Reviews from Malcolm Rubel (280)

  • Free Dock Review for Peoria City Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 3, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Peoria City Dock is listed as a marina and there is even a dockmaster who answers the phone and gives you information but does not take reservations. It is also a free dock as there is no charge for the use of the municipal facilities and is first come, first served. Listing it as a marina is appropriate because there is much more here than you would expect for a free dock even though the marina is lacking in many amenities.

    Peoria City Dock sits in the middle of downtown Peoria. The dock is floating and in good shape with a one hundred foot long side tie for larger vessels, six thirty foot finger piers and over twenty piers to accommodate twenty foot boats. You cannot tie up on the outer edge of the dock so space for larger vessels is very limited. A forty foot boat can (and did) fit crosswise in the well between two thirty foot fingers but maneuvering in the fairway designed for smaller boats is really tight. Power is available. There are a few pylons with 30 amp service but the majority of the outlets in the marina are household 15 amp. There is no water or bathrooms. Although the marina is just off the channel and in Peoria Lake the marina was quite calm. With strong winds from the north or south it might be different.

    There is no security at the marina. You descend ten feet to the dock so you are separated from the public but people are just above you. When we were there (Friday Night) discussions continued into the evening and were sometimes loud. There is music Friday and Saturday Nights and a good farmers market on Saturday morning right above the dock. Several good restaurants, the Museum of the River and the Caterpillar Visitors Center are nearby.

    If you want to get off the boat in town this is the place to be if you can get an appropriate space. The problem is that the city dock is five miles further that the closest marina that accommodates through boats (IVY) and there is no other marinas downriver. If you gamble on the City Dock and lose your option is to anchor in 10 feet of water on the other side of the river just south of the Murry Baker (I-74) Bridge with pretty good protection and access to town by using your dinghy and landing at the City Dock.

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  • Free Dock Review for Amsterdam West of Lock E11 North Wall

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 16, 2023
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    After leaving Lock E-11 Westbound follow the wall until it makes a slight turn to the north. There is about 500 feet of worn cement bulkhead with bollards and rings. Depth at the bulkhead is over 10 feet. Make sure you have sufficient fenders deployed. At the west end of the wall there are three working power pylons with a 50 and a 30 amp outlet in each one. The bulkhead is exposed to river traffic but, with the lock there, we did not experience any wakes. There is no water available. Cellular service is good for the three major carriers. There is a small park area with picnic tables, trash barrels, and a porta-john before you get to the active railroad tracks. Care should be taken concerning where to place your feet as there are a significant goose population in the area. Russo's Family Italian Restaurant is the other side of the tracks from the lock and serves honest Italian food at a reasonable price. The restaurant is definitely worth the walk.

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  • Marina Review for Scotia Landing

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 14, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Turn off the Mohawk River LDB just east of Red 100 and head up the middle of the side channel in a minimum of 10' of water and more channel width than indicated on the charts. The floating dock and slips will be on the starboard side. Do not use the downstream outside of the first slip as that belongs to the local fire department. There are four slips that are suitable for boats up to 45' stern in with 12' of water at the dock. The slips are 30 feet wide so one wider boat or two smaller boats can fit in each bay. While we were there each bay was occupied by larger boats. There is also an 80' piece of dock on the west end of the dock, also with 12' of water at the dock. You need to come all the way up to the docks to actually see if there is empty space. There is plenty of room to turn around and exit if there is a full house. There are two power pylons at the east end of the dock that services the fire boat and the boats in the first three slips. The last slip and the face dock do not have an option for power. There is no river current issue here and wind protection is excellent. The only wakes we encountered were from the water ski team practice. The Village of Scotia has altered the terms for dock use. Stays are not limited to 72 hours, dockage for any size vessel is $20 per night and there is a $10 supplemental charge per day for power (30 or 50 amp) and water. For this you get good Wi-Fi, picnic tables with charcoal grills, a set of bathrooms in a trailer 200 yards towards the highway, and a front seat for the evening practice of the US Water Ski Show Team with shows on Tuesday evenings.

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  • Free Dock Review for Waterford Harbor Visitor Center

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 12, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    48 hour floating free dock with a $10 dollar per day charge for electricity and water. Water was not working while we were there. Docks are getting a bit old but the electric is still in good shape. The Visitors Center is wonderful and there are bathrooms available for an additional $5. The Sunday Farmers Market is in front of the docks and, although it is small, is definitely worth the time. Hannaford Grocery and Walgreens Pharmacy are a half mile away. Everything that needs to be said about the stop has been put in other reviews. This is a great place to meet and get to know the group that you will be moving through the Erie Canal with.

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  • Free Dock Review for Troy Free Day Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 12, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    This is a 200 foot long floating dock in good condition on LDB just south of the Federal Street Bridge and just before the Troy Downtown Marina. Dock is aluminum and in excellent condition with a depth of about 20' MLW and a six foot tide. There is supposed to be pay-meter at the top of the gangway but it not in place. According to the marina dockmaster, until it is installed there is no charge for day use. There are no facilities on the dock but it is located right next the the Saturday Farmers Market, a large ACE hardware store, a CVS pharmacy, and several good restaurants. It is also 1 hour south of Waterford and the start of the Erie Canal. A good place to stop for an hour or two and get some shopping done.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pollepel Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 11, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    4

    Enter the anchorage from the south at an old water intake building one mile below the anchorage icon with about 7 feet MLW at the bar. Depth quickly increases to as much as 15 feet as you carefully move up the narrow unmarked channel. Depth at the icon is about 15 feet MLW and the channel width at that point is about 250 feet. In most circumstances you will align with the current flow but, with 90 feet of chain out, slack tide, and winds not aligned with the current flow, there will be times that you will wander and it is important that you place your boat nearly in the center of the channel to handle this. There is room for four or more boats, aligned in the center of the channel to safely anchor and swing. The sailboat already anchored just above the icon was resting on bow and stern anchors and was not swinging. We were not comfortable with the situation so we spun and headed back down the channel to the entry where, towards the river side, at the end of the island tail, we dropped our anchor in 9 feet MLW with the anchor immediately setting itself. There was plenty of space between us and the channel for anyone who wanted in or out. We felt more comfortable in this location even though it looked like it was more exposed.

    Ebb current at Pollepel Island is about 1.5 mph and we swung into the ebb tide and then back into the flood tides easily with no anchor drag. We found ourselves further away from the east shore train whistles as well. The weather started quietly but we had a period of 10-15 mph winds during the night and we were glad that we had chosen to anchor with extra swing room. We slept well. Yes, there were wakes, but not bad. Yes there were trains on both sides of the river but you kind of get used to them. In the morning we waited for the flood tide, pulled a clean anchor, and started up the river with a favorable current after a good stay.

    Pollepel Island is the home of the remains of Bannerman Castle, a private arsenal that blew up and then caught fire. There are supervised tours of the island but boaters are not encouraged to land there. Cell service was very good for the three major carriers. There is a small beach about a mile below the water intake that you can take Fido to if needed.

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  • Anchorage Review for Hudson Palisades

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 11, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    5

    The Palisades above the George Washington Bridge are breathtaking. You are still in New York City and you can see the skyscrapers through the central span of the bridge, but you are anchored just off cliffs several hundred feet high with no obvious human occupation. Sunset and the city skyline in the evening are quite special.

    We timed our trip up the Harlem River to reach the Spuyten Duyvil Swing Bridge at slack tide on the Harlem. This meant that we were going to be faced with about three hours of adverse tide on our trip up the Hudson. Not wanting to deal with 5 mph travel, we decided to anchor on the New Jersey shore, above the Englewood Marina. We dropped anchor in 15 feet of water MLW with an ebb tide of about 3 mph using about 90 feet of 3/8" chain and a 90# Rocna anchor. The anchor bit and held as we backed down on it. It was later in the afternoon and we decided that we were going to spend the night and leave early on the flood to move up the river. We set a tight anchor alarm, and went about our late afternoon chores and dinner. The boat swung around with the tide and faced downriver towards NYC and dragged about 50 feet before it held when the current set in. We reset the anchor alarm and went back to bed. We swung back after midnight and did not drag. The anchor came up early in the morning with mud on it but not much on the chain. We motored off with a following current for our trip up the Hudson.

    This anchorage is exposed to wakes (and there were some, even into the night with commercial traffic.) Winds from the north or south will be amplified by the nearby cliffs. Ebb currents can reach 3 mph so ground tackle needs to be properly deployed. There is road noise from the bridge, especially if there is a south wind, and trains run up the New York Shore until late in the evening. There is excellent cell reception but no shore access. We can only rate this anchorage as two star and then only because it is a good setup. We would prefer to anchor in more protected waters but this will do well in a pinch.

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  • Marina Review for Troy Downtown Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 10, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    The marina is a floating face dock on the Hudson River LDB just above the Federal Street Bridge. The depth is 19' MLW, the docks are floating (6' tide even this far up) and they are new. The power pedestals (with water) are also in good shape. The dockmaster and his assistant made a point of meeting us on the dock to assist us and give us useful local information. There is fuel and pump out available at the north end of the dock. The marina is "bare bones. The bathrooms are up on the promenade in a trailer. There is no laundry. There is a gate to the dock but it remained open at night. The docks were well illuminated. There is not marina Wi-Fi. The dock was full with 7 40-50' foot boats tied up. The Federal Lock is about a mile upstream. Reservations are made through Snag-a-Slip.

    We came in on Friday for the Saturday Farmer's Market which has quite the reputation. There was no problem delaying our departure until after noon. The market is held just south of the Federal Street Bridge and just off the river. The area that the market is held in is filled with interesting stores and restaurants that, under other circumstances, we would love to spend time browsing. There is a large selection of restaurants within a half mile of the dock. We had an excellent meal at Dinosaur Bar-b-que on the river. The location, the service we received, the Farmer's Market all contribute to the 4 star rating that we feel is justified for this marina.

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  • Marina Review for Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 9, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Shady Harbor Marina is a AGLCA sponsor and presents the Hudson River/Erie route segment at the Spring Rendezvous. The docks are open to the river but the wakes don't cause much trouble in the marina. There is 12' MLW depth on the dock where we were tied. The docks are floating, sturdy and stable, well maintained, with good electric and water. The fuel dock is an easily accessible side tie and the staff is there to help when you need them with fuel and pump out. The office/store is centrally located and well organized. The store rivals many smaller marine stores I have seen and, if you are staying for a couple of days, they will order items from their supplier at reasonable prices. The staff could not be nicer. The marina has two courtesy cars available. There is everything to like about the place including a great restaurant. And they haul and fix boats as well.

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  • Free Dock Review for Coxsackie Riverside Park Town Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 9, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Coxsackie (pronounced "cook SAH key") Free Dock is 0.2 miles in from Green 159 RDB and consists of two separate floating aluminum docks in front of the village Riverside Park totaling about 230' of dock space. The docks are in very good condition and sit in 13' MLW. Although the town in on the river, there is very little tidal current at the dock. There is no water or power, bathrooms are at the other end of the park, and, as we were here on a Tuesday afternoon, virtually everything in town except Yellow Deli (just across the street) was closed. Still, you cannot beat it for the price. Cellular reception is good for AT&T and Verizon and very good for T-Mobile. There is open town Wi-Fi available on the dock (Riverside_by_Statetel). There was very little boat traffic from the town and the wakes from the river traffic did manage to get to the docks, but with little remaining force. Two thunderstorms came through but did not cause any real discomfort. We would like to come back on a nice Friday afternoon.

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  • Free Dock Review for Town of Athens

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 6, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    We came in to the Athens Free Dock in the middle of the day for lunch and to wait for the turn of the tide to flood before heading further up the river. The 80' long aluminum floating dock was in good shape and had 12' MLW depth at dockside. It is obvious that the village has invested in park and dock renovations; everything was in good shape and well taken care of. It was Monday but Stella's Restaurant, across from the dock was open and the weather was nice enough to have lunch in the park. We had a chance to walk around town and there were several interesting restaurants and shops that we would have loved to go into but most of the stores this early in the season were open Thursday through Sunday. The tide changed and we were back on our way north after a very pleasant three hours ashore.

    There are prominent signs on the dock that say "No Overnight Docking" but there are reports from boats that have spent the night on the dock and have not been bothered. We had anchored out but there was a 45' boat that had spent the night on the dock with no issues. The dock has a smaller indented section on the south end of the pier that is used by the Hudson Ferry. Do not tie up there. Cell service is very good for the major carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for Middle Ground Flats

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 6, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    4
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    5

    When we arrived at Athens there was already a 45 foot trawler on the 80' long Athens Free Dock so we anchored out for the night at the Middle Flats anchorage icon in 12' MLW with excellent holding in sandy mud. In the morning the anchor came up clean. There are two things to remember with this anchorage. First, there is a 5' tide and, second, there is as much as a 2.5 mph current on the major ebb tide. Don't skip on scope. We were a comfortable distance off the shore and had plenty of room as we swung with the change of current. There was 15 mile per hour winds from the north when we anchored at 1500 but the waves coming down the channel were not an issue. The anchorage is exposed on an NE/SW axis and consideration should be given with strong winds from those directions. It was a Monday and there was little traffic and no wakes to bother us. The anchorage is far enough around the corner that you are not bothered by traffic in the main channel. Cell phone reception was very good for all three major carriers. Shore access is available at the Athens Town Dock or across the river at the Hudson Town dock.

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  • Free Dock Review for Ole Savannah Restaurant Dock and Dine

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 5, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Between Artport Kingston and the Hudson Maritime Museum lies the Ole Savannah Southern Table and Bar. They have a large and varied menu for lunch and dinner and, on Sunday, from 10 am to 2 pm they offer a large brunch buffet with a base price of $26 plus drinks and alcohol. Service was very good, and the ambiance is appealing. We ate very well for about $75, tip included.

    We arrived at an unoccupied 125' face dock at 10 am and tied off to well-placed but undersized cleats. Shortly after our arrival a 70 foot Fleming came in and took up the remainder of the dock. We both had excellent brunches. There is no electricity, water, Wi-Fi, or laundry facility on site. The very nice restaurant bathrooms are available during hours of operation. Shore access is excellent for shopping, sightseeing, and exercising Fido. There is even a county bus system close by should you need to go further afield.

    The dock is older but still in good shape with 15' MLW at the dock. Current was minimal and our lines held easily. The cost of the stay was the price of our lunch. All traffic, even on Sunday, was at no wake speeds. We spent a quiet night with no disturbances. What a great deal. We left the following morning hoping to come back soon.

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  • Marina Review for Kingston City Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 5, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 2

    Turn off the Hudson on Right Descending Bank at the Rondout Light and head up the Rondout River channel 1.25 miles and the marina will be on the river's north shore right in the center of the historic village of Kingston. Docks are floating and, for boats under 35', there will be slips. Up to four larger boats (to 50') there will are side ties, several of which will require careful maneuvering when docking. There is current in the river but it is not strong. At the moment there is major bridge work being done on the Wurts Street Historic Bridge. The air compressors supporting the sandblasting and painting are just off the west end of the town dock. It appears that they work for 7 am to 5 pm six days a week. You want to make sure that you are not put on that end of the dock: The compressors are loud. When the work is finished I would raise the rating to three stars.

    The marina is a municipal property and it is clear that there is an investment program to maintain the facility at an acceptable level but it is also clear that the target level is "usable", not "fabulous". Protection from wind, wakes, waves, and current is very good. Everyone obeys the "No Wake" sign. Cell signal was very good for the three carriers and there is marina Wi-Fi, but the signal did not reach our slip so we could not test it out. There is a key coded security gate to get down to the floating docks, and a single, utilitarian, key coded bathroom/shower is located off the docks, in the local park. Our slip had two 30 amp power outlets so, if you have 50 amp shore power you will have to have your own combiner adapter to make it work. Dock depths at the far upstream end of the 600 foot dock were 7' MLW. Dock cleats are well secured and properly spaced. The marina is an acceptable place to dock your boat but that's about it.

    In real estate they say that it is all about location. Why would you want to stop at Kingston Municipal Marina? Location, Location, Location. If you are looking for a place to spend an extra day going ashore it would be hard to do better than Kingston, even without a car. For provisioning, Hannaford's is about 3 miles away and Stewarts is only a mile up the road. Both use delivery services. Two liquor stores are within a mile of the dock. There are ten restaurants within a half mile of the dock, including one that sells outstanding local ice cream. There are several galleries and art cooperatives in the historic district and, for those who are interested in boats and boating history, the Hudson River Maritime Museum is a must stop. All the history you never knew. Have you ever heard of the Rondout Canal? History is staring you in the face. This is really a great destination stop, worth spending and extra day comfortably visiting the city.

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  • Marina Review for Port Washington Mooring Field

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 31, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    This mooring field is listed as a marina. This area is also listed as an anchorage which it is. Both managed by the Town launch (VHF Channel 09) that will pick you up at your boat and take you to several different places on shore and return you to your boat for $8 per person. If you pick up a yellow town mooring ball, the first night is free but you pay for launch service. After that it is $35 per day including unlimited launch service (last run is 2145 hrs.) The mooring field is well maintained and there is ample room between the moorings so you do not feel cramped at all. There is plenty of depth on approach but pay attention to the markers for best water. The anchorage is well protected from all directions except West where it should be considered only "good." "No Wake" courtesy was observed by 95% of the boaters while we were there. Cell service is excellent for all three carriers. There are no traditional marina services available but you can get a free pump out and water available at the North Hempstead Town Dock,

    There is a large grocery store, pharmacy and a liquor store a half a mile from the north landing dock. There is a laundromat and a West Marine store about a mile away. We did not eat out but looking at Google and the reviews there is quite an nice assortment of cuisines and restaurants.

