Marina Review for Port Sanilac Municipal Harbor

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jul 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great staff (dockmaster Annie is so professional& accommodating), super local boaters (always providing help with lines or tips on local establishments, and even loaning cars!), and the town is small but has good restaurants and a great hardware store. And the Alli Bar (in an alley behind a knick knack/rummage shop) is not to be missed! Great live music on Fridays & Saturdays, and it's just a hoot to walk around the alley checking out all the "stuff." Great dog walking along the 2+ mile beach just north of the harbor breakwater, or along Lake Street that parallels the coastline (so many cute houses with beautiful gardens!). And the marina next store has a good marine store and provides just about all boating services. Very well protected harbor (we were there when remnants Hurricane Beryl came barreling through Michigan and it wasn't choppy at all in the harbor.

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Marina Review for Village of Bayfield Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jul 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

The staff was friendly and attentive, and were waiting to catch lines at the dock when we motored in. Mike was helpful with tips on the town, which is beautiful with lots of great restaurants and shops, but it is a little touristy. The washroom and bathrooms are old and tired, but usable (hence a 4 vice 5 star rating.). Farmers Market on Friday afternoons, with good selection of veggies and fruits. Craft brewery in town was just OK.

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Free Dock Review for Village of Baldwinsville Docks

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge, Manifest, on Aug 30, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Nice semi-secluded spot on south side of the canal just west of the lock. Nice park area for walking dog. Free dockage and water but, as noted, a minimal fee is requested for power. Public bathrooms available on the island on the north side of the channel, but they are quite a hike away and they're run by the city and were not open until after 8:30 am the day we were there. Many nice restaurants and a craft brewery are within walking distance. A nice stop after Brewerton (fuel up at Winter Harbor; their prices are fantastic!) and they're about 54 miles and 5 locks west to Newark on the Erie canal.

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Lock comment on Lock 26 Lakefield

Comment by: Tom Hedge, Manifest, on Jul 12, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Typically nice Parcs Canada mooring, made better now that there are three (3) power pedestals, each with two (2) 30 amp outlets, on the upper wall. Nice park setting down a no-vehicle access walking path a short way from town, so no pedestrians to look into your boat. A short walk to town with easy access to a few restaurants, Foodland, Napa Auto Store, LCBO, and Hardware store... there's even a Chocolate store nearby. A nice relaxing spot to stop, reprovision, and relax before heading out on the Trent-Severn the next day.

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Marina Review for Port of Orillia

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jul 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

First class marina! New harbor building; immaculately clean individual shower rooms; beautiful synthetic wood floating docks; wide slips; FREE laundry; large beautiful park right next door; staff is constantly doing maintenance to keep the Port shipshape, even " mowing" and using pitch forks to clean out grass in the marina; an easy 10-minute walk to an extremely well-stocked grocery; a 5- minute walk to a craft brewery; and multiple excellent restaurants within easy walking distance (don't miss Sanafir Mediterranean restaurant... the food is exceptional!!). There is a lot of construction along the waterfront, but it's barely noticeable from the docks. Port Orillia is a don't miss destination on the Trent-Seven.

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Marina Review for Municipality of Kincardine Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jun 26, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Very good and clean floating synthetic wood docks. Medium walk to individual room showers & bathrooms; all very clean. Great walking paths just off docks along beautiful Station Beach. Local Rotary has sponsored garden plots by locals along the path... each one unique and well-designed. Path leads to many other walking & biking trails around town. Scottish bagpipe band still plays at 8 pm on Saturday evenings, but in June 2023 the Main Street was tore up for sewer upgrades, so the "parade" was just along Victoria Park. Phantom piper did not play at sunset while we were in marina. The town itself has excellent restaurants, shops, bars (even a craft brewery), all within easy walking distance from marina. We will definitely go back!

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Marina Review for Onancock Wharf and Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jun 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Nice quaint town & marina; take water taxi to Tangiers Island. Town marina only has 12 slips, one of which is used by the water taxi that makes 2 daily trips each to and from Tangiers Island. Rent golf carts direct from marina; great neighborhoods to drive around and check out. The town has some nice restaurants & bars, and there's a very good restaurant in a historic building right on ste. Easy cruise from Cape Charles and then easy cruising up the Chesapeake and/or Potomac. Definitely worth a visit!

