Reviews: Smithville Marina

Reviewed by: William Mcnutt , Excellent Seas, on Jun 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 3

#marinareview
Smithville Lake Marina, Smithville, AL
I am very grateful to the owners and staff of the Smithville Lake Marina for being there for me in my Time of Need. After a ten-hour day of single handing, I discovered that, in the Warsaw Cut, my anchor windlass was NOT going to let go of my anchor. So I had to motor through the night another TEN hours to the Columbus Marina, only to discover that they were only dredged to five feet, and I draw five-and-a-half, and needs must motor ANOTHER five hours to find a dock where I can tie up.

Smithville Marina was that dock. She boasted not one, not two, but THREE sturdy cleats on a dock with perfectly adequate footing and floatation.

After 25 hours under way plus another 10 futzing around with a recalcitrant windlass and assorted other details, Smithville Lake Marina was my oasis in the wilderness.

Add to that the staff that hustled down to the dock to talk me and two other boats through the approach and helped with tying up, and it was like hitting St. Peter's Gate. Yeah, I was really tired. Said staff also insisted on opening the power terminal for me because "You're my first boats this season, and the wasps LOVE these things for nests." Good thing, too. He proceeded to knock a wasps' nest the size of a softball out of the terminal and then insisted on plugging in for me as they orbited like enraged sentries. Neither of us got stung.

Smithville Lake Marina has power, both 30 and 60 amp services, clean water, and helpful and attentive staff. There's also a dumpster for trash. The site has a cute calico mother cat, but she won't tolerate you getting closer to her than about 10', so if you're a cat person, be prepared to be patient.

I did not ask about shower or laundry facilities, as I was too tired to care, but there is no fuel. Apparently, the EPA came and made the owners remove the tanks as they were too deteriorated to keep in service. "All of the markers blew away in a storm," so the staff comes to the dock and talks you through the approach. 16 is the hailing channel. Everything is kept neatly mowed, but the six tons of scrap metal probably need to be sold and hauled away to help with the aesthetics. Further, the dock boasts not one, but TWO houseboats sunk in their slips, and an additional one rests on the bottom nearby, together with a sailboat.

And, um, I stepped on the end of a board on the dock and it flew up at my face as though I was Tom in a "Tom and Jerry" Cartoon.

Please understand: Smithville Lake Marina provides critical services in an efficient, friendly, and cost-effective manner, and I'm grateful. But I'd pay another $0.50/foot if it would help them clear away the debris and update the dock surface.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Oscar Brock , Miss Muffet, on Dec 5, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 3

Jim is fantastic. Great service. Bathrooms are freshly remodeled and clean. One shower is completely redone, and the second one will be done in a few days. No problem with depth on the way in. $1.25 per foot. Gas and electricity only, but dock is safe. Courtesy car is not working, but Jim will drive you anywhere you need to go.
I would stay here again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: John N on Jun 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 60'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Dock w/electric and Jim is nice guy that runs it is the best I can say! Old derelict boats sunk at marina!. If you just need electric and place to stay it's good for a night. I just had no idea and stayed because by it was too late to proceed.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Jan Muckensturm , The Jan Marie, on May 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 3

Harbor Master Jim is great. Very helpful. Docks nice and sturdy. Electric works great. Facility is clean and well kept. I would not hesitate to stop again. $1.25 a foot.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Brian Chapin , Tug Life, on Mar 10, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 3

No fuel - tanks have been removed. Poor cell service, so call in advance for approach to avoid large sandbar. Nearest Walmart 7 mi with older courtesy car. Quiet area and friendly dockmaster. Clean single men and women's bathroom with separate showers.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Bill Mcmahon on Nov 23, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 3

Rustic charm. New fixed docks, but some derelict boats scattered about. They have suffered a few storms, which is why the docks are new. The WiFi was excellent. $1.25/ft plus 2% cc fee. There's a sandbar to get around so call for directions in. We saw no less than 10' of water all the way in.

200' face dock with 3 power pedestals and plenty of cleats. The dock is not big and solid, but was adequate for our 40' boat.

Not bad for an overnight stop but I would not stay here too long. Good spot to get to the Wilkins Lock from first thing in the morning.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Nov 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

New docks where transients tie up but transition to the ramp is in very poor shape. The Dockmaster is super friendly and expertly talked us around the sand bar and into the face dock. No fuel. Courtesy car and a short drive to Piggy Wiggly. Quiet country road and field to walk the dog.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Laura Stein , Have Another Day , on Nov 9, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 57'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

We left Midway Marina and after the first lock the wind really picked up to the point we could hardly stay in the Channel. Tows were having trouble as well and beaching themselves on the bank. Three from our group called Smithville frantically and they took us in. The three of us filled the entire 180' face dock. Their channel markers are missing but the owner talked us in over the radio. There is a sandbar along the red buoy in the main channel. He talked us around that and into the marina without issue. 8 ft at the wall. Pump out broken. No fuel. We didn't try the water. Power worked fine. Marina is very rough shape with no obvious improvements anytime recently. The dock has sections missing off to the side and the walkway with railings is blocked off with caution tape. We climbed the hill to walk around. I never saw a bathroom. We did find a shower that someone on one of the other boats used.

Marina rough. Thankful for a safe place to pull off and the helpfulness of the staff!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer