Anchorage Review for Sumter Recreation Area

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

I echo the previous review – do not attempt this anchorage. We carefully considered the comments made by At a Glance, on Aug 13, 2024, but noted that no river water level was referenced. We contacted the Heflin Lock and Dam who told us the water level was up and now showing 105.52 (no idea what it might have been when At a Glance tried), so we attempted to enter the Sumter channel. At a Glance is correct in that the entrance is completely silted in. As we entered the channel at idle speed, we went from a depth of 29 feet to running aground in about 100 feet. Because we entered so slow, we were able to power-off back into the river. We moved down the river about six miles to Tombigbee Oxbow Ramp (just below the Heflin Lock and Dam), which was an excellent anchorage.

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Anchorage Review for Tom Bigbee Oxbow Boat Ramp

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

This is an excellent anchorage. The difference between Tombigbee Oxbow and Tombigbee Oxbow Boat Ramp is only about 100 yards – both are excellent. Very good hold in mud, and the anchor came up clean the next morning. The channel is long and wide, more than enough to accommodate a dozen boats. There is a mild current flow towards the river, which held the boat stable in the middle of the creek. It is very quiet and peaceful anchorage. It is a very calm dinghy ride to the boat ramp, making getting ashore very easy, and the parking area has plenty of grass for our furry friends. There is also a restroom in the parking area.

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Anchorage Review for Tombigbee Oxbow

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

This is an excellent anchorage. The difference between Tombigbee Oxbow and Tombigbee Oxbow Boat Ramp is only about 100 yards – both are excellent. Very good hold in mud, and the anchor came up clean the next morning. The channel is long and wide, more than enough to accommodate a dozen boats. There is a mild current flow towards the river, which held the boat stable in the middle of the creek. It is very quiet and peaceful anchorage. It is a very calm dinghy ride to the boat ramp, making getting ashore very easy, and the parking area has plenty of grass for our furry friends. There is also a restroom in the parking area.

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Marina Review for 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.

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Marina Review for Aberdeen Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 16, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

The best thing that can be said about the Aberdeen Marina is that it is there for you if you need fuel, or it is getting too late in the day to make it to your original destination. The first interesting thing about the marina is that they do not monitor VHF channel 16/68, and the person who answers the marina office phone doesn't know where the marina is from the river. It seemed to confuse him when we said we were at mile marked 358 on the river. We were given another phone number to call for directions to find the channel to the marina from the river. The person at that number insisted that marina was south of the Aberdeen Lock and Dam, and texted me a Google Maps photo to show me. When I pointed out that the photo was upside down, he said "Ok, then I guess it is north of the dam." The second interesting aspect of this marina is its access channel from the river. The channel entrance is located at mile marker 358.2 (LDB), just north of the Aberdeen Lock and Dam, on Tadpole Creek. There is an old green sign that says "? Aberdeen" on the northwestern tip of the unnamed island on the south side of Tadpole Creek, but it is faded, falling down, and hard to see. The channel is marked with PVC pipe with the tops painted red/green. The channel is actually well-marked as it snakes through a flooded wooded area of trees and tree stumps. As you proceed you find yourself saying "this can't be right" because there is no sign of a marina anywhere, but it is. We moved through the channel at idle speed, very closely watching our depth sounder. We never saw less than five feet, but noted that in most places the channel would have been too narrow to pass another boat. As you proceed through the winding channel you do not actually see the marina until you make the final turn. As you enter the marina you see the fuel dock with dock walls to the left and right of the fuel dock. These two dock walls are the transient areas, and have 30/50-amp connections for power. We did not look for water connections, but we were told they are there. The dock walls are old and in need of repair, so fender accordingly. The Waterway Guide says the marina has ten transient slips, but that can only be true if the boats are less than 10-12 feet. It also says that the marina can accommodate vessels up to 100 feet, but a 100-foot vessel could never make the turns in the access channel, or have a draft that would get through the five-foot deep entrance channel. The final interesting thing about this marina is that it is actually a gas station and convenience store on Old Highway 25 that happens to back up to a creek. It seems that the marina part of this business was an afterthought. There are no marine services other than fuel, no dock hands, and the store clerks do not know anything about handling dock lines or tying up boats (so they just watch you struggle to loop the cleats on the dock wall). As for amenities, they have a restroom with a shower, and a separate shower, but both are in need of a good cleaning and updating. There is no laundry room, and the grounds are only moderately pet-friendly. Given the available amenities of the marina, its $2.00/foot slip rate is expensive. The good news is the convenience store is open from 0800-2200 and sells beer and wine.

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Marina Review for Midway Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Seven Loopers all arrived at the Midway Marina at 1430 in the afternoon. The staff was very efficient in guiding the parade of boats into the various slip assignments. We were running on only one engine with a moderate crosswind. There were two dock hands at the slip to help us with lines make the turn from the fairway into the slip (a big help). Be sure to follow the well-marked channel into the marina as the surrounding area is a flooded wooded area with many tree stumps. The transient docks are on the south side (starboard) as you enter the marina. The floating docks are relatively stable, but are showing a good deal of wear with rough dock boards and some missing cleats. Three of the power pedestals were nonfunctional, but the working pedestals had sufficient 30/50-amp connections for all of the boats. The boathouse is at the top of the hill under the restaurant. There are four washers and four dryers, but only one of each was working. There is only one restroom and one shower in the back of a comfortable boater's lounge. The onsite restaurant is above the boater's lounge offering a broad menu of good food at reasonable prices. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday. There is nothing around the marina, but there is a single loaner car available, which can be used to get to Fulton or Tupelo where there is a Walmart, grocery stores and other restaurant options. The marina also owns a marine repair company (across the river). We used Midway Marina's repair services to resolve a transmission problem. The technician was exceptionally polite, knowledgeable, efficient, and the rates were very reasonable. Between the marina staff and the restaurant (also repair services if needed), we would stop here again.

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Marina Review for Safe Harbor Aqua Yacht

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Safe Harbor Aqua Yacht Marina was an excellent stop. The marina is on the Pickwick Lake and has very easy access. The marina is well maintained with very stable floating docks. Billy, the dockmaster, was at the dock when we arrived to help with the dock lines and provide us information on the marina. The marina has three courtesy cars which we took advantage of on three occasions during our three-day stay. The facilities are clean and well maintained, and the grounds are very pet-friendly. The primary reason we stopped at this marina was for their repair facility. The repair shop is impressive and can handle virtually any repair needs. We had them change our oil and filters, change all of the fuel filters, and adjust our starboard dripless shaft while we were there. The work was done professionally and at a reasonable rate.

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Marina Review for Grand Harbor Marina, LLC

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Grand Harbor Marina was a very nice stop. It is large marina and resort located just below the Pickwick Locks and Dam. It has very stable floating docks, clean restrooms/showers and a laundry room all close to the transient dock. There is a ships store on the transient dock that sells gift items, snacks, and beer/wine. They also sell pizza and hot dogs. They have a loner car to get to local shopping, grocery and restaurants/bars. The grounds are pet-friendly, but it is a long walk to the pet areas.

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Marina Review for Clifton Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The dockmasters at Clifton Marina went the extra mile to accommodate several Looper's. They asked us to slow down to arrive after 1600 so they could use all of their fuel docks for overnight dockage. The marina is a bit tight, but quite manageable, and the floating docks are quite stable. The staff is very friendly. The restaurant onsite has a broad menu of bar foods and southern dishes. The Friday night we were there they had live music. The marina is clean and there is a small ships store on the premises that sells snacks and beer/wine. We did not use and of the facilities, so we cannot comment. The grounds are pet-friendly.

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Marina Review for Pebble Isle Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Pebble Isle Marina was a pleasant stop. The dockmasters worked hard to fit several last-minute Looper's on their transient dock, were very friendly folks, and provided coffee and Danish the next morning. The maria restaurant was closed for the season, but the dockmasters opened the outside eating area for the Looper's to have docktails. The floating docks were very stable. The restrooms/showers are at the top of the hill, but as we did not use them, we cannon comment on their condition. The grounds are very pet-friendly. Be careful to follow the marina's buoys entering the marina from the lake. They accurately mark the channel, but differ from the chart.

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Marina Review for Green Turtle Bay Resort (Boat Works)

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Green Turtle Bay Resort is another very nice marina on the Loop. It is located just south of the Barkley Dam and Locks on the Cumberland River. Pay close attention to the well-marked entrance channel that is south of the marina. The transient docks are just past the fuel dock and conveniently close to the marina amenities. The docks are well-maintained with wide slips, long finger piers, and very accessible power/water pedestals. The marina's restrooms/showers and laundry room were very clean. It has a well-stocked ships store, spa, swimming pool, gift store, Tiki Turtle bar and grill, and the Pier 32 restaurant are all onsite. The marina also has a full-service maintenance facility onsite that can manage just about any repairs. We stayed here at the end of the season, so the pool, gift shop, and Pier 32 restaurant were closed. The marina has a courtesy car, and golf carts are available for rent, which can be driven into Grand River to visit the small, but well-stocked grocery store, liquor store, post office and interesting shops. We dined at Patti's and had a wonderful meal. The grounds around Patti's have many interesting shops

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Marina Review for Paducah Transient Boat Dock

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The Paducah Transient Boat Dock is very nice stop. It is essentially a fuel dock with water and power, but has no other services (e.g., restrooms, showers, etc.) other than fuel (both gas and diesel) and pump-out. The floating dock is new, exceptionally sturdy, very well lighted, and can accommodate 10-14 boats depending on size. The docks are a bit low, so fender accordingly. Dockwa provided a warning to approach the dock perpendicular from the river to avoid a shoaling that builds up off the point just above the dock. We did not purchase fuel, but noted that fuel was reasonably priced and both the fuel pumps and pump-out seemed to be self-serve with a credit card. However, it seems you must call ahead to make a reservation for fuel, there are posted signs say the pumps are only open from 0700-1400. The barge traffic wakes makes the river side of the dock a bit bumpy, but the traffic dies down at night. The dock is part of the Paducah Waterfront area that has large grassy areas and walking paths (very pet-friendly). The Waterfront has a lot of public activities, and is a very easy walk to Paducah's many restaurants, bars, and museums. While it might seem like something you would pass, the Quilting Museum is very impressive and well worth the visit. We dined a Stella's and really enjoyed our meal.

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Anchorage Review for Little River Diversion Channel

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Suggest you enter with a bit of power from slightly down river as the Mississippi River current will push you the port side of the narrow canal as you enter. Once into the channel it is immediately calm. When we were there the river was very low. We idled up the channel watching our sounder and never saw less than 4.5 feet. We anchored just past the railroad bridge and we were all alone. Good, quiet and peaceful anchorage, but not at all pet-friendly. The banks of the canal are steep and muddy.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Note: Upper Mississippi river at Thebes, IL 306.27.

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Marina Review for Hoppie's Marine Service

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Hoppies Marina is legendary on the Great Loop, even though it is just a fuel dock with enough room to accommodate 6 – 8 boats. The staff could not be more friendly or helpful. The evening briefing provided by Deb was remarkably helpful in that the rivers was very low and the anchorages we had planned on staying at were not available. She provided us three alternatives and instructions on how we should approach the anchorages safely. We were there on Monday, and the dock hands told us the town was essentially closed on Mondays, so we cannot comment. We were the only boat there for the evening, and the docking was quiet and peaceful. Hoppies also had very reasonable fuel prices.

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Marina Review for The Alton Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

This is a great marina that we stayed at for six days. The docks and covered slips are well-maintained and very stable. The marina is very clean, and has great facilities. They offer private restrooms/ showers, laundry room (two each washer/dryer), and a small ships store (more of a gift shop). The marina has very good lighting and security. The grounds are very pet-friendly. There is also a wonderful little breakfast grill in the ships store that serves great breakfast and lunch options at a remarkably reasonable price. It is a bit of a walk to the town's restaurants and bars or casino. Uber and car rental options are good in the area, and access to downtown St. Louis or the airport is about $40. This marina is a great place to leave your boat if you need to travel, or just stop for a few days before you head down the river. We would definitely stay here again.

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Marina Review for Mel's Illinois RiverDock Restaurant

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

This was a good stop on the river. The docks are very stable and easy to tie-up. The dock easily accommodated nine boats from 35 to 60 feet the night we were there. The water was very low when we arrived, so there were some concerns about debris in the water at the far end of the dock, but none of us encountered any problems. There are no services at this dockage, but restrooms are available at Mel's during business hours. The mooring was slight bumpy from waves off the river due to high winds, but it was generally a peaceful night. The area above the dock is pet-friendly. The thing that makes this stop special is "Mel's" IL Riverdock Restaurant, which is about 120 yards from the dock. The evening we were there we had eight Looper boats at one table (16 people), and three generations of Mel's family waited on us. All of us had a very good service, good food and at very reasonable prices. Would definitely stop here again.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Note: River Stage at Hardin, IL on Nov 1, 2024 19.76.

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Marina Review for Logsdon Tug Service

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

The Logsdon Tug Service tie-up in Beardstown was an interesting experience. The "dock" is actual a series of old barges chained together on the riverbank. It is a very secure as far as tying up, but use a lot of fenders to keep off the barge sides. The barges are/were working barges, so there is all type of hazards on the barges (lines, angle iron braces, tie-downs and mechanical equipment) that you must walk through to spongy metal ramp to shore. There are no services, and because we arrive after hours, we paid the $1.00/foot fee at a small office on the bank by placing cash in an envelope and dropping it into a lock box. The river traffic died down after dark and the mooring was actually quite peaceful. The stop is not pet friendly, but there is a dirt field about two blocks from the office that served of furry friends. We walked about ten minutes to the "Little Mexico" restaurant, where we found friendly folks and good food. We would stop here again.

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Marina Review for Tall Timbers Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

If it were possible, I would give Tall Timbers Marina 10 stars. Realizing that Tall Timbers was closed to low water we had planned to refuel at one of two marinas up-river. The first option we had was a marina in Peoria, but they had a power outage and could not pump fuel. At our second option for fuel, the marina was closed for some reason. We called Bob, the owner of Tall Timbers, and asked if there were any options for fuel in the area. Bob told us there were no other options other than the two we had passed. He told us that the water was low, but he had customers that had made in through to the docks by powering through the all silt/muddy bottom. He said if I was willing to try getting in the marina, he would come down and open the fuel dock. He even contacted one of his customers who had recently gotten into the marina to provide advice as to how we should enter. It was moderately difficult getting in, but getting back out with 200 gallons of additional fuel was quite a challenge. I checked my strainers at the fuel dock, and they were fine. Bob was concerned that we might have problems after we got back out onto the river, so he asked that we call him and let him know everything was alright. If not, he was prepared to get us help. Without Bob's help, there would have been a significant probability we would have had to be towed into Grafton, IL. Bob and Mike (Bob's customer) are wonderful people, exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly, and we very much appreciate their assistance.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Note: River Stage at Havana on Nov 1, 2024 5.56ft.

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Free Dock Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 1

The Peoria City Dock is designed to accommodate smaller boats (less than 30 feet), but you can tie up larger boats at the far southern end of the dock and is about three places on the river-side of the dock. On the far end there is about 100 feet of dock that were able to tie up a 47-foot and a 44-foot boat without a problem. On the outside of the docking area for the small boats there are two areas of about 65-70 between the dock pylons where you can tie-up boats under 55-60 feet. There is also a 45-degree angle on the northern end of the dock next to the fireboat house that can accommodate boats under 55-60 feet. But note that the outside pylons are about 24' in diameter, so most fenders will not be large enough to protect your boat from the pylons. There are no services of any kind at this dockage, and it is exposed to winds from the south and wakes. The park area above the dock is very pet-friendly, but there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and noisy gatherings of young people that seems to go on well into the night. There is no security or lighting on the docks, only from the park lights above. On the plus side, the Caterpillar Museum, the River Museum and Planetarium are all very interesting and right across the street. It is also an easy walk to several bars and restauarants.

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Marina Review for Henry Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Henry Harbor Marina was a good stop, although the wall requires a lot of fenders and you have to be careful with your mooring lines chafing. Henry Harbor Marina was the first lock built on the river and consists of a stone blocks that are very rough due age. The tie-offs are simply rebarb loops drilled into the stones, but they are quite secure. Fran, the owner, was delightful and very helpful with tidying up. The grounds are moderately pet-friendly. The Waterway Guide says the maximum boat length is 30 feet, but we had four boats between 42 and 47 feet and we fit nicely. Grandma's Restaurant is a ten-minute walk and was a fun place to eat. It is more of a neighborhood bar and grill, and locals were very friendly. The food was good and reasonably priced. We would stay here again, but Fran told us that they are moving the marina up-river next year due to some disputes with the Town of Henry. Next trip we will find her up-river and stay again.

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Marina Review for Heritage Harbor Ottawa

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Nov 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Heritage Harbor Marina was a very pleasant stop. It was a windy day and we had to be towed in because of a starboard transmission problem. The marina allowed us to tie up on a closed party dock, and provided a very long 50-amp power extension cord and water hose so we would have power and water. The staff was remarkably friendly and very accommodating. The local AGLCA Harbor Host provided a very detailed and informative briefing on the docking and anchoring options from Ottawa to Hoppies marina, and the condition of the river along the route. The marina's floating docks are in excellent condition, and there is a small ships store that sells alcohol and a few snacks. The marina is very pet-friendly. We dined at the Blue Gill Restaurant on-site and the food was fair.

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Marina Review for Spring Brook Marina-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Our planned destination was Ottawa, IL, but the delays at the two locks between Joliet and Seneca totaled 4:45 and it was getting dark. We called the Spring Brook Marina the staff was very friendly, making room for us for the evening. They assigned us a slip and told us we could download a map of their marina from their website. We were unable to download the map, and once we cleared the tight inlet into the marina, we found the docks and slip numbers were not apparent from the water. The marina was closed, so we simply picked an open slip. This seems like a very nice marina and RV campground. We cannot comment on any of the marina service/facilities simply because we did not use them. However, the docks are properly maintained and the marina is very pet-friendly.

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Free Dock Review for Joliet City Dock

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Oct 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The Joliet City Dock Wall is a very nice free dock. It is well-lighted at night. It is within easy walking distance of the Harrah's Casino, and a more moderate walk to a few other bars and eateries in the area. The city dock has no restrooms/showers or water, but there is free 30-amp power. It is moderately pet friendly, and in the evening the river traffic subsides making for a quiet and stable docking. Some of the criticisms of the city dock is that is showing its age. The wall is crumbling, and some of the power outlets (located in the chain wall posts) did not work. The three boats in our Loopers cadre did not have any problems with the 30-amp power, but wall is very rough where the cement is breaking down leaving very rough edges. Fenders were sufficient to protect our boat from the wall, but if your cleats are below the wall there is a very real possibility of chafing your mooring lines. We solved the problem by moving the lines off the cleats to the large chain rings at the top of bollards where the safety chain attaches. If headed south, call the Brandon Road Lock prior to departure to determine what potential lock delays for pleasure boats due to the commercial traffic, and understand it is only a best guess at that moment. The lock master told us the delay would be 30-45 minutes, but by the time we got to the lock 30 minutes later the commercial traffic had grown significantly and our wait was three and a half hours.

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Marina Review for Hammond Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 3

The Hammond Marina is a very large floating dock marina that is showing its age. There are no dock hands to help with tying up, but with the large breakwater protecting the marina we had no problem docking ourselves. Restrooms/showers are clean, and the laundry room was large and clean but in a bit of disrepair. A big plus about this marina is the very reasonable rates for slips ($50 per night @ 44'), fuel prices that are the lowest we have found on the loop so far, and a $5.00 pump-out. The size of the marina is a bit of an issue. Transits are assigned to the Q and W docks (far end of marina). The main dock is 461 steps (~.21 mile) long from the dock gate to W dock, and it is another 410 steps (~.19 mile) to the marina office. The marina main dock is well-lighted, and has a security gate that requires an access card. The docks (i.e., Q and W) were a bit dark from lights being out on the power pedestals. For us, the biggest negative about the marina is that it is not pet friendly. There are two small potty pads on the main dock and several potty bag stations, but there are no significant grassy areas where you can walk you furry friends. There is a nice grass area at the far end of the water treatment plant to the west of the marina, which is ten-minute walk from the marina gate. The ships store is more of a gift shop, convenience store and small deli, as opposed to a typical nautical ships store. The marina is located next to a Horseshoe Casino, and both the marina and the casino are surrounded by a large industrial area and train maintenance yard. The casino is relatively small, and only has one steakhouse restaurant and two fast food areas – an Asian noodle eatery and a hamburger cafe. The day we arrived we decided to have dinner at the casino. The steakhouse restaurant was closed (open Friday – Sunday), the Asian noodle eatery's menu was not appealing, so we opted for the hamburger café. Our meal was ordinary and very expensive. The casino also had a very heavy odor of stale smoke. The nearest food alternatives in the area are an IHOP and three fast food eateries about a 35–40-minute walk over a bridge. There is also a Dollar Store and Walmart in the same general location. From the marina to downtown Chicago was a $68 fare, and a $52 fare back to the marina. The best aspect of Hammond Marina is the slip, fuel and pump-out prices. Hint, if are fueling up when you arrive, you can check-in and get your key card at the fuel dock. It will save you the very long walk to the marina office.