    This is the ideal place to stage for your run through New York City on your way out into Long Island Sound. We came up from Great Kills Harbor at the beginning of the flood tide and made it to Port Washington in a little over five hours in less than ideal weather. Definitely a place to come back to.

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  • Marina Review for Richmond County Yacht Club-PRIVATE

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 30, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Great Kills Harbor offers full protection from waves, wakes, and current from all directions and winds from southwest around to north. It is a basin with a tight but deep entrance on the west side of the harbor and a large and deep mooring field that takes up most, but not all, of the usable space in the harbor. Richmond County Yacht Club runs the mooring field and offers transient moorings to members of reciprocal clubs for a reasonable fee that is currently $55 per night. The fee includes launch service to the club, the use of club facilities which were immaculate, the restaurant and bar, and access to town with shopping and restaurants within easy walking distance. The only thing missing was a laundry. There are spaces where you can anchor but remember that your scope and swing should not interfere with people on mooring balls. Club privileges for the fee are available to people at anchor. The very nice beach on the outside of the basin is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and is an easy walk or dinghy ride away.

    We spent three nights here, hunkered down away from Memorial Day/Fleet Week traffic in New York Harbor and the 25-30 mph winds that seemed to come up every day. The basin is low and, in winds with an easterly component, there is little to protect you from the blow. There was not sufficient fetch in the basin to create waves so we simply took down our burgee to reduce the noise on the boat. We use launch service every day (Channel 09) and they were always prompt and courteous.

    After the weekend we slipped the mooring, made it to The Narrows at the change of flow, and got a lift through the harbor and into the East River and Long Island Sound. For a low stress NYC stopping place, you cannot do any better than this.

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  • Marina Review for Captain Bill's Landing

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 27, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Captain Bill's Landing is the first marina you will encounter as you enter Manasquan inlet from the ocean so all traffic passes by on its way in and out of the inlet. Some of the traffic is across the channel but half of it comes by very close and sometimes at "Just a Little Wake" speed in the no wake zone. It all calms down after the sun goes down and the restaurants are quiet after 10pm. Boat traffic (and wakes) starts before first light.

    Manasquan River has current, narrow channels, a funky railroad bridge, and an unbelievable number of water oriented businesses. There is a lot going on with a hodge-podge of boats from kayaks and center consoles to 100' head and charter boats to a large commercial fishing fleet. Tranquility is not on the menu anywhere in the inlet.

    Captain Bill's has several slips but we have ended up on the fixed fuel dock twice, on a remote dock once, and in a real slip one time. Minimum depth is 6' MLW and there is a 3 foot tide. Tie your lines accordingly. We were glad that we had fender boards to deploy. If you are on the fuel dock you will have to vacate when it opens at 6am. Bill usually has had the lowest price on diesel in the area. He also has the lowest transient dock rate in the inlet as far as we can see. You will have access to fresh water and a clean bathroom is open during business hours. There is no laundry or shower. We didn't use power. If you are a fisherman, you will love the ship's store. There are several restaurants close at hand and the beach is about a half mile away. The best thing about the marina is the people. They are professional, personable, and really want to make sure that you are well treated. There is always someone on the dock to help you dock. In Manasquan you cannot ask for more. We will be back and will, as in this visit, be thankful for Captain Bill's.

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  • Anchorage Review for Rum Point Basin

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 26, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    5

    The entrance to Rum Point Basin is on the east shore of the Absecon Inlet a quarter mile before the Brigantine Blvd Bridge. While the entry looks intimidating it is essentially a matter of staying close to the grassy side of the channel (port side coming in) for a minimum of 8 feet MLW in the channel. Pass the white "Shallow Water" buoy on your starboard side. The channel was dredged in 2022. As you enter the basin the anchorage icon is to the southeast and is currently located in the middle of what looks like a mooring field. The mooring balls were there but no boats. We left the channel and moved towards the north and anchored at 39? 23.293 -78? 23.575 in 7 feet MLW. The anchor set and held immediately for the entirety of our stay which included long periods with winds over 30mph. Wind protection is fair but there is limited fetch so the anchorage remained comfortable. There is a strong current in the entrance channel but there is none to speak of in the basin. On good days there is quite a bit of small boat traffic but during our weather enforced stay most boats remained at their docks. Wakes may be a problem during the day but traffic drops of to zero at night. There is some road noise from Brigantine Blvd but it was not intrusive. There is an Acme supermarket, a Walgreens Pharmacy, and several restaurants at the north end of the basin but no shore access is provided for boaters in the area and there are reports of issues with the local authorities. If Fido needs to go to shore you can use the lovely sand beach at Rum Point in the entry canal. Atlantic City is across the Absecon Inlet. Cellular service is excellent for all three major carriers. This is definitely a good place to hunker down or spend an off day relaxing.

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  • Anchorage Review for Atlantic City

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 23, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    1
    Wake Protection:
    1
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    5

    We arrived at low tide so we anchored temporarily at the Atlantic City Anchorage by the Coast Guard station. There was 16 feet MLW at the anchorage icon and the anchor set immediately with appropriate scope out for the incoming (five foot) tide. The only wind and wave protection is from the south. Winds were from the northeast at 10 miles per hour with gusts to 20 and we had a 2mph current keeping us in line with the tide both ways. There is shore access available but we were not going to get involved with going ashore. Cell service is excellent. Overnight the winds picked up and the anchorage became bumpy. The forecast looked like we were going to be in Atlantic City for a while so we moved to the protection of Rum Point Basin across the river. For a quick late afternoon in and early morning out in fair weather this is an uncomplicated stop. We can't recommend it for anything else.

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  • Anchorage Review for Bennett Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 21, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    5

    Turn north into Bennett Creek from the NJ ICW between Green 473 and 471 at approximately mile marker 110.5. Staying center channel you will go over an 8 feet MLW hump at the entrance and then return to depths of twenty feet. Continue up the channel 0.4 miles with water depths shoaling to 10 feet MLW. Anchor with good holding in mud and a reversing 2 mph tidal current that will keep you aligned with the creek. There is room for four to six boats in a single line. There was little traffic and no wakes during our stay but we also note that there is a jet ski rental business around the corner in Sunset Cove. There is probably going to be activity on good days in season. The anchorage has no wind protection but good relief from wakes and waves. We had 25-30 and had no issues. There is no local shore access but you may be able to land your dinghy at one of the two marinas located a mile and half up the ICW. Cell reception is excellent for all carriers. The anchorage appears to be in the middle of a sea bird rookery. The noises we heard were from the thousands of nesting terns and seagulls. This is definitely a more relaxing place to spend a day or two waiting on the weather than anchoring in downtown Cape May.

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  • Marina Review for South Jersey Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 20, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Located near the bridge in the Cape May back channel, South Jersey Marina caters to larger boats and sport fishermen and sponsors tournaments during the season. The 4 foot clearance on the Lafayette St. Bridge means that there is no through traffic at the marina. Reservations were handled efficiently and the marina was accommodating to our request for early arrival so that we could get a boat bike repaired. The gas dock and the slips behind it are on the creek so, when the tide is running, there is a considerable current to deal with. The slips behind the gas dock are perpendicular to the current flow so it is best to arrive at slack tide. There is plenty of depth and room to maneuver, even for larger boats.

    The physical facilities offer everything that you would want. The docks are floating and in excellent condition. Well maintained power, water, and even fuel are available in slip. The office/store is quite extensive and the newly refurbished laundry room has three large capacity washers and dryers: credit card only. Showers are on the second floor and can only be described as "Deluxe." There is a restaurant on site and several others, including the Lobster House, within easy walking distance. Cell service was excellent for all carriers and we had excellent internet connectivity. Marina Wi-Fi was string and fast as well. There is no gated security at the marina but all areas were well lit and there was no sense of concern for safety.

    A special mention must be made of the marina staff. Everyone that we came in contact with provided the necessary help in a professional but also friendly fashion. They went out of their way to make our stay more than pleasant and we saw this as they helped two other boats into the marina as well. There is a courtesy car that will take you into town for shopping or food during the day and there is Uber service for evening outings.

    The town of Cape May is really quite interesting. It is recognized as the oldest seaside resort in the country with a history going back to the mid-eighteenth century. You could spend a week simply walking around the different area of interests, soaking up the rich history of the place. Cape May is also on the Atlantic Waterfowl Flyway and there are several important wildlife refuges nearby. An Acme supermarket is in town and an ALDI supermarket is five miles north of the marina. The courtesy car will take you and pick you up. We ate lunch downtown at Key West Tacos and had a delicious meal. For us the stay was a surprise. We have been through Cape May several times before but it was always as an overnight stopping point transiting the Atlantic or Delaware Bay. It is worth the time to stop and sample what the town has to offer.

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  • Anchorage Review for Cape May Harbor East

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 19, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    5
    WiFi:
    1

    The anchorage is off the inlet channel starting at Green 7A, just east of the US Coast Guard Station and continuing towards Green 7. Currently there is a lot of dredging equipment limiting the eastern half of the anchorage but there is still room for ten or more boats in the anchorage, arranged in lines in from the Green side of the channel towards the shore. Remember that there is a six foot tide so adjust anchor rode length accordingly. Depths near the channel are 11 feet MLW and shoal as you get closer to shore. Ensure that your anchor is properly set: two boats had to pull anchor and reset. Tidal current is strong and all boats will end up facing into the 2+ mph current Change of tide is can create some chaos as different style boats will react differently. Traffic does not come by at speed but wakes during the day (starting before 6am) make the anchorage bouncy. There is really no wind protection from any direction but fetch is short so there is no real chop build up in the anchorage. Shore access is across the harbor at one of the marinas. Utsch's marina fuel dock gives good dinghy access to town. Do not try to land at the Coast Guard Station shore for pet relief. Cell reception is excellent. Be prepared to hear the USCG Training Center recruits doing the PT with the appropriate enthusiastic chanting starting early and ending late in the day. This is a strategic, but not comfortable, place to stage for a weather window to run up the Atlantic towards New York City or transit Delaware Bay.

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  • Free Dock Review for Town of Chesapeake City Municipal Docks - MD

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 17, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    What is not to love about a floating free dock in good repair right in the middle of the city's historic district? And add shore power for $15 dollars a day on top of it? Chesapeake City Municipal Dock is all this. Enter the basin by favoring the east side of the entry channel as there is some shoaling to 5 feet MLW on the west side and, once inside turn around and head to the dock on the west side of the entry. You will find 7 feet MLW at the dock. There are 200 feet of dock space but about 90 feet is reserved for a tour boat operator so there is room for two 40' + boats on the dock. There are three spaces behind the south end of the dock for smaller boats but two of them seem to have permanent occupants. The docks are in excellent condition with rubber bumpers on the edges and sturdy cleats for your lines. To depart you will have to move straight down the dock paying attention to the 5' MLW hump between the dock and the channel. Internet service was very good for the major carriers and we spent a quiet pre-season mid-week night before leaving for the C&D Canal. If there is not room on the dock there is good anchoring in the basin for a large number of boats. There were eight boats at anchor when we were there and the was plenty of room for another ten.

    Chesapeake City was still in the process of opening for the season so a lot of restaurants and shops were closed during the week, opening Friday through Sunday. We did make it to the C&D Canal Museum, located around the back side of the basin, about a half mile walk from the dock. It well worth the walk as there is great information on the history of the planning, building, and operations of the canal. The most interesting exhibit is the preserved pump house, containing the preserved engines and waterwheel that was used to maintain water levels in the canal when there were locks at both ends.

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  • Anchorage Review for Bohemia River - Veazey Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 16, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4

    Bohemia River has shoaled in some and, were it not for the fact that we were entering on a rising tide and would be leaving near a 3 foot high tide, we would probably not have anchored here for the night. The entry started at 12 feet mlw but decreased to 6 feet MLW getting back to the anchorage. At the anchorage icon we found about 5.5 feet MLW with good holding in mud. The spot is exposed from the north/northwest but has good wave and wind protection from all directions with a southerly component. This is definitely a fair weather anchorage. We were comfortable but were glad to move on in the morning. Vessels drawing less than five feet will be able to move closer to shore for protection from southerly weather but discretion left us at the icon.

    There is the possibility of shore access but we could not find any in the cove as all the land was clearly private. The closest shore access might be at one of the marinas about 1.5 miles across the river to the north. Cell service was good for all carriers.

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  • Marina Review for Tidewater Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 15, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Ten miles off the Upper Chesapeake travelway, Havre de Grace gets bypassed by the vast majority of Atlantic Coast boaters. It's a shame because there is much to like here. Tidewater Marina is located in the middle of the historic town with museums, restaurants, arts, shops, and Bomboys Ice Cream within easy walking distance. It is a good place to tie up for a day or two to relax and enjoy the town.

    Tidewater is a working marina; there are many boats on the hard being worked on by staff, contactors, and owners getting ready for the season. Located in the heart of Havre de Grace, the marina consists of three separate basins, each containing docks for different sized boats. The entrance to each basin is tight and, on a 48 foot boat, we were very careful maneuvering into our slip. All the docks are fixed and with a three foot tide and no cleats to tie off to, a good line strategy is important. We deployed fender boards even though there were bumpers on the pylons. The dock that we were on had just been redone as part of what appears to be an ongoing marina maintenance program. None of the fixtures were new but water and power connections were well maintained and worked with no problems.

    The marina staff was responsive to our needs. Telephones were answered, radios were responded to and there were two staff members on the dock to assist us. The staff at the well maintained office/store was very accommodating. Like the docks, the bath house was clean and well maintained. Six individual units each contained shower, toilet, sink, and dressing area. We faulted the marina for its lack of laundry facilities. The marina is secured behind keypad controlled gates and is well illuminated at night. We felt comfortable during our stay. Marina Wi-Fi was excellent and cellular reception was very good for T-Mobile and good for Verizon an AT&T. The marina was quiet at night with the exception of the high speed NYC/DC passenger trains coming by about a half mile away.

    We enjoyed Havre de Grace. The maritime museum was very interesting and the choice of restaurants for eating out was good. We could easily come back and spend more time in this marina and in the town.

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  • Anchorage Review for Sassafras River - Woodland Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turn off the channel to the south between Red 8 and Red 10 and proceed towards the middle of the creek for the deepest water. We anchored 250 yards in front of the anchor icon in 7 foot MLW with good holding. The anchorage is quite open in all directions and wind and wave protection are just fair. We had less than 10 mph winds so this was no problem. Although the anchorage is a good distance off the channel, we were rocked by boats traveling at speed. Traffic dies with the sun so we had a good night's sleep but we can imagine that this anchorage will be rocky during the day on weekends in season. Cell service and internet were fair for Verizon and T-Mobile but AT&T only managed 1-2 bars of 4G service. There are several sandy strips along the shore to take Fido if necessary but real shore access is two miles away at Georgetown.

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  • Anchorage Review for Sassafras River - Turner Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    2

    Turn off the Sassafras River at Green 3 and head towards the LDB entrance to Turner Creek with a minimum of 11 feet MLW as you approach the two private green entrance marks. Both marks should be taken to port on entering the creek. We found the marks mis-placed on our charting programs. Follow the channel on your chartplotter with no less than 7 feet MLW heading back towards the anchor icon where there is 7 feet MLW with good holding in mud. There is a 2.5 foot major tide in the creek so calculate low water depth before dropping your anchor. East/west wind protection is excellent, north/south is only good due to the available fetch on this axis. There is very good wave protection in the anchorage. Unlike other anchorages on the Sassafras, there is complete wake protection from the river. Boats in the creek traveled at no wake speeds even though it is not marked as a no wake zone. There is a slight tidal current in the river and we swung with the tide. There is room for three or four large boats in a line. We spent a quiet night at anchor with no bouncing. The anchorage is a good heavy weather hole to hide in for the duration.

    The eastern shore of the creek is developed with many private docks and boats. The western shore is the State of Maryland Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area (pet friendly) and is accessible from the boat launch. There is no shopping in the area and cell service is poor to fair (1-2 bars). We were here mid-week pre-season and it was quiet. Reports are that it is busy on weekends in season.

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  • Anchorage Review for Worton Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turn off the travelway to the east at Red 34a and go two miles into the Whorton Creek entrance with no less than 11 feet MLW. Turn towards the south shore and approach the anchorage icon where you will find 9 feet MLW with good holding and good protection from winds with a southerly component. Our anchor came up with clean chain and a large glob on mud and shell mixture on the achor. If anchoring in winds from the north, choose the other side of the entrance channel and anchor under the lee of the northern cliffs in similar depths. At the height of the tide there is a small current running through the anchorage that may turn your boat around in light winds. Wind protection is good except for winds from the west coming into the open entrance to the creek.

