Reviews: Columbus Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The Columbus Marina is a very conformable stop on the river. Steve the dockmaster spotted us as we made the turn off the river into the bay area by the marina and talked us all the way to the fuel dock. The water was low, and he made sure we stayed in the channel. The marina provided an excellent information package of activities and sights to see in the Columbus area. The restrooms and showers were spacious and clean, and the laundry room had two washers/dryers and a large folding table. We were there at the end of the season, so the supplies in the ships store was very low, and the onsite restaurant was closed. The marina has a loaner car, but it is high demand so we were only able to use the car once in the three days we were there. But there is a taxi service that charges a flat rate of $15.00 anywhere in town, which provides lots of options for shopping and restaurants. The grounds are very pet-friendly.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Amy SPENCER , Jessica Grace, on Nov 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Agree with previous. Helpful communications and dockage support, sturdy docks, good info in welcome packet, nice shower room, courtesy car, lots of green for dogs, security gate at dock. Office does not recommend walking road to downtown... no shoulder or walking path.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: John Highsmith , CAT O' MINE, on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 26'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

Clean climate controlled bathhouse, courtesy car for 2 hours with reservation. Helpful staff and dockmaster.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Paul Steindorf , Ohana, on Oct 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

5 ft approach depth. Columbus Lake stage 136.5.  Coded gates and baths. Laundry, fuels, Pumpout. Transient slips are large, 18 ft wide for some. Steve guides you in by radio. Loaner car available with numerous in-town restaurants. Nothing else close to the marina

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Scott Gregory , My Happiness, on Sep 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We were here Oct. 28, 23. They have a channel well marked, unfortunately the could only get one or two boats at the fuel dock at a time and caused a backup. I was pushed by the wind into the shallow area and touched the bottom, but was able to get back into the channel without incident. The staff was good to work with. The docks had some cleats pulled out that made tying up challenging. They had a loaner car available and clean restrooms available.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: William Mcnutt , Excellent Seas, on Jun 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 1

The Columbus MS marina.

I would like to tell you about the amenities: wifi, laundry, courtesy car, power, water, showers . . .

But I can't. I don't know if they have any of those things because I couldn't GET there.

Because they have only dredged the approach channel to 5' deep, and "Excellent Seas is a sailboat with a 5' 6" draft.

Apparently, the Columbus Marina don't want no sailboats in their marina!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: H.D. Holland on Dec 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Marina management was great! Personnel was good too, docks were fine. Not to sound ungrateful but, the way they handle their courtesy car leaves a lot to be desired. No sign out sheet so unless your standing there when it comes back you likely won't get it. No idea who has it, how long they will have it or how to contact the people who have it. Just not a good way to handle a courtesy car. Unfortunately those that did use it while we were there did not abide by the 2 hour limit and did not ask others if they needed it.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Tony Green on Dec 7, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Loved our time here. Steve and crew work hard to take care of you. Call to get entrance instructions and follow them exactly. Full list of amenities, and the nearby park is an excellent place to stretch your legs. Columbus is a nice town, and is 30 minutes from GTR Airport. We left our boat here while traveling and would definitely return.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Jodi Cavanaugh , Dos Gatos Locos, on Dec 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great stay. Steve and staff were wonderful. A little tricky getting in but Steve talks you in. Laundry wash and dry $1 each. Shower/restroom clean. Use of courtesy car was wonderful to reprovision and check out near by restaurants and attractions. We visited the visitor center which was the first home of Tennessee Williams. Walked through Friendship Cemetery.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Gary Harkins , Nauti-Dog, on Nov 19, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 35'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Very helpful staff. We loved the free do it yourself pumpout from the slip. We were having a head sensor problem. We were able to pump several times. 11/18/23 the marina hosted a pre-Thanksgiving potluck dinner for everyone. All we need to do was bring a dish to pass. There is a Walmart and Kroger 10 minutes away using the courtesy car. Covered docks can accommodate 20' air height. There is plenty of room to throw a ball for a dog. Great stop, highly recommended.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Rick Vicars on Nov 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

10-24-23 Always a great stop, Steve and staff are very friendly and helpful. Columbus had the best diesel fuel price from Columbus to Mobile during our stay. Columbus is a great stop to provision, grocery, big box stores, post office, and drug stores.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Captain Wes on Jul 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great stop as always! It is not a "fancy" place, but the friendliest folks on the river. Always great to stop and have a couple laughs with Steve and the boys!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Leo Reise , Moon Dragon, on Dec 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