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Marina Review for South Haven Municipal Marina - Southside Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

We stopped at the South Haven Municipal Marina to avoid 8-10 knot winds on Lake Michigan. We docked on what the dockmasters referred to as "The Wall," which is a long dock that runs the length marina on the Black River channel. The mooring was a bit bumpy the first three nights, but in fairness, the winds on the lake were very high and we were essentially in the Black River inlet channel just a few hundred yards from the lake. On the fourth evening the winds on the lake were 18-20 knots and the winds had shifted westerly, directly into the Black River channel. The waves and winds at the dock were quite violent. We used nine fenders and doubled our 5/8" mooring lines (total of eight lines). The stern cleats on our boat are lower than the height of the fixed dock. In the course of the evening, the four stern lines were chafed on the edge of the dock to the point they broke. The stern of the boat swung out into the channel and the 50-amp power cord pulled the power pedestal off the dock and broke the water line. The marina is owned by the city, so the city workers repaired the power pedestal without charging us. Our stay wound up being six days before the winds subsided. In spite of the difficult weather causing a problematic mooring, we liked this marina. It is clean, very-well maintained and is located just a 4–5-minute walk to South Haven's charming downtown district with a wide variety of shops and excellent restaurants. The restrooms/showers were very clean. There is only one washer and dryer, which makes doing a lot of laundry a bit of a lengthy process. The lounge is quite conformable with several tables and couches, and free coffee. The biggest plus of the marina is the dockmasters. Lisa and her husband Glen are delightful people that work hard to keep the marina clean, and go out of their way to accommodate boater's needs. When we called them in the middle of the night about the broken power pedestal and water break, Glen was there in fifteen minutes to address the situation. The marina is very pet friendly with large grassy areas. The only reason I did not give this marina five stars was the bumpy mooring on "The Wall" when the winds are strong and westerly.

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Marina Review for Grand Haven Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

The Grand Haven Municipal Marina was difficult stop for us. Grand Haven Municipal Marina is a Michigan DNR marina, so reservations have to be made through their online reservation system. Three days prior to our planned stop, the reservation system was reporting the marina was full. Knowing the DNR keeps a percentage of slips available to support their safe harbor policy, we tried several times to call the marina directly. We left messages each time, but our calls were never returned. When we entered the Grand Haven channel, we called the marina on channels 9 and 16, with no response. When we arrived, there were only two boats in the marina so we docked and walked up to the office. The office was locked, and the phone number posted on the office door to call was never answered. As a result, we could not get the code to the restrooms/showers and laundry. The only way we could pay for the two nights we stayed at the marina was to pay for reservations in the future. The marina docks are old, and although generally stable, they are in need of maintenance. Two of the dock cleats in the slip were unusable because of broken dock boards. Because of the high winds we tied up on the dock pilings. The marina is generally unprotected from the prevailing wind direction. We had to use all eight of our fenders as the wind kept the boat banging significantly against the dock throughout the night. One of our fenders was destroyed on protruding dock screws. On the positive side, the marina has large grassy areas, making the marina very pet friendly. The location in regards to the town of Grand Haven is excellent. The town of Grand Haven is charming, with a variety of shops and restaurants. There is a city trolly service that will pick you up at the marina and take you anywhere in the city for a mere $0.75 per person. We took the trolly to Walmart to provision the boat, and one of the other boaters in the marina used the service to get to Home Depot. We enjoyed a very nice meal at the Kirby House.

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Marina Review for Ludington Municipal Marina/Harbor View Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Ludington Municipal Marina was a very pleasant stop. The fixed docks are very sturdy, well-protected, and well maintained. The marina dock hands were immediately at the slip to help with the lines, and the marina has a lot of very friendly locals. The docks are well-lighted at night. There is a lot of open grass areas around the property, to include the very large Ludington Waterfront Park, so the marina is very pet friendly. We did not use the restrooms/showers, so we cannot comment, but WiFi worked well, and their fuel prices were very reasonable. The marina is located at the foot of town, with a lot restaurant cuisine choices and local shopping.

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Marina Review for Jacobson Marina Resort

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

The Jacobson Marina Resort was a very pleasant marina, although a bit more expensive that other marinas in the immediate Frankfort Bay. John, the owner, is very friendly and was waiting on the dock to assist with the mooring lines. The marina is very clean, has well-maintained fixed docks, has a small ships store (limited selection), and is located in the middle of Frankfort with a short walk to everything in town. There are large open grass park areas about 2-3 blocks from the marina, and a fenced-in, off-leash, dog park that is about a ten-minute walk to the east, so the marina area is exceptionally dog friendly. We did not used the restrooms/showers, so we cannot comment. The town has several restaurants providing a wide array of cuisines.

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Marina Review for Leland Township Harbor

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Oct 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Leland Township Harbor marina is relatively new and has very stable floating docks with power/water pedestals for each slip. The restroom, showers and laundry are very well-maintained, and the boater's lounge is very comfortable. The dock hands were at the dock when we arrived to help with the lines. The marina has a grassy area that is dog-friendly. The town of Leland is small but charming, with several small tourist shops in the historic buildings. The Fish Town channel has salmon gates at the end of the channel where salmon jump to the upper lake. We dined twice at The Cove, which has patio areas at the edge of the Fish Town channel. There is also a small, but surprisingly well-stocked, grocery store within two blocks of the marina with a good selection of liquor/wine, fresh meat, fish, cheeses and vegetables. Note: the marina uses well water which has a very high iron content, so much so that iron stains are present on all of the water faucets on the dock and drains in the showers. I would not fill/top-off your water tanks with the marina water unless absolutely necessary, as it has a bitter taste.

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Marina Review for Duncan L. Clinch Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Duncan Clinch Marina is another Michigan Department of Natural Resources run marina where reservations are made online. When we arrived the dock hands were immediately available to help with the docking lines. The marina is well-maintained with very stable floating docks. The lounge is nicely appointed with very clean restrooms/showers. There are gas barbeques and tables and chairs available. There are very large open park areas next to the marina that are very pet friendly, including a dog-friendly beach. Laundry room is very comfortable. The marina lounge/common area is a popular gathering area and is very well illuminated at night until after midnight, which might make going to bed early a bit of a problem if your slip is close to the building. The marina is located in the middle of Traverse City, and shops and restaurants are abundant within a 10-15 making distance. A Walmart Supercenter and a Home Depot is an $20 Uber drive away.

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Marina Review for Charlevoix City Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Charlevoix City Marina is run by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and reservations are made online. This marina is beautiful and sits on the edge of the town of Charlevoix next to a well-manicured park. The marina has very stable floating docks that are well maintained, power pedestals at each slip, and the marina office is conveniently located at the end of the dock. The marina lounge is very well appointed with tables and chairs and a large screen TV. The Wi-If is good and the restrooms/showers are very clean. The grounds are exceptionally pet-friendly. The town of Charlevoix has numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, and a grocery store all within a tem-minute walk . Four of us dined at Terry's Place at Bridge and Antrim streets and we all had excellent meals. Note that the bridge at the entrance to Round Lake is only 15 feet, snd only opens on the hour and half hour for about five minutes.

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Marina Review for Mackinac Island State Harbor (Harbor of Refuge)

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The marina has very stable floating docks that are well maintained, and the marina office is conveniently located on the main dock. Dock hands were immediately available to point out our slip and help with the lines. For some reason they preferred a bow-on docking, which was very simple, but our 55-foot, 50-amp power cable just barely reached the power pedestal. The restrooms/showers were new and very clean. There is a dog run on the premises, making the marina very pet-friendly. The Wi-Fi also worked surprisingly well. The marina is located within a three-to-five-minute walk to Main Street, where restaurants/bars and fudge shops are numerous. There are many opportunities for shopping and sightseeing on the island. We would recommend the full Carraige Tour, which takes you off Main Street to the quieter neighborhoods, past the Grand Hotel, past the horse stables and then through the wooded areas of the island. It also includes a tour of Fort Mackinac, the blacksmith's barn and other historic sites.