    There is a small sand beach on the south shore just behind the anchorage icon where you can take fido for relief but there is really not much to go ashore for beyond that. Cell reception for AT&T and Verizon was 2 bars. T-Mobile had 4 bars of 5-G service. There is traffic in and out of the harbor but, during our stay everyone was respectful of their wakes and did not bother us at all. The anchorage is quiet and quite pretty. Although you can see the development in the inner harbor, at anchor you are surrounded by undeveloped shores. An excellent stop going to or coming from the C&D Canal.

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  • Free Dock Review for Rock Hall Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Enter Rock Hall Harbor with 7.5 feet MLW in the entrance channel between Green 3 and Green 5. Turn into the eastern channel at Red 2e, proceed to Red 4E and then turn north to dock between Red 14 and Red 12 in 9+ feet MLW. The Free Dock in Rock Hall is also the loading dock for the local fishermen and it is appreciated if transient boats do not take up too much space. Part of the dock area for transients is a five foot high bulkhead that is a little rough. We used our fender boards for protection. The northern half of the wall has a newer 3 foot high dock with less intimidating pylons. There is a single post that has in interesting mix of electrical outlets on it but none of them were live. There are no water or trash receptacles on the dock. There are bathrooms at the Bayside Landing Park but they were still closed early season.

    The parking lot is large, runs up to the bulkhead, and is used not only to park vehicles and trailers filled with crab pots, but also as the loading and unloading space for the local fishing fleet. Things get started on fisherman's time here, which was 4:30 am pre-season. The disturbance was not as bad as we feared and, after the boats left, we fell back to sleep, The harbor has a large breakwater protecting it but we still experienced wakes moving in from the bay even when there were no boats around. We can imagine that, in a strong south wind, it might be uncomfortable on the dock.

    Rock Hall appears to be more of a working town than one filled with summer homes. Although there are eight marinas in the area and plenty of pleasure boats, the harbor is also home for a large fleet of local fishing boats. Watermen were unloading crab pots on the dock in preparation for the season. We were pre-season and mid-week so almost every restaurant was closed, prepping for the crowds.

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  • Anchorage Review for Corsica River - Cedar Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter the Corsica River and continue up to Red "4" staying mid-channel with no less than 11 feet MLW of depth. Leave R4 and head straight for the entrance to Emory Creek, leaving the Corsica Yacht Club mooring field to port on approach. There is 9 feet MLW at the anchor icon. We anchored in front of the icon with excellent wind, and wave protection from the west through the north an around to the southeast. Protection from the other points was good. We did experience a couple of fishing boats that passed close by as they entered and exited the creek, but it was not excessive. The anchorage was quiet and peaceful. Cellular service was poor for ATT and Verizon and good for T-Mobile with three bars and 20 mbps download speeds on our cellular gateway. There is no nearby shore access but, if you go three miles further up the Corsica River you will arrive at the boat launch in Centerville with restaurants, stores, and a supermarket. This is a great anchorage to spend an extra day or two relaxing.

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  • Anchorage Review for Corsica River - Town Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    Scouting Report – Turn south after Red "2" and head towards the anchorage icon with no less than 11 feet MLW approaching the back of the Cove. There is 10 feet MLW at the icon which is tucked into the back of the cove. Excellent wind, wave, and wake protection for winds from the east, through the south, and around to the northeast. Current should not be a problem as the cove is well off deep water. We did not anchor but throughout the cove we did not see anything but clean bottom. Although the cove has several large houses, there is not the feeling of being in their back yards, even though they are close by. There is an entrance to a shallow water cove to the south that might be a place to take Fido ashore. Two bars for the major cell carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for Granary Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    2

    Scouting Report – Three quarters of a mile further up Wye East from Dividing Creek is the entrance to Granary Creek. Stay center channel for nine feet of water mlw, going down to about 7 feet mlw at the anchorage icon. The best protection is in the upper half of the creek. Excellent wind, wave, and wake protection. No current. There is reported good holding in mud. Cellular reception is poor (1 bar). There is very good shore access at the kayak launch at the head of the creek with stairs going up the bank to a manicured park area with several trails to exercise both dog and owner. Wye Island is a Maryland Natural Resource Management Area. (https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/wyeisland.aspx) There is no shopping in the area.

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  • Anchorage Review for Dividing Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 13, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    Located in the Wye River East (Back Wye), about three miles beyond Shaw Bay and five miles for Green 1W at the mouth of the river, Dividing Creek provides excellent protection against heavy weather coming from all directions except the south where protection is only good. Enter with 10 foot depths mlw and proceed back to the anchorage icon for a depth of 8 feet mlw. Wind, wave, current, and wake protection are excellent in and there is a minimum width of 200 feet of deep water channel to the icon. The bottom is mud. We held well on our third anchoring attempt which is unusual. Care should be taken to make sure the anchor is properly set before turning your attention to other things.

    Wye Island is a nature resource management area and Dividing Creek is in the middle of it all. Although the interior of the island is farmed, the shoreline on both sides of the creek is wooded with no houses. There are several nature trails running through the woods. At the head of the creek on the western shore there is a primitive kayak/canoe launch area that provides minimal shore access. For Fido there are two better beaches on small sandy spots either side of the entrance to the creek. Cell reception is only fair on the three major carriers and our internet speeds (less than 2mbps) reflected this. The natural beauty of the creek and the protection afforded make this a great stop to decompress and ride out bad weather. We stayed here for three days and left refreshed. Definitely one of the best anchorages we have stayed in.

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  • Marina Review for Chestertown Municipal Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 6, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    It is a 23 mile run from Kent Narrows up the Chester River to Chestertown but the town is an excellent destination for Chesapeake Cruisers and it is worth the trip, especially if you can catch the tide to give you a lift. The river is deep and well-marked and dockside depths at the marina are over 12 feet MLW. The marina has undergone a major renovation recently and it shows. Two of the three docks (including the gas dock) are now floating with brand new infrastructure. The power pedestals conform to the updated GFCI regulations. Gas, diesel, and pump out ($5) are available on the face of the middle dock and the dockmaster was present to assist us on arrival. Even though Chesterton is quite far up the Chester River, there is tidal current that runs as fast as 0.75 mph and a 3 foot tide. Docking can sometimes be challenging. Time your arrival around slack tidal flow if possible. The new Dockmaster's office includes very nice bathroom/showers and a new laundry room that accepts quarters. There are no physical security measures at the marina but it does not feel like they would be necessary. We had no problems at all during our stay.

    One of the best things about this marina is the Dockmaster, Paul Coleman. He could not have been more helpful from first contact through docking, pump out, docking in our slip, and providing information on the town and what to do. Although there is a restaurant on site, there is a "For Sale" sign on it and it is not operating. This is not a problem because the center of the historic downtown is less than a ten minute walk away and there are many options open to boaters in easy walking distance. Marina Wi-Fi was very good with easy connectivity and speeds averages around 15mbps download. Cell service was good for both Verizon and T-Mobile, but AT&T service was poor.

    There is an Acme grocery store about a mile and half from the marina to do a re-stock and there are several hardware and automotive stores about the same distance away for necessities. The thing that made this stop special was the combination of hundreds of years of history and the conveniences afforded the boater within easy walking distance of the marina. We were in port on Saturday and the local farmers market was open from 8am to noon. By itself, it was worth the trip up the river. We ate breakfast at Modern Stone Age Kitchen and highly recommend a stop there for many reasons.

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  • Marina Review for St. Michaels Marina LLC

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on May 2, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    St. Michaels Marina is located in the southwest corner of the pocket that is St. Michaels. Approach depths were no less than 12 feet mlw and we found 7.5 feet mlw at our slip. The gas dock, selling both gasoline and diesel, is a face dock located on the small channel the turns south between St Michaels Marina and St. Michaels Harbour Inn Marina. There is plenty of room to turn and come into the dock for a portside tie for fuel. There is good wave, and wind protection in all directions except from the east, were a good blow will bring some waves into the back of the harbor. Pumpout service was not available during our stay as their system is in the process of being replaced. Completion is scheduled by the middle of May but, if this is important to you, check.

    All docks are fixed and are in good repair. Electric (30/50) and water are provided on the dock. There are good, clean showers and a new laundry (accepts quarters) available on site. There are no physical security measures on the docks but they are well lit and there was no issues with the public on the docks. Marina WiFi is easy to connect to and has acceptable speed. Cell reception is excellent for all carriers. In season rates for dockage and electricity should be noted when making reservations.

    We were here pre-season with a group of twelve boats. The dock staff was limited but very knowledgeable and responsive to their duties. The two restaurants at the marina are very good. There are several other good restaurants within easy walking distance. There is a pool on site.

    St. Michaels is noted as being one of the best summer communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We can imagine that the harbor and the town get crowded during the season. There are several museums and galleries in the town. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a must see. Grocery shopping is available from several smaller stores but resupply would require a trip to Easton, ten miles away, where there are several supermarkets, a Wal-Mart and a Lowes.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lloyd Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 27, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Turn south off the Wye River opposite Green "3" and follow the windy entrance channel carefully with your chartplotter with a minimum of 12 feet mlw on approach. There is 10 feet mlw at the anchorage icon with depth decreasing as you move further up the creek. Good holding in mud with good wind and wave protection in all directions except north, where protection is only fair. There is no current running in the creek and we had no boats pass us in while we were anchored here. This anchorage is definitely less populated than nearby Shaw Bay. There is no shore access nearby and no shopping in the neighborhood. The shore is dotted with widely scattered houses. Cell phone reception was fair for AT&T and T-Mobile, only one bar for Verizon. Definitely a good anchorage if you just want to kick back and relax quietly.

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  • Anchorage Review for Oxford - Town Creek Channel

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 27, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    The Town Creek Channel Anchorage is just off the channel leading into the marinas in the center of town. Located just off the Safe Harbor Oxford Marina, care must be taken to give enough space for boats using the marina while staying out of the travelway. Depth in the anchorage is 9.5 feet mlw. Our anchor bit on the first try and stuck solid with 50 feet of chain out on a snubber. Wind and wave protections are excellent and the anchorage is in a no wake zone. Even the local commercial fishermen abide by it. We were not waked at all during the morning rush hour. There is no current to speak of and you will swing with the wind. We had winds up to 15 miles per hour from the west and had no problems staying off the marina docks and out of the channel.

    Shore access is in the middle of town at the Oxford Dinghy dock which is at the foot of Market St. Oxford is a small town and there is not that much traffic, either on land or in the water on a Monday night in April. There is a big restaurant with outdoor seating at the boat launch adjacent to the anchorage and they have space and depth for two 40 foot plus boats on the outside of their docks. Docking is free for dinner and overnight stays are possible for a reported $2.00 per foot.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Shaw Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 26, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Scouting Report - Shaw Bay is quite large and there is sufficient fetch from the north (3/4 miles) for waves to be kicked up. The bay is deep up to the shore and I can see people "playing' in the bay and there being a problem with wakes during the day. Depth at the anchorage icon was 11 feet mlw and we followed the charted break depth line east from the icon for about a half mile. Plenty or room for any number of boats. .

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Choptank River - La Trappe Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 24, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Scouting Report – Leave the Choptank main channel between Red "18" and Green "19 and head directly for La Trappe Creek Green "1". There is currently a single, poorly oriented day board mounted on a large Cylindrical Structure. You should be able to see La Trappe Red "2" on a similar structure about 0.2 miles further up the creek. Expect a minimum of 9 feet mlw water depth at the entrance but make sure to follow the depth contours as you move between G-1 and R-2. Best depth is not a straight shot from mark to mark. There is a minimum of 9 feet mlw in the channel and as you turn into the well protected anchorage. Depth drops to 8 feet at the anchorage icon. Holding is reported to be good. There is room for four to six 40 foot boats with plenty of swing room. Wind protection is good, but the lower part of the anchorage is open to the wind from most directions. To get more protection from the wind (and perhaps from other boats at anchor) continue up the spur off La Trappe Creek for as much as a third of a mile with good water and better wind protection. Protection from waves and wakes is excellent in all directions. There is no current to speak of running through the anchorage. The water is clear and, in season, swimming would be welcomed. We scouted the anchorage at the end of April and there were no crab pots in the area. There is no shore access on the sandy spit protecting the anchorage to the south: the shore is posted with several "No Trespassing" signs. Shore access to small beaches is either to the east or across La Trappe Creek to the south. Cell reception is good for all three major carriers. There is no nearby shopping. This anchorage checks all the boxes and we will be back to anchor here in the future.

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  • Free Dock Review for Cambridge Creek Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 24, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Turn off the Choptank River into the well-marked approach to Cambridge Creek. Follow the red marks for the entrance to the creek in no less than 12 feet mlw. The creek basin opens up on the right as you move towards the lift bridge over the creek. The free dock is in front of the Dorchester County Municipal Office Building parking lot and just west of Snappers Waterfront Café and Tiki Bar. The concrete portion occupies the middle of the dock and is over 400 feet long with medium sized cleats spaced on top of the wall every fifteen feet. Dockside depth is 9 feet mlw on the eastern half of the dock and goes down to 4 feet mlw or less on the western half. In most instances lines will come down from the dock to the boat at low tide so we used chafe guards. The tidal range is 2 feet so we arranged our fenders in "Up/Down" pairs to make sure that at least two fenders were always in contact with the bulkhead's concrete cap to keep the boat off the wall. Several obvious signs declare "72 Hour Docking Only - Strictly Enforced." The only amenities are a trash can at the east end of the dock and a couple of picnic tables. There is a fifteen foot wide grass stretch between the dock and parking lot and plenty of other places to walk a dog. There are no security measures but the parking lot is well lit at night and the Sheriff's Office is in the county building at the dock. Cell service was excellent.

    We arrived on a Friday afternoon and around 4pm a singer started up at Snappers Café adjacent to the free dock. Several local boats came in and tied up for drinks and dinner. The noise level from the restaurant never got uncomfortable and was finished by 10pm. We did not experience any overnight noise or other issues during our stay.

    We tied up for three days to ride out severe winds and weather and spent time in the lovely town of Cambridge. There are good restaurants, breweries, bars, and cultural attractions that occupied our free time. Black Water Bakery is the place to go for breakfast. Reservations suggested. This is definitely a stop that we will make again, even if it is by car.

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  • Anchorage Review for Little Choptank River - Hudson Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 22, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Turn off the channel at Green "7" and proceed up Hudson Creek towards Green "1" in 11 feet of water. From this mark proceed directly towards the Little Choptank – Hudson Creek anchorage icon in water slowly diminishing to 8 feet mlw at the icon. Anchor anywhere from the anchorage icon towards the southeast for 300 yards with a constant 8 feet of water. Easily room for 6-8 large boats. Holding is excellent in clay/mud. Our anchor set immediately and did not budge. The anchorage is open to the southeast but has good wave protection from all other points of the compass. The low lying shoreline allows the wind to come across the water from all directions. There is a tidal current in the anchorage so, in light winds, expect to swing with the tide. Although the anchorage is somewhat open, we were comfortable in winds to 15 mph. We would stay here again even in higher winds.

    There appears to be two small sandy spots at low tide to take a dog ashore. The first is halfway down the spit to the southeast and the second is a small area on the opposite shore behind Red "2". No shopping opportunities. Surprisingly good cell service, despite the feeling of being away from town that the anchorage has. We anchored here on a lovely Friday evening and there was very little boat traffic. Only one commercial boat came by in the morning at six to remind us that we were on the water.

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  • Marina Review for 3 Knots Marine

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 20, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    The town of Ewell can be reached from either the Tangier Bay to the east or the Chesapeake from the west. Coming in from Tangier Bay, the channel is shallow to begin with but never showed less than 6.5 feet mlw and, after the first mile, the depths increased to 8+ feet for the remainder of the trip in. Exiting to the west towards Chesapeake Bay the water depth was never less than 8 feet mlw. Both channels are narrow so care must be taken to stay in the center. Even in the off season (Mid April) there was quite a bit of boat traffic going in both directions and passing was done at speed and in close proximity. Give way to oncoming boats, but watch your depth as well. There is a reversing current of about 1 mph that runs through the thoroughfare and the slips at the marina are perpendicular to the current, making docking at mid tide difficult. Plan your arrival at either low or high tide, with hide tide being the better choice for depth at the dock.

    3 Knots Marina is being completely redone with a new bath house, updated electric and water, and new docks. Work was being completed (target date mid-May 2023) while we were there but the owner's investment in the facility is clearly obvious and appreciated. We imagine that, during the season, a stay here can be really lovely. The water depth at the end of the finger piers is about 7 feet mlw, but the depth diminishes quickly as you move towards the shore end of the slips. Tie up at the outer end of the slip to maintain water depth under the bow. Do not back into a slip. There is a lot of traffic in and out of the thoroughfare but everyone maintains no wake speed so there is not an issue of being waked while at the dock. Larger boats with more than a four foot draft will have a problem with depth during the bottom half of the tide.

    Smith Island is the home of the Maryland State Dessert: Smith Island Cake. No trip to the island is complete without a visit to the Smith Island Bakery to try one (or more) of the 30+ varieties of this awesome dessert. The town has a long and very interesting history that is on display at the Smith Island Heritage and History center, located next to the marina. There is something special about island communities and Smith Island is no exception. We were glad that we made the effort to come here.

