tap and Raw Bar intending to have dinner there only to find out that they are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The anchorage itself was fine with good holding in 7 ft of water. Anchor chain came up with a sticky, muddy mess.

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Marina Review for Willoughby Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Jun 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

I chose this marina for affordability while I left the boat for a couple of weeks and it was suitable for the purpose intended. I was impressed with the marina manager who answered a call on a Sunday when I was looking for docking instructions. Like others have noted, this is not a first class facility at this point but my understanding was that new ownership is working on rectifying the dock condition and abandoned boat issues they inherited. Also, as previously noted, there is no easy access to any retail outlets. The restaurant on site didn't look like much but was surprisingly good.

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Bridge comment on Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge

Comment by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on May 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'

This rail line appears to have been abandoned for quite some time. The bridge is permanently open.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Waterway Guide will research.

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Marina Review for Belhaven Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This place didn't look like much but looks are certainly deceiving in this case! The people were fantastic and helped tie up. They had a nice ship's store with a neat promotional special. We took the golf cart to the grocery store about a mile and a half away and was impressed with how clean and well-kept Belhaven was. Clean bathrooms and showers with towels. Five other Loop boats happened to be there at the same time and we all met for docktails near the marina office. We would definitely stop here again.

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Anchorage Review for Alligator River - Durant Island (South)

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on May 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Surprisingly good anchorage once dodging all the crab pots. There was decent wind protection from the quadrant north through East. but any other direction would likely be uncomfortable We anchored in 8 feet. The anchor set quickly and came up clean.

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Marina Review for Portside Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

This was a nice marina but, unfortunately, we encountered a strong southerly wind (gusts to 39 MPH) and there was zero protection for the marina from the south which made for a lumpy night. On the positive side, there were decent restrooms and showers, there was a nice ship's store, and the location was convenient to a variety of restaurants. We would stay here again but would look for another alternative if there was a southern wind.

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Anchorage Review for Mile Hammock Bay

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on May 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Great anchorage right off the ICW. The anchor set quickly in about 10 feet of water. There were five other boats there besides us and there was room for more if needed.

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Marina Review for Wacca Wache Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

Great marina with some of the cheapest fuel on the ICW but it's not near anything besides the restaurant on-site. There was a small army of helpful dockhands there to assist at the fuel dock and at the slip. Office staff very helpful.

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Free Dock Review for The Dock at Barefoot Landing

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on May 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

We stopped here for the restaurants and shopping and ended up staying the night. There were signs in from of the Greg Norman restaurant about no overnight docking but just down the same dock in front of Lulu's restaurant, there were no such signs. We asked in the restaurant about staying the night and nobody objected.
There are no services here but the docks are very nice. Beware of the strong currents here when docking/undocking.

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Marina Review for Morningstar Marinas Southport

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This was a great marina right off the ICW with beautiful new docks. The staff was very helpful in getting us tied up and situated. The marina is walking distance to a quaint little town with a variety of restaurants and shops..

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Marina Review for Wrightsville Beach Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This was a nice stop. The marina itself was top-notch with modern floating docks, pump out and a lengthy fueling dock. We stayed on the south end of the fueling dock which was adjacent to the channel and, therefore, subject to more wake action than we would have preferred. Clean restrooms and showers. Grocery store was walkable but there didn't seem to be a plethora of other shops. We did not try the local restaurant but it was busy.

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Marina Review for Charleston Maritime Center

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

This was a nice location with good facilities but it was very subject to wakes all day and much of the night. Staff was very helpful with docking and shifting over to pump out. Excellent shower and restroom facilities.

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Anchorage Review for Graham Creek

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on May 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Anchored here in 9 feet of water with a strong flood tide along with a 10-12 kt SW wind. The anchor would not hold so had to move to a location in the ICW which was not my preference but the closest location available. Also, there were crab pots in the area which I tangled with.. I would only try this anchorage again if there were no crab pots nearby.

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Anchorage Review for Jekyll Island R24

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on May 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

This was a surprisingly good anchorage. Being so close to the channel and bridge, we expected to have wake and noise issues. We had neither. We didn't have a single boat pass by after we arrived at 1700. We rowed ashore to Jekyll Island beach about 75 yd from our anchoring spot to do a little exploring but didn't do anything else.

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Marina Review for Seafarer's Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

Had to leave the boat for a week and this place was only $175/week. As other's have mentioned, Seafarer's is a no-frills sort of place but it suited my purpose perfectly. The owner came out and help me get tied up which was a big help because the pilings provide awkward leads for my particular boat. I was going to shower there but it was not clean at all so showered on the boat instead.

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Marina Review for Port Consolidated - Fernandina Beach

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on May 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

Great price and we only took around 50 gallons. The attendant said that there was a 200 gallon minimum. He didn't ding us or make a fuss about it but maybe another attendant might have been more difficult.

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Anchorage Review for Reed Island

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 24, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Anchored here in about 12 feet of water for 2 nights. Anchor set quickly, held firm with reasonably strong flood and ebb currents, and came up clean. I anchored more toward Reed Island than the icon due to a NE wind, just a little north of the channel markers for Mill Cove. There were some boats that whizzed by with the resultant wakes but not horrible. Lots of dolphin activity. I would definitely stay here again.

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Marina Review for Marker 8 Hotel & Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

This was a decent marina with modern floating docks but subject to fairly substantial bouncing due to wind and wakes. On a falling tide, there is about a 3 kt current running from south to north. The showers and laundry (1 washer/1 dryer) were clean and in excellent condition.

