Reviews: The Wharf Marina-DC

These are observations from the boating community. Waterway Guide information is verified regularly and all efforts will be made to validate any new updates submitted here. Thank you for taking the time to share comments about your experience.

Waterway Guide reserves the option of editing reviews and comments for grammar, clarity and the removal of defamatory or potentially slanderous language. When appropriate, reviews are forwarded to businesses for response prior to being made public. We will make every effort to be objective and impartial when posting reviews, but do not publicize details of disputes between parties.

Thanks for your valuable feedback!

The Wharf Marina-DC

650 Wharf St., SW
Washington, DC 20024
Washington Channel
fetured-marina

  • Lat / Lon: N 38° 52.600' / W 077° 01.334'
  • Hours: 9am - 6pm Daily
  • Contact: Leigh Diemert
  • VHF Monitored: 16
  • VHF Working: 72
  • Phone: (202) 595-5165
  • Fax: (202) 554-2740
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: http://www.wharfdcmarina.com

3.59
(17)

3.59 out of 5 stars

  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer , Do It Now, on Oct 29, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 32'
    Draft: 2.5'

    Rating: 4

    The Wharf is a fully equipped marina located near the Mall in Washington DC. It has all the features a cruiser could want and need: floating docks along a no wake section of the Washington Channel, good bathrooms with semi-private showers, a laundry room with 4 washers and 4 dryers, a lounge, conveniently placed garbage and recycling receptacles, in-slip pumpout, and fuel. It's walking distance to a Safeway supermarket and the Metro. It's in an upscale tourist development (The Wharf) with lots of good but expensive restaurants and bars and some shopping. My main gripe was the cost: it's not a place for budget-conscious cruisers. There were several mega-yachts there during my stay; I think these are the folks this marina caters to.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Jeremy Hatch , River Girl, on Jul 10, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 49'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    While I appreciate the frustrations of the previous reviewer. DC has few options for transient docking. We were unable to arrive a day earlier due to existing reservations. Hard to be profitable if you don't maximize covers. The Wharf offered a voucher, unfortunate that the previous reviewer couldn't use it. Our experience was great. A huge upgrade from the old Gangplank which it replaced. BR, showers, laundry & club room/concierge all very nice plus great location for bars, restaurants, Metro, Smithsonian etc. worth the trip up the Potomac

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Melinda Zehr , Surface Interval III, on Jun 23, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 39'
    Draft: 3.8'

    Rating: 1

    If you are a transient cruiser, beware of The Wharf Marina's uncaring cancellation policy, specifically in out-of-your-control situations such as mechanical breakdowns and weather. We booked two nights, but needed to leave a day early when NOAA issued small craft and gale winds for the day we had planned to leave. The Wharf did acknowledge our weather situation and gave us a credit to use on a return visit to their marina. After explaining we were on America's Great Loop and live in Illinois so we would not be able to return to their marina, the general manager told me she must adhere to their policy to be fair to all boaters. Unfortunately, I was not successful at getting across the point that their policy is not fair to boaters unable to ever return to their marina.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Steve Mitchell on May 16, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 37'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Leigh and her staff run a great marina for transients. Excellent info on entry, good dock hands to help. Cierra at the office couldn't have been a better "friend" for us transients. The new docks are awesome, wide, floating and concrete. Access to all DC has to offer is top notch. While it is a premium priced marina, you get all that you pay for and more. A must stay in DC.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Allison Fields on Dec 19, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 72'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    The new docks and renovations at the Wharf Marina are incredible. The transition from what it used to be to what it is now is really something to marvel at. We'll actually make the trip up the Potomac and stay there now! All of the new construction around it is great too, cant wait to go back summer '23 when it's all completely done.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Mo Mo on Aug 25, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 52'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 1

    Advertising monthly rates on website, called and they don't do not offer? Have to pay daily rate plus flat rate per cord per day for electric. Good luck with that, we will take our money elsewhere, bad business.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Tom Hedge , Manifest, on Jun 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 42'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 3