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Anchorage Review for Government Bay

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Sep 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

This is another quiet anchorage in a modest bay just of Lake Huron. It has excellent wind and current protection. The south side of the bay is a forested wilderness park area with a lot of quiet trails and a few sandy beach areas. There is nothing around the area in the way of restaurants or other services. The park is very dog friendly. It is a very peaceful anchorage, and we wound up staying for two days.

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Marina Review for Drummond Island Yacht Haven

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

This is a very nice marina. It offers fuel and slip discounts for AGLCA loopers, and a loaner car for $20/day. Eric was very helpful and met us at the fuel dock for fuel and a pump-out. He then gave us a choice of slips and recommended a local restaurant in town. We did not use the restrooms or showers so we cannot comment, but the marina grounds were well maintained and clean. We dined at the Northwood Restaurant and Bar and the hamburgers and soup of the day were actually quite good.

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Anchorage Review for MacRae Cove - Meldrum Bay

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Sep 22, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

This is a quiet anchorage at the bottom of Meldrum Bay, perhaps 750 yards from the marina. It has very good wind and current protection. The bottom is weedy, so it took three attempts to set the anchor so it would hold. There is nothing around the marina in the way of restaurants or other services, and the area is only moderately dog friendly. We wound up using the marina docks to get the dogs ashore.

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Lock comment on Lock and Dam 43 Swift Rapids

Comment by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Typical of the Tent-Severn locks, the Swift Rapids lock is well-maintained with clean restrooms. This lock is quite remote, which is bad if you are looking for provisions or restaurants, great if you are just looking for a very quiet and peaceful stop along the waterway. The upper lock wall has better access to the park area and restrooms, accommodating four to five boats (both sides of the lock). The lower lock wall is more secluded, also accommodating six to seven boats on the north wall. Lock 43 is the largest lock on the waterway (47 feet), and the lower lock wall has an impressive view of the dam spillway.

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Marina Review for Starport Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The staff at the Starport Marina were very friendly and were waiting for us when we arrived at the dock to assist us with the dock lines. The marina has a nice ships store/gift shop onsite. There a pizza vending machine (actually cooks your pizza in just four minutes), a LCBO store, and a dockside restaurant called "The Grill" just a short walk from the marina. The marina is very pet friendly. The only downside to the marina is that it sits right at the edge of the channel going to the Port Severn Lock. While "No Wake" signs are posted, the wake traffic kept the boat rocking until well after 2100 in the evening. There is easy access to the fuel dock and fuel prices were very reasonable. We would stay at this marina again.

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Marina Review for Bay Port Yachting Centre

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

This is a very nice marina with excellent ships store and boat repair facility. This marina is large, and is mostly populated with very friendly seasonal boat owners. The marina has a lot of dogs and is moderately pet friendly. The marina is north of the town of Midland and there is not much around the marina in the way of shops or restaurants. However, Midland is only a ten-dollar (flat-rate) cab ride from the marina. We had dinner at Arch's Steakhouse and can recommend it highly for its delightful atmosphere, great service, good prices and excellent food.

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Marina Review for Henry's Fish Restaurant

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

We stopped at Henry's Fish Restaurant & Marina on Frying Pan Island because everyone said it was a "must stop" on the Great Loop. It did not disappoint. Henry's is a favorite among the locals who come by boat and float plane. The dining atmosphere is casual and fish and chips was delicious. There is nothing of interest on the island with the exception of Henry's Fish Restaurant. The marina is very small and a bit rustic, with eight or nine floating docks that might accommodate 30-40 boats and four or five float planes. Overnight boaters are moored on the land-side of the docks and the folks visiting for dinner are moored in front of these boats on the water side of the docks. 30-amp power is on the land edge of the docks, so you will need a long power cable to reach from your boat to the pedestal, and you will need to consider where your power connection is on the boat (i.e., stern, bow or mid-cabin) and moor accordingly. The marina area is dog-friendly.

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Anchorage Review for Devil Door Rapids - Bad River

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Devil Door Rapids on the Bad River was a very nice anchorage. We anchored in a small cove about 25 yards off the shoreline in 16 feet of water. The botton is very sticky mud. A wind shift was predicted during the early morning hours, so we set a stern anchor and had no problems. The scenery is beautiful, and if you are adventurous, you can shoot the Devil Door Rapids just up the channel. This area is not particularly pet friendly in that the shoreline is mostly rocky cliffs. However, we were able to get the dogs ashore on a couple of the sloping rocks.

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Marina Review for The Sportsman's Inn

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

The Sportsman Marina in Killarney is a very nice marina. We planned to stay for two days to avoid a weather front and wound up staying an extra day. The marina is on both sides of the channel. They provide a shuttle service from 0800 to 2300 to get folks on the south side of the channel to the main marina. On both sides of the marina there are stable floating docks with power/water pedestals at each slip. The Sportsman Inn is located on the marina grounds and has a restaurant/bar that is open until 0100, and serves pub food until 2200. The marina is located in the heart of Killarney with a small grocery store, LCBO and restaurants all within easy walking distance. We can recommend the Gateway Restaurant and Bakery for a tasty breakfast and great lunch sandwiches. Our group also had the fish and chips at Herberts Fisheries. Three of us thought the fish and chips at Herberts was better than Henry's Fish Restaurant on Frying Pan Island, one thought Henry's was better. Sportsman's Marina has arrangements with the Killarney Mountain Lodge, which allows you access to their facilities. There is a high-end restaurant at the lodge that was an interesting change of pace, and we got a massage at the spa that was amazing. This was a very good stop, and we will do this again.

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Marina Review for Gore Bay Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Sep 7, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

We opted to stop at Gore Bay Marina for four days to avoid a large storm front passing through. We had to dock in high winds, but the dockmaster was at the dock to guide us in and help with the lines. The marina seems relatively new with wide stable floating docks and power/water pedestals at each slip. It is a bit of a long walk from the transit docks to the restroom/showers, laundry, and marina office. There is a ships store with a variety of marine parts and sporting equipment. The town of Gore Bay is within two blocks of the marina with interesting shops, a modest grocery store and an LCBO all within a five-minute walk. The grounds are very pet friendly, but the Wi-Fi was very intermittent (we gave up and used our iPhone Hot Spot). The Watersedge restaurant is a bit of a walk, or a short dinghy ride across the bay, and is open year-round for the late season boaters. Our group had a variety of dishes and all of us thought the food excellent. This is a nice stop for provisioning and a great meal.

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Lock comment on Lock 20 Ashburnham

Comment by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

We stayed on the outer end of the lower dock wall at Lock 20, which provided a nice panoramic view of Little Lake and Peterborough. It is a 10-minute walk from Lock 20 to the Canadian Canoe Museum. Downtown Peterborough is a 20-minute walk. The lock wall is very pet friendly

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Lock comment on Lock and Dam 27 Young's Point

Comment by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Lock 27 at Youngs Point was a pleasant stop. We were planning to stay on the upper lock wall to get qn early start in the morning, but space is limited to about eight boats and the lock area I a favorite with the local boaters. However, the lower lock wall has space for about five boats and it is a very short walk between the upper and lower lock walls. There is an interesting Lockside Trading Post in that while in addition to various souvenirs and knick-knacks, it is also a furniture store that sells ice cream. It is a short 3-5-minute walk from the lower lock wall to the LCBO and a very small general store. We had an early dinner at the Lock 27 Tap and Grill, which is a 10-minute walk from the lower lock wall. The restaurant sits at the edge of the waterway with nice outdoor seating, and offers a variety of dishes that are all very large portions and can easily be shared by two people. The lock area is very pet friendly.