We, Moon Dragon arrived on November 23rd. Originally reported as full, Jimmy found a place for us. GM, Steve, talked us into the harbour, Sammy met us at the dock and made us secure.
Chipmonk , a buddy boat was here, and together with several others celebrated Thanksgiving the next day.
We had a depth sounder problem which we expected to solve quickly (forgot "it's a boat"). One thing led to another so a week turned into a month.
Weathered a tornado watch, wind warning, and massive rainfall: all safe.
Used Columbus as a supply base with several incoming orders, plus, the availability of a loaner car to do local shopping made our time here extremely pleasant.
One of the best places we have stayed on the Loop.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: robert wesley on Dec 11, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 5

Once you visit it is easy to see why Columbus Marina is the 'Gem' of the Tenn-Tom. Your first contact is with Steve, the General Manager, on channel 9 his clear calm voice will talk you from the river, down the channel to the marina with the efficiency of an air traffic controller, and once you get settled in he is a plethora of information on any services you might need during your stay. But be careful your dog will gain weight as they learn Steve has a bag of treats behind the counter. Next as you pull-up to the fuel dock you meet Jimmy, the Dock Master, his softspoken manner and efficiency soon has fuel from two hoses flowing into your boat while the vacuum line is hooked up for a pump out. As you leave the fuel dock Sammy, the Dock Hand, takes over. Her high energy personality kept pace with the boats that arrived with us, and everyone was secured to the dock in short order. Once docked Sammy is great support, she helped Margo find a hairdresser on short notice and a couple of days later we were watching collage football in the marina lounge when it was time to close, rather than through us out Sammy offered to give us a ride to 'Buffalo Wild wings' so we could see the end of the game. With people like this on staff how can they not be the 'Gem' of the Tenn-Tom. We enjoyed out stay here and hope to visit again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Wade A. on Dec 5, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Pro: Great staff. Manager Steve and Dockmaster Jimmy answer promptly and talk you all the way in from there river channel to the fuel dock. Floating docks! Some slips are covered. Store/lounge is nice. Courtesy cards are clean and well maintained. Easy hop to the lock in the morning for those headed down river.

Con: One dockhand was surly and refused assistance when we tried to help her get other Loopers tied up. Local are casual with security gates on the docks, often leaving them open.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: James Rylands , C Marie, on Nov 19, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

The manager her was so helpful from the time he saw us on the Tem-Tom, he spoke instructions to us through the channel to the marina. He also gave us information for the locks, recommended a great anchorage for us to throw the hook out past the Heflin Lock, and was so upbeat.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Brian Wicks on Nov 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 4

Appreciate how helpful the staff were in guiding us not only to the marina but with Downbound navigation. Nice facilities.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Gert Grohmann on Nov 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Well marked channel to enter, staff directed us in and had excellent communications. Good facilities, VERY friendly and helpful staff, courtesy car available for dining and shopping. Wifi is a bit weak on docks, but very strong in lounge.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Graeme Walker , Confirmed Aquaholic, on Oct 25, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Staff is fabulous, very helpful and friendly. Best fuel prices we've seen so far. Shallow entry but Steve guided us in. Columbus is a great place, make sure you go to the Tennesee Williams birth home (Visitors Center), and ensure you go upstairs, currently blocked off for repairs but she let us up anyway, that's where all the TW memorabilia is. There is a walk/car guieded historical house tour and the Columbus Art Center was worth an hour. Even the Friends Cemetery is worth a look. Courtesy truck gave us an issue and Steve took it out of service immediately and had it repaired. There were two vehicles. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend staying here.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Darryl Lange , Bella Rumore, on Oct 14, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

We cannot say enough good things about Steve, Jimmy and Sammy! They were all so friendly, helpful and professional from the very start. What really pushed them over the top was when my wife had a medical emergency soon after we had departed the marina and had to return. They had the courtesy car ready and waiting for us, made sure we got into the slip and tied off and then checked on my wife's condition regularly until we were ready to depart again. They treated us like family and you knew it was genuine. We will stay at Columbus Marina whenever we are in the area.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Dominic Florio on Mar 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Fantastic Place top-notch everything great fuel prices the guy running the place is unbelievable definitely a great stop

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Lee Ensminger on Feb 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

