Reviews from David Richardson (27)

Marina Review for Rocky Point Marina & Perry Marine Services

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Nov 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great place to stay overnight between Evansville and Louisville. Small fuel dock on the river. Enter from down river creek side. Upper end of fuel dock is shallow. Lower end has plenty of depth. Stayed on the fuel dock overnight November 2024 and several other times over the years. Owner Ralph is great and will provide fuel and can help with mechanical issues. Blue Heron Winery on top of the the hill is great with spectacular views.

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Marina Review for Golconda Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Nov 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

This could be a great marina for larger boats but they moved a pier near the fuel dock a few years ago and did not properly remove the under water concrete anchors that held the pier in place and they try to mark the concrete anchors with floating milk jugs. The state of IL owns this marina and they need to remove these under water obstructions before I would take my boat in there again. I've been in the marina several times with boats that draw less than three feet and the staff is great and the town is fine but no way I would take my boat that draws 4.5 feet into this marina due to these under water obstructions. If your boat draws less than three feet you may be ok but if you draw more than three feet beware! Instead, I anchor behind Cave in Rock Island a few miles up river.

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Marina Review for Nu Plaza Yacht Club

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Nov 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Stayed overnight November 2024, Great stop when moving boat up or down Ohio the River. Easy entrance on fuel dock from lower side of island, plenty of depth getting in/out. Marina is in fairly remote location but I prefer this marina over the other marina that's above Evansville. Good stop between Rocky Point Marina up river at Cannelton and Cave in Rock Island anchorage down river.

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Anchorage Review for Cave in Rock Island

Reviewed by: David Richardson, Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Nov 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Good midpoint between Green Turtle Bay Lake Barkley and Evansville. Anchored near down river entrance in 15 feet of water November 2024, anchor came up perfectly clean, beautiful sunrise on bow of boat and sunset on stern of boat, watched nearby ferry crossing Ohio River. Great anchorage!

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Marina Review for Port Washington Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great marina with highly professional office staff both over the phone and in person. Great small town with many restaurant options. Low fuel price.

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Marina Review for DuSable Harbor

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 1

This city operated marina is in a super location if you can tolerate really poor customer service from office staff both in person and over the phone. The other nearby city operated marina named Burnham has nicer facilities with much more professional staff but a bit further walk to most Chicago destinations.

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Marina Review for Paducah Transient Boat Dock

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great  "safe harbor" dock structure on the Ohio River. Don't expect any amenities. Might smell like dead fish. Might get waked by passing barges. Might have to walk up steep hill to land. Despite all this it's a great place to stop after some mighty and unforgiving rivers. And cool town of Paducah with lots of nice eating and drinking establishments.

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Free Dock Review for Joliet City Dock

Reviewed by: David Richardson, Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Much nicer and safer than its sometimes questionable reputation. In fact I thought the free wall at Joliet was great especially for the free price that includes power. Some non working pedestals. Some cracking and chipping on the old wall but otherwise a nice river park experience.

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Marina Review for Chicago Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Nice private club amenities with 24-hour security and gated parking lot and clubhouse. Very good food in the restaurant and good bar. Water in the slips was quite choppy due to public docks very nearby and hard bulkhead walls all around Monroe basin and many moving boats at all hours. Also not well protected from east or southeast winds. Very nice easy to deal with dockmaster. I would definitely go back.

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Marina Review for Logsdon Tug Service

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Super place to tie up for the night. Got a friendly welcome from Logsdon tow boat captain and toured his tow boat pilot house and engine room. Easy access to town for great Mexican restaurants. Don't miss this stop!

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Anchorage Review for Quiver Island

Reviewed by: David Richardson, Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Anchored here early September 2024 during low water on the river. Stopped adjacent to the old coal wharf in 10+ feet of water. Took my dinghy up the shoot to the top of the island and measured at least 5 feet in center of shoot all the way to the top of the island. Easy dinghy ride to Havana town boat ramp dock for my dog.

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Anchorage Review for Ohio River - Kentucky side

Reviewed by: David Richardson, Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Anchored just below Olmsted Lock on KY side near lock work boat floating docks September 2024. Minimal current, good holding, anchor came up clean, easy access to nearby KY beach for dog, quiet, no wakes. This is where lock master told us to anchor.

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Marina Review for Okeechobee Lodge

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

The property is privately owned and the best way to get a slip is to send an email via the lodge website. We stayed two nights during our Great Loop July 2024 and loved it. Spectacular old school fishing lodge in super pretty location on Baie Fine. Great deep water transient docks with 50 and 30amp power for large and small boats. Some cabins were available for rent and pool was open. The lodge and restaurant were closed for service but were open to tour and otherwise enjoy. Amazing walking path on south side of peninsula to Okeechobee Rock along the waterline. The owners were on site and were very nice hosts.

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Marina Review for Harbor View Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great marina! Got stuck here for a week in mid August 2024. Clean modern bathrooms in large relatively new clubhouse with great pool and hot tub. Marina staff are nice and helpful. Marina sits right next to the dock for the huge auto ferry "Badger". The Badger coming and going once daily was highly entertaining since its so large and steam/coal powered. Lots of fishermen in this marina and also lots of Great Loopers and sailors. Many good dining options in nearby town. I would definitely come here again.

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Marina Review for Prinyers Cove Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Jul 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Very good protected cove with small family marina and many mooring balls. We stayed on a mooring ball for the night. Great stop over on the way to the Trenton Severn Waterway at Trenton.

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Marina Review for Islandview Resort Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Jul 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Good small marina with very good restaurant. The owner Keith accommodated my 50' trawler on the fuel dock for the night. Great place for Loopers to stop for the night.

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Marina Review for Peterborough Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson , Voyager (Grand Banks Europa 46'), on Jul 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Only three things you need to know about this nice Marina:

1) Good Location night 3 from Trent Port Marina.

2) They do not answer their phone! Don't waste your time going through their labyrinth of voicemail. They will not answer ever!

3) Most importantly - the current rips through this Marina pushing you hard into the slips - beware! Go very wide to starboard upon arrival.

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Marina Review for Apalachicola Marina, Inc.

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Dec 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

We stayed here December of 2022. Great private dock, cool old ice house bldg., great location, walking distance to everything, Apalachicola is super cool town. Owner George is nice and helpful.

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Marina Review for Sandestin's Baytowne Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Dec 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 3

We were docked near a large dinner cruise vessel which created a lot of pedestrian traffic on the dock. Our slip was very exposed to wind and waves. Dock staff were green and marginally helpful. Upon paying in the dock office the staff told us nothing even failing to provide gate code info but they were happy to collect the high price per foot. They seem to cater to much larger vessels and people who value the retail and restaurants nearby. Did not feel like a Looper marina to me.

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Marina Review for Point South Marina Bay Point

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Dec 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

We stayed three weeks so we could go home for Thanksgiving 2022. Very professional customer oriented marina. Owned and managed by a large resort management company and it shows. We were very happy and would definitely stay there again.

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Anchorage Review for Sumter Recreation Area

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Dec 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

We anchored here in early November 2022 during the height of the fall drought when water was very low all along the Tenn. Tom. We draw 4.5 feet in our '46 Grand Banks. We entered slightly up river or right of center and stayed on up river side entering and exiting and anchored between the boat ramp and other side in about 12+ feet. We took our dingy to the nice boat ramp and walked our dog around the campground. I called the lockmaster at Heflin the next morning to confirm the water level of 109.3 since there is so much info about this being so shallow. It was definitely shallow entering (3' showing on my two depth gauges meaning actual of about 4.5"). I did not feel hitting bottom coming in or out so maybe we got lucky. Amazing beauty, private, and quiet. Only negative is a large street light on a pole near the boat ramp.

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Marina Review for Bobby's Fish Camp

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Dec 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

Bobby's Fish Camp was fine! We were there in November 2022 with several other boats and we did not get power since we rafted on a much larger vessel. Owner's husband was nice and accommodating. We would definitely stay there again as opposed to anchoring inside a tiny little creek or on the Tenn. Tom. Bobby's Fish Camp is what it is and everyone should know what it is and what it is not prior to stopping there. If you are in doubt just don't stop there.

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Marina Review for Orange Beach Marina

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Nov 21, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

Great Marina & Restaurant - well protected from wind, mostly covered slips, a bit off the GIWW, great service oriented harbormaster (Mr. Forbes). Mostly large sport fishing vessels but also great place for Loopers especially if you need to rest for a few days or weeks. No longer have loaner vehicle as they previously did and Publix is too far to walk. I will definitely go back to OBM!

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Marina Review for Captain's Quarters Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Sep 2, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

CQYC is considered to be the best private marina in Louisville pool. It's open to owners and renters only. It does not have transient docking. Pump Out dock near the mouth of Harrods Creek is open to the public. CQ Restaurant is not affiliated with the Marina.

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Marina Review for Louisville Waterfront Park - Amphitheater Docks

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Mar 13, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 2

These are public floating docks behind lower end of Towhead Island mile marker 603, docks are adjacent to a large public park in downtown Louisville so you may have the public wandering around on the public docks, docks are not secure or fenced, Louisville Metro police keep their boats on these same docks at the upper end, power pedestals but not sure if they work, plenty of water depth at lower end of Towhead Island, very shallow at upper end of Towhead Island so enter from downriver

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Marina Review for River's Edge Marina Inc.

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Mar 13, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

River's Edge is a great fuel dock on the Ohio River at mile marker 584.5 just below 18-mile Island on Indiana side, small store, emergency towing services, fuel, transient docking, boat ramp, small but very professionally operated. Summers on the River restaurant 1/4 mile up river from fuel dock also a nice place (not related to River's Edge).

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Marina Review for Captain's Quarters Restaurant

Reviewed by: David Richardson on Mar 13, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

Captain's Quarters Restaurant at Harrods Creek mile marker 596 is a super place. It has docking for customers in front and along the Harrods Creek side, no overnight transient docks. Restaurant is not affiliated with the Captains Quarters Yacht Club (private) nearby.

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