Reviews: Bristol Harbor

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer , Do It Now, on Jan 4, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

If you're looking for a quiet, sheltered, off-the-beaten-path marina that has all the amenities you might expect at a marina and is walking distance from downtown Panama City shopping and dining, Bristol Harbor is the place -- if your boat isn't too large to fit in its one transient slip. My 32' long Ranger Tug with a 10' beam fit snugly into a 13-foot wide slip. Backing in is a must since the finger piers are short. The marina, which was basically rebuilt from the water up after Hurricane Michael in 2018, has 30 and 50 amp power and water at new pedestals, in-slip pumpout (DIY and it's free), two full bathrooms with excellent showers, and a laundry room with a free washer and dryer. The docks are in excellent condition. There's a covered area behind the main building for relaxing in the shade. The marina is complerely full of power and sail boats, most of which were larger than mine. A good number of liveaboards are around the marina at various times of the day. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The place is dog friendly with several other dogs living at the marina and a small grassy area near the bayou entrance for exercise and relief. There's wifi and when it worked it worked very well; unfortunately, it didn't always work.

The marina is extremely well sheltered. We had a violent thunderstorm while I was here and my boat barely rocked.

The manager, Seth, was away in Tennesee on Jury Duty during my stay, but he was easily reachable by phone. My only complaint is that the bathrooms could have been a bit cleaner and the garbage pails weren't emptied; I think that's because of Seth's absence, though.

Town is a short walk away and offers many restaurants and a few shopping options. I had one of the best bacon cheeseburgers ever at Tom's Hot Dogs and very good Mexican food at Maddie's La Casita. There's also a brewery, an Irish pub, and Italian restaurant that were all recommended to me by marina residents. Bayou Joe's is directly across the bayou from the marina and is probably the closest restaurant. There's a fresh seafood market right across the street from the marina; they sell mostly seafood from their own fleet of boats. There was no supermarket within walking distance, but there was a Dollar General downtown.

If you want a break from Looper gatherings and docktails and a chance to see downtown Panama City without calling an Uber, this is a good choice.

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