Marina Review for Port of Friday Harbor

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter , Belle of the West, on Aug 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Excellent facility with wi-fi and on dock heads and showers. Easy walk to a great little town.

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Marina Review for Fort Flagler Marine State Park

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter , Belle of the West, on Aug 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Wonderful state park with a dock and mooring buoys. The current runs very strong at times so if you anchor be sure your anchor is set well. The tide reverses 180 degrees.

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Marina Review for Schaefers Canal House & Marina

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Oct 14, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Great staff. We arrived late but they stuck around to help us tie up and made suggestions for the best fendering arrangements. Although we were tied on the river face dock we had no wake issues all night. Great food at the restaurant.

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Marina Review for Brewer South Freeport Marine

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Sep 23, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Excellent boat yard with fuel, water, power and pumpout on-site. The staff goes out of their way to be helpful and worked with us to solve some electrical issues There is a loaner vehicle which is great because the markets and downtown Freeport are several miles away. Great community outside the marina for walking pets.

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Marina Review for Billings Diesel & Marine

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Sep 10, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

A boatyard based marina. No frills but affordable and clean. The yard is about a 1.5 mile walk into Stonington or a short dinghy ride to the town landing. The pumpout station isn't a realistic option unless there's slip space available adjacent to it on the inside of the breakwater. The moorings are in the Thorofare and starting around 4 am the lobster boats run in and out for most of the day. The Dockmaster was very helpful and moved boats so we could get in at the last minute.

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Anchorage Review for Somes Harbor

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Sep 6, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

There is nothing here but peace and quiet. We moored on an empty buoy but there is also plenty of room to anchor in the harbor. The dinghy dock is short walk into the village which has no shops but is a pretty walk.

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Anchorage Review for Bar Harbor

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 30, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

The harbor is open to wind from all directions but the moorings are strong and well spaced for swing. We held tight in 35+ knots. The dinghy dock is crowded but you can find a spot. The harbormaster is very helpful and let us use the commercial pier take on water.

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Anchorage Review for Pulpit Harbor

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 29, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Good holding in 10 - 20 feet of water and a mud bottom. Lots of mooring balls, some of which are available. The harbor is open to W'ly - NW'ly winds but we held in 35 knots. The dinghy dock is located at the head of the cove near the bridge. A small cove to starboard as you enter has deep water and we observed two large sailboats anchored there but use your sounder and remember the tides are 10 feet or so here. There's nothing within walking distance so grab your bike and enjoy the Maine scenery. We found farm stands and fish markets that sold fresh products.

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Marina Review for Lyman-Morse at Wayfarer

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 21, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

We moored out by Curtis Island which is about a 5 minute dinghy ride from the LM dock or the town pier. It's bumpy during the day with all the boats going by but settled down at night and the island is a good lee. It's also a great picnic island with a rope mooring at the west end of the island.

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Anchorage Review for Deadman Cove

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 18, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

We moored inside the inner harbor. There are only a few available moorings. Find one that doesn't have a dinghy on it and then check in with the Harbormaster. If you're over 40 feet don't take the yellow buoy near the town dock. We had to leave quickly in the middle of the night when to weather conditions pushed us to close to the shore. When landing your dinghy remember the 10 foot change in tide and plan accordingly. There are 17 miles of hiking trails that traverse the Island so it's great for exploring.

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Marina Review for DiMillo's Kennebunk Marina

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 12, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Nice small marina with an easy walk to town. Be ready to maneuver with in a tidal river. No pumpout and no fuel.

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Anchorage Review for Peaks Island

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 9, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Mooring buoys are exposed to ferry and small boat wakes which make for a lot of rolling. It quiets down at night. Peaks Island Marina has a dinghy dock which puts you right downtown for access to shops and restaurants. Only minutes from Portland

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Marina Review for Fore Points Marina

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 5, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Excellent new marina. Parts of the marina are still under construction at this time but the basics are in place. Great docks with easy access to shore and a short walk to Portland's waterfront. A 2.5 mile bike trail will bring you to three grocery stores.

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Marina Review for Piscataqua Marina

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Aug 2, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

We were on the face of the east dock and the flood pushed us off the dock at about 4-5 knots. Additionally, there is no wake protection from all of the passing boats in the river so it's a bumpy place to stay. Lots pf fenders and strong mooring lines. The dockmaster was great and it's an easy walk into Portsmouth.

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Marina Review for Dennis Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Jul 25, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Nice marina but not geared towards cruisers. Mostly small local boats. Our berth was about 15 feet to short for us and required extra lines for the strong ebb which sets off the dock. No wi-fi or showers if you need those. Ashore, the nearest town is about 1-2 miles away but there us a great seafood restaurant at the nearby North Side Marina.

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Anchorage Review for Price Bend

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter, Belle of the West, on Jun 27, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Anchored just east of Sand City Island in about 15 feet with mud bottom. This is a popular spot for the local small boats to access the beach so it was crowded and noisy until dark. Also, lots of wake action until after dark when the small boats left. In

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Anchorage Review for Chincoteague - Black Narrows

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter, Belle of the West, on Jun 22, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Not a bad anchorage but very challenging to get into. Buoys R10, G9, and R8 have been moved to reflect new shoals so you must have a good depth sounder. We left R26 and G27 to starboard and crossed the shoal with 6.5 feet of water depth at about half tide. The anchor came up clean. Lots of current - maybe 2-3 knots. An alternative is Queen Sound Channel which is easier to get to but less protected.

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Bridge comment on Ben Sawyer Memorial (SC 703) Bridge

Comment by: Luke Carpenter, Belle of the West, on Jun 14, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'

Arrived at this bridge at 0700 on a Sunday and the bridge tender said he wouldn't open until 0900. When questioned about the weekend opening times he had to check and then opened the bridge. Note to mariners, make sure you have the most recent information.

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Anchorage Review for Pablo Creek - Island

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter, Belle of the West, on Jun 7, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

This is a deep anchorage just east of Shallow Island and just south of G-17. Be prepared for 3-4+ knot currents.

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Anchorage Review for Pine Island Loop

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter, Belle of the West, on Jun 6, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

We arrived here on a -.7 tide and thought we'd use the north entrance which calls out greater depths. The north entrance was completely dry and the south entrance quickly shoaled to about 5 feet. Not a viable anchorage for larger boats.

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Marina Review for Apex Marine-Stuart

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Apr 24, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

A great no-frills marina and boatyard. The yard can handle most projects including haul outs and their experience was helpful in finding the best way to accomplish a task. It's an easy walk into Stuart with lots of restaurants and shops.

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Nav Alert comment on FL Inlet Caution: Hillsboro Inlet

Comment by: Luke Carpenter on Jan 27, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Entered from sea at low tide. The minimum draft is probably closer to 6 feet in the vicinity of #5. Check your tide tables closely. We waited outside until just before the bridge opening to have maneuvering room with all the smaller boats going straight in.

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Marina Review for Port 32 Lighthouse Point

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Jan 27, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Right off the ICW. Great facility with access to all the amenities. The staff were all courteous and very helpful. A good place to rest up for a few days. Easy bike ride to town.

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Anchorage Review for No Name Harbor

Reviewed by: Luke Carpenter on Jan 26, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 53'
Draft: 5.0'

Good holding in 12 feet. About 8 feet alongside pumpout station. Very crowded on weekends but anchoring outside is also available. Nice park with easy walk to Cape Florida light.

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