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  • Anchorage Review for Onancock Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 19, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4

    Scouting report – Turn off Onancock Creek at R22 and head North into the large pocket that lays outside the channel. Depth will shoal slowly from 13 feet mlw in the channel to 9 feet mlw at the anchorage icon. There is good wind and wave protection from the north through east and to the southeast. No visible shore access. Good cell reception for all three major carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for Onancock - Cedar Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 19, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4

    Scouting Report – Turn off Onancock Creek at R28 and head south into the mouth of Cedar Creek with water levels slowly diminishing as you move further off the channel. At the anchorage icon the water depth was 8 feet mlw with good swing room in all directions. There is good wind and wave protection from the east, through the south and around to the west. No visible shore access. Good cell reception for all three major carriers.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Onancock Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 19, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    5
    Pet Friendly:
    5
    Cell Service:
    4

    Approach on the Onancock side channel off Pocomoke Sound entrance and go mark to mark up to G 29 in downtown Onancock with no less than 12 feet of water mlw the whole way. Anchor in 7 feet of water mlw at the mouth of the South Branch of the river, taking care to be well off the main channel to be clear of a very large gravel barge that transits the channel regularly. Good holding in mud with good wave, wind, and current protection all round. Looking at all of our charts there appears to be little if any water as you move into the South Branch arm of the river. Riding around in our dinghy showed otherwise, with an estimated 5 feet of water mlw. People with shoal draft boats might want to try moving about 300 yards up the river into a lovely well protected space for two or three boats.

    Visit town in your dinghy, docking at the town dinghy/kayak dock that is just beyond the bridge and close to the historic district of the town. Several restaurants and pubs are within easy walking distance. There is a Food Lion 4 miles distant if needed. Interesting galleries are also within easy walking distance of the dock. Very good cell reception for the major carriers. We spent a quiet, protected, restful two nights even with winds gusting to 25 knots.

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  • Anchorage Review for Poquoson River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 17, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4
    WiFi:
    1

    Turn west at Green "15" in 15 feet of water mlw and proceed directly towards the anchor icon with waters slowly diminishing to 8 feet mlw just before the anchor icon. Anchor set immediately and came up in the morning with mostly clean chain and a good chunk of sandy mud on the anchor. Good wind and wave protection with from north, west, and south winds. Slight tidal current runs through the anchorage so, in light winds, you may swing with the current. We anchored on a nice Sunday evening and there was some boat traffic before dark, but not excessive. No traffic at night. Crab pots visible but mostly in shallower water. Cell phone reception is good for Big Three. The shore is all private land and there is shore access for either fido or shopping.

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  • Marina Review for Top Rack Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 15, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Top Rack Marina has several things going for it, even if they are face on to the Elizabeth River and there are too many boats that just ignore the "No Wake" zone covering the marina docks.

    1. The people are the best. We have been here four different times and the dock crew at the marina is always "four star." They are knowledgeable, competent, and polite. They go the extra mile and always get a tremendous "thank you" from the crew.
    2. The restaurant is supposed to be excellent. The snack bar, located on the lower level is great.
    3. The diesel price has been the best in the area for the last three visits. It is good to save money.
    4. The marina is the last easy access marina before Norfolk and, although it is no longer free, it is still very reasonable. Going south, I would consider going to the Chesapeake Free Docks at Great Bridge.
    5. Although there is bridge noise through the evening, a good night's sleep is still possible.

    We will continue to make this a scheduled stop going either north or south on the ICW.

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  • Free Dock Review for South Mills

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 15, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Leaving South Mills Lock there is a long wall extending from the lock to the road bridge 0.4 miles into the Dismal Swamp Canal. The bridge is operated by the lockmaster who drives between the two sites. There is a section of the lock wall about half way between the lock and the bridge where there is yellow painted stripes on the top and down the sides of the wall. There is a mooring cleat in each of these stripes, placed about every 25 feet apart. There is enough room for in the tie up area for a minimum of six boats. Although there are roads on both sides of the canal there traffic was not bad. More noise comes from livestock and dogs in the area.

    We left with the 0830 lock opening and made the 1330 lock opening at Deep Creek, the north end of the Great Dismal Swamp Canal with no problems. This was an excellent option for traveling the canal.

    There is a convenience store in town, a short walk away. Cell reception was good for all carriers and there is plenty of room to walk pets along the canal.

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  • Lock comment on South Mills Lock

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    When you approach South Mills Lock from the south you will be looking at a low road bridge over a side channel. The lock is literally 200 yards beyond the corner and the final approach is tight and shallows to 9 feet coming into the lock with little room to maneuver. The lock opens 10 minutes before the scheduled lock opening and, if there is time to kill, it is better slowing down on final approach rather than trying to stop right before the lock. There is more room to pause at the junction with the old barge loading canal, five minutes south of the lock. Check with the lockmaster on VHF Channel 13 to confirm times. Prepare for a port side tie northbound using your own lines for the 8 foot lift.

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  • Anchorage Review for Goat Island - North

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4
    WiFi:
    1

    Turn off the ICW at Green 13 and head into anchorage towards the Right Descending Bank. There is a minimum of 10 feet of water all the way back to the anchorage icon. Scouting around we found no less than eight feet of water in the area with room for at least four to six boats. Excellent wind protection, good wake protection due to the fact that high speed travel on the river seems to be frowned on. There is no current to speak in the anchorage. Cell reception was good for the Big Three Carriers. No shore access in the area.

    Goat Island is 10.5 miles from the South Mills Lock. Allow time in the morning to make the lock going no more than seven or eight knots to keep wake damage to the shoreline minimal. There are several "no wake" zones on the way up to the lock.

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  • Free Dock Review for Mid-Atlantic Christian University

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    The dock consists of 150 feet of side tie with 20 foot depths and several slips for transients. 48 hour docking is free but you must be prepared to be confronted with some of the warmest hospitality imaginable. We have been here twice and cannot begin to describe how nice everyone here is. Starting with the "dockmaster" Dan Smith all the way to the students at the college, everyone is wonderfully positive. While there is no security on the dock, it is within the campus and we never felt a moment's concern for our security.

    The access to the university facilities has already been described in other posts. The welcome bag, including free stuff, from Maritime Ministries is quite remarkable. Downtown is less than a half mile away with several good restaurants and pubs. The Museum of the Albemarle is worth taking a rest day in Downtown Elizabeth City. Pet friendly. Good cell phone coverage. If you need groceries, Dan will arrange for transportation if at all possible.

    The only negative for this free dock is the road noise for the nearby bascule bridge. This is definitely an excellent stop.

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  • Anchorage Review for North River - Broad Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4
    WiFi:
    1

    Leave the ICW at R 164 and head almost due west about 1.5 miles to the anchorage icon which is placed just outside the entrance to Broad Creek. Watch for crab pots. We went another 500 yards closer to shore to gain protection from the forecasted 15 mph winds from the SW and anchored in 9 feet of water with good holding. Although there is sufficient depth for boats to work up into the creek we found no need to do this and spent a comfortable night with calm waters in the lee of the shore. There is room for any number of boats and, depending on wind directions, there is room up and down the shoreline with 10 feet of depth at least a mile north of the anchorage icon to protect against west and NW winds. If there are winds with an easterly component, you might think about moving 30 minutes north on the ICW and try anchoring at Buck Island South. North of the anchorage icon there is one charted snag to watch out for but we found the bottom contour to be uncluttered with debris. In the morning the anchor chain came up clean but the anchor had a large clump of mud on it that required cleaning.

    There is no immediate or close by shore access in this anchorage. Crab pots are scattered around the area but are not a major issue. Note must be made that "fuzzy bills" are a problem in the entire area from April through October. We have encountered them twice in the past five years. They are midges and will cover the outside of your boat and get into the engine room through the vents. Be forewarned.

    Cell service was good for the big three. There is o shore access or local shopping.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pungo River G23

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    3

    Leave the AICW just before the entrance to the Alligator Pungo Canal at Green "23", turning north into Pungo River and to the anchorage. After leaving the travelway, depths increase to ten feet or more. At the anchorage icon there is 10 feet of water and plenty of protection from all directions except the south. There is plenty of depth further up the river and there are several excellent, well protected spots with plenty of swing room and all around protection. There is some current running down the river but nothing to be concerned about. Five boats were anchored the night that we stayed and there was room for another dozen boats. There is a small beach to take Fido to shore if necessary. Cell phone reception was good for all three major carriers. This is definitely one of the best anchorages we have used on the ICW.

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  • Anchorage Review for Oriental - Greens Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 11, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    4
    Shore Access:
    5
    Pet Friendly:
    5
    Cell Service:
    3

    To get better protection from wind and waves move to the north side of the Oriental Bridge (clearance 45'). Oriental does not have a lunar tide but depths can easily change a foot either way with wind driven water surges. Strong winds from the North and East will add to depths, South and West winds will lower water levels so care should be taken when anchoring. Shallow draft boats have many choices but deeper draft boats will find 6-7 feet of water at the anchorage icon and between Green "1" and Green "3"in the Greens Creek Channel to the west of Teach's Point. 7 foot depths extend a good distance further up Green Creek as well.

    The inner harbor provides much better wind and wave protection than the outer harbor. This anchorage has adequate holding in mud. Care should be taken to make sure that anchor is properly set before turning off the engines. The anchor came up covered in mud in the morning. The anchorage is just off the channel but boat traffic is not too bad during the day and falls off to nothing at night. Weekends will have more boat traffic in season. Wave and wind protection is good except when the winds are from the east when it is only fair. As the anchorage is open, heavy weather from the south might make the stay a bit bumpy. There is no current to speak of so you will swing with the wind.

    Shore access is at the dinghy dock in the inner harbor right next to the boat launch. The center of town is three blocks away and there are several good restaurants within easy walking distance. The local Piggly Wiggly is well stocked and caters to boaters. They have a courtesy car and will pick you up at the boat launch, take you to the store and bring you back after your shopping. Call 252-249-3100 for service. There is a local West Marine Store as well and a well-stocked hardware store about a mile from the dinghy dock. Cell service is good for ATT, Verizon and T-Mobile

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  • Anchorage Review for North River - Buck Island (South)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    5

    We anchored here on Oct 9, 2022. Leave the channel approximately 0.3 miles south of Green 157 to avoid the shoal water sticking out from Buck Island. Expect 10 feet of water through most of the anchorage in normal conditions. We never saw less than 9.5 feet and we anchored southeast of the anchorage icon in 10 feet of water. There is no lunar tide in Albemarle Sound. Water depths are influenced by persistent winds. South winds will raise the water level, north winds will lower it. We saw one big snag just exposed in the middle of the cove (N36 14.91 W75 56.52) so care should be taken. The anchor set immediately and held well through the night in dense mud. Wind and wave protection is fair except from the south: the anchorage becomes uncomfortable with south winds greater than ten miles per hour. (We had three hours of that in the evening before things settled down.) Be prepared for wakes starting at about 7am from the faster vessels coming down from Coinjock. There is no shore access available in the area, in fact, the anchorage is well clear of any human habitation. With nice weather it is lovely and quiet and away from light pollution. Cellular reception and speeds were very good for the big three with download speeds in excess of 50 mbps.

    This is a good fair weather anchorage and acceptable with stronger winds from the north and the east. One warning, however: the area is notorious for midge hatches. We have twice experienced a nighttime swarm of "Fuzzy Bills" while anchoring in the bay. Each infestation required two days for cleanup and we are still finding desiccated corpses in nooks and crannies of the engine room. Perhaps the colder nighttime temperature (50 degrees) helped to keep them away from us this time.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pungo Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 15, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    4

    Going south we exited the AICW at the turn off channel for Belhaven and went directly to the marked entrance to Pungo Creek in no less than 10 feet of water. If you are going north you can leave the channel north of Green "7" and cross the flats to Red "2PC". After rounding the corner the creek widens and carries no less than 9 feet of water the entire 1.5 miles up the creek to the anchorage icon. The entire south shore and half of the north will provide good anchoring and shelter from winds and waves from any direction. Simply choose your spot for the expected winds. We anchored off the northern shore just beyond the Pungo Creek Canal in 10 feet of water with good holding. There is no tide here but water depths will vary as much as much as a foot with strong winds from either the north or the south. There is no noticeable current, we swung with the wind and did not budge during the night. There was little traffic and little road noise from the town.

    Shore access is about three miles away by fast dinghy. Take advantage of the Belhaven Town Pier. Cellular service is very good for the three major carriers.

    If you are not planning on going into town, Pungo Creek is actually a better anchorage than the town harbor. There is more room and less traffic. The off/on distance from the creek is about a mile longer than from the Belhaven Harbor, but the convenience and comfort of the creek anchorage is much better. We have now anchored in both places and will come back to the creek for overnights in the future.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Alligator River - Tuckahoe Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 13, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Depart the channel at approximately mm 104.2 between Green 49 and Red 52 and turn north towards the anchorage in the charted deep water area for a minimum of 7.5 feet normal water on entry and 11 feet at the anchorage icon. Anchor in 10 to 11 feet of water is soft mud. Care should be taken to ensure good holding if you anticipate higher winds. Good wave and wind protection from all directions except east, where the 4 mile fetch allows the water to kick up. There is room for at least 3 or 4 boats in the main portion of the anchorage. There is more room further up the river as well. There is no current to speak of. Shore access with no facilities is available at the Gum Ridge boat ramp which is about 2 miles further west, off the Alligator River. Cell service was barely adequate for AT&T and poor for Verizon and T-Mobile.

    We spent a quiet night with light winds. The anchorage's best feature is that it breaks up the very long day between Belhaven and Coinjock in to two comfortable chunks.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Free Dock Review for Mid-Atlantic Christian University

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 13, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Entering from the South go up the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City, through the bascule bridge in the center of town, Christian University Free Dock will be in front in front of you. If you are southbound, you will have traversed the Dismal Swamp Canal and should slow down once you see the bridge. The dock will be on the right, in front of some of the school's buildings. There is over 20 feet of water on approach and 18 feet at the dock. There is no lunar tide but care should be take tying up to the fixed dock as water levels rise and fall with strong winds from either the north or south. We used our fender boards to keep the boat off the dock pylons. Wind, wake, and wave protection is excellent. There is road noise from the nearby bridge that continues into the evening. There are both slips with short finger piers as well as a 125 foot dock for side ties The dock is in very good condition with potable water available but the free dock has no electricity or pump-out facilities. The University "Guest" Wi-Fi reaches the dock with very good speeds. Cellular connectivity is also very good for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The University has restricted stays to 48 hours, but the price is right.

    The normal expectation for a "Free Dock" is quite low but the Christian University has opened its doors to visitors. Dan Smith is the "dockmaster" (336.681.0575) and it is best to give him a call to check on space availability before arriving. He and his people are truly helpful and will provide you an information packet for the city which includes several discount coupons. We found the city to be very interesting with good restaurants, music and art venues, an excellent local museum, and opportunities to just kick back and relax on the swinging benches at the University fire pit which is just off the dock. The school opens its facilities to you as well, including meals at very reasonable prices. Everyone is so welcoming and, even though the dock is technically open to the street, the University provides illumination and security was never a concern to us. This was the best free dock experience we have ever had.

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  • Free Dock Review for Great Bridge Dock #1 (Chesapeake, VA)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Free Dock #1 is between Great Bridge Lock and the Bridge. It is on the south side of the ICW and closer to shopping than Chesapeake Free Dock #2. The dock is in good condition but it is nowhere near as nice as the Free Dock #2. There is space for four or five large boats. There are no facilities at #1. A good overnight spot when Free Dock #2 is full. Depth at the dock was 12 feet. Cellular service was excellent for the Big Three.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lafayette River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    5

    The Lafayette River Anchorage is an island of quiet in the middle of the most amazing collection of military/commercial/recreational facilities that is Norfolk/Portsmouth. Leave the channel at Green 19, five miles north of ICW Mile 0 and enter the well-marked channel leading back to the Lafayette River with 12 feet MLW of water all the way back to the anchorage. There is 11 feet MLW at the anchorage icon. You will find many of the small boats will take the short cut and go right through the anchorage area. Fortunately traffic dies down at night. Consider the three foot tide when letting out anchor rode. Holding is good in hard packed mud. We had 20+ mph winds overnight and did not budge. Fair wind protection all around and good wave protection from all directions except the southwest. There is room for two or three boats. Very good cell reception for the Big Three. The noise from the container port operations continues into the evening but stops overnight.

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  • Marina Review for Fishing Bay Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Located on the south side of Deltaville, you approach Fishing Bay Marina via the Piankatank River entrance. Pay attention to the navigational marks on the twisty approach. Fishing Bay contains the marina and a well protected anchorage that will hold over a dozen boats in 15 to 17 feet MLW. Approach the marina entrance slowly as the fairway requires some maneuvering. The marina is half fixed and half floating docks, all in good condition. We had 7.5 feet of water MLW at our slip. The dock was in excellent condition and power and water were easily accessible on the dock. The dock staff was on hand to help and assisted with all our needs. The marina is nestled up in a pocket with excellent protection from all directions except the south. Although the southern exposure is not open to the bay, there is more fetch from that direction and a good blow from the south might make the marina a bit bouncy.

    The marina is actually close to shopping and the courtesy car made resupply a breeze. There are also four courtesy bikes available. The local (large) West Marine store was a mile and a quarter away so we managed to pick up a few items we needed in addition to groceries that were about 2 miles from the dock. Any trip to Deltaville should include a visit to Nauti Nell's Marine Consignment Store. The place is fabulous. The facilities at Fishing Bay Marina were located up from the docks by the swimming pool that, when we were here, was closed for the season. The bathrooms with separate shower stalls were in good shape and clean as was the laundry. The laundry is operated by $2.00 tokens that you purchase at the office. There is also a very nice Captain's Lounge. The marina has very good OnSpot Wi-Fi. Cellular service for all three carriers was also very good.

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  • Anchorage Review for Corrotoman River - Sandy Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 6, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    4

    Travel 4 miles up the Corrotoman River into the east branch at the fork and find as good an anchorage as you could wish for. There is 15 feet MLW minimum on approach and 12 feet MLW at the anchorage icon. The anchorage is protected on all sides with very good holding, wind and wave protection, and minimal current for the 1 foot tide range. Trees on high banks protect you from the wind and the sandy spit that names the anchorage protects you from the one direction that has any fetch to it. The anchor set immediately and held in thick mud. Current was minimal and the few boats that passed were polite and slowed down. The anchorage is actually quite large. Once inside Sandy Point there is enough water and good spots to anchor going upriver for a mile. Select you spot according to the expected winds and enjoy.

    Sandy Point is a place to set your anchor and stay for a while. The anchorage is surrounded by higher banks and is treed in almost every direction for better wind protection. This, along with the lack of shore noises, also increases the scenic beauty score for the anchorage. This is a place to come and stay for a while to recharge. Shore access is on Sandy Point, a sand spit where you can walk the dog but do no shopping: There are no stores in the area. Incredibly, in the middle what seems like nowhere, there is very good cell signal for the Big Three. There is oyster aquaculture in the river but none to speak of in the anchorage. Crab pots were noticeably absent but eagles flew overhead. We were not even bothered by bugs. The screen doors to the salon remained stowed for our stay.

    Sandy Point is now one of our top ten anchorages.

    Follow up: We decided "hunker down" for Hurricane Ian in this anchorage. We moved to the NE corner under a 40 foot bank with mature trees for protection. Maximum winds were estimated to be about 40 mph from the North and East. Under the bank we experienced winds of less than 10 mph with occasional swirls that reached 20 mph. We spent over a week here and did not have a single concern about the anchorage. The anchor did not budge during our stay. Definitely a keeper.

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  • Anchorage Review for Corrotoman River - Bells Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 29, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Bells Creek is actually a part of the larger lagoon described in the review of Sandy Point. This particular part of the anchorage has excellent wind protection in all directions except for winds from the south, where the protection is only good and you would be better anchoring at the "Sandy Point" anchorage icon. Approach depths are 12 feet MLW and there is 9 feet MLW at the anchorage icon. Approach straight in and aim for the dock at the west bank of the entrance to Bells Creek. Stop about 100 yards off the dock in 9 feet of water. Protection from wind and waves is excellent in all directions except the southeast and then it is only good. Holding in this anchorage is good in thick mud although we did not anchor is this spot. If you are shallow draft you can move up into the creek for even better protection by carefully sounding your way into the anchorage, moving to the east side of the entrance for 5 feet of water MLW at the "No Wake" sign and then back into the middle of the creek as you move in further. We found 5 feet almost all the way to the back of the creek when we scouted in our dinghy. The creek is narrow so you will have to anchor in the center but you will have total protection from wind, waves, and current.

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  • Anchorage Review for Potomac River - Mason Neck

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 28, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Mason Neck Anchorage sits in the middle of the Potomac River and, under many circumstances would be the last place you would want to anchor. With winds from the Southwest around to the North, however, the anchorage provides an excellent wind break and is close enough to shore to provide a calm anchorage in 20+ knot winds.

    Leave the Potomac channel at Red "54" and west towards the Virginia shore in no less than 10 feet of water MLW. As you approach shore depth deepens to as much as 15 feet with 14 feet at the anchorage icon. Anchor with good holding in mud, staying clear of the cable crossing area to the south. Current through the anchorage will reach 1 knot and you will swing with the current so make sure you have adequate swing room. There is room for any number of large boats in a line along the shore with plenty of room between boats and everyone will swing in unison with the change of the tide. The anchorage is far enough off the channel that wakes are not an issue but there is some boat traffic through the anchorage as it provides a shortcut for vessels with local knowledge to transit the area.

    Mason Neck is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. Shore access is not permitted by the Refuge rules. In order to get to shore you would have to go to the state park in Belmont Bay. We did not bother trying. On the other hand, cellular reception is very good with 4 bars of 5G for ATT and T-Mobile and four bars on our 4G LTE Verizon phone as well. Even with the heavy weather in the afternoon, we spent a quiet and comfortable night before moving on. We were surprised that we did not hear the trains come through at this anchorage. When we stayed five miles down the river they were clearly heard. We will definitely come back here again when the winds warrant it.

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  • Anchorage Review for Great Wicomico River - Cockrell Creek (Shell Landing)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 27, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Easy in/out when transiting the area. 10 feet MLW on approach and 10 feet at the anchor
    icon. There is good holding in mud. No current, and good protection from all directions except the
    Northwest, where there is more fetch and the anchorage might get a bit bouncy. It is a short dinghy ride
    to "downtown" Reedville. Tie up at one of the dockside restaurants for dinner and spend a bit of time in town. (Reedville Fishermen's Museum). The anchorage has little boat traffic most of the time but as there is a boat launch (Shell Landing) around the corner so there is probably more traffic on weekends. The anchorage is just downstream from Omega Protein, an active fish processing plant with a half dozen active menhaden fishing boats ships leaving before light in the morning and coming back between five and eight in the evening. In addition the small spotting planes will land at the local airport behind the processing plant, flying straight over the anchorage at 100 feet, and will take off early in the morning as well. Very good cellular reception for all three carriers with very fast T-Mobile internet connectivity. The anchorage does not have an "away from it all" feel to it at all, but was a good, well protected overnight stop on our way south. Be aware of the many ruins and old piling obstructions along the shoreline.

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  • Anchorage Review for South Yeocomico River - Palmer Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 26, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Depths were 11' on approach 10' at anchorage icon Space for four or five boats. Mostly wooded. Only anchorage we have been in with a personal Lighthouse. There is good space, even with the aquaculture present in the cove. Anchor set immediately in silt/mud and held with no problems even with 40 mph winds from the west in the evening. Be mindful of the oyster aquaculture areas marked with white PVC pipe. Cellular reception was adequate for internet coverage but was not that fast. Shore access in the area not available. Krentz Marina does not allow dinghy docking. and there is not much else in the area.

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  • Anchorage Review for South Yeocomico River - Dungan Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Scouting Report - we did not anchor

    10' mlw on approach and 8' mlw at the icon. The anchorage looks large but there are multiple oyster aquaculture leases with a few crab pots strategically placed to make anchoring difficult. With effort you can probably fit two boats in the cove but we decided not to anchor in this cove because of complications presented by the commercial marine activities.

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  • Anchorage Review for South Yeocomico River - Drum Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Scouting Report - we did not anchor

    Approach depth 10' mlw, 8' mlw at the anchorage icon. Care must be taken when entering the cove because of oyster aquaculture on both sides of the approach. Room for two or three boats. Shore access may be possible around the corner at Krentz Marine but there is not much there.. Did not see many crab pots.

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  • Anchorage Review for West Yeocomico - Long Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Scouting report - we did not anchor

    Approach depth 12', 9' at the anchorage icon. This is a tight anchorage made even tighter by the oyster aquaculture area in front of the western shore of the cove. There is adequate swing room for one large boat at the icon and perhaps another in front of that boat further towards the entrance to the cove. Sandy beach on Seldom Point at the entrance to the cove. The Shelf Marina in Kinsale is around the corner for shore access and minimal shopping.

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  • Anchorage Review for West Yeocomico River - Great House Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 25, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Scouting Report - we did not anchor.

    Approach depth 11' mlw, 9' mlw at the anchorage Icon. Perdue feed operation next to the marina, a quarter mile from the anchorage. Possible dinghy landing at The Slips Marina. Anchorage is open all the way to the Bay from the east. Room for four or five larger boats. .

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  • Anchorage Review for Mattawoman Creek Bight

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter Mattawoman Creek by turning east off the channel near Red "46" and head for Mattawoman Green "1" favoring the southern shore to remain in 9 foot of water MLW as you approach the mark. We anchored fairly close to the southern shore about a quarter mile before Green "1" in 9 feet of water with winds predicted to be light for the night. We spent a comfortable night with good holding and were waked only a couple of times before dawn. There is a tidal current coming down the river and out of the creek so we did swing with the current changes. If there had been any serious concerns with the weather we could have moved back further into the creek entrance towards Green "3" to choose an appropriate anchoring depth. At Green "3" there is 5 to 6 feet of water MLW still favoring the southern shore.

    If you use this anchorage, saying out of the creek channel is important for your comfort. Smallwood State Park on the southern shore of Mattawoman Creek is a major launching point for small boats fishing the Potomac. Often small boat traffic from the launch starts at sunrise. On most weekends during the spring, summer, and fall there are tournaments which will launch many bass boats at great speeds in a short period of time early in the morning. Staying out of the creek channel from the launch is actually a matter of safety for all concerned and should be factored into your anchoring decisions. Boats with drafts less than 4 feet might consider going up the creek beyond the marina and anchor at Grinders Wharf or beyond towards Bullitt Neck in 5 to 9 feet of water. Vessels of over 4 foot draft should consider the state of the tide when attempting to get back up in the creek.

    Our stay on downstream of Green 1 was comfortable and bug free. We did have to pay attention to crab pots on entering the creek but found a clear area to anchor in. The quiet nights were interrupted regularly by train whistles coming across the river. Cellular internet was good for all three carriers. Shore access is possible at Sweden Point Marina. Be advised that some of the area on the southern shore of the creek and the bight on the northern shore are military installations with no shore access.

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  • Marina Review for Capital Yacht Club

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Capital Yacht Club is a private club that will accept transients for short stay if a cruising member's slip is open. If you are lucky enough to find an available slip you will be perfectly positioned to enjoy your visit to the nation's Capitol while enjoying the amenities and security of a premier private yacht club.

    Enter the Washington Channel between Haines Point and Fort McNair north of Green "11" and continue up the channel approximately 1.5 miles to the marina which is just beyond the Wharf Marina. The docks at both the Wharf and Capital Yacht clubs are well marked. The docks belonging to the Capital Yacht Club are "A", "B", and "C". Slips are also clearly marked. There will be someone from the club on the dock to assist you with line handling. Armani and David assisted us and were helpful, friendly, and professional. Slips are single bay (finger docks on both sides of the slip) so you will have a choice as which side you wish to tie up. Power and water are dedicated to each slip and have no issues. Docks are floating concrete so set your fenders to low level. There is no current flowing through the channel. Depth at the dock is over 20 feet. As you are now guests at a private club you will be given security keys, a list of club rules, and will be granted access to the club amenities. The amenities include immaculate bath/showers, a laundry room with five sets of washer/dryers ($1.75 per wash or dry, coins or credit cards), a wonderful Captain's lounge with cooking facilities, a conference/library room, a full restaurant/bar, bike racks, a workout area, and more. In slip pump outs can be scheduled. Yacht club Wi-Fi is adequate but as you are in downtown DC, cellular reception is excellent. The club is dog friendly. The lovely Southwest Waterfront Park is 4/10ths of a mile south along the promenade.

    The Capital Yacht Club sits in the middle of the newly renovated Wharf area of Southwest Washington. Quite literally outside the front gate to the club there is a mile long promenade with shops, restaurants, boutiques, and other stores (more restaurants and shops coming soon in the newer buildings). Grocery and drug stores are a half mile away as is an Enterprise Rent-a-Car location. The National Mall is about a mile and a half walk or, if you prefer, you can take the free District Wharf SW Neighborhood Shuttle (bus stop 350 feet from clubhouse in front of CVS) and the DC Circulator to visit almost all points of interest all the way out to Arlington National Cemetery. Both shuttle bus systems have online tracking. The DC Metro system can be reached by taking the SW Neighborhood Shuttle to L'Enfant Plaza.

    As a place to base your stay in Washington DC, you cannot do better than this. We were recognized as guests by the members and felt that we were warmly welcomed at their wonderful club. While $3.00 per foot may seem high, one has to remember that a room at one of the hotels in the area will start at $300 per night.

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  • Nav Alert comment on MD: Potomac River, Harry W. Nice Bridge, speed restrictions due to construction

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Contact Bridge Construction Operations on Channel 10.

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  • Marina Review for Machodoc Creek Marina Inc.

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Enter the 11 foot deep mlw channel into Upper Machodoc Creek at Potomac Green "29" and follow the well-marked channel back beyond the Dalgren Naval Weapons Center, continuing at on an extension of the channel with no less 7 feet of water up the channel and then into the docks. There is room on the T-Dock for a 70 footer but call ahead on this. At 48 feet we only took up half the dock. Slips are all stern-in with short finger docks for getting off the boat. The dock still in the process of being updated by the new owner but is in reasonable/good shape from the T-Dock all the way in to the shore. Electric and water are new and work as you would expect. Tie off mooring lines to pylons; there are no cleats. We used fender boards and had no issues with the 1.5 foot tide or currents.

    Jeff, the owner of the marina since 2017, has done a remarkable job of turning the marina around and is still in the process of improving the facilities. The bath/showers are new and are impressive. The new office/restaurant building is first class. The restaurant is open for extended lunch from Wednesday through Sunday. Dinners are on the menu once the restaurant gets its liquor license. The menu is remarkable. We did not get a chance to try the food but, if you believe half the comments, it is worth a try. The marina sells gas but not diesel. The boat ramp is at the food o the dock. The portable pumpout was not working while we were there.

    We were pleased with the responsiveness and concern of the owner and his staff. Coming back on Sunday at 7pm from friends we found the owner completing his evening dock check. Shopping is close by but requires a car. The owner will either drive you or lend you his truck when possible to make sure that you can take care of your needs. We felt secure in leaving the boat for an overnight with friends.


    We were pleased with the responsiveness and concern of the owner and his staff. Coming back on Sunday at 7pm from friends we found the owner completing his evening dock check. Shopping is close by but requires a car. The owner will either drive you or lend you his truck when possible to make sure that you can take care of your needs. We felt secure in leaving the boat for an overnight with friends.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lower Machodoc Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    This is an excellent easy-off overnight stop on the Potomac. We arrived on a lovely Friday afternoon and were surprised at how little traffic there was on the creek. We were also surprised at the lack of crab pots. You need to pay attention on at the creek entrance as it requires a well-marked "jog" as you enter. Approach depths were 16 feet mlw, there was 14 feet at the anchorage icon, and 14 feet over a half mile up the creek from the icon where we finally anchored. There is room for any number of boats in the anchorage. Holding is excellent in sticky mud and wind/wave protection is very good from all directions except the North where it is only good. There is minimal current so you will swing with the wind. We could not believe how quiet the anchorage was and were delighted by the absence of crab pots.

    If you have a dinghy the Coles Point Tavern (about 2 miles distant around the point) has a dock and is reputed to have amazing food. Shore access is possible at the small launch in Branson Cove as well as a couple more restaurants. Any sort of shopping will require a car. One thing we found peculiar is that, with houses all along the shore and docks everywhere, there was very little boat traffic on a lovely Friday night and only one early Saturday morning boat leaving to go fishing. Cellular reception for ATT and Verizon was poor at 1-2 bars, T-Mobile was fair at 2-3 bars.

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  • Marina Review for Port of Salisbury Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 16, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    If you like exploring rivers, the tributary rivers of the Chesapeake are incredibly rich with history, natural beauty, and industry. The Port of Salisbury Marina was simply the excuse to travel the 25 miles up the Wicomico River. At the junction buoy with the Nanticoke River you are in the Chesapeake Bay. As you travel up the river it changes character and transitions to fresh water. At Whitehaven you have to deal with the cable ferry that is the oldest ferry in the USA with operations dating back to 1687. The second cable ferry, ten miles further upstream, Upper Ferry, dates to 1688. Three miles downstream from Salisbury is Pemberton Hall, a pre-revolutionary plantation that dates back to the 1740's.

    The Wicomico River channel is well marked and deep. There are commercial operations in Salisbury that use the river for transport. We passed a barge and tow on our way up the river. Be prepared for currents on the trip with speeds of up to 1.5 miles per hour at the height of the ebb or flow. The marina is at the head of navigation with a low clearance bridge precluding further travel upriver. The marina is well laid out and sits in the middle of town. The fixed docks have protruding pylons and, with the four foot tide, careful line placement and fender boards are necessary. We had 12 mlw depth at the T-head. Water and power are in good working order although there are some dock planks that really need to be replaced soon. The staff was responsive to our questions and the marina provides older shower facilities (individual toilet/shower rooms) as well as an excellent (and inexpensive 1 dollar wash/75 cent dryer) laundry room. Courtesy bikes are available. The nearest supermarket and pharmacy are about a mile from the marina. Security is provided with a lock gate separating the docks from the downtown parking lot. Brew River restaurant and dockbar are next door and several other restaurants are within walking distance.. Cellular reception is good for the Big Three. There is a small dog park upriver just beyond the Brew River restaurant. We liked the place so we stayed an extra day.

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  • Anchorage Review for Honga River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 16, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    You know you are out in the boondocks when you are on the "Honga River", near Hoopersville, and just a hop skip and a jump from "Crapo." (Seriously) The anchorage is far enough away from any urban light source. The night was clear and we had a good view of the Milky Way. What is surprising is that there is any cellular reception at all but there is: just fair for the big three. If you decided to come up Tangier Sound to escape the weather on the main part of the Chesapeake, you will find the northern exit leading back the bay three miles below the anchorage. Between Honga River, Hoopersville, and Lakes Cove you have three anchorages that should take care of most situations while providing a restful night before venturing back to the Big Bay.

    Approaching from the south the anchorage slowly shallows, allowing you the opportunity to decide at what depth to stop and drop the anchor. We decided to let go in about 11 feet of water and the anchor immediately grabbed and set for the night in clay. The wind laid down and we had an restful night with a few waterman wakes starting at five in the morning. There is really no wind protection but Asquith Island provides a comfortable break in the waves. There is no shore access. There were no crab pots to deal with in the anchorage.

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  • Marina Review for Parks Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 14, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Parks Marina occupies a length of the channel that cuts through the middle of the island from east to west. Stern in slips with short fingers are on the west side of the "Parks Marina" building. Coming in when the tide is running will be a challenge as there is a good 1.5 knot current either going east on the rising tide or west on the falling one. Depths for slips close to the office on the west side are less than 5 feet mlw: We found ourselves on the bottom with our 5 foot draft an hour before low tide. We moved on the rising tide to the side tie in front of the office where there are 12 foot depths. The power, water, toilets/showers, and docks are all in good shape but have been well used (and maintained) over the years. The marina feels like an integral part of a working harbor on a working island that is struggling to remain viable. The price is right as well. $30 for boats under 30 feet and $35 for boats over 30 feet with $5 for electricity.

    Tangier Island is slowly sinking into the Bay and, at this moment, there is water coming up into several of the roads above mid-tide. The community is clearly oriented towards fishing the bay and the fleet of commercial boats contains really lovely examples of Chesapeake Bay Deadrise fishing boats with their small cabins forward and large working decks for crab traps and other fishing gear. Tourists come on ferries from both Reedville on the mainland and Onancock and Crisfield on the Eastern Shore but tend to be more day trippers. Private vessels end up at Parks. There are four restaurants in town, oriented more towards the lunch crowd but with options for dinner as well. We spent an extra day here and are glad we did. Spend the time and rent a golf car to wander around the island. The place is special. The four star rating is, in part, an endorsement of the island.

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  • Marina Review for Cape Charles Town Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 12, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Let's get this out up front: $3.00 a foot for a marina on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is a bit excessive. Having said that, we really enjoyed our stay in Cape Charles and would think about coming back again, either by boat or car. The town and beach were very nice and we could have easily spent an extra day exploring.

    The marina is well maintained. The docks are clean and in good repair, power pedestals are in good working order, water is available with good pressure, and there were even bumpers on the floating docks, making the need for fenders optional. As the harbor is also an industrial/commercial harbor, it is quite large and has sufficient depth for working boats and barges. Approach depths were over 20 feet and we had 12 foot depth on the T-head that we were docked on. Protection is excellent except with strong winds out of the west. The staff is responsive, the marina is well maintained and the trash had been emptied. The showers have just been redone and are in good order. The marina Wi-Fi was good and there was good to very good Cellular reception for the Big Three.

    There is a good restaurant on the dock and a 300 yard path that drops you off in the middle of the four block long "downtown" with restaurants, brew houses, souvenir shops, and a gourmet grocery store. The hardware store, unfortunately, has closed.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pungo River G23

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 7, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    3

    The Pungo River G23 anchorage is at the entrance to the Pungo-Alligator River canal. Oriental is 55 miles to the south and Coinjock is 77 miles to the north. It is probably the most strategic stopping point between these two destinations. It is also a lovely anchorage in its own right and a great place to stop for the night or longer. You are 500 yards off the intra-coastal but you are in a different world.

    Leave the ICW at Green "23" and head north up the Pungo River to the anchorage icon. Once over the 8 foot depth spoils bank at the side of the channel the depth returns to 10 to 12 to well beyond the anchorage icon. Going further up the river will provide protection from south winds. We chose to anchor in 11 feet of water at the icon to take advantage of the 10 mph southerly breeze for the evening. The anchor set immediately and held with 60 feet of chain laid out. Although we were anchored in the river there was no discernable current to deal with. There was light chop from the southerly breeze but it did not bounce the boat at all. Traffic came by on the ICW but no wakes reached us. Even though it was a holiday weekend, there was no boat traffic passing us on the river.

    This anchorage is out in nature. You can only see a couple of houses and the noise from the road is in the distance. There is a small sand beach for pet relief but there really is no other place to go to once on land. Belhaven is the closest shopping and it is about 9 miles away. Cellular internet connectivity is good for T-Mobile an Very Good for ATT and Verizon.

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  • Free Dock Review for Great Bridge Dock #2 (Chesapeake, VA)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 7, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Dock is in excellent condition. Depth dockside is 11 feet. Stay is marked as being 48 hours. Excellent location with grocery store less than a mile away across the bridge. Great walking paths and a museum thrown in as well. Room for six to eight well tied boats on a 400 foot long dock.

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  • Anchorage Review for Neuse River - South River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 5, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    2

    Entering South River requires a bit of attention to the ATONs and charts. Care must be taken to stay in the middle of the channel between Green "1" and Red "2" as depths shoal on the east side of the channel quickly. Pay attention to the military vessel wreck located behind Green "3" as well. There is no less than 10 feet of water in the entrance. Once in South River the "anchorage" is an area of approximately 2 square miles of 10-12 foot deep water with options for wind protection from any direction except north. Holding is good, there is no current and, by choosing where to anchor, you can minimize chop. There is morning boat traffic from the boat launch at Red "6" but, according to local knowledge, it is not that heavily used. The anchorage will hold any number of boats and is also used by locals as a heavy weather hideout. I am told that several people/businesses anchor out their boats here during hurricanes.

    There is a dock at the old, historic cemetery on the eastern shore of the river and you can land at the boat launch but there are no stores or other attractions within walking distance. The eastern shore is close to the boundary on a restricted bombing range located further east so do not be surprised if you are visited by low flying jets and helicopters. Cell coverage is weak but usable for internet on all three networks. It is just slower than usual.

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  • Nav Alert comment on NC: South River, shallow

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 4, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Stay center channel for 10 feet of water minimum. Depths on east side between Green '1' and Red '2' shallow quickly.

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  • Anchorage Review for Morehead City - Sugar Loaf Island (south)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Sugarloaf Island South lies just off the ICW, right next to the shipping dock, and at the exit from all the downtown marinas, bars, and restaurants. A less likely place for an anchorage you would have a hard time imagining. It was Saturday evening in mid-April and our intended stopping point was full up so, after looking at a couple of reviews, we decided to give the anchorage a try. Quite frankly, we were surprised at how good it actually was. Enter from the east end of the island by turning off the entry passage in front of the shipping docks. You will find 10 feet of water MLLW over a large area that, for some reason, has some protection from the wakes from the channel. The anchorage was not calm in the evening with 15 mph winds and wakes coming from the south but it was tolerable. We anchored about 100 yards west of the anchorage icon and, if we were to do this again, we would go another hundred yards further west to tuck in behind shallower protecting water between the anchorage and the ICW. When night fell and the boat traffic tapered off, the anchorage turned comfortable. Holding was good with a strong (3mph+) tidal current running through the anchorage. The anchor came up clean in the morning from the sandy bottom. There is wind and wave protection for the northwest around to the east but the anchorage is open with some fetch from the other points of the compass. Shore access can be had by dinghy at the Sanitary Restaurant dock, about a half mile around the island to the dock in front of the restaurant. You will find yourself in the downtown entertainment area with no provisioning nearby. You can also take your dinghy to Sugarloaf Island to walk Fido. As a fair weather anchorage Sugarloaf provides an easy off and on to the ICW while you make your way either north or south. Cell coverage is very good.

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  • Nav Alert comment on NC: Swansboro Harbor, Caution

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 16, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    We followed Bob423's long track through here and saw nothing less than 13.0 feet depth MLLW.

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  • Anchorage Review for Mile Hammock Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 16, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Mile Hammock Bay is the perfect halfway stop between Wilmington and Moorhead City. The anchorage is just off the AICW and is protected by land on all sides. No wakes, small waves, no current, and wind protection is fair from the north clockwise around to the south, and adequate on the western side with some protection from the land. Holding is good in chunky mud but there have been instances of dragging on boats with just "adequate" ground tackle. We stayed here in 20+ mph winds from the unprotected east and at least one boat had difficulties getting their anchor to set properly. There is room for a dozen or more 40'+ boats in the anchorage: there were eight with us on this occasion with no problems at all.

    Mile Hammock Bay is contained within the United States Marine Corps facilities of Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville and consequently civilians are regarded with suspicion. You really cannot go to shore here and there are times when you really would not want to try because the shore and surrounding area is an active training site for Marine operations. We have been here when they have landed on shore in small boats and once where they practiced insertions and pickups for small groups using two Osprey Rotor Wing aircraft. Practice went on until about 10 pm and was as noisy as it was impressive.

    Cell service for was fair to good for the three majors but neither ATT or T-Mobile had 5G reception.

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  • Marina Review for Carolina Beach Marina and Mooring Field

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 15, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Between Snow's Cut and Wrightsville Beach there is not much joy for the boater just trying to get by. Carolina Beach Municipal Mooring Field offers an island of peace and tranquility in the middle of one of the most congested sections of the AICW. This nine mooring field is one mile south of the AICW just east of Snow's Cut and provides a good staging point for both south and northbound cruisers. The mooring field is set up for larger boats so there is no problem with space. There is no current to speak of in the southern arm that defines Carolina Beach so all boats align themselves appropriately with the wind. Depth is not an issue; we tied up in 14 feet MLLW and, after properly tying ourselves off to the clean (!) mooring pendant, setting a strict anchor alarm and never had a moments worry. Carolina Beach seems to strictly enforce their "No Wake" zone. We never experienced a wake issue during the evening or in the morning. We had 20+ mph winds from the northeast overnight and into the morning so it was a bit bouncy but totally manageable. The dinghy dock on eastern shore at 291 Canal St., just in from the southernmost moorings in the field. The beach is a block away. There is at lone restaurant in the neighborhood. We had excellent cell reception on all three carriers.

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  • Nav Alert comment on NC: Snows Cut, Intracoastal Mile 298.0, Shoaling

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Shoaling at the northern temporary red which was marked just "172" has progressed to the point where the green mark is just about on top of the Bob423 track. Deviate to the southeast side of the track to stay clear of the shoaling and remain in a minimum of 13 feet of water MLLW.

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  • Marina Review for St. James Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 14, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    St. James Marina is a good stop to stage for the Cape Fear River going north or Lockwood's Folly and Shallotte Inlet going south. It is a perfect hurricane hole that is protected on all sides. It is reasonably priced, had stable floating docks in great shape and clean facilities for an overnight or a longer stay. Approach and dockside depths are 7 feet MLLW. You are staying in a very large, upscale development's private marina and services are focused on the residents. The staff, however, could not have been more helpful. From the dockhand helping us tie up to the office, to the fuel dock attendant that helped us in the morning with a pump-out, they could not have been nicer. The restaurant and convenience store are still under renovation. The development is large and, without a car, you are really restricted to the marina. As a bad weather shelter you could not ask for more. There is fair to good cellular service for all three majors and OnSpot WiFi is available with easy connectivity and very good speeds.

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  • Anchorage Review for Waccamaw River Oxbow G29

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 13, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter the oxbow either from the north or south side at G "29" and find 10-12 feet of water running through the anchorage. The oxbow sits right off the AICW and in the evening there is quite a bit of boat traffic but not that much wake in the anchorage. Traffic stops at sundown. There is a 1 mph tidal current that runs through the anchorage and the boat changed direction with the tide but our chain never stretched out in the new direction. We did tie on a trip line to the anchor based on reported anchor snag problems in the past but the anchor came up easy in the morning. Wind and wave protection was very good and the five 35-50 foot boats in the anchorage all had sufficient swing room. Shore access is available at Enterprise Landing, 0.75 miles north of the anchorage where there is a dock, ramp, and parking area but not much else. Cell coverage for all carriers was fair to good.

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  • Anchorage Review for South Santee River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 12, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Leave the AICW halfway between R 22 and R 24 and turn north into the South Santee River in 12 feet of water MLLW and proceed north to the anchorage, favoring the east side of the river slightly for best depth. We anchored 0.3 miles off the AICW in 10 feet of water MLLW. The anchor set immediately and held well through the night. We set scope to include the known 4 foot tide and 2 mph current. The anchor came up with thick mud on the last bit of chain and the anchor. Wind protection is poor but there is little fetch so there were no waves to speak of. Winds were from the west at 15 mph and the boat lay between the tidal current and the wind, giving us good ventilation through the boat. There were no crab pots in the area to worry about and room for 10+ 40 foot boats. The river width is sufficient to anchor up to and even beyond the icon.

    Perhaps it was because it was a Monday, but there was no boat traffic at all during our stay. There was no place to go to shore in the vicinity and the reports of alligators (we saw two large ones) meant that Fido was happy to stay on board. Cell reception was only fair for the three majors but, considering that the anchorage is really in the middle of nowhere, it was understandable. Definitely a good anchorage for transient boats.

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  • Anchorage Review for Stono River - Buzzards Roost Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 11, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4

    This anchorage is the best (and cheapest) place to stage for Elliott's Cut. Just up the Stono River from St. John's Yacht Harbor Marina and one mile from the entrance to the Cut, the anchorage offers good protection from wind and waves from all directions except the Northeast and the South where there is sufficient fetch to create some bounce. The best anchoring depths are occupied by an army of crab pots so be prepared to anchor in 16 feet or more mlw with a six foot tide to add to your anchor scope calculations. We ended up anchoring in 23 foot of water and let out 120 feet of chain. The anchor held immediately and did not budge during our stay with west winds to 15 mph and a strong reversing tidal current tugging at the anchor. In the morning the chain came up clean and the anchor had a large amount of clay to be washed off. There are some big boats transiting the Stono River and there were several who seemed oblivious of the No Wake Zone. As usual, darkness solved the problem and we spent a comfortable night with mild winds continuing from the west. Tidal current depends on where you are anchored: the further away you get from the protection of the inside corner, the stronger the tide becomes. We experienced currents of about 2 mph which kept the boat aligned properly. Shore access is not obvious. We did not try to go ashore and did not ask the St. Johns Yacht Harbor Marina if we could land our dinghy. Cellular reception was fair for T-Mobile and good for ATT and Verizon.

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  • Marina Review for Dataw Island Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 10, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Exit the ICW to the south 1.3 miles east of Green "189" on the Coosaw River paying attention to the narrow water in the Parrot Creek and the missing Green "3". Turn west in Morgan Creek and find the marina on the south shore of the river approximately 2 miles upstream. In truth, we came to this marina for the best fuel prices in the area but, on arrival, found that the marina had just received a new supply of diesel, and had adjusted its prices to fit the current reality. The price was not bad but the anticipated fill-up became a normal cruising load in hopes of finding better as we moved north.

    The fuel price disappointment was quickly forgotten as we found ourselves welcomed by three Dataw Marina people to help us into the gas dock in the face of the 20 mph breeze. They remained to assist us in getting off the dock after fueling and helping us tie up to the dock in our transient space (12 ft depth mlw). They could not have been nicer. The floating docks were in excellent condition as were the power pylons and water supply. Clean bathrooms, showers, laundry with free (!) dryer and a small store made this a perfect stop to stage for Charleston. Tie up is on a face dock on the river facing east/west so we had some bumps from the west wind during the evening but nothing serious. We had an excellent dinner at Morgan River Grill, located 200 yards from the boat and spent a quiet night on a well-lit dock with no concerns about security. As we were preparing to leave two dockhands appeared to help us push off. We did not have a chance to enjoy all that the marina had to offer so we will find a reason to come back and spend a day or two relaxing.

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  • Anchorage Review for Port Royal

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 9, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Leave the AICW at Green "41" and continue up the marked channel past the Port Royal Docks and past the commercial docks and mooring field to anchor at the bend in water between 10 and 15 feet mlw at the anchorage icon. Be prepared for the six foot tidal range in the anchorage but you will not experience any current of concern. Holding in a clay/mud mix is excellent with very good wave and good wind protection in all directions except East to SE where the wind comes directly up the channel. Be sure to leave enough room towards the northern shore as the water shoals there quickly. There is room for four or five 40' boats in the anchorage before you get into deeper water. As the anchorage is at the end of the bay there is very little passing boat traffic. We spent a comfortable night with 20-30 mph winds from west.

    The Fishcamp on 11th St Restaurant is about a third of a mile back down the channel on the north side and has a dinghy dock for your dining convenience. There is also a brewery near the docks. Shore access is at the Port Royal Boat Landing a mile down the river with a beach right next to the landing. Cellular reception is very good for the three major carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for Herb River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    5

    Turn south into Herb River at AICW Mile Marker 584.2 and Green "37" in 18 feet of water mlw and proceed up towards the inhabited area, anchoring in 15 feet mlw at least 150 feet short of the personal docks as required by Georgia State Law. Holding was excellent and the anchor came up clean in the morning. Remember that there is a 7 foot tidal range here so provide sufficient scope for high water and to ensure holding in the 2 mph current that runs through this anchorage. You will swing north and south with the tide. There is very little traffic on the river in the evening and none at night. Be mindful of the crab pot locations when selecting where to drop your hook as they do not move with the tide. Good wind protection. Excellent cell service. No immediate shore access but there are two marinas just across the AICW that might be let you use their facilities.

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  • Anchorage Review for Crescent River R156

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    The Crescent River Anchorage is an easy off from the AICW at Mile Marker 642.8 by simply turning north into the Crescent River. The river, all the way up to the Cedar Creek turn off is an excellent anchorage for 5 to 8 40'+ boats anchored in a line up the river in 15' mlw depths with plenty of swing room for the change in orientation due to tides of up to 7 feet. Holding is very good in sandy mud with good wind and wave protection. Wakes will show up early in the morning as boats move out of the commercial docks but the boats that passed us were moving slowly with minimal issues. The tidal movement will be the controlling force in your anchor orientation. There is shore access on the southern side of the AICW for Fido but no onshore attractions for boaters. Cellular reception is fair to good for the majors. We spent an easy night at anchor here even though there was a midnight passage of a set of thunderstorms that contained 40 mph wind gusts. Definitely a good anchorage if you pay attention to anchor scope.

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  • Anchorage Review for Nassau Sound Island - Nassau Sound

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 5, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter the anchorage by turning east from the AICW 150 yards south of Red 48 and strongly favoring the south shore of the entrance to avoid the severe shoaling off the northern shore. Enter with no less than 7' mlw at the entrance deepening to 10 – 12 feet mlw as you proceed towards the boat launch. Do not go beyond the boat launch as the water shoals rapidly. Anchor in the strong reversing tidal current with sufficient scope to hold as you swing. Your boat will orient itself to the tidal flow. Holding is good in sand. Wake protection depends on how nice the small craft from the boat launch are. Wave protection is good but you will get winds over the marsh. Shore access and trash disposal is at the boat launch and there is plenty of beach to walk. Good cellular reception for all carriers. One of the better anchorages between Fernandina Beach and Jacksonville.

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  • Anchorage Review for Fort Matanzas G81A

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 5, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    4

    There is shoaling at the entrance to the Fort Matanzas Inlet off the AICW at mile marker 793.2. Although it is well buoyed and the USACE scan is up to date, care should be taken to stay in the AICW channel until you arrive at Red "80A" where you will make a sharp turn east into the inlet, favoring the north shore of the channel. Anchor in 12' of water on the south side of the channel before you get to the Fort Matanzas Park landing. If continuing on make sure you favor the north shore as there is shoaling on the south shore starting at the Fort Matanzas Park landing and continuing on past the Park Center.Depths return to the south side and you can anchor in 8' of water just off the Rattlesnake Island beach.

    There is a solid 2+ mile an hour current that runs through this anchorage so make sure you have sufficient scope on your anchor to ensure holding with the tidal swing that will come during the night. A good anchor alarm is your best friend. Having said this, there is no question about how you will lay during the night: You will be in line with the current as will everyone else.

    Fort Matanzas is a National Park and tours of the Spanish fort start at the Park headquarters on the northern bank of the river where there is an interesting visitor's center worth seeing. The National Park Ferry is back running again after repairs. At low tide take your dinghy out towards the inlet and beach on Rattlesnake Island or a neat tidal island exposed at low tide in the middle of the channel so your dog can run free.

    We chose to anchor north of the Fort Matanzas Park landing dock in 12' of water mlw with excellent holding but in the area outside of the no wake zone. Wake issues slowed as the sun went down and we spent a restful night with good holding. This is the fourth time we have stopped here and we love it.

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  • Marina Review for New Smyrna Beach City Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 3, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Just off the AICW at mm 846.3, the New Smyrna Beach City Marina exemplifies a basic five star marina. It has no luxury amenities like hot tubs and Captains Lounges, but it definitely has all the things that you would want for a short or extended stay. The marina is well maintained, clean, and everything works as it should and is in good repair. There is OnSpot WiFi with good connectivity and speed, in slip pump out that worked but was slow, good power pylons with 30 and 50 amp service, and floating docks for all transient berths. The restrooms/showers are clean and the laundry area is adequate for all needs. Best of all, everyone at the marina was friendly and helpful. The only negative is the music from the restaurant across the fairway that continues until 10pm. You do need to pay attention when you enter the marina as the channel is tighter than it looks. Favor the restaurant on the south shore rather than the island to the north when entering and leaving.

    The marina's location could not be better. It is located across the street from the ruins of an old fort and is three blocks away from the old downtown with many shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. In addition the Volusia County Bus terminal is across the street which gives you access to stores beyond walking distance including several grocery stores, a Home Depot and a Tractor Supply, as well as many other stores. Unlike most bus systems, this one operates more personally, scheduling store timed pickups. We used this to resupply and it made the process simpler and less expensive that it would be with Uber. This is the fourth time we have stayed in this marina and it has never disappointed.

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  • Anchorage Review for Banana River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 2, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Just north of the Eau Gallie Causeway Bridge (mm 914.2) turn sharply to the east and go 0.9 nm heading 70? magnetic to Green 1 at the entrance to Banana River. Care should be taken to stay away from the shoal just south of the buoy. Turn north in the river passing the Dragon Point anchorage and Telemar Bay Marina to the Mathers Swing Bridge (vhf ch 9 opens on request 0600 to 2200 hrs). After passing through the bridge proceed up the east side of the river 0.2 miles to the area just beyond the docks and in front of a set of condominiums. Anchor off the condos in 9-10' mlw with good holding in sand, good wave, and good wake protection (no wake zone.) We waited out 30 mph winds for two days and were comfortable on the boat although the wind from the south came right up the river. The anchor did not drag and we did not bounce. Shore access can be had by turning in to the channel at the south side of the marina and following it all the way back to the Oars and Paddles Park dock. The park houses an Olympic canoe and kayak training center and several rowing clubs and is near the main road with restaurants and a Publix supermarket a half mile to the south and an ACE Hardware store .3 miles to the north on S. Patrick Drive. Cell coverage is very good for all three major carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for Hole in the Wall Island R112

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 2, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    4

    At Red 112 turn off the AICW heading 340? magnetic for approximately 0.3 miles in 10' mlw to the anchorage icon and anchor in 10' mlw with excellent wind, wake and wave protection from the NW around to the SE with fair to good protection from the south back around to the west. Despite the small tidal range there is sufficient flow through the anchorage to swing your boat. While you can hear the boats going by on the AICW, they are partially blocked by one of the islands. There is minimal boat traffic through the anchorage during the day and it dies off completely in the evening. There are several small beaches on the islands that you can dinghy to with Fido but there is no shore access for supplies or restaurants here. The anchorage is actually a lot larger than it looks as the 10' water extends north up the back side of Pine Island, allowing more than 10 40+' boats to anchor in a line. The anchorage is very scenic and very pleasant. There is very good cell phone service for the big three. A great overnight spot with easy off and easy on as well as a good place to wait out bad weather. We have done both and will be back.

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  • Anchorage Review for Causeway Island R4

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 29, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    1
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    5

    Just north of Red "188" turn east into the marked channel on the south side of Causeway Island and continue beyond the position of Red "4" (which was not present) to anchor in a pocket of 8 – 10 water mlw. We have stayed at Causeway Island R4 before and had a good night. From past experience be aware that, at the back of the pocket, depth decreases very fast so make sure that you have enough room to the south when you drop your anchor. There was an anchored sailboat at the mouth of the pocket so we simply moved 200 yards east and dropped anchor in 20 feet of water with plenty of swing room in all directions and well clear of the easts/west travel way and the shallow water to the south. The anchorage "R4" actually connects with the Island Causeway Anchorage "G9" further east to make a single anchorage that provides room for eight to ten 40+ ' boats with adequate swing room for all. Holding was excellent on 100+ feet of chain. There is a moderate tidal current that runs through the area so be prepared to swing. Holding was good and the anchor came up with no mud or sand but with the chain covered in filamented seaweed that took a while to clean off. Wake protection is good but every once and a while a boat will come through at speed to annoy those anchored. Wind and wave protection is excellent for north winds, good for winds from the east or west, and fair from the south as the fetch is long. I would not consider the anchorage with 20+ mph winds from this direction. Cell signal was good for the big three. Shore access is possible at the Causeway Cove Marina or across the ICW at the Fort Pierce City Marina where there are several restaurants and grocery stores within walking distance.

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  • Marina Review for Sailfish Marina of Stuart

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 28, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Located at the mouth of Manatee Pocket, less than one mile up the St. Lucie River from the intersection with the AICW Sailfish Marina is an excellent example of what a marina should be. It is convenient, has good depth on approach and at the dock, has two fuel docks, a deli, clean showers and bathrooms, a laundry, OnSpot internet that works, good lighting at night and power pedestals that are clean and simple to operate. The staff could not be any nicer. The only thing odd is that pump out is handled by a free Martin County service that you have to phone and make reservations for so this one thing might be a problem if your stay is short.

    Going ashore is also a pleasure although you may become friends with your Uber driver as nothing is right next to the marinas. There are three grocery stores within two miles. There are more restaurants than you can eat in during your stay. The one that we went to, District, was first class!

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  • Anchorage Review for Palm Beach North

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 26, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    5

    Coming from the South exit the channel heading NE 200 yards after passing the Flagler Memorial bridge and head towards shore staying in a cut in the spoils bank with no less than 10' mlw. As you approach shore you will find deeper water with depths up to 15'. Turn south and head back towards the bridge until you reach appropriate anchoring depth. From the north turn east 0.1 miles south of Red "8" and head towards shore through a cut in the spoils bank towards deeper water close to shore and then turn south in 15' mlw towards the anchorage. A good depth contour chart will help. There is 14' mlw at the anchorage icon with good wind and wave protection from the Northeast around to the West. Protection from the West through North is only fair. There is a tidal current running through the anchorage so be prepared to swing. The most protected spot is at the anchorage icon but there is plenty of space going north with good holding in sand along the east edge of the spoils bank going north up the river for one half mile. The further north you go the less protected the anchorage becomes but the less noise you will get from bridge traffic. There were six boats in this area overnight and, although we had a wind shift from South to Northwest during the night, we were still comfortable at anchor and not bothered by wakes from passing boats. Cell service was excellent for the big three. Shore access is at the Palm Beach Municipal Marina a third of a mile southwest. We anchored during the Palm Beach In-water Boat Show so this area was filled with show boats and inaccessible. It is reported that, outside of the show, this is an excellent point for going to shore for provisioning and dining. This was actually one of the better choices for anchorage in downtown Palm Beach and was not overcrowded. I will definitely come back to this as an in transit anchorage when needed.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lake Santa Barbara

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    5

    Enter Lake Santa Barbara in the middle of the opening on the West side of the ICW and proceed down the southern side of the lake towards the back of the cove in 10' mlw and peel off towards the north shore to find anchoring at an appropriate depth. There is a shallower spot in the middle of the lake with 7' depths mlw but the water deepens to 10' towards the island at the back of the lake. Good holding in sand and shells with excellent wind and wave protection as you move further away from the ICW towards the back of the lake. There is a very definite current that will move your boat with tide as water moves back into the maze of creeks and canals that define the western side of Pompano Beach. There is a surprising amount of boat traffic coming through but, looking at a satellite view of the area you will quickly realize that there is a very large boating community up the creeks and canals. The boat traffic was quite civil during the day and the anchorage quiets down quickly at night. Marine Max is located at the back of the lake. Lake Santa Barbara Park is located on the NW corner of the lake and, although there is not dinghy dock, it has been reported that shore access is possible there. Once ashore you are one block from US 1 and all that Downtown Pompano Beach has to offer. Cell coverage is excellent. There is comfortable room for five or six 40+' boats in the anchorage. This is definitely an excellent overnight stop and is also well protected for hunkering down in bad weather.

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  • Anchorage Review for Marine Stadium

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 24, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    5

    You either love the Miami Marine Stadium or you hate it, or both. Crowded and noisy but well protected with good holding. Shore access is possible but you are landing your dinghy next to the highway. You are in downtown Miami while sitting out on you back deck watching the Million Dollar Miami Skyline. I would not want to spend a week here but we love spending the night, knowing we will be far away the following day. We were there mid-week so the music actually stopped early. We had a good night's rest. One thing that we did remark on was the presence of four LE boats from different jurisdictions patrolling the area. Cell coverage was excellent. Nothing in our experience would keep us from coming back the next time through.

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  • Anchorage Review for Barnes Sound (Northeast)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 22, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4

    After coming through a very busy Blackwater Sound and passing Gilberts Resort on our way to the anchorage we did not know what to expect when we came out of the connecting creek and entered Barnes Sound. We were pleased to discovered an undeveloped nature preserve with tree-lined shores and virtually no traffic except a few boats passing through. We left the channel mid lake and headed NE in 10 feet of water to the NE corner of the bay finding 10 feet of water at the anchorage icon. We anchored about a mile SE of the icon, still in 10 feet of water with excellent holding in a sandy mud with a lot of seagrass on the bottom, good wind and wave protection for winds from the North to the Southeast. There was no current but we had all the swing room that we needed. We spent an extra day waiting out 20-30 mph winds in comfort. There was no boat traffic to speak of anywhere near our location. Our closest neighbor was a visiting manatee. Cell reception was good to very good for the big three carriers. There was no shore access but we were content to rest on the boat and do chores while we waited. We anchored far enough from shore that there was no bug problem at all. We would definitely plan on using this anchorage again.

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  • Anchorage Review for Boot Key Outside - Marathon

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    5
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Boot Key Outside Anchorage is on the "Outside" of the Seven Mile Bridge that connects Marathon Key to the outer keys and Key West. Approaching from the north you can take either the Seven Mile Bridge South over Moser Passage or, approaching for the east with a clearance of less than 19 feet, you can take the more direct Knight Key Channel Bridge (mm 1194) to more directly access the anchorage field. Coming from the straights, it is a simple turn to the north for a mile to enter the anchorage. Depths through the anchorage are from 9 to 12 feet with good holding in sand. There is a tidal current that runs through the anchorage with as much as a 1 mph current so expect to swing with the current and make sure that all the boats around you are anchored on one anchor and are expecting to do the same. Depending on the wind speed and direction you can expect the anchorage to have a bit of bounce to it. Things calmed down after dark but started up again early in the morning as the boats left Marathon for deep sea fishing. This was not the secluded anchorage you had in your dreams but it was not intolerable either. We went to bed early and were prepared to be woken at first light by Sport Fisherman. Shore access has been discussed in other reviews and we can add nothing as we did not even try to go ashore during our overnight stay Cell reception was very good for ATT 5G, and fair to good for Verizon and T-Mobile. We were there on a Saturday Night and there was diverse music options playing from shore and passing boat. Would we stay here again? Definitely, "yes." The anchorage offers a certainty of space availability and a reasonable assumption of an acceptable, if not perfect, overnight stay as you work your way through the Keys.

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  • Anchorage Review for Indian Key - Russell Pass

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Strategically located about half way between the Caloosahatchee River Entrance (Mile Marker 0 on the Florida GICW and the Keys, this is an excellent stopping point for those who just want to get to the Keys. Russel Pass is just before Green "7" and about a mile up for R "4" at the entrance to the channel. In all but Southwest winds, you can anchor to the north of the channel between R '4" and R "6" in 10+ feet of water MLW to the north of the channel. For those of us who happen on the anchorage when the waves are rolling in, move off the channel to the north just before Green "7" mid channel with a minimum of 8 feet of water MLW on the bar, opening up to a large anchorage with at a minimum, 10 feet of depth MLW with plenty of space for at least six to eight 40 foot vessels. The pass still has a significant current and be prepared to swing with the four foot tide that runs through the anchorage. There is no immediate shore access possible but there are exposed areas at low tide 1.5 miles back towards to Gulf to walk the pup. Also, if you are going to spend some time, it is a 4 mile dinghy ride up the Chocolosskee to Everglades City for a walk around an a lunch. 5 G cell coverage is good for ATT and T-Mobile and Verizon signal (we have not upgraded to 5-G) is good also.