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Marina Review for Captain John's Crabhouse & Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jun 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Very good (but pricey) restaurant but limited services for transients. Premium lump crab cakes were excellent. Limited Verizon cell service, no showers, bathrooms open only during restaurant hours (11:00 am to 9:30 pm), and restaurant guest WiFi was fairly unusable on outside slips. OK for an overnight stay with dinner, but for longer stay 1/2 way up/down the Potomac go to Colonial Beach across the river.

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Marina Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jun 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Great location but limited services for transients. As a transient (stayed 1 week) we were placed WAY AWAY from the main marina facilities. The close location to restaurants, bars, water taxi (for tours or to just go to Old Town Alexandria), and even to the great marine store at Washingto Marina next door, was fantastic. But it was a long walk to pick up packages and to use the laundry at the main marina office. And Wifi at the transient docks was spotty at best. So 5 stars for location & 1 star for services. At the price they charge to transients they really need to up their game.

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Marina Review for The Boathouse Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jun 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great marina and town! The staff is friendly & accommodating. Reasonable rates on marine services & supplies. Located closer to town center and beaches on the Potomac (both are great!), and the provide use of golf cart for exploring area and going to Food Lion for provisions. Well-appointed Captains Lounge, including some grocery items for sale ( e.g., eggs & milk), and individual bathrooms with toilet, sink, and shower. Bill and his team are great! We loved our stay! It's a perfect stop 1/2 way up the Potomac to DC (or when going back downriver). And Colonial Beach is a gem of a town.

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Bridge comment on Cobb Island Bridge

Comment by: Tom Hedge, Manifest, on Jun 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'

2021-06-27 New fixed bridge os in place. 19' of clearance at high tide of +1.96'. Still have option to enter/exit Chesapeake from/to NW to get to/leave Capt. Johns Marina/Restaurant if boat air draft doesn't enable passing under bridge.

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Marina Review for Oriental Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on May 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

If the Oriental Marina & Inn 9 docks are full, this is where you'll be staying and it can be very rough when winds are high... and it's my understanding that the winds are always blowing hard here! The harbor bathrooms are old & tired, but clean, and it's a fairly long walk to the Tiki Bar & restaurant at the Marina & Inn. So - CALL AHEAD to get reservations at one of the 9 docks at the Marina & Inn!

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Marina Review for Morehead City Transient Docks

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on May 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great location - steps to historic downtown Morehead City with plenty of fine restaurants & bars, and Lee, the dockmaster, is fantastic. He answered all our calls immediately, even during off hours, met us at the dock and handled our lines like a pro. The current can be strong so call Lee ahead of time to find out the best time to arrive.

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Marina Review for Homer Smith Docks and Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on May 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great people - the staff & the many helpful liveaboards; great location - 4 blocks to downtown; 2 courtesy cars; FREE pumpout, ice, & laundry; Tony, Matt, & Dan were so helpful and accommodating when we had to extend our stay because of my wife's injury, and Dan does canvas work & repairs; Barbour's Marine Supply has a large inventory with great prices & is about a mile away; Eastard Marine Supply has great prices on just about every SS screw, bolt, & nut possible and is a short drive away; and Beaufort is a great town with many good restaurants, bars, and shops. We loved our stay at Homer Smith's!

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Marina Review for Carolina Beach Marina and Mooring Field

Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Apr 21, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

This is the best location for stopping in Carolina Beach. It's right at the end of the basin, a 5-minute walk to the beach, restaurants, bars, and biking. A Publix grocery is about 1/2 mile away, with a True Value hardware on the way. Larry, the dockmaster, was gracious and professional in all interactions, and was very helpful with local knowledge. We had some fairly strong current when we came in and, coupled with 10 mph winds, it made it tough getting into the slip. But Larry was very patient and helpful, and several of the local charter boat captains came to assist our docking. The wood docks are beautiful, as is the FREE pumpout system. They have an outside berth for pumping out, but the hose will also reach slip 1 and possibly slip 2 if your tank emptying receptacle is positioned in the right place. We loved our stay... especially our Scottie dog as it was a 5-minute walk each morning to the beach... stop by Nollie's Taco Joint for lunch on the way back to the boat! There are many good restaurants and bars within walking distance, and it's an easy bike ride to the Carolina Beach State Park.

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