Reviews from Stephen Torres (10)
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Marina Review for Seabrook Harbor & Marine
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on Aug 2, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 5
Office team of Max and Laken took great care of us from initial request for a transient slip, to giving us thorough directions, to setting us up with 50 amp service. It would be nice if the finger piers between the slips were a little longer to aid in disembarking safely. This facility is clean and orderly, and the store is well stocked with the basics. During our late July stay we asked the shipyard team if they could squeeze in a couple of repairs, both electrical and mechanical. Supervisor Aaron was not only happy to try, but he came through and accommodated our needs better than we could have expected on short notice. It would be nice to have a pass-through gate to the next-door marina for easy and safer access to their restaurant. But the walk is not far on France Road. We will definitely be back for planned maintenance and a relaxing stay.
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Free Dock Review for Mandeville City Dock
Reviewed by: Stephen Torres on Aug 1, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 3
We were looking forward to staying here two nights and enjoying the yacht club reciprocity offered by the PYC to members of MTOA. We arrived on Friday afternoon, 7/22/22, and were pleasantly surprised to see the dock was only occupied by one other vessel. The first two shore power pedestals we tried where inoperable. The third one worked, thankfully, and we reported the problem units to the DPW answering machine that picked up our call at the number listed on a nearby sign. The outlets are all 30 amp. The yacht club staff was friendly. There are a few restaurants within walking distance. We had an excellent dining experience at Rips on the Lake. The 1.5 mile seawall has a nice exercise path, of which we took full advantage. It's had to complain about a free dock, but I do caution others that wish to stay on weekend nights to be ready for an abundance of night traffic that uses parking lot at the dock as a turn-around point for "cruising the lakefront," and for the groups of young people that congregate in the parking lot to be social, listen to their music, and rev their vehicle engines. This activity went on into the night, and while there was no trouble caused by anyone hanging out, it was far from peaceful. The after-dark loitering at the park seems to be tolerated by the locals. Another word of caution is that the power and water pedestals are across the sidewalk from the dock, so there is a safety hazard posed by hose and power cables to those folks enjoying a stroll or a bike ride.
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Marina Review for New Orleans RV Resort & Marina
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on Aug 1, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 3
This marina has changed hands and is now called the New Orleans RV Park and Marina. Their slips along the canal were damaged by Hurricane Ida, so all of their transient slips are now being held by long term renters. We learned this while trying to book a transient slip for 7/27/22. We were informed by the staff that there are plans to repair the damaged slips as well as plans to build even more slips to the north of the existing docks.
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Free Dock Review for Mandeville City Dock
Reviewed by: Stephen Torres on Jun 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 4
Great news! The city wall is back open after some nice reconstruction. Max stay is three days with the free permit available across the street at the Pontchartrain Yacht Club. Numerous restaurants, a park, and 26 mile bike trail near by. Beautiful views and neighborhood. Not very protected from a SE or S wind. Water and power available, but I only saw 30 amp outlets.
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Marina Review for Madisonville Wall
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on Jun 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 4
This public wall served as a great respite during the thick of the COVID lockdown. Plenty of room to dock during the week. Several restaurants within walking distance are now open. Three day maximum stay. Only down side is the noise of cars passing over the Hwy 22 grated steel swing bridge.
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Marina Review for Riverside Marina (formerly Tickfaw Marina)
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on Aug 20, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 5
My First Mate and I spend a lot of time at this marina and enjoy our time there. The grounds and docks are well maintained, and that keeps both boaters and RV-ers (there are about a dozen RV pads on site) returning again and again. There is a restaurant and bar on site that is working through COVID restrictions, but when it's open, Tin Lizzy is a local favorite with live bands and a fun, mature crowd on the weekends. The ship's store on the property is well run and has everything for the boater and fisherman. It also carries beverages, basic food items, some hot food and baker items, and has a nice selection of gift items, too.
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Marina Review for New Orleans RV Resort & Marina
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on Jun 1, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 4
We've eaten at the great restaurant at this marina and RV park (Lighthouse Bar and Grill) many times in the past and looked forward to the day we could spend time at the marina. We had our chance this week as the marina staff works hard to get operations back to normal in this time of COVID. Christy made our reservation process easy a few day prior to our arrival. The price for a slip was very reasonable. Sean was managing the marina the day we arrived. He had a staff member greet us at the dock to assist with lines when we arrived. Unfortunately, the better slip that was reserved for us when we arrived was taken by small boats whose owners could not be immediately located, so we were given a slip at the entrance to the inner harbor which worked, but kept us nervous that night because larger boats had to squeeze by us to get in and out of the small area. Also, we had to clean out the dock power box before we could connect our shore power cord because mud daubers had caked the outlet with much hardened mud. The marina was otherwise clean and orderly, including the shower facilities. Sean had provided us with an impressive information packet that contained information for local attractions, transportation, facility services, restaurant hours and menu, etc. We had a delicious meal, as anticipated, at the Lighthouse Grill and were able to eat poolside to enjoy the landscaping, fresh air and nice weather. Unfortunately our meal was cut short when some families showed up at the pool who we suspected were not authorized to use the facility. They were smoking, staring at their phones, and not minding their children who were running about and splashing the other guests. Overall we had good experience. This marina has the potential for a five star rating from me as they recover from the economic challenges of COVID and increase their management presence at this large and impressive property.
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Marina Review for Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on May 28, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 4
We've stayed at this marina in the past and had the fortune of working with Chuck the Harbor Master again this time. He is grateful to have a transient visitor and has lined us up with easy to access slips, which is a plus due to the often windy and swell conditions this marina often faces. The facility is nicely constructed with convenient access to all of BSL's old town businesses and waterfront restaurants. The Blind Tiger is our favorite. A BoatUS discount is not offered on the slip. Be sure to contact the RR bridge in advance to time your passing. There is no sense in departing the marina before ensuring a train is not in the area as the distance from the marina to the swing bridge is short. We'll be back!
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Marina Review for Homeport Marina
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on May 28, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 5
This is a world-class facility. Forest was our contact a week out and he greeted us at the fuel dock when we arrived, making sure we had plenty of space to approach and dock, despite the high amount of holiday traffic hoovering around the marina docks. Forest and Ken ensured we had an information sheet on the marina and its full menu of services (including shower room door codes and internet passcode) as we were directed to our slip. When bad weather threatened to delay our departure, Ken ensured we had no problem reserving extra days at a slip. BoatUS discount was offered before I could ask and the rate was reasonable. The facility has its own security patrol. It is cleaned daily, garbage cans dumped, grounds and landscape maintained, etc. We enjoyed the food and entertainment at Lulu's Restaurant. Uber rides to other local attractions and restaurants were all under $15. We'll be back!
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Marina Review for Dauphin Island Marina
Reviewed by:
Stephen Torres
on May 28, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'Rating: 1
"Spooky" the Harbor Master was helpful in advising us about the approach to the marina. Call when leaving the ICW. The private markers are scattered, and they are in need of new red and green paint. We were disappointed that despite making a reservation a week ahead, the marina seemed surprised that we were arriving. They "found" a slip for me between two charter boats. Mooring was a challenge because there were no cleats, just poles. The fixed finger pier was only 10 feet long, so half my crew was unable physically unable to disembark during our stay. Dockhand Zack was very helpful when it came to figuring out the best line securing configuration and hooking up power. The most disturbing part of our visit was when we lost power at about 9pm. I am not an electrician, but I think the dock power box was rated for 30amps, and had a 50amp plug installed. Spooky answered his cell phone when I called, but was unable to contact the marina owner, so no after-hours service was available to come to the marina to assist with our power situation. We sweated all night and prayed our refrigerated food would not spoil as I was not about to run the generator in the tight slips. Finding an anchorage in the dark on a hot, windy night was not a safe option. We departed at daybreak and didn't look back. No Boat US or other discounts were offered to us. No apologies, either.
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