We stopped in for a few days to find a dentist for a crown replacement, and ended up staying a month. I knew getting in and out was a little tricky, but Steve started talking to us as soon as we turned off of the river. Not only is the approach well-marked, but Steve talked us through it the whole way, mixing directions with his stand-up comedy routine. We laughed the whole way in! Dockmaster [and sometimes dental care provider-but that's another story] Jimmy met us at our slip and was a great help in getting us docked and hooked up. Once we saw what the community of Columbus had to offer, we ordered two major appliances and a number of parts which the marina was happy to accept for us. Coupled with their courtesy vehicles, which made it possible to get everything we needed for maintenance and repairs, it was a GREAT place for us to base for a month. Steve and Jimmy were SO friendly and helpful during our stay. If we weren't traveling the Loop, Columbus Marina would be a great place to keep our boat year-round!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

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

Rating: 4

Helpful friendly staff. Floating docks with finger piers on both sides of the boat or a face dock (closest to the facilities). Depending on your dock, it can be a long walk to the facilities which are in the same building as the office and store behind the fuel dock. Single Toilet and shower all in the same room, only one for men and one for women. Two washers and dryers. WiFi is OK, but would lose internet connection occasionally. Dockside pump out $5.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Steven Yore , Good Fortune, on Nov 12, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Steve and staff were awesome! Guided are 5' draft boat right to the gas dock. Pump out was at the slip and was hassel free. I'll definitely stop again!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Nov 11, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Shallow entering but well marked and Steve does a great job talking boaters in. Wide covered slips. 2 courtesy cars and a nice town to shop and eat in. Lots of green space to walk a dog and a huge park over by the dam.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Jeffrey Skoda on Nov 6, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 65'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Great stop with good facilities. Steve makes sure everything is working properly. We stayed here 4 days. They have 2 courtesy cars so one seems to be always available. Just sign up the day before. Follow Steve's directions into the harbor and you will be fine.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on Oct 30, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 4

Marina management and staff make you feel very welcome to be there. Call upon approach and you will be talked in thru marked channel. Welcome packed provided with all the information you need to know about the facility as well as the town. Well protected against water action from river. Good access to town through the use of courtesy cars with many good places to shop and eat. (Harvey's is our pick to eat, tell them you are loopers!) Potable water and good electrical voltages present. At dock pump outs. Covered and uncovered slips.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: David Fuller , Still Waters II, on May 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Like to give thanks to Marina staff for looking after our boat while we left her from December ‘20 till May ‘21.

The shoal still exists (5-6 feet) near the fuel dock, but the staff will direct you in via radio and they have red and green markers showing the safe path over the shoal.

The staff has also built a wooden walkway from B Dock towards the office area and restrooms so you no longer walk through the low marshy area. Stay high and dry on the walkway.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Ro and Shorty , Liberty, on Jan 11, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 57'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Have been here many times, Leary of shallow entrance but Steve walked us through it. Helpful staff, love the town especially Hucks.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Tom Mullen , Therapy , on Jun 25, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Thin water just off fuel dock, we draw 5' and did not touch. Staff very friendly and helpful. 2 courtesy vehicles. Nice downtown with shops and restaurants. Will come back.

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: 4

Steve talked us all the way in and helped us avoid the shallow spot off the fuel dock. No issues getting to our slip and were thrilled to be in 9 ft of water there after 6 ft by the fuel dock. No problems hooking up to power. Trash at end of dock. Lots of Loopers. We were able to snag the courtesy van with one other family to go to Huck's for dinner. It was dark and town was closed up by the time we could get a car but it was still nice to have a town to walk around it! We found the post office to mail a package and walked the streets before a quick run to Kroger. Seeing civilization was a welcome sight after the past few days!

Only reason for 4 stars is that you have to walk through swampy grass a ways to get to the bathroom. Only one men and one women. Clean and nice. Everyone at the marina is great. Recommend this stop.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Ian Ainsworth , Carina, on Nov 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

The marina was good for us, no problem getting in with the help of a picture texted by Steve the manager. It is secure and they have 2 courtesy cars for shopping etc. Nearby Waverly Mansion is outstanding if you like beautiful buildings filled with beautiful objects.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Howard Entman on May 16, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 15.0'

Rating: 3

This marina has fallen into disrepair over the past few years. The restaurant on site has been closed for the past few years. There are some restaurants a mile or so away.

The major problem is the shoaing of the entrance channel, especially around the main dock. The entry is marked by several markers that are not very easy to see. The depth just off the main dock is no more than 6 feet, with even less water as you get twenty feet off the dock. I understand that they recently hired a new manager to try to get more business for the marina.

I would not recommend coming into this marina in the dark and without contact with somebody on shore who can give directions through the markers.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer