Reviews: Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

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Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

501 S. Water Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
AIWW, Pasquotank River 50.9

Lat / Lon: N 36° 17.917' / W 076° 13.059'
Phone: (252) 335-5330

3.75

(20)

3.75 out of 5 stars

Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Kevin Williams, m/v Blue Tortuga, on Apr 30, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Free dock just South of the bridge in town. Local boating enthusiasts work to greet boaters upon entry and help them tie up. Yes, short finger piers but they are new and rock solid. Beam widths are in varying sizes and noted at the head of each slip. Restrooms and showers reasonable. Showers $5. Albemarle museum across the street is a must see. Also, there's a superb butcher shop ~1/2 mile away called "My corner Butcher". Several restaurants and pubs in the vicinity. We would definitely return.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Chris Ensing, Pau Hana, on May 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.4'

Rating: 2

The finger piers are very short and since we had a dinghy on our stern we barely had enough room to step off. the docks are rough. The night we stayed there the wind was blowing from the SE and it was very bumpy. Although you are close to downtown I would not recommend this stop. We moved the next morning.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Douglas Morrow on Apr 29, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 14.0'

Rating: 3

Free docks outside Jeannette's against a wall. No water or power available. Jack was great and loaned us a car for grocery trip. Showers at college in rec center were not very private but I were clean. Great restaurants were nearby. Hoppin John and Mill Bistro were great and have the same owner. 2 breweries are fun places but do not serve food.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Jane & Donald Johnson, Boatniks , on Apr 24, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 3288'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

This is a great stop.. Short docks are great for power boats that back in. Not much tide, so you can either step off the swim platform or step off the gunwale. Restaurants are short walk away.. Many other stores within a bike ride away.. Marina is in a park setting on the water front. Well lit at night. All wind protection except for heavy south east winds. Light south east winds no problem. Very little wakes because boats slow for the bridge. There is water available under a plate near the drinking fountain. Trash cans for garbage.
The slips have piles at all four corners of the boat to tie off. So no banging into a sea wall. Any small waves come on your nose, so no issue.
The slips have different widths that vary from 8 to 18 feet. The width of the slip is painted in yellow on the sea wall at the head of the slip.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Scott A Westwood, Aphrodisiac, on Apr 18, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 4

I agree with everything "Do It Now" said in previous review. Nice place worth the stop. Be sure to watch for the size/width of the slips. They are not all the same. The widths are written on the bulkhead of each slip.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer, Do It Now, on Apr 15, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

Great free stop on my way to the Dismal Canal. Fixed docks but very little tidal range. Very short finger piers will pretty much require power boats to back in. If your boat is short, like mine, you'll need your boathook to secure to outer posts. I received much appreciated assistance from a local when docking. Although the docking area is exposed to the river, I didn't have any problems with wake or current. I suspect a strong wind out of the East or Northeast could be problematic, though.

Later, I got my rose and welcome bag, which included information about the area, coupons, and a lip balm stick I happened to really need.

Other than the short finger piers, my only gripe is becoming an attraction just by parking there. My boat has no rear curtains so anyone walking by could (and would) stare right in. (To be fair, this is a problem at most public docks where I'm required to back in to get off the boat.) But heck, you can't beat the price! It's a nice place for an overnight stop, especially after running the gauntlet of crab pots in the river to get there.

I had a great sandwich at The Market, which was walking distance away. The area was quiet enough at night and I slept well. There were grassy areas nearby for my pups. Would I recommend or stay again? Yes!

One more note: when departing to head out toward the Dismal Swamp, consider the local bridge and South Mills lock schedules. The bridge is not required to open between 7 AM and 9 AM (although it did while I was there) and the lock only opens at scheduled times.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Maryanne on Apr 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.2'

Rating: 5

A friendly town which is especially kind to boaters with the 'rose buddies' and a welcome pack.

Be sure to check in your welcome pack for discounts and even offers of a ride or a loaner car

Hardware and grocery stores within a mile. And plenty of cafes, bakeries, bars and restaurants

The nearby Arbemarle Museum (just a couple of blocks away) is free, airily and really well presented with a history of the area over the ages.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: James Roberts, Esmeralda, on Oct 30, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Stopped in for a day / night to meet a person delivering parts for us. Wind was up so decided to drop anchor instead of attempt the pylon moorings, which we later found wouldn't have been a problem with all the help. Went into to town and realized that there is a small battalion of the friendliest people ready at hand, (with marine radios), standing by the docks to help you on the pylon moorings and greet you in way that you wouldn't forget. The Rosebud Crew, as they call themselves, are locals that will help with you with any need you have. They are trying to make a difference here as the waterfront awaits an upgrade, bringing a rose for your better ½ when in bloom, information, and more. For next season they indicated there working on having wine and cheese awaiting just west of the docks sponsored by the local businesses. Even though we were anchored out we receive a canvas bag with local discounts and free coffees. We were offered drives anywhere for groceries or needs. Enjoyed the brief stay and the great people, will be back on the return run in the spring.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Teresa Scott, Vayu, on Jun 3, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 1

After living in the area years ago I was looking forward to being one of the boats tied up here instead of just an onlooker. We tried to bow in but the finger piers were just too short and we couldn't get off the boat. Moved to the college docks instead.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Scott A Westwood, Aphrodisiac, on Apr 27, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 4

Fourteen (14) free dock slips and some/limited bulkhead in the middle of downtown. No power or water but free "decent" wifi. Water is listed but did not see, or look for, any. Slips are first come first serve and you have to dock yourself. (Quote from staff: " Do it yourself, by yourself.") Slips have small finger docks and vary from 13 to 18 ft wide. Each width is listed on the bulkhead so suggest buzz by and pick best/smallest width you are comfortable with. We did not know there were different sizes and took up one of the largest ones by chance. This is a common staging area for large cruisers headed up Dismal Swamp and some were not happy we took up a large slip. If you go bow in expect to step off your bow to the dock. There is another "free" bulkhead on the other side of the bascule bridge called "Dock and Dine" that wants/requires you to eat at their restaurant but we could not find the place. Did not try hard though.
Free, close, clean "public" bathrooms are available from 8-5. Showers are $5/person. Showers are not top notch/fancy but clean and plenty of hot water. (No sink, just a shower, in shower room). Food Lion, fast food, and Lowes Home Improvement 1.8 miles.
Free Albermarle Museum (ask for donations) is a block away. Worth a stroll through IMHO. Also one of the places you can pay for the showers.
Docks are in the middle of a free park with benches and a parking lot. Depending on your feelings for meeting all types of locals coming to watch the boats, it is a nice area. We visited during the week so can't say what the weekends are like.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: John Johnson on Apr 26, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 29'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

We stayed one night in the slip. Had to bow in and put bow almost on the sea wall to crawl over the bow to get on shore. It was nice to be within walking distance of downtown.
Moved to the college docks the next morning.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Bruce Stewart, Escape, on Apr 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Dock was nice, Rest rooms clean, could not find water hookup to fill tanks.

Finger docks are 12' wide and good for boats up to 36ish, Bulkhead has lots of space for bigger.

Museum was first rate and free.

Wife got a visit from the Rose Man (thank you)

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Anita Smith on May 9, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 1

Currently closed with “NO DOCKING” signs posted on every slip, presumably because of COVID.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Howie Colt, WhiRLygirl , on Oct 24, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.6'

Rating: 5

Free slips for 48hrs on either side of the bridge.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Shawn Fay, Wandering Star, on Aug 17, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Here's OUR take on our stay at Elizabeth City. We arrived to a fairly well kept public waterfront park with the welcome flags flying. We picked a slip that accommodated our beam as marked by the varying slip widths on the bulkhead. The large pilings that secured our bow & spring lines had seen better days but they worked for us.
We arrived on a Sunday late afternoon and after we got tied up, we assessed the location. Everyone who spoke to us was very friendly. Alex ,in a wheelchair, talked with us a bit and even went to the only nearby open restaurant & brought us a menu! The comfort station ,which was touted by the Mariners Wharf website as being new & having restrooms & showers,was used by folks that obviously didn't have regular access to facilities so we weren't comfortable using them. Elizabeth City appears to be trying to attract boaters with the free dockage and regular events but we were just not comfortable with the demeanor of some of the people that came through the park. It would've been nice to have seen more of a police presence. For those reasons and a few more, we left earlier than we had planned.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Mark Lawrence on May 5, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Excellent docking for 3+ 40ft boats directly north of bridge. Wharf belongs to Jennette Food services. Check in at office at start of bulkhead. They will have you sign insurance waiver and provide you rules of dockage. Require you to frequent one local business, and fill out survey review, for each night of free dockage. No power but water faucet is avail 100yds from dock for containers. One negative is bridge traffic noise. Easy access to town. Gates to wharf locked 1-5am when no employees present.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Sandra Kay on Nov 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

For several years we've stopped by Elizabeth City on our way south. The waterfront is in a slow process of re-vitalization. The free docks and walls north of the bridge, short finger piers and walls south of the bridge are in good shape. For the first time we tied to the wall closest to the boaters facilities south of the bridge and on the edge of the town. It was an easy in-and-out and on-and-off. There are close by restaurants, and frequent gatherings behind Grooper's restaurant for boaters where town volunteer supply refreshments and answer questions. The Museum of the Albemarle, 1-2 blocks away, has good exhibits and changing exhibits. The newest is a six year excavation exhibit of River Bridge an 1790-1880 seaport within a mile of the South Mills Lock. This is a good stop for the waterfront's scenic beauty, and a few activities and clean facilities.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Terry on Nov 7, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 52'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

Fantastic free docking to the NORTH of the bridge. Two separate areas, the longer bulkhead immediately at the bridge and one 300 yards north of that. Bollards to tie up to, free for 48 hours, no services. Much better protection than the free docks on the south side, which are totally exposed in E wind. A 5 minute walk to town. While there try to eat at the very cool Hoppin John's - and save room for the homemade desserts. One of the best meals we've had in forever!

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Scott Vaden on Jun 27, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Very friendly town. Walk to a few restaurants and shopping. Docks are marked with various beams, pick one. The system seems to be first come first served. Highly recommended if you are passing through Elizabeth City.

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Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City

Reviewed by: Greg Clarke on Nov 8, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Highly recommend stopping here. Showers ($5) and toilets and lots of friendly locals. In fact a gentleman passing by saw us mending a sail by hand; he returned with a sewing machine and finished it off for us. The city also hosted a free wine and cheese gathering for the boaties. We'll come back and spend more time here

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