Anchorage Review for Bristol Harbor

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Sep 11, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Good protection from all but southerly swells, good holding in mud. On 9/11/2023 Diesel was $4.60, Gas $4.50. 2 miles to a real grocery store ( deducting one star for that ), but a minimart a few block from the town dinghy dock, plenty of restaurants & the Herreshoff Maritime Museum make it worth the visit.

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Marina Review for Pope's Island Marina

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Sep 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Stayed two nights on mooring. Main reason to stop was to get a part for our outboard at Rick's in Fairhaven. Marina is well run and facilities are clean, well maintained, and staff is great. Don't miss the whaling museum, and especially Miguel's for breakfast or lunch (he closes at 2p) for an authentic local experience.

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Anchorage Review for Atlantic Highlands - Municipal Harbor

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Aug 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Stayed here for two days to pick up crew. Very convenient town access. We didn't find the anchorage too rolly, and the power boats were almost all considerate of their wakes. Note: the downtown Laundromat is gone. Short walk up to groceries, restaurants, and bus to NYC Port Authority station.

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Marina Review for Northport Village Dock

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Aug 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Great location if you can get in. While there was easily 70' of free dock space, small 20' power boats spaced 30' apart kept us out so we turned around and anchored out. Returned at 0730 the next day to pump out and managed to squeeze in at the south end with 8-10' hanging out. Walked over to the Copenhagen Bakery for breakfast and fresh bread. Pump out boat starts at 0900 but the operator didn't show up until after 10. Cute town, don't miss the Sand City Brewing Co. tasting room.

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Anchorage Review for Coecles Harbor - Shelter Island

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Aug 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

A large anchorage with lots of room, came in on a Saturday afternoon from Port Jefferson and it was crowded with smaller power boats and a handful of 30-50'ers. Dropped anchor in 9' mud. Most boats left before sunset. It's one big No Wake zone: well protected and quiet at night, busy during the day but no rolling. The shore is one big preserve with no access above the high tide mark. It's a 2.2 mile dinghy ride to Coecles Harbor Marina if you don't want to pay for a mooring. The well stocked IGA (wine garden across the street) is a mile from the marina, full service restaurants ($$$$) another mile after that in Dering Harbor ( ferry dock to Greenport).

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Anchorage Review for Rogues Harbor

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Aug 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Anchored in 8' good holding in heavy mud (hosing off the chain & anchor took quite longer than the normal Chesapeake silt). Fair amount of weekend boat traffic. People started launching at the ramp at 6 am. Nice beach at the park for pups. We didn't go ashore. Stayed two nights for electrical trouble shooting. Lots of damsel flies but no mosquitoes.

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Marina Review for Charleston Maritime Center

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on May 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Stayed here in Feb23 (southbound) and are back now May23 (northbound). Yes it rocks, especially on the center dock exposed directly to the channel (our Feb23 stay) the slips aren't as bad. They just installed new power/water pedestals (in Feb they were falling over and water was off). Employees are friendly and helpful. Single shower room ( but fits two ;-), toilets separate, free laundry. Much better dining/provisioning location than the west side Gucci marina, but you should time your entry with slack tide.

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Anchorage Review for Toogoodoo Creek

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on May 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Beautiful anchorage. Dropped hook in 13' (121lb Spade, 130' chain ) to the west side of the creek near the first group of trees in anticipation of 30+ winds from the west the next day. Held easily with peak gusts to 40 reported over at the less protected anchorage a mile or so south. Heavy mud and shells came up with the anchor. No-see-ums came out the second night as the winds dropped, Thermacell kept them out of the boat. ATT cell service was spotty. Popular bird and porpoise hangout.

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Bridge comment on Wonderwood Drive (SR 116) Bridges

Comment by: Rich Inman on Feb 14, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'

Approached southbound one hour before a 3' high tide. Tide board was just at 64' (bottom edge of the third fender board). We lost our windex at 64' 3" in Myrtle Beach, so we elected to back out and anchor east of the channel to wait for more clearance.

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Marina Review for Ocean Isle Marina & Yacht Club

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Jan 30, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We stayed here for two days to wait out winds 30 gusting to 42. They warned us when we called ahead that the outside transient dock drops to 4' at low tide - and it did. Very nice staff. Not an ideal deeper draft overnight. Waterway Guide is incorrect - there is NO LAUNDRY (please change). Wifi didn't reliably reach the outer "L", and there were no bikes to lend (at least in January), but they did allow us to borrow a personal car to drive to Food Lion. 3/4 mile walk to a café/bar. No Pump out.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Marina listing corrected.

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Anchorage Review for Waccamaw River - Butler Island

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Jan 30, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Anchored in 13' 100' or so south of the cable area with 80' of chain. Calm night, didn't so much as rock from ICW traffic. Some grass came up on the anchor, but clean/sandy bottom overall. Great place to stop so you can get to the Georgetown free dock early.

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Anchorage Review for Waccamaw River Oxbow G29

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Jan 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Southbound. Anchored here after a log day timing low tides at the MB bridges. We entered the oxbow from the south. Two other boats anchored, as we tried to get around them along the west (land side vice island side) depth rapidly went from 18' to 13' to 5' to 3.5'. We backed out and stayed to the inside of the oxbow with 13'-20'. Anchored at the northern mouth of the oxbow in 11' at low tide. very protected, no wind, so we didn't test holding. Still a great stopover.

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Bridge comment on Captain Archie Neil "Poo" McLauchlin (Little River) Swing Bridge

Comment by: Rich Inman on Jan 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'

Arrived an hour before low tide (5am) for the Nixon Crossroads bridge (no problem) but the swing bridge wouldn't open as we approached. Had to back down and hold position 100yds north for an hour (very narrow there) while maintenance was called out (fortunately mostly slack tide).

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Bridge comment on Grissom Parkway Bridge

Comment by: Rich Inman on Jan 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'

Had 66' and hour before low (low) tide. We have a 63'8" air draft. 1/27/2023

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Free Dock Review for The Dock at Barefoot Landing

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Jan 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Southbound. Stopped here after fueling across the channel to wait for high tide at Socastee Bridge (mm371). At low tide we tied up with 5.8' depth by Greg Norman's, just south of the last finger dock, the north end was on mud at low tide (finger docks look to be about 35', and could take up to 40' easily). Blueberry Grill (all day b'fast) was the only thing open before 10a, but doesn't disappoint. We were the only boat, and left after dark (7p).

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Free Dock Review for Provision Company

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Jan 23, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Sought refuge in Southport when our Morehead City to Charleston leg far exceeded forecast sea state. We arrived at ProCo when they were closed for the season. Tied up bow in, sticking out pretty far but no one complained. Nice floating dock, depth dropped to 4' with a 7' tidal change. Fishy Fishy was excellent (don't miss the hush puppies!).

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Marina Review for Hartge Yacht Harbor

Reviewed by: Rich Inman on Nov 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great location 20min by car from Annapolis. Great staff. New Owners have made extensive upgrades to docks, wifi, etc. Office provides passes to the off site pool (in season). Be warned: the West River is hard on strainers and watermakers.

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