    Great location but limited services for transients. As a transient (stayed 1 week) we were placed WAY AWAY from the main marina facilities. The close location to restaurants, bars, water taxi (for tours or to just go to Old Town Alexandria), and even to the great marine store at Washingto Marina next door, was fantastic. But it was a long walk to pick up packages and to use the laundry at the main marina office. And Wifi at the transient docks was spotty at best. So 5 stars for location & 1 star for services. At the price they charge to transients they really need to up their game.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Thomas Whitehead on Mar 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 31'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    Incredible location in DC at the Wharf. This marina puts you within walking distance to incredible restaurants and shopping. There are events in the are and it is just a short trip to the National Mall that can be done by Uber, scooter, or walking. The floating docks we were at were nice and new. The dockhands were very helpful as we approached in identifying a slip, taking into consideration our preferences for slip location, helping us locate our slip, and were available to help with dock lines. They also made themselves available for questions about the area and gave us a welcome packet with information about the area. We did not try to take advantage of laundry facilities. The WiFi was good enough to stream videos for my kids on their iPads. The restrooms/showers were on a floating platform with just two units. They were clean, but are likely not adequate when the docks are full on a big weekend like the 4th of July. It looked like they had pumpkin facilities, but we did not take advantage of that.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Carolyn Richards on Oct 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 32'
    Draft: 3.0'

    Rating: 1

    When booking marinas, we look for certain criteria, especially when paying top dollar per foot to stay there. The Wharf Marina advertises laundry services and internet. Upon docking, John the dockhand - very nice, simply was surprised I asked about both and indicated they had neither. We could get laundry at their other marina, which was pretty far away to carry laundry and internet did not exist for transients. This marina has a far way to go before they can be charging the prices they are asking without any amenities. In this day and age, who doesn't have Wifi for people, but certainly you cannot advertise things that are not correct. I would not recommend for transients.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Ann Marie Waldron , MADMAKS' Inheritance, on Jul 6, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Stayed there over the 4th of July (at the liveaboard slips). They provided us an escort boat to find our slip. Great location for visiting DC. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more friendly! I'd stay there again!

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Kathy , Sea Trek, on Sep 28, 2019
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 40'
    Draft: 6.0'

    Rating: 4

    Stayed on a mooring for 5 nights. Fantastic location right next to Washington DC. Close to everything -- metro station, Safeway grocery, tons of restaurants and the National Mall. Dinghy dock is five minutes away located between the Y and Z docks where the full time, live-aboards are docked. It's behind a locked gate so seemed very secure. Free laundry was a bonus. Only downside was that there was a lot of construction going on with pounding machinery right on the wharf. Also, it's right under the helicopter flight path so you'll be hearing the whirr of helicopter blades quite frequently. We'd stay here again.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Maggie on Sep 19, 2019
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 42'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 2

    Bathroom facilities are pathetic. Located on small boat with only two unisex stalls. For the money paid per slip, rates no stars. Marina and slips were fine, but the bathroom facilities were terrible.

    WG Editor Comment:
    Review submitted via Snag-A-Slip.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Maggie on Sep 19, 2019
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 42'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    Lots of dockhands were available as several yacht clubs arrived at once, so that was very helpful. They were very responsive to questions and requests for help. Loved the floating docks, that it had a gate with pin code access to the docks for security, and that it was so covenient o all the amenities the new Wharf has to offer. Only downside - the restrooms and showers on Market Docks. Need to be air conditioned, and shower water temperature was not controllable. Snag-A-Slip management (Theresa) has been particularly responsive and helpful!

    WG Editor Comment:
    Review submitted via Snag-A-Slip.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Maggie on Sep 19, 2019
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 42'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 3

    The dock people were very helpful. Power cord available at the slip. Slips not easily identifiable when approaching from the water. Concrete floating slips were large and clean. For price paid, had the following issues: ONE portable bathhouse not acceptable for number of slips. One separate toilet and one shower room with toilet was not air-conditioned and showerhead had to be held to keep water flowing. Faucet difficult to regulate water temp. No WiFi as advertised. Need to take a cab or Uber to get to second set of bath facilities and office at sister (Old Gangplank) Marina.

    WG Editor Comment:
    Review submitted via Snag-A-Slip.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Steve Stich , Jus Dreaming, on Jul 10, 2019
    Vessel Type: Sail
    LOA: 37'
    Draft: 3.6'

    Rating: 5

    Great place, enjoyed our time there. The dinghy dock service is superb with two locations, one very close to the fish market. We were on the moorings. Very pleasant.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Richard Ross on Oct 18, 2017
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    New floating docks. Fabulous location. Close to the fish market. There is still some construction,so WiFi doesn’t work, but full bars for Sprint. At $2 a foot the price is a bargain.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Review for The Wharf Marina-DC

    Reviewed by: Mommac , C Chele, on Aug 15, 2017
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 52'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Great location downtown D.C. New Dockmaster, very good new floating dock on transient pier Z. No wifi though. Very reasonable cost for location. Have to not mind noise from Reagan National Airport.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

View in Waterway Explorer