Reviews: Sabine Pass Port Authority Marina

Reviewed by: Connie Ferguson , Mischief Managed, on Apr 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Nice and clean, easily accessed fuel dock and pumpout. Friendly service available at our 2 am arrival. Laundry and bathhouse. Be aware: Mosquitoes are around, be prepared. Caution on approach that the far extending jetties can be under water/waves. Stay in the channel. We heard VTS warn an approaching boat to change course or run over them. Nice place. Too far from shops, restaurants or stores and expensive for hiring a ride due to location being far from town. Still a great stopover, with water and electricity and easy back to offshore or onto ICW.

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Reviewed by: Robert , Slow Dancing, on Jun 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great ICW marina for recreational boaters. In June 2023, I was moving my boat westward through the ICW headed toward Galveston.

The plan was to stay one night, but several days of high winds/high waves in the forecast meant that I parked the boat here, went home to Houston and came back four days later to finish the trip.

Transient boats are put on the T-head across from the fuel dock. There are signs that identify those spaces as transient. 30amp, 50amp power and water at the dock. Fuel and pumpout available. Pumpout is self servce, and no charge. Looked like both gas and diesel are available, I did not need fuel, but did use their pumpout .

When my plans changed, and needed to leave the boat for a week, they asked me to move my boat around to an open slip, to leave the T-head free for any other transient boaters. In the slips the fingerpiers are very short, depending on configuration of your boat, you might need to back in.

Restrooms / showers are on shore, I did not use them. Washer /dryer is available at the office building, as is ice.

Security seemed good - I saw the local police department cruise thorugh the grounds once, and the County Sherrif's marine unit has their office next to the marina office. There is a locked gate at the entrance, and you have to press the buzzer to be let in.

One night, with 50amp was $46. A week in a large slip was just over twice that - a bargain!

This is a fairly remote location. No other serivces onsite, and nothing within walking distance. You can see the little town off the distance, but nothing is close by.

The entrance into the marina feels narrow and tight, and there can be some current and wind action that pushes you around a bit. Inside the marina seems well protected.

Fixed docks, with sliding tie up points on the posts. Docks, piers and everything seemed in good shape and well maintained.

Staff reports they sometimes see an alligator on the grounds and docks overnight, so cautioned us to be aware when walking around after dark. No alligator sightings for us, however.

The only downside is that if you are travelling the ICW, you have to go about 7 or 8 miles south out of your way to get there, and then bacak up that distance to get back into the ICW. But, its the only recreational marina in the area.

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Reviewed by: Sam Anderson on Apr 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

We came in for a one night stay and due to a bow thruster fail ended up staying here for a week. Due to very high winds on day of arrival we could only get onto the wall at the parking area. The staff let us stay there entire time as we waited for repairs. Docks are very short so backing in is recommended. Power is 30 and 50 amp. After a two day stay the weekly rate is cheaper. $40.00 a night or $82.00 a week. Staff are incredibly friendly and will give you a ride to nearby locations. The shower and bathroom are clean and good. Staff wash the docks and are available until midnight. There is nothing here in the way of restaurants or things to do. There is a small gas station grocery store with a pizza shop.

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Reviewed by: Tony-donna Lagera on Oct 21, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

We have now stayed here twice and it is very, very nice. The people are very friendly and helpful. There is a security guard that drives around in a golf cart every hour. The facilities are very nice and clean and it is a very relaxing and peaceful environment. Very pet friendly too.

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Reviewed by: Michelle Dixon , Sunset , on Feb 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great place to stay. About 9 miles south of the ICW. Staff is really helpful. The T dock is at the end with power and water. Didn't use the showers or laundry but if needed we would have. Staff helped us with docking as the winds were pushing us around a bit. Very quite place.

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Reviewed by: William OBrien , At Last, on Feb 7, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 45'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Great place. Kind of narrow entrance but we landed in the T at end of dock just fine. You do have to wrap around the dock poles. There is power 50 and 30 and water right there. We used the showers which were nice and clean and also used the washer dryer. Staff is super helpful - even gave us a lift to nearby convenience store! We stayed about 5 days and was great!

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Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Jan 1, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Amen to the positives about this marina. Great staff, fuel and assistance 24 hours-a-day. Obvious new facilities enclosed by security fence. With our 6 ft draft, the transient mooring on the end of the dock for our 60 ft sailboat did sit us on mud. But we made it ok even through low tide. Leaving out we stayed some to starboard to stay deep enough out to the channel. Would definitely stay here again.

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Reviewed by: John Grim , Mystic Wind, on Feb 26, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.2'

Rating: 5

Clean, modern and staffed with nice people. Pump out dock is shallow for my draft (5'5") but was no problem at high tide. Great security with fences and gate, cameras and 24 hour personnel. One washer and drier but they work well. Clean showers with good hot water. Diesel and gas pumps 24 hour self serve. Live bait shop in season. Very good location near jetties and well protected from waves, not so much for wind. No nearby food shopping. Pulled in for overnight stay. Extended due to weather, ended up staying 30 days. Again, staff is super friendly, helpful and pet friendly, if on leash.

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Reviewed by: Len Barton , Flying Cloud, on Sep 18, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 41'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Update to my previous review. Anyone coming to this marina needs to be aware that the entrance can be a little dangerous at certain times. The channel is only about 60’ wide with heavy, rusty, metal bulkheads on each side. If a ship has passed out in the river it pushes so much water through that narrow entrance that it raises the water level in the marina by nearly a foot. The problem is, that all that water coming in is moving like a river. It comes in and then reverses direction in a matter of minutes and the outflow is even stronger, running about three knots. The turbulence can put you into the wall very quickly. So, when approaching take note if there has been any ship traffic in the last ten minutes. Approach slowly and if you see any current flowing in the entrance, wait a few minutes before going in. This review is not meant to say anything negative about this place. All the reviews are correct. We liked the place so much we’ve been here three months.

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Reviewed by: Len Barton , Flying Cloud, on Aug 2, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 41'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This is one of the best marinas we’ve stayed in for the last forty years. I can’t say enough about it. Shopping is in Port Arthur, 15 miles away. But that’s part of the attraction. We’ve decided to stay a few months and finish boat projects

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Reviewed by: Gary Haecker , Big Dog, on Dec 18, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.6'

Rating: 5

Stopped here after a 6 day trip from Miami on the way to Corpus Christi. Docked the boat for a week then came back and finished the trip. Can't say enough about the staff, absolutely great folks. A very well maintained facility, keep up the great work.

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Reviewed by: Judd Robertson , Capt Paul, on Oct 22, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Great place, almost everything is new, employees are the best, management is really great.

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Reviewed by: Ken Siegrist , Mystic, on Apr 12, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Nice,secure, and great staff. Agree with first review about entering Sabine Lake on the north side; grounding waiting to happen

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Reviewed by: Chris Himmelheber on Dec 3, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 4

Refueled here. Self-serve, and (I think) open 24/7. Very nice lady helped me tie up (motoring single-handed). But beware! When I told her I had come through the cut West of the unnamed island, she said I was lucky to make it through the “boat graveyard.” She strongly recommended only entering through the Southwest opening. Upon entering the marina, the pumps are immediately on the right.

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Reviewed by: Smackdaddy on Aug 17, 2016
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

We had our boat at this marina for a year following an engine failure. The people here are just tremendous. I can't stress that enough. The marina itself is a bit sparse, but very well-tended and nice. Restrooms, laundry, ice - and even a great bait shop near the east pavilion and fishing area (find David). It's a bit remote, with only a convenience store within walking distance. However, you can't beat the security of this place. Overall, we really enjoyed our time here and recommend it.

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