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Lock comment on Lock and Dam 34 Fenelon Falls

Comment by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

This is a great stop. The Fenelon Falls lock is in the middle of the town. The upper lock north wall has power available, but the south wall does not. However, the south wall is next to a grassy area that is very pet friendly and offers better privacy, while the north wall is along the road with a lot of pedestrian traffic. "Murphy's Lockside Pub & Patio" is a lively spot within steps of the north wall, and had a large crowd and music that seemed to die down around 10:00 PM. Coming through the lower lock the walls looked like they would offer the most tranquil stop, but there are a lot of stairs to get up to the town. The town has numerous restaurants and shops to explore. The LCBO is about three blocks to the north, and "Sobeys" grocery store is about three blocks to the south, of the lock. A word about the lockmasters – they are fantastic. While walking into town my wife tripped on one of the maintenance panels in the sidewalk and fell. She was more embarrassed than actually hurt, but the lockmasters were at her side in moments with a first aid kit. They provided ice for her wrist and offered to drive us to the emergency room, which we appreciated but was completely unnecessary. Their prompt response and concern were amazing.

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Lock comment on Lock 38 Talbot

Comment by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

This was a very nice stop. There is not much around the lock, but the lock grounds are very peaceful and the restroom are very clean. The grounds are very pet friendly. Ice is available during lock operational hours. There is a dock on the upper wall that can accommodate boats on both sides. We spent a very peaceful night tied up on the side away from the lock channel.

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Marina Review for Port of Orillia

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Aug 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Port of Orillia is a great stop. You enter the marina as soon as you pass through the two barrier islands. Our boat has a high profile and on the day we arrived, we had 30 knot crosswinds. Even though our assigned slip was on the outer end of the docks (easiest to access), the crosswind was making it very difficult to get into our assigned windward slip. The marina had three dock hands (with two other boaters) on the docks to us get tied up - all were a great, and much appreciated, help. The docks are all new, composite decking with power/water pedestals for every slip. The marina was rebuilt from a fire in 2012, so the facilities are all new. It has several restrooms with private showers, two free washers and dryers, and the docks are secured with combination security gates The marina has free Wi-Fi, but it was very intermittent and unstable at the outer docks. However, walking up to the office where they had comfortable tables and chairs the Wi-Fi worked great. Orillia is a fun and interesting town, with plenty of shopping, restaurants, and bars all within a few blocks of the marina. There is a Metro grocery store across the street from the marina, and the LCBO is only two blocks from the marina.

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Marina Review for Old Mill Park/Campbellford Town Dock

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Aug 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

This was a good stop. The east wall is quite literally in the middle of the town of Campbellford, and the west wall is only a short walk over the bridge to downtown. Lots of shops and restaurants, and a grocery store and LCBO store, all within a five-minute walk. Don't miss Dooher's Bakery for delightful donuts and pastries. Dinner at the Riverside Bistro was good. The rate was $100 per night with water and electricity included. WiFi was also included, but we were told (and they were correct) that it did not reach all the way to the far end of the west wall. The location is very pet friendly. Lots of foot traffic along the dock wall. Our other option was the lock wall at Lock 13 (free with our Canada Park Pass), but the lock probably a thirty-minute walk to town. Would stay here again.

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Lock comment on Lock 6 Frankford

Comment by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Aug 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

This was a wonderful stop. The lock grounds are immaculately kept and the staff could not be more friendly. The grounds have picnic tables and barbeques. We docked on the north wall just above the lock under a large willow tree. There is room for three to four boats on this wall, and maybe five to six boats on the south wall. The town is within easy walking distance from the lock with a grocery store and LCBO store, and on Wednesday evenings there are concerts in the fairgrounds next to the lock. The restrooms are at the lock station, but the showers are shared with the campground on the south side of the canal. Power (2, 30 amp) is available for $10.50 per night. Exceptionally pet friendly. We would definitely stop here again. Very quiet and peaceful.

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Marina Review for Trent Port Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Aug 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This is one of the best marinas we have come across on the Loop. Access to the marina is very easy from the entrance to the Trent River and the marina fairways are wide. The slips can be a bit narrow depending on the beam of the two boats. Our beam is 16' 8" and we could not fit in our initial assigned slip due to the beam of the adjacent boat. But the marina moved us to a wider slip without a problem, and dock hands were waiting at the slip to help us tie up. The floating docks are sturdy with power/water pedestals conveniently spaced between every two slips. The pedestals provide both 30- and 50-amp service. Each private restrooms have a shower and were very clean. Free laundry and excellent WiFi throughout the marina. The marinas issues key cards for the gates on the main docks so security is very good. There is a grocery store across the street from the marina, and downtown Trenton is a five-minute walk with a variety of restaurants. We dined at Tomasso's Italian Grille on Front Street and the food was very good. The marina will as for a copy of your boat insurance when you check in, so you will need to have a copy the document they can copy or a soft copy you can email to them. We would definitely stop here again.

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Marina Review for Picton Marina and Harbour

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Aug 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Picton Marina and Harbour, or PEC Marina (Prince Edward County Marina) is a new marina and is still working out the kinks. We tried calling the marina several times, and then tried to raise the marina on VHF channel 68, but there was no response. When we came into the marina, we spotted CJ, the owner of the marina, on the fuel dock. CJ is very friendly and helped us get settled on their T-head dock. CJ was in a remarkably good spirits even though on that particular day his phones were not working, and he accidently dropped his VHF radio in the creek, which explained why we could not reach the marina. The docks are new, well-maintained aluminum, but the power/water pedestals are not operational just yet. CJ said he hopes to have them connected by the end of the 2024 season. He also talked about his plans to further extend the marina up the creek. This will likely become a very popular marina with Loopers after CJ finishes installing the power on the docks.
The marina has very good access from Picton Harbor with 14-16 feet of water to the docks. The current docks easily accommodate boats in the 30-38+ foot range, and the T-heads on both ends of the marina can accommodate 50-60 footers. CJ's future plans include larger slips along a boardwalk to accommodate transit boaters. We did not use the restrooms or showers, so we cannot comment on their condition. The grounds are very pet friendly.
The marina is just three blocks from downtown Picton. There are a variety of shops and restaurants all within easy walking distance. We would definitely stay at this marina again.