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Anchorage Review for Cement Plant

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

This was a great anchorage in 7-8 feet of water. If there was a cement plant here at one time, that must have been long ago. The north part of the inlet looks to be a nearly empty modern marina with floating docks, power pedestals, etc. On the south side, there was a manufacturing plant of some kind but not active at all. Saw water depths in the entry channel as low as 4 feet slightly north of centerline. On the way out, I favored the southern side of the channel and never saw less than 6 feet.

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Anchorage Review for Rockhouse Creek

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

This was a decent anchorage but there was a bit of wake activity from passing fishing boats. Anchored in 7-8 feet of water and the anchor set quickly. There was a tug and barge on the south shore that made 3-4 trips discharging what looked (and smelled) like dredge spoil. The small tug and barge repeatedly entered and exited the area near the south shore where they were working and had no difficulty with water depth from what I could see.

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Marina Review for Titusville Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

We loved this marina! It was easy to book via Dockwa, the marina personnel were helpful with local knowledge and help with docking and pump out.. We happened to be there on the day of a rocket launce from Cape Canaveral, about 12 miles away. We had an excellent view from Pier 220, a local restaurant that is walkable from the marina. The docks were secured via locking gates. The restrooms and showers were clean.. As noted in other reviews, some of the wooden planks on the dock could use replacement. There was a nice ship's store at the marina.. Would definitely stay here again.

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Anchorage Review for Griffis Park–Merritt Island

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Anchored here after the Lee Wenner Park free dock became untenable due to the wind shifting out of the south. We anchored in 6-7 feet of water. The anchor set quickly and came up just slightly muddy with some shells mixed in. We did not access shore facilities and cannot address shopping, shore access or whether or not this location was pet friendly.

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Free Dock Review for Lee Wenner Park Free Dock - Closed for Renovation

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

We found space at the dock but decided to leave and head for a better protected anchorage just north of the Hubert Humphrey bridge after the wind shifted to the south. The dock's proximity to SF Travis Hardware store and numerous restaurants in the area make this an ideal stop if the wind cooperates.

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Anchorage Review for North Rocky Point

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

We anchored in 7 feet of water about 0.5 miles NNE of the anchor icon about 100 yards behind a small island and a small spit of land. We had good protection from easterly to ESE wind. In a W to NW wind, we would have anchored on the other side of the island and probably been just fine.
Anchor set quickly and came up only slightly muddy. The island itself had a campsite with a fire ring, picnic table, and a grill.

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Marina Review for Fort Marine

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

We would call this less of a marina and more of a commercial fishing operation that has some slips for pleasure boats. That said, it suited our purposes for the proximity of a Publix, CVS and a nice restaurant all within walking distance (about .25 miles).

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Marina Review for St. Lucie South Campground & Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

For $15 per night (with America the Beautiful pass -$30 otherwise), the US Army Corps of Engineers marina/RV run park was a steal. The slips were narrow and, even for our 10' beam, it was a little tight. Showers and bathrooms were reasonably clean.

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Marina Review for The Glades Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 2

We came east on the Calooshee River but every place we tried was either not accepting transients or failed to answer their phones. The Glades answered the phone promptly, met us at the dock to assist in mooring, and were generally very helpful in facilitating pump out via a portable system and also providing a golf cart so that we could get to the local restaurant quickly. Beyond that, the wooden dock was in poor condition and 30 amp power connection required using both our cables to reach their shore cable. As others have mentioned, this location is an interesting mixture of marina, derelict boat depository, and boat graveyard.

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Marina Review for Gulf Harbour Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This is among the nicest marinas I've seen. The facilities had just been rebuilt from past hurricane and were top notch in every way. As noted in a previous review, there are currently no pump out facilities.

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Marina Review for Escape Resort and Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This is a beautiful little place just off the ICW but the approach is shallow and narrow and there are no soundings on the chart. We saw under keel clearances as low as 2.5 feet at high tide. Once inside, there were plenty of larger boats.
The facility is well maintained with a pool, beach access, clean showers, and a small fitness center.

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Anchorage Review for Boca Ciega Bay (1)

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

We anchored near the icon and had good holding in about 6 feet of water. Be advised that there was no dingy dock at the Municipal marina closest to the anchorage. In retrospect, we would have anchored further north near the mooring field which was much closer to the dingy dock with access to a variety of restaurants. Also, be advised that in motoring from the anchorage directly toward the dingy dock, the dingy motor touched bottom at/near low tide and we saw multiple derelict vessels that had run aground and appeared to be abandoned. Stay to the west in deeper water - even in a dingy.

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Marina Review for MAR-MARina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

Great people - family owned and operated. Drove us to the local food store and left the gate open for our return after hours. Resolved an electrical problem with our pedestal quickly. Clean shower. They reportedly have a portable pump out but we didn't use it. Would definitely stay here again

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Bridge comment on Dunedin Causeway Bridge

Comment by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'

We came through the bridge at 0958 on 9 April and the tide was approximately 1 foot above low water which was 0.4 ft at 0726. The clearance gauge showed about 19'. The bridge operator responded immediately on channel 9 and opened the bridge promptly.

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Marina Review for C.S.S. Yacht Basin

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 2

This marina is pretty bare bones. 50 amp electricity and water but that's about it. Mooring is stern in with NO access to the dock except over the stern. If your boat has a dingy davit at the stern your only option to exit the boat by lowering the dingy and using that as a ramp. At low tide, one needs to to be very nimble and a little athletic to embark/disembark.

We would choose another marina the next time around.

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Anchorage Review for Destin Harbor Southwest

Reviewed by: Peter Searles, Schuyler, on Apr 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Anchored in 9 feet of water just across from restaurants and bars. Excellent holding in 20-30 kts wind - anchor set quickly and came up completely clean in the morning.

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Marina Review for Destin Marina

Reviewed by: Peter Searles , Schuyler, on Apr 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 1

According to the dock master, they do not rent transient slips at all any longer

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