Anchorage Review for Pelican Bay

Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Apr 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

This is one of Southwest Florida’s best anchorages! It is well protected and the holding is good. Water depth can be tricky, but Navionics charts are very good. Anchor here in the midst of a park for peace and quiet. The fishing all around is excellent. For those of you who take your dog ashore, there are hikes and beaches easily accessed. Cell service depends on your carrier. I use ATT and had no problem.

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Bridge comment on Anna Maria (SR 64/Manatee Ave. West) Bridge

Comment by: Allan Straughan on Nov 16, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'

This bridge has 20’ at most vertical clearance not 24 as advertised on this site.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  The bridge is shown on the NOAA chart and is listed in Coast Pilot 5 as having a vertical clearance of 24 feet at the center.

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Marina Review for Harbour Town Yacht Basin

Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Oct 16, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This marina may be the best all around facility in which we have stayed. Bravo! We will be staying again when passing by Hilton Head! Here are the positives:
+ The staff are friendly and expert line handlers!
+ All communications entering and leaving the harbor were clear and precise.
+ Floating docks
+ The harbor is calm, clean, clear, protected from winds and tidal flow.
+ Shopping and dining are nearby.
+ WiFi is fast and strong!

The only negatives are: bathroom and shower facilities are small and well used and security is lax.

We will be back!! Five stars in spite of the bathrooms!!

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Marina Review for Safe Harbor Bluewater

Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Sep 24, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This marina is well maintained and the dock hands are excellent! Floating docks are planked with ipe - nice! Fuel prices are very competitive. We actually refueled in our slip. The WiFi is passable, though not great. And the Restaurant on site is worth a visit!

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Marina Review for Waterside Marina

Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Sep 24, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

I second all of the previous comments and will not repeat them except to say the staff here are top notch. The only reason I do not offer 5 stars is the WiFi was awful, intermittent and near useless, and there was no security after the staff left for the night. We had no problems, but one never knows. A locking gate would bring a little peace of mind in a large city marina setting.

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Marina Review for Manteo Waterfront Marina

Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Sep 24, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We hoped to spend a few days in Manteo, but ended up spending only one night as we needed to head south for schedule reasons. Weather and bridge closure robbed us of spending more time here. The marina staff were awesome! The WiFi is the best I’ve ever seen on my boat 55MB!! Shopping is close by (easy walking distance) including groceries. The docks were new and sturdy.

The only negatives are there is no security -anyone can walk the docks (and they do!) and these are fixed, not floating, docks. Oh, if you have a catamaran, they can accommodate you!

We will return!

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Marina Review for Riverwalk Landing Piers

Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Sep 8, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This is one of our favorite stops on the Bay. The only drawback is the public access to the marina in daylight hours, but the professional staff watch over the marina keeping things safe. They miss nothing! And speaking of the staff, they are professionals. They may know more about line handling than you do! The town is awesome and all of the local history is a bicycle ride away (Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown)

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