Reviews: The Harborage at Ashley Marina

Reviewed by: James Leamon , Longshot, on May 27, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 21'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 5

Stayed from 5/20 to 5/28 as part of Great Loop trip. Phil, the manager, was very friendly and helpful in making reservations. Facilities are pretty nice (shower, etc.). Walking distance to Publix, plus delivery apps regularly stopped here for others. There is also an Amazon locker at the Safe Harbor Bristol (located across from the Publix). You can walk to the main tourist area in about 30 minutes as well. I would stay here again.

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Reviewed by: Rick Vicars on May 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

5-14-24 A business district. Floating docks, but inside fairway narrow with current. Publix, located on the ground floor of a multi-story building about a 1/2 mile walk. Not the best choice if wanting to explore the city without transportation.

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Reviewed by: Mary Mackenburg on Apr 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 1

We stayed here 2 nights. The whole place was kind of dumpy with docks worn and in disrepair. Lots of worn boats in the slips. We were out on the gas dock and walked around the gas line. We had a great deal of trouble with electrical power and breakers blowing. Worst of all was the dockmaster. She was very rude to us and we witnessed here treating other transients rudely as well. I did not use the restrooms or shower but given the way the rest of the place looked, I am glad I didn't need to. This is not a place I would want to stay another time.

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Reviewed by: David Waugh , Winds of Change, on Nov 5, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 2

Stayed three nights because of weather and we could not get into any other marina.

The floating dock we were on was fine but some on the walk to shore have seen better days. And as others have stated it can be a long walk to shore.

Even though were we talking with the staff 30 minutes out no one arrived to assist until 15 minutes after we were in the slip. Fortunately we had timed our arrival at slack.

The bathrooms were old and worn. Also they were not cleaned everyday.

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Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on Jun 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 4

Located on a river it is affected by current as well as wind however the staff did a great job getting me secured. I did not experience any issues in my two day visit. Felt secure with the single entrance and locked gate.

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Reviewed by: Capt Chris on Jan 9, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 70'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 1

I have stayed at Ashley's many times over the years and unfortunately I have watched it decline to the point that I will not go back. The docks are rotting away along with a lot of the boats in the marina. At 7am when we were preparing to leave we realized we needed a pump out. We waited an hour for the marina office to open only to be told the pump out was broken, and had been for months. It's obvious that they are not putting any money into this marina. The dockhand was not much help either. He was more interested in making his morning coffee that he was in helping us get underway. We pulled our own lines and as we pulled away he came to the door with his coffee in hand and waved us goodbye.

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Reviewed by: Heath Phillips , Philyria , on Nov 18, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

I had a great stay here. The bathrooms are in great shape and clean. Laundry was easy, and docks had no issues. There is current here so keep in mind when docking. Staff were extremely friendly here!

I don't know what experience Unplugged had here but it was not the same as I had. I'd definitely come back. -Heath

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Reviewed by: Jennifer Magana , Unplugged, on Oct 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.3'

Rating: 2

I hate not leaving a great review but I do want others to have fair warning. The marina is convenient to Publix and not a far bike ride to downtown which is very nice . The Staff, Sam and Max, are absolutely wonderful. They are very nice and helpful . Unfortunately, that is where the good stops. The marina offers amenities on their website but do not actually have them . They say they have a lounge online and they do not have one any longer. No lounge makes boat projects hard and when it's been raining you can't lay things out on the docks to do the projects either. The website offers free transportation to the town. Staff says it's been gone for over a year but still advertised. They have laundry and bathroom/shower facilities that have been broken/closed for a week with no expected time to reopen . When the laundry did briefly work for us they never had quarters like they also advertise and the surrounding businesses do not allow the purchase of quarters from them. The docks are made from this crazy expensive wood that's suppose to last like 100 years but sadly it has not been cared for and it's slowly starting to rot away several soft spots throughout. Overall we have enjoyed our stay in Charleston very much but the marina itself is not what they advertise. It's a safe place to dock your boat with water and electricity and that's it. I do not like false advertising and their website needs a dramatic update to accurately describe the Marina. From what I understand from a resident at the Marina many slips have become privately owned which sounds fine and dandy but it brings less revenue in to the marina . I don't anticipate much upgrading coming to the marina anytime soon, if ever. Again overall this is a great place to stay if you want a safe place and easy town access and more affordable than the others (still cost us at least $1400-1500 to stay ) just know there are zero amenities.

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Reviewed by: Mo Mo on Jul 5, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 52'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

Location is convenient, staff friendly and helpful however the docks are absolutely filthy, shoes and feet black which is terrible for boaters. In desperate need of pressure cleaning. Would not stay again unless cleaned, made decks and platform impossible to keep clean. Takes a long time to get off docks if you have an animal, be aware, only a spot of green space.

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Reviewed by: Patrick Quinn on May 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 2

We called the dockmaster to let him know we were 10 min out. He gave us a dock assignment and said to look for the dockhand at the slip. The channel inside the face dock was extremely tight for our 16ft beam. We found our dock but no dockhand was at the slip. They said they didn't see us come in, and I was too busy trying not to hit boats to call on the phone. They weren't answering on VHF 16. Slips are not numbered. After some more tight maneuvering to avoid other boats in a stiff wind, the dock hand showed up. The slip was just wide enough to pull into and our swim platform was extending past the end of the dock. Dockhand helped us tie up but left without offering to help with electric or water hookups.

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Reviewed by: Steve Dudka on Mar 28, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 1'
Draft: 0.1'

Rating: 4

They are open but only accepting payment via Dockwa. No fuel or dock hands. They did accommodate us for a 1 night stop.

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Reviewed by: Joe Roy on Jan 14, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 56'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

We stay here often and enjoy it. Lots of transient space with easy docking on outside of long face dock. If full and you have to berth inside , be mindful of Charlestons fast current. Helpful and courteous staff. Digital Cable TV service. No ships store but easy to Uber to WestMarine.

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Reviewed by: Harold Hutchins on Sep 12, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

Transient slip deep into marina, no easy in out. No marine supplies/snacks etc on property. 10 minute one way to BP station. Shuttle stops early. Showers clean. GAS dock inconvenient.

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