Anchorage Review for Mill Creek-Phoebus

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Jul 1, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Very convenient anchorage, close to the ICW. It is open enough to have a decent breeze in hot weather and yet protected enough to cut the breeze and waves in a southwest wind. What really sets this anchorage apart is the new dinghy dock in Mill Creek. dinghy dock is right in town. Short walk to restaurants, shops and theater. It is about 10 block walk to Food Lion grocery.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Back Creek - Calvert Museum

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Jul 1, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

A more open anchorage compared to other places in Solomons, decent breeze at night. Shore access for museum members gets you to restaurants. Uber/Lyft to grocery store

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Back Creek - Solomons

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Jul 1, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

We have anchored here several times. It has excellent shore access at the hotel dinghy dock. Access to restaurants and West Marine. A short Uber/lyft to the grocery store (1.5 miles). We anchor in this creek when thunder storms are expected. Have weathered storms here twice.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Solomons Island Basin

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 3, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.3'

Most convenient anchorage for access to the dinghy dock at the pump out dock. It is a little exposed in an east wind. But other wise a fine anchorage. Good access to restaurants and the University of Maryland Marine Biological Center. Have to Uber to the grocery store though.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Hontoon Island State Park

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Mar 22, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 4

All the old docks have been rebuilt, are now in great condition. A lovely place to hike and explore. Good birding. Great staff. Clean restrooms. Good dock power and dock water. Small store on site. There is room for one 50 foot boat on the west T head and for two 35-40 footers stern to stern on the east T. 35-40 footers can probably also take the slip on the inside of the T head. Closer to shore the slips are only about 3-3.5 feet. No longer offer FL senior discounts. Still, price is very inexpensive.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Harbor

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Mar 21, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 1

We have stayed on these moorings many times over the years. Right now in 2019 the mooring field is closed and there is no shore access. The situation may change later in 2019. For now this is a non entity

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  The facility is expected to open in the summer of 2019.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Downtown Sanford Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Dec 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

The docks and utilities are fine. The fAcilities are old. Very short walk into town with several restaurants and about 6-8 brew pubs. Sanford is very active with festivals and events designed to draw in people from the surrounding area. There is always something going on. The historic district is lovely and makes for an nice walk from the marina. It is about 1.5 miles to Winn Dixie. It is about 3 miles to the Sun Rail station which takes you directly to Orlando. Willow Tree Cafe, the German restaurant draws the dining crowd from Orlando. On weekends a dinner reservation must be made 6 weeks in advance. Great oompah band Thursday through Sunday.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Hontoon Island State Park

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Dec 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Still a great stop to hike and explore. No longer offer FL senior discounts. Still, price is very inexpensive.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Governors Creek

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Dec 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Dinghy dock has reopened after hurricane damage. The park is lovely with a renovation of the spring and swimming pool. Several restaurants and shops in easy walking distance.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Windmill Harbour Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Dec 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

We stopped here in early November 2018. The staff is exceptionally competent and helpful. The grounds are lovely and facilities, pool, bathrooms, restaurant and bar are top of the line. You can Uber/Lyft to the shopping for groceries etc. Such a hidden gem. Hope lots more people do not discover it too.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Delegal Creek Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Dec 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Reading the marina's directions, we have avoided coming here since Hurricane Mathew whacked it hard. Fortunately the entrance is really much easier than described. I suggested that the marina manager update the instructions, but he did not seem to care. His instructions over the phone were not much help. You kind of wonder if he really cares. But it is a nice marina in a nice community. It is a great stop and a good place to stage for Hell Gate.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Barnegat Harbor - B

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Sep 3, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Barnegat is a good stop along the Jersey Shore. The inlet as of September 2018 is straight forward and easy. Note avoid entrance with strong ebb current particularly if the wind is in the east . There is 20 feet in the entrance and 12-15 feet all the way back to this anchorage. There is a small dinghy dock at the boat ramp

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Barnegat Harbor - A

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Sep 3, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

The entrance deserves respect, but like any inlet, if you watch the wind and current you can get in and out easily. Wind against current = NO GO! We found shore access to be a bit limited: the dinghy dock is at the launching ramp. Nice little village. Good restaurants.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Cuttyhunk Harbor

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Aug 26, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rental moorings are available and there is plenty of room to anchor. There may be 50+ boats here on a summer weekend. Easy dinghy ride to the town dinghy dock. Very good protection form the southwest to southeast. Not tenable in West, NW to NE winds.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Cuttyhunk Pond

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Aug 26, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

The inner harbor has mooring available to rent for $45/night. There is very limited room to anchor in the pond. Big town dinghy dock for access to restaurants. You can order steamed lobster and other seafood and pick them up at 5:00

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Great Salt Pond South - Block Island

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Aug 26, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

A very popular anchorage, but there is room for several hundred boats to anchor. Stay out of thee mooring field and out of the water sports area on the north end There is a third dinghy dock added in 2018 with room for many dinghies, room available even on the weekends. Many restaurants near by and the village of New Shoreham with shopping and grocery is only a 20 minute walk. Dinghy beach on the east side gives easy access to the public beach on the east side of the Island

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Sag Harbor Bay

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Aug 26, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

In this anchorage you will be sharing it with many 100-300 foot yachts. The wakes are rough during the day. That is a good time to go ashore. It gets quiet in the evening. The town has everything you could want. Abeaiutidfull old whaling village museums, colonial homes. Shopping is excellent with groceries and laundry and every other kind of shop in just a block or two from the dinghy dock.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for West Chop-Vineyard Haven Harbor

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Aug 22, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

This is a very busy harbor. The harbormaster keeps a lid on wakes. Classic sailing vessels are all around. Free pump out boat. Free Water at the town dock. There are two dinghy docks with great access to town. Stop and Shop is about a block from one of the dinghy docks. and sandy public beaches. Many nice shops and restaurants. 5 Ice cream shops. The island has terrific public transportation . But if the wind goes into the north east the harbor is rough. You will want to shift to lagoon pond till it blows over. There are a huge number of public moorings outside the breakwater and about 20 more inside the inner harbor. Contact the harbormaster for rates.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Westport Municipal Harbour

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Jul 27, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

The marina is adequate. The floating docks are quite low. Set your fenders at the water level. Power and water $1.25 per foot. Nice little village. Decent grocery store and an excellent bakery! Other shops and hstorical sites make this a great stop while on the lake.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Bridge comment on Spuyten Duyvil Railroad Bridge

Comment by: Tom Hale on Jul 27, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'

The bridge does not respond to VHF calls right now. The swing section of the bridge has been removed for repairs. So the passage is open with unlimited vertical clearance. There is no bridge tender there because there is no bridge to open right now.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Ilion Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Jun 5, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Nice marina along the canal wall. Excellent access to shopping, groceries, hardware, and restaurants.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Lock comment on E17 Little Falls Lock

Comment by: Tom Hale on Jun 5, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

This lock has a lift gate at the down river end. You will get wet and it will drop some mud. The lift here is over 43 feet! Westbound all boats must tie on the south wall. The water entering the lock is along the north wall.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Free Dock Review for Lock E8, Scotia, Erie Canal

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Jun 1, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Very long dock with room for probably 10 boats. Lots of road noise, but it is free.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Half Moon Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 30, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

We had a great stay at this marina. Convenient to the city. Several good restaurants within walking distance.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Free Dock Review for Waterford Harbor Visitor Center

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 30, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Price is right! $10 per day for electric. Dock is free. Docks are old, power posts have many burned receptacles. Good access to shopping and several good restaurants.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Chesapeake City

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 25, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Newly dredged, this anchorage can hold 15-20 boats. Were here with 9 others and it felt like it was only half full. The town is lovely. Good restaurant scene.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Chesapeake City

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 24, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Newly dredged, there is room for about 15 or 20 boats. tonight there are 9 boats and the harbor is only half full. Dinghy docks at south west corner by the village and another in the NE corner at the boat ramp. Interesting USACE Museum about the C&D Canal .

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Sloop Point G13

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 20, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

At the foot of Humphrey Ave there is a small public beach. You can land a dinghy and walk across the peninsula to the ocean beach.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Carolina Beach Marina and Mooring Field

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 20, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Very convenient moorings. Reservations must be made through Dockwa. The only dinghy landing is the kayak dock on the eastern side of the harbor. The primary dinghy dock at the head of the creek was destroyed in 2017 and is not back in operation as of May 2018.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Georgetown - Steelmill Channel

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 19, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

The anchorages is very well protected. Eash shore access at town docks The old steel mill is an eye sore. The towns people think it is going tobe reopened in 2018. We saw no sign of live there and certainly there is a lot of work to do to get it operational. The town is lovely. it is about a half mile walk to a grocery store. Many good restaurants. The Rice Museum is a very fascinating worth while stop.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Waccamaw River Oxbow G29

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 19, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Very pretty very secure and very scenic anchorage. It is a short run up the river to the county launching ramp where you can dinghy your pet ashore.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Carolina Beach State Park

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 19, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

WE have not seen depths less than 5.5 feet in the entrance channel. But the channel is narrow and there is enough cross setting current to push you out of the channel. There are lots of great hiking trails. This is the only place you can see Venus Flytraps growing in the wild. Price is very reasonable at $30 per night. Note, there is no pump out.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Duplin River

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 19, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

We have anchored just north of the ferry dock many times. There is the typical GA current flow of perhaps 1 or 1.5 knots at max flow. It is open to the southwest, but so far we have never had a bad night here. Dinghy to the ferry dock and take a hike on the island. There are men's and women's' heads at the ferry dock. No showers.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Lookout Bight

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on May 18, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

This is a large anchorage. It is open and has good breezes in hot weather. You can almost always find an anchorage with protection from the wind, except due northers. All shore access is beach. There are no dinghy docks. With 5.5 feet of tide you will want a light dinghy you can carry above the tide line, or have the ability to anchor it off the beach. None the less theiis a spectacular anchorage. Generally quiet except on summer weekends, it is beautiful spot to get away from the crowds and go for a long walk on the outer banks beaches.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Hontoon Island State Park

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Nov 17, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

There are only 3 or 4 slips which can hold a boat over 35'. But it is a lovely state park. Hiking trails and dinghy explorations. Priced right. Been here 4 times.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Boathouse Marina

Reviewed by: Tom Hale on Nov 17, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Docks are tired. Did not even try to use the heads and shower facilities. Staff is friendly. Nice little town to explore.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer