Reviews: Shallowbag Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Michael Humphreys on Oct 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.2'

Rating: 5

Sailed up to Manteo from Oriental and over 48 hours and 3 calls could not contact the Town Dockmaster. I was sailing on my own and concerned as a storm predicted for next day. I called Saddlebag Bay Marina and, very fortunately, Tim Teeple - Dockmaster, answered and made arrangements for me to come into his Marina. what an awesome Dockmaster! He helped me with lines - gave me great advice for the 3 days I was there sitting out the adverse weather. Can't recommend highly enough!!!

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Reviewed by: Kevin Rejda on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 29'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Tim, the Dockmaster was fantastic. Helped guide me through the channel on a windy afternoon. Was Johnny on the spot for the 2 days I spent there Free Bikes to use to explore the area. Manteo is very nice little town. Don't know how Tim could do a better job with customer service. A really great experience.

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Reviewed by: Kevin Rejda on Oct 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 29'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Dockmaster Tim was the greatest!! Great hospitality. Can't think of anything that could have been better. Spent 2 nights, used marina's free bicycle to explore Manteo, NC, a delightful little town. Again Tim - one of the nicest, most helpful people I have met in all my years. Good restaurant onsite.

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Reviewed by: David Waugh , Winds of Change, on Jun 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Outstanding Marina. Tim, dockmaster, was exceptional. Constantly communicated leading up to our visit, on the radio guiding us in through the channel, assisted with docking and checked on us daily. Could not ask for friendlier or better service.

Docks are in good shape; pool was very nice (grandkids loved it) and the restaurant was very good. Definitely on our list to revisit.

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Reviewed by: Ed Kimsey on Apr 27, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

We are on the early days of the Great Loop. We wanted to incorporate a few days on the outer banks and the light houses. Shallowbag Bay Marina is the perfect spot. Rental car, restaurants, grocery stores, hardware store all within walking distance. Shallowbag Bay Marina is the only marina that is attended in down town Manteo.. The Dockmaster Tim is super friendly and helpful, yeah he has a broken arm but he can still tie a line.

Bathrooms are nice good hot shower. We played pool and ping pong at the Lounge and game room. My son fussed every time he lost.

We did not eat at the restaurant on site but by the looks of the crowd it has to be good.

Only complaint is there was a ladder in the laundry room which blocked the door to one of the washers. I set it out in the hallway. That sucker was heavy, but the laundry got washed and the Admiral was happy.

I would stay here again, in fact one of those condos overlooking the marina would be awesome maybe in the next life. I plan to return as a rich.

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Reviewed by: Bruce Rand , Ben-Varrey, on Nov 8, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

We arrived in a hurry after an un planned Nor'easter ruined our morning. The Marina welcomed us and the Dock Master Tim did an amazing job of getting us safely on the gas dock with a 26 knot wind on our stern quarter. We were so impressed with the facility and reception we stayed for a full week. The town of Monteo was special and we enjoyed our shore excursions and the monthly 1st Friday event. Facilities and dinning are an easy walk and the food at the Marina was great (Stripers Restaurant). We had an amazing week and really appreciated Tim's concierge service and tour of the outer banks. We will fit in a stop here on our return north in 2024.

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Reviewed by: Jessica Knapp , What Could Go Wrong, on Sep 20, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

I can't say enough good things about Manteo itself and Tim the dockmaster of this marina. Those two criteria make this a MUST STOP for us. Tim was incredibly helpful and accommodating and just an all around great person.

Manteo and the surrounding area are beautiful. This was a must stop for us to see the area and we stayed 3 days on our way south. The marina was quiet, for the most part. As has been said, there is some commercial traffic and some that woke us up at 3am, which was not ideal, but overall not the end of the world. The showers and pool were perfect for transient boating. All you can ask for. The laundry was serviceable and the restaurant on site was a bit of a miss for us. We had one day (a Sunday) where it took a half hour to get a drink and it wasn't busy at all. Then we showed up for a night cap at 8pm on Monday and the staff informed us they closed early because they weren't busy. Then they were closed altogether on Tuesday. So all in all the restaurant was unimpressive. The grounds were perfect for our pooches and the proximity to town was ideal for us walkers. The wifi was non existent and really is the reason this gets 4 stars for me. We have been traveling for a month on our power boat and we have learned that what makes the difference between anchorage and marina is shower, laundry, groceries and wifi. If those things aren't in A+ standard it detracts from the $40 to $80 we are paying a night. So no wifi knocked this one.
Again, I can't say enough about Manteo itself. I hope if you visit you get out and get around. There is a great car rental less than 1/2 mile from Shallowbag and you can get a great feel for the Outerbanks with a day or two. Say hi to Tim for us if you do stop by!

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Reviewed by: Chris Cope on Jul 14, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

After being unable to reach the other nearby marina on the radio, Dockmaster Tim guided me through the confusing channel, and helped me get settled with fueling. Super knowledgeable about the area waters.

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Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on Jun 18, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 5

Looking at the charts I was a little concerned about finding my way through shallow water however using the marked channel I had absolutely no problem. I was spotted entering the canal by the Dockmaster Tim who radioed me to direct me in. This marina has everything that you may need for comfort including on-site exercise room, pool, ships store, restaurant with lounge, fuel, ice and so on. The fingers are short however and for boats such as our aft cabin with a fully enclosed sun deck it is difficult to get off. Not impossible, just difficult. Tim worked to get us tied up so that it would work. Great location to walk to rental cars, off site restaurants and some shopping for essentials. Your bikes work well here to get around as well. Close to many attractions on the outer banks.

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Reviewed by: Karl Harris , Better Together, on May 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great hidden gem of a marina. Tim and Charles, the dock master and manager, went above and beyond expectations. Not the easiest of marinas to get into but they walk you right through it! Close to walking distance to a grocery, post office, Auto Zone, and a great restaurant on site. We took an Uber to and from Kitty Hawk.

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Reviewed by: Keith Maxwell , Bite Me, on Nov 1, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

By far the best occomodations for the money in the wanchese, manteo area. Gym, Pool, private bath houses, hot tub, restaurant all on-site. Many stores and restaurants in walking distance.
By far the best accommodations in the area and half the price of safe Harbours OBX. With far better accommodations and access to whatever you need.

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Reviewed by: Gary Taylor on Jun 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 46'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Shallowbag Bay Marina is a quiet little marina with a lot of personality,
We traveled with another sailing vessel and a motor vessel to visit Manteo and the Outer Banks, and chose the marina sight unseen, and we are glad we did. The Dock Masters are friendly and knowledgeable , the facilities are clean and in good repair.
Stripers restaurant was very good and the helpings were plentiful. Darrels restaurant at the other end of the marina serves a heaping breakfast,
If you need transportation, contact the local Ford Dealer for a rental. "Doc" picked us up, shared some local knowledge and set us on our way. They came to the marina on departure day and picked up the vehicle, great service.
Pay strict attention to the navigation aids. Proceed at a caution speed, pay attention to the tide and wind., we experienced 2 soft grounding on the way in.. "Oh Well..Shoaling Happens! '
All told, it was a great place to stay

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Reviewed by: Lisa Mister , Lisa Anne, on Nov 13, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 5

We are headed south to FL and came to Manteo to get away from the doldrums of the ICW and avoid the lower Wilkerson bridge. We are so happy that we found Shallowbag Bay Marina. The Dockmaster is excellent and worked with us on changing arrival dates due to weather and electrical problems that we were having on the boat. Depths getting into the marina were not a problem as the channel was recently dredged …. We are a sailboat that draws 5.5 feet and had plenty of water. Additionally, the Dockmaster was very attentive and talked us through every move to make in order to dock in a stress free manner. The marina is within walking distance to grocery, and a nice boardwalk that takes you into downtown with shopping and restaurants. The marina also has a restaurant in site, and the bathrooms are clean and private. Manteo is a great little laid back town, and we will be back again!

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Reviewed by: Caper Today on Jan 21, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Great marina with a Striper's restaurant. Beautiful setting to watch a sunset! Food was excellent.

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