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Marina Review for JP's Marine

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Aug 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

I cannot begin to say enough positive things about JPs Marine. Jim and Pam Stewart are likely the most friendly and helpful people we have met on the Great Loop. From the moment we arrived they treated us like long-time friends and did anything they could to make us feel welcome.
JPs Marine is a true full-service marina. Jim has a 45-year career as a marine mechanic, and he and his team are amazing. We had our hull damaged at another marina where a boat hit our starboard bow. The damage was 4"x24" and deep into the base of the hull. In just four days, Jim repaired the damage and buffed out the hull to the point where it looked like it never happened. I could not be more pleased with his work. While we were getting the fiberglass repairs done, my wife needed to fly home. Jim and Pam allowed to use the marina car to make the three-hour round-trip drive twice to the Syracuse airport. When Jim was pumping out our holding tank, he noticed it wasn't pumping properly and spent over an hour rinsing and pumping out the tank until it flowed smoothly.
The marina has easy access along the south side of the Alexandria Bay city dock, but the slips are a bit tight. But Jim and Pam were right there to help with the dock lines.
The marina docks are showing a bit of age and do not have conventional power/water pedestals. The water and power connections are at the shore end of the dock, which requires long hoses and power cables to get to the boat – both of which Jim provided so power/water connections were not a problem at all. There is a very well-stocked ships store on the premises with snacks and wide array of boat necessities. What parts they don't already have in stock, they can get in just a day or two. The marina was previously a Crusader Marine dealer, so Jim's inventory of Crusader engine parts is extensive. Because the Erie Canal lock walls made such a mess of our fenders, we bought four new fenders and lines at a very reasonable price. We also used the marina to have FedEx packages delivered to our boat.
The marina is just one long block away from downtown Alexandria Bay with all of its restaurants and shops. We dined twice at Cavallario's Steak and Seafood and enjoyed the outdoor dining and live music. The Korner Pizzeria and Eatery makes very good calzones and pizzas. There is a post office across the street, four blocks to an Ace Hardware store, and seven blocks to a laundromat. The immediate neighborhood area is moderately pet friendly, but it is just a short five block walk to Scenic View Park with plenty of room for our furry friends to romp. The park has a very picturesque view of Boldt Castle. The marina only has five slips, so call ahead early.
This is a marina that we will definitely come back to when our travels include the St. Lawrence River. Moreover, we will come back just to visit our new friends Jim and Pan Stewart.

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Marina Review for Kingston Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Aug 6, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Candidly, we selected this marina because the Confederation Basin Marina was full. This marina has good access, but aging floating docks with spotty power pedestals. We prefer 50-amp power, but the marina only has 30-amp service. We were assigned dock space with two 30-amp connections. We quickly discovered that only one of the 30-amp connections was operational, and the adjacent power pedestal was not working at all. However, the boaters on the dock, all Canadians, were remarkably friendly and accommodating. Four boaters rearranged their power connections on the dock to free up two 30-amp connections within reach of our boat. My sincere appreciation for the 'boater camaraderie' shown by these folks. The marina is next to a large park area so it is very pet friendly. It is 15 minute walk to downtown Kingston, which is a delightful city with excellent restaurants, interesting history, and much to see. A food store and liquor store are both within four blocks, and within ten blocks there are more than a dozen eateries of all kinds. While the Confederation Basin Marina is more convenient to the immediate downtown area, we would stay at this marina again.

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Marina Review for Clayton Municipal Dock-Mary Street Dock

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jul 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We were not headed to Clayton until a severe storm came up over Lake Ontario and chased us off the St. Lawerence River. We stayed at the Clayton Municipal Dock-Mary Street Dock for two days to let the weather pass. The dock is newly renovated with good tie-ups, provides good protection, and lovely benches and flowers to enjoy the view. It is close to downtown Clayton with a lot of pleasant shops and restaurants. The restrooms, shower, and laundry are at the end of the dock and well-maintained. The Wood Boat Brewery is just two blocks up from the dock and has great food. The area around the dock is not very pet friendly. Don't miss the Antique Boat Museum aet the end of the dock. It has an amazing collect of several hundred antique boats and nautical items.

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Marina Review for Horizon Marina- Thousand Islands Club

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jul 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This is a very lovely marina that we stayed at for three days. The docks are very well maintained and the grounds are lovely. It is peaceful and relaxing, and very pet friendly. Very clean restrooms and showers are at the end of the transit dock. There is a pair of washers and dryers on the open dock (under cover, but in the open), but no folding table or area to manage clothes while washing. The restaurant onsite has a wonderful menu, both indoor and outdoor dining, and a very social bar. The transit boaters on the dock were very friendly and we all enjoyed an impromptu social gather on the dock. From this marina, it is less than a mile to Boldt Castle and maybe a mile to Alexandria Bay across the river, which we easily reached with our dinghy. There is nothing on the marina side of the river in the way of local stores.

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Marina Review for Waterson Point State Park

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jul 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

This is a New York State Park that is accessible only by boat. There are two public docks available as you approach the park. The dock to the east (port side as you approach the park) has an approach water depth of 5-6 feet for the length of the dock, while the dock to the west has a shallower depth of maybe 3-5 feet and a rocky area off the end of the dock (warning signs are posted). The westerly dock is a bit more secluded, and the easterly dock has a nice gazebo and picnic area which is more popular with day boaters. The two areas are only 150 yards apart with a well-marked between them. The westerly dock is newly rebuilt and easy to tie up to. Park Rangers visit the dock daily to collect park fees ($6 for day use, $19 for overnight docking). The restrooms leave a bit to be desired as they are very dark and have no lights. There are no other services, and there are some restrictions about running a generator overnight. But, for a very peaceful stop at a great price, this dockage is hard to beat.

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Free Dock Review for Oswego Canal - Between Locks 7 & 8

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Jul 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

The Oswego Canal Wall is located between locks 7 and 8 (immediately beyond the lock 7 exit on the starboard side of the canal headed west) and is about 300 feet in length with well-spaced mooring rings. The wall has no services of any kind, but it is calm water alongside a grassy area that is very pet friendly. Cellular coverage was good on our Verizon service. There is a nice view of the Oswego River from the lock canal. Within easy walking distance is Bridge Street (the bridge over the canal and river) where to the east is a Subway and the Azteca Mexican Grill, and to the west is a Dunkin Donuts and a couple of pizza places. It is a short Uber ride (or bit of a hike) to a Price Chopper, Walmart Superstore, and several restaurants. Note that the locks operate from 0800 to 2100 through peak navigation season, 17 May through 11 September. You will not be able to leave for Lake Ontario until 0800. We hung out on the wall comfortably for two days waiting for heavy weather to pass over Lake Ontario.

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Free Dock Review for Village of Phoenix, Henley Park

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Jul 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Phoenix is a lovely small town stop along the canal. It has a nice public dock with picnic tables and chairs alongside Henley Park. The docks have water and 15-amp electricity (not enough to run air conditioners) offered for a small donation. Adjacent to the dock are very clean public restrooms, a shower, and there is a laundromat a block from the docks. The park area is very pet friendly. A visit to the Bridge House Museum (at the dock) is interesting. Duskee's Sports Bar and Grill, and Lock 1 Distillery Company are within easy walking distance and serve good food. A fun part of this stop is a group of kids that refer to themselves as the "Bridge House Brats." These young people will help with docking, take your order and deliver food from the local eateries, deliver ice, walk your dog, clean your boat and just about anything else you can think of, all for donations. These young people have discovered the generosity of boaters and volunteer as a community effort. We were also treated to a local music festivals held in the park. This is an excellent overnight stop.

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Marina Review for Pirates Cove Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jul 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This is a very nice marina, and the owners, Paul and Patty, and their staff, are exceptionally friendly and made us feel welcome. The facilities are clean and the grounds are very pet friendly. One of the best marinas we have encountered on the Loop. Use caution when approaching the marina from the east as what appears to be the approach to the docks is actually a very shallow area behind a small island in front of the marina (fortunately it is all mud). You need to continue up the canal to the "200" red buoy just east of the bridge and then turn south into the marina.

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Marina Review for Ess-Kay Yards Inc.

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jul 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

We cannot say enough good things about Ess-Kay Yards marina. Kim is amazingly friendly and accommodating. From the moment she met us on the dock to help us tie up was a very pleasant experience. The marina has an amazing ships store that rivals many West Marine stores we have seen, even having a Jabsco Marina toilet repair kit for our older model electric head. We took advantage of their loaner car to get provisions for the boat. It also has an extensive repair facility. When we decided to take a side trip, the marina was full for the following evening, but Kim called a friend at a marina further up the canal to find us a multi-day transit dock. This is a marina I would definitely come to again.

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Free Dock Review for Sylvan Beach Pier

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Jul 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Sylvan Beach is a seasonal beach community with a very long dock wall for 20+ boats. There are no services, but the dock wall provides easy access to several restaurants and a very nice lakefront park. The wall fills up on the weekends with local traffic but seems to have plenty of space for transit boats during the week. The food at The Lake House, The Calan View Café and the Pancake House was all very good. The dock wall and park areas are very pet friendly. There is a Dollar General with a modest selection of groceries within an easy walk from the dock. Sung Harbor, just over the Route 13 bridge to the south, was exceptionally accommodating in that they received an Amazon delivery of fuel filters for us and installed them while the boat was on the dock wall (we were too large to get into their marina repair area).

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Marina Review for Little Falls Canal Harbor and Rotary Park

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jul 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Little Falls Canal Harbor and Rotary Park is a very nice, small floating dock marina just past lock 17. The restrooms are very clean and there is a comfortable lounge area in the front office with a TV and lending library. The staff is very friendly and helpful. When we arrived, we were on one engine during a very heavy downpour. Despite the heavy rain, Allison met us on the dock to help secure the boat. After she closed up the marina for the evening she drove us to a local restaurant, Gigi's Italian Feast, that was open on a Sunday evening. The town is just a short walk over the bridge and a Price Chopper's grocery store and liquor store are nearby. The town has some interesting historical features and several antique stores to browse. The marina grounds are very pet friendly.

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Marina Review for Riverlink Park

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jun 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

The Riverlink Park at Amsterdam, NY is very nice. It is exceptionally pet friendly. There is a small café/bar in the park that serves a limited menu of bar food and is only open Thursday through Saturday. Access to the town is very easy over a pedestrian walkway, but there is not much to see or do in old town Amsterdam as many of the store fronts are boarded up. The first night we were there the power pedestal did not work and we had to run the generator all night because of the heat and humidity. The second night we moved down the dock and everything was fine. The restrooms, shower and laundry facility are clean and comfortable. The only drawback to the park is that it sits along two very active rail lines. Train noise is very high and the trains blow their horns at the crossing behind the park at all hours of the day and night.

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Free Dock Review for Waterford Harbor Visitor Center

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson, Pegasus, on Jun 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

At the present time the Waterford dock is undergoing renovations so a more accurate assessment might be four stars. You need to get to the dock early, as most of the dock is closed and there is currently only enough space for five vessels that can provide power and water. However, the open wall east of the bridge is still available without power and water. The visitor center is staffed with very friendly volunteers who provided us with a lot of information about the NY Canal system. There is a Hansford grocery store that is only a 15-minute walk (.6 mile) from the dock. Check out Don & Paul's Coffee Shop on Broad Street (5-minute walk) for a great breakfast at a very reasonable price.

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Marina Review for Coeymans Landing Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on May 24, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This must be one of the friendliest marinas on the Hudson River - highly recommended. Brandon (dockmaster) is exceptionally accommodating and strives hard to please. The marina is very clean and has excellent restroom/shower, laundry and kitchen facilities. There are marina repair facilities on the premises and the marina has a 35-ton lift. The marina is a bit small, so call ahead early to reserve a transient slip. Next door to the marina is Yanni's Too, a nautically themed seafood restaurant with a pub-grub menu. They have wonderful daily specials and are known for their calamari. A word of caution, there is a retaining wall between the river channel and the marina that is hidden at high tide that cannot be crossed. You need to enter the marina through a channel well south of the marina (marker G189) and follow the private red buoys. The marina monitors channel 16 and will guide you in.

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Marina Review for Herrington Harbour North Marina Resort & Yacht Center

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jun 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Harrington Harbour North, and its sister marina Harrington Harbour South, are probably the best marinas on the Chesapeake Bay. While we always stay at Harrington Harbour North, both marinas are very well maintained and have every marina amenity you could ever want – restrooms, showers, large swimming pool, picnic areas, exercise rooms, laundry rooms, pump out and quiet lounges. They are also exceptionally environmentally friendly by preserving the wetlands and natural animal habitats around the marinas.

North has extensive number of sail and power boating service and repair businesses, including a West Marine store, located on the property. It also has the Dockside restaurant on the property, and several other fine eateries within a short walking distance. The only thing lacking at the North marina is a fuel dock, but Harrington Harbour South is just a couple of miles away and provides discounts for Harrington Harbour North customers. There are also other fueling locations in the creek.

South is more of a resort marina that has banquet facilities and is a very popular wedding venue. It has a small convenience store that sells sandwiches.

Transit slips at both marinas are a bit pricy, but if you use any of the amenities or need extensive service/repairs for your boat, it is worth extra expense. For the more budget conscience, consider Shipwright Marina, also on Taylor Creek.

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Marina Review for Clarks Landing Marina

Reviewed by: G. Jay Nelson , Pegasus, on Jun 26, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

The staff at Clarks Landing Marina are some of the nicest people we have run into on the Loop.

We had an engine failure on a Friday afternoon and needed a transit slip for the night to see if we could repair the problem. When we arrived, there was a brisk wind and getting a boat with a high sail area into the slip was impossible. We wound up pinned against a neighboring dock. We ran a towline from our bow across the fairway, and the marina staff got together and pulled our bow into the wind where we could use the working engine to move into the slip.

We were told when we made the reservation that we could only have the slip for one night, as it was reserved for Saturday and Sunday evening. When our engine problem was more than our mechanical abilities could handle, we were prepared to try and anchor out, which would have been leeward side of the inlet and very rough to manage on one engine, and return to the marina on Monday morning when their mechanics were available. Instead, the marina let us stay in the slip and made other accommodations for the transits who had reserved the slip. These folks were fantastic,

Monday morning the service manager Steve jockeyed things around to get us help that day. Danny was the mechanic who worked through the problems we were having and eventually found a poorly connecting engine cannon plug to be the issue. The repair cost was remarkably reasonable (the lowest cost for repairs we have had on the Loop to date). From our logs we noted that the marina's fuel prices and transit slip rates were very reasonable as well. The staff and management are top notch professionals all around.

The marina grounds are very clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms/showers are very clean and spacious, but there are no laundry facilities. The marina is moderately pet-friendly in that it is a bit of a walk to grassy areas. The fixed docks are designed for stern-in docking, and they have tie-off rings instead of cleats, and the finger piers do not run down the entire length of the slip. This makes tying up the boat a bit more difficult. I cannot comment about getting on and off the boat from the stern during the approximately two-foot tide swing, but there are finger piers on both sides of the slip which should help (we had to tie-off bow-on because of our engine problems, which made getting on/off the boat quite difficult). The marina is right off the channel with no wake protection. During the day (we were there on the weekend) the heavy boat traffic causes a lot of rolling in the slip, but at night it was fine. It is an easy ten-minute walk to downtown Point Pleasant where we found shops, restaurants, a grocery store, and a hardware store. We would definitely come back again.

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