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  • Anchorage Review for Fisherman Key

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter from the southeast, heading north in no less than 9' mlw at the bar. If coming from the north, respect the tail off the south end of Kitchel Key as it extends out a good 300 yards from land going to the south. Run up to the charted deeper water in no less than 10' of water MLW to the anchorage icon and beyond for. We anchored in 13' of water MLW about 0.2 miles north of the anchorage icon with good swing room and good surprisingly good protection from ICW wakes and waves. This is a tidal anchorage and there is a 2 mph+ current running through the anchorage when the tide is in full flow. Be prepared to swing with the tide. Excellent holding in sand: once set the anchor did not budge with the changing tide. We set the anchor and it did not budge although we swung with the tide. The anchor came up with no mud but it took us 15 minutes to get rid of the vegetation that had attached itself to the chain in the current. It looks like you can enter the anchorage from the north between Green "3" and Red "2" in a charted six feet of water MLW, but we did not try this. Anchorage is open on the NW/SE axis but is well protected from other wind directions. Fair cell service on ATT, good service on Verizon and T-Mobile. No shore access and there is a mangrove smell at low tide if the winds are from the right direction. An excellent jump off spot going south to the keys. Indian Key, at the channel to Everglades City, is about 75 miles to the south.

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  • Nav Alert comment on Caution - areas of shallow water ahead

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 20, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Steamboat Channel is still shallow. When we traversed the area at Hight Tide we found several areas where the recorded depth was 5.8 - 5.9 feet. The only positive is that all depth changes were incremental so you will know in advance as depths are changing. Red "90" through Green "73" is the shallowest that we saw transiting from Channel 7 Bridge through to Biscayne Bay.

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  • Anchorage Review for Carrabelle

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 13, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    4
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    4

    While the charted depths for this anchorage look like five feet we saw two smaller sailboats on bottom and heeled over at low tide. There is deeper water just off the western shore that goes from the bridge through the anchorage and joins back with the channel south of Green 9 but it is used by many of the local boats as a thru channel. There is somewhat deeper water between Green 17 and Green 19 but care must be taken to be out of the channel. There is a strong current that runs through the anchorage and you will swing with the tide. Not recommended for larger deeper draft boats. Shore access at C-Quarters and a grocery and hardware store within easy walking distance.

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  • Anchorage Review for Blue Heron Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 10, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    At Green 35 turn east off the GIWW and come directly into the cove in no less than 10' MLW. Circle to the north to find no less than 9' MLW of water to anchor with good holding in mud with good wind protections from all directions. You are anchored in front of private homes so be considerate and stay a respectful distance from shore and refrain from loud music. (There is enough of that coming from some of the boats on the GIWW.) Properly planned there is room for two 40' boats in this pocket. The anchorage is in a No Wake Zone on the waterway so, in theory, there should be no issue with wakes. We experienced one minor incident in the afternoon but nothing after that. Boat traffic dies off after dark and we spent a quiet night. On deck in the evening we could hear the waves breaking on the beach at Don Diego Park.

    The anchorage is right across the waterway from the dinghy access to Don Pedro State Park Beach. Go south 200 yards from G35 and turn west into the dinghy channel that takes you to the day dock for the beach. Depth in channel is reported to be 2.5'. Dogs are allowed in the park but not on the beach. We could not find a convenient public landing on the shore side for access to shops. Cell service was adequate with ATT having 1 bar 5G, T-Mobile 3 bars 5G, and Verizon having 2 bars service.

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  • Anchorage Review for Sarasota Mooring Field

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 9, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    1
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    5
    Shore Access:
    5
    Pet Friendly:
    5
    Cell Service:
    5
    WiFi:
    2

    Managed by Marina Jack, the Sarasota Mooring Field has one hundred well maintained moorings for boats of different sizes. Exposed to from the east to the southwest, the field can be bouncy in winds but should not ever be rolling and really uncomfortable, given the enclosed nature of the area. The mooring pendant is enclosed in a flexible plastic pipe and has no pickup line or float. You snag the pendant with your boathook, grab the line below the eye and quickly put your line through the thimble and tie off before trying to establish your mooring bridle. It is a different system and it pays to be prepared. The mooring field is also serviced by a pump-out boat so, if you need a pump-out, you don't have to maneuver in the harbor to the gas dock to get it done. The price for the night was less than $30. Not bad when you consider that you have access to all the Marina Jack amenities including dinghy dock, showers, and laundry. As Marina Jack is in Downtown Sarasota, there is much to do on shore, if you ever get beyond the Marina Jack Restaurant. Fuel dock was easy to access as is the dinghy dock. All marina employees we encountered were professional and pleasant to deal with. Marina Wi-Fi in the mooring field was weak and we ended up using our cellular hotspots. Cell service was excellent for the big three. Definitely a good experience.

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  • Marina Review for City of Tarpon Springs Municipal Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Tucked up in the far corner of the Anclote River right in Downtown Tourist Tarpon Springs on Dodecanese Boulevard is the very small but very nice and very convenient Tarpon Springs City Marina. With new floating docks, excellent power and water, and a very nice boater's shower restroom, the marina offers immediate access to the attractions and dining pleasures that make up the tourist area of this historic Greek sponge diving town. With a history that dates back to the beginning of the sponge diving business before 1890 the town celebrates and maintains its cultural and economic roots while appealing to the visiting public with shops, museums, restaurants and more.

    While not full service, the City Marina supplies the necessary comforts and provides an excellent platform for visiting the town and the area. Other reviews have detailed the marina and services quite well. All that I can add is to make sure that, on coming up the river you stay close to the boats on the south shore. There is a wicked shoal that extends out far beyond the warning signs.

    The City Marina is five plus miles up the river and, if you are in transit, there are several marinas and good anchorages that are much closer to the GICW that will save you a couple of hours of very slow travel that it takes to get all the way up the channel. If you are planning on Tarpon Springs as a destination you cannot do any better than the City Marina. The 'Jolly Trolley' stops in front of the marina and will take you into town, down to the market or even all the way down to Clearwater for an all-day ride ticket price of $5.00 ($2.50 for seniors.) We went to the Dunedin Farmers Market (every Saturday morning) and had an excellent lunch across the street at the Dunedin Smokehouse with some excellent local bears to complement the food. Go to Limani's "Take Out" for outstanding souvlaki, gyros, and salads. You must have the Greek Fries. We spent three days and still had more that we wanted to see. Make sure that you get reservations as early as you can as there are only a few transient slips and they fill up fast. WiFi "worked" most of the time but was not great. Cell reception was excellent for the big three.

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  • Anchorage Review for Treasure Island Northwest of G17

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    5

    Turn west off the GIWW at mm 119.5, approximately 200 yards north of Green 17 and head 250 degrees magnetic parallel to the north shore of Isle of Palms approximately 150 yards off the ends of the canal points towards the anchorage icon on a heading of 250? magnetic. There is more water than the charts indicate. On leaving the GIWW you will pass over a hump with no less than 7' MLW and then move into anchoring waters with 10-12' MLW depths all the way to the anchorage icon and beyond to the far corner of the bay where protection is better but there is more daytime boat traffic. Great holding in mud with no current but plenty of swing room for over 10 50' boats in a line with ample individual swing room.

    There is moderate boat traffic through the anchorage during the day, but it quickly drops off after dark. Road noise from the causeway is present but not loud enough to interfere with normal conversations unless an emergency vehicle comes by with lights and siren. There is no current in the anchorage but there is plenty of swing room. Local shore access is not possible. We moved up into the far corner, well beyond the anchorage icon and found 11' of water and excellent wind protection from the southerly winds. Wind protection from the NE to the SE is poor but is good to excellent from all other points. Definitely a good place to stage for an early trip across Tampa Bay. Cellular service is excellent for the Big Three.

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  • Marina Review for Apalachicola Marina, Inc.

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 2, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Enter dock channel from G/R 1 buoy and approach with no less than 9 feet of water mlw. If coming downriver make sure to extend all the way to the green and red preferred channel mark to avoid shallow water. Dock newly constructed dock is a fixed face dock with exposed pylons so plan your fender gear accordingly and account for the tidal variation of about 1.5 feet. There is 8 feet of water at the dock and room for three 40 – 50 foot boats. 30 and 50 amp power is available as is water but there are no other amenities available, not even an office. What you get is a spot in the middle of historic Apalachicola with shops, restaurants, and pubs all within three blocks of your boat. We were here mid-week and the town was quiet but we can imagine that, on good weekends, the area will be crowded and the noise level will be higher. Definitely worth a day off to walk around and definitely worth an extra night to sample some of the food, including the raw bars serving local oysters. We give the marina an extra star for location in a lovely place. Cell phone reception is very good for ATT and Verizon and fair for T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Watson Bayou

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 2, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turning north of the GICW at Green 25 leads you to a narrow opening into Watson Bayou with a minimum depth of 15' mlw. Stay in the center of the channel and there will be plenty of water. You can continue all the way up to the anchorage icon just before the bridge for all around protection or hop off to the west after the entrance into the first cove for a quick overnight stop. We anchored in 15' feet of water off the north shore of the first cove (Lake Van Vac) with plenty of swing room, excellent holding and good cell phone reception. Shore access was not available and there was the paper mill and boatyard facing us on the opposite shore. We had very good wind protection from all directions except the east and no wake to disturb us. There is commercial traffic on the bayou. We had a one barge tow pass us early in morning so keep out of the main channel. Background industrial and train noises were definitely noticeable and continued through the night. The 7AM shift change whistle will keep you from sleeping in. If you are staging for a day run to Apalachicola, this is a good, well protected stopping point for a reasonable following day's run. If you are planning on staying longer you might want to go further up the bayou or look for another place further up the channel away from the paper mill to relax.

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  • Anchorage Review for Toms Bayou - Valparaiso

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 28, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    4

    About a three mile detour off the GIWW, Boggy Bayou Valparaiso is an excellent overnight anchorage as well as a good hunker down hole for protracted periods of bad weather. Enter from main channel aimed at the fishing pier on the northwest shore and move towards the west end of the beach to drop your anchor in 14 feet of water with excellent holding in sand and black bayou mud. There is excellent protection from wind and waves from all but winds from the east. Boat traffic is present, but not intolerable. Good to very good cell phone reception from the big three including good 5G. Shore access at the beach next to the fishing pier or at Lincoln Park, a half mile up the river on the western shore. This anchorage is an excellent relief to those who favor quiet.

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  • Bridge comment on Navarre Beach Causeway (CR 399) Bridge

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 27, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'

    Clearance on this bridge is listed at 50 feet MLW. Reports are that it is less than that. It was impossible to verify as there were no clearance boards on this bridge at either end. Care should be taken if attempting to pass near maximum clearance. There is no real time confirmation available at the bridge.

    • WG Editor Comment:

      Waterway Guide will research.

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  • Anchorage Review for Fort McRee

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 27, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    5
    Pet Friendly:
    5
    Cell Service:
    4

    Absolutely fabulous anchorage! Approach from the west by deviating south off the GICW to head straight into the opening south of Robertson Island. If coming from the east make sure to go about 300 yards past the end of the island before turning south towards the entrance as the tail of Robertson island extends quite some distance. Enter between the two "No Wake" signs in no less than 12' of water MLW. There are clearly visible shoals off northern and southern entrance points. Do not try to enter from the east as the entrance has shoaled in. Anchorage has a minimum depth of 10' MLW with room for at least 10 40' boats with ample swing room for all. Anchorage is busy on weekends but is large enough that whatever noises are there are muted. Possible wakes from small craft until dark but anchorage quiets down very quickly. Excellent protection from all directions except the west here protection is only good. Any number of excellent sandy beach stretches on the north and south sides and, at low tide, to the east. Good to very good cellular reception for the big three including 5G. Excellent holding in sand. Definitely a first choice anchorage immediately off the GIWW.

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  • Bridge comment on US 84 (Jim Folsom) Highway Bridge

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 11, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'

    Per USACE the center span of this bridge (for navigation) is 93.1 feet.

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  • Anchorage Review for River Oaks

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter RDB from downstream and turn back into channel avoiding the shallow bar off the tail of the island for fifteen feet of water at the entrance and 14 feet of water at the anchorage icon with excellent protection from wind, waves, and wakes. The anchorage goes up much further and there is room for three to five boats minimum in a line center channel with good swing room for all. Bank has several houses and there is a boat launch further up the channel so there is some boat traffic but nothing terrible. Boat launch will give you shore access for pets but there is no shopping or restaurants of any kind in the area. Fair Verizon coverage, 2 bars for ATT and good T-Mobile 5G.

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  • Anchorage Review for Town Creek Cutoff North

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 8, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter channel from the north mid channel aimed straight down the cutoff for 16 feet at entrance and deepening to 20 plus feet as you move into channel. Keep visible snags on your starboard on entering with plenty of water. Move into the cutoff 0.3 miles for 13 feet of water mid channel with plenty of swing room for six or more boats in a line. Excellent protection from wind, waves, and wakes except less for winds running NE/SW along the cutoff. Shore access at Barton Ferry boat landing .2 miles to the north. Cellular reception poor for ATT and Verizon. 1 bar for T-Mobile 5G.

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  • Free Dock Review for Mobile Convention Center

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 7, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    There is free daytime 12 hour dock on the river wall at the north (upriver) end of the Mobile Convention Center at N30.69290, W88.03745. What is offered is a wall and cleats to tie off on and not much else. Depth is no problem but wakes can be an issue so proper fender size and placement is important. The river has a two foot tidal range so adjust your lines accordingly. Docking is on a first come, first served basis. Call Convention Center Security to let them know that you are there at 251-208-3165.

    Downtown historic Mobile is a quarter mile walk and offers many attractions and many restaurants. It is worth the walk. For those who want to stay and take advantage of what the town has to offer there is a pay option that will allow you to stay for 48 hours. Again, everything is first come, first serve. Apply online at https://www.asmglobalmobile.com/mobile-convention-center/boat-dock-registration. Fee is $50 per day with a maximum of a two day stay. This gives you immediate access to some pretty interesting day and evening activities within easy walking distance. There is a park right next to the convention center for walking Fido. Greer's Downtown Market is a mile up Government St. There are no services on the dock but there are positive reports about Convention Center Security staff doing a good job watching the boats.

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  • Anchorage Review for Dry Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Feb 6, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter Dry Creek Bay slightly favoring the south shore for the deepest water. At entrance the depth is 28 feet (414 pool). As the anchorage turns south stay 100 feet off the west bank for 17 feet depth. At the anchorage icon there is 22 feet of water. For better protection continue to hug the west bank for another 0.3 miles and anchor with very good all-around protection from wind and wakes in 15 feet of water with enough room for a dozen boats. No current. Shore access on east shore. We visited this anchorage on a lovely fall Saturday and it was clear that this was a favorite day anchorage for the locals. There were 20 other boats spread around the bay and more coming when we left. Surprisingly, there was no loud music in the bay when we were there. Cell phone reception was 1 bar Verizon 2 bar ATT and T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Big Briar Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Nov 4, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turn off LDB at mile marker 12.2 into the Tensaw Cutoff with 20+ feet of water at entrance and no less than 13 feet mlw in the center of the channel for the one mile trip back to the Big Briar Creek turn off. Big Briar Creek carries a minimum 9 foot depth back well beyond where we anchored. Protection is good all-around and the only boat traffic was a couple of fishing boats. Holding is good in mud. The creek is wide enough to swing but the current kept us in the middle of the river on one anchor. Shore access by dinghy is further to the east on the Tensaw cutoff where there is a sand beach across from where you enter the Tensaw River. Cell phone reception was 1 bar ATT and Verizon and 2 bars 5G for T-Mobile with adequate internet connectivity.

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  • Bridge comment on CSX Transportation Railroad Bridge

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 30, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'

    According to the bridge operator the bridge lift to full up is 55 feet. Add the closed bridge height from the bridge clearance board to this to get the lifted bridge clearance. The clearance number at nominal flow is between 10 and 11 feet giving the lifted bridge a clearance of 65-66 feet.

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  • Anchorage Review for Tensaw River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 28, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter the river going downstream in 25 feet of water normal pool at the entrance. If coming up from Mobile respect the very long bar that extends out from the southern point between the two rivers. Continue back center channel to the bend in no less than 20 feet of water and find 10 – 15 feet at the back of the bend with good swing room for boats on both shores. We had 5 40'+ boats in the anchorage and had room for plenty more. There is a 1 mph current running from the Tombigbee down the Tensaw the keep all boats properly oriented even with moderate winds. Holding was good as was wake and wind protection. The tree lined shores kept the wind down even when it was blowing 20+ from the west. Shore access is minimal but at low tide (there is a tide), there is a narrow section of beach that appears for the adventurous. Cell signal is adequate with 2 bars for the big three. This is a great stop for moving through Mobile Bay.

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  • Anchorage Review for Three Rivers Lake

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 28, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    On inspection we decided not to go into the lake. The entrance is narrow and deep so entry is no problem but, once in the lake there is a 5' bar at normal pool you need to cross. Given that the lake is subject to tides of about a foot, it is possible to enter and find yourself waiting the following day to get out. For shallow draft boats, the anchorage looks like it might be pretty good. We decided not to try anchoring in the entry as we were experiencing an engine problem and did not want to get stuck. Under different circumstances we would move 300-400 feet it to opening and anchor in the middle of the channel on the rise to the entrance bar. We did try to anchor at the mouth of the creek but found the depths to be too great (25'+) to make this an attractive alternative. After two tries in two different spots and not finding a satisfactory place to drop the anchor, we decided to move on to an alternate anchorage.

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  • Anchorage Review for Hal's Slough

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 28, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    5
    Cell Service:
    3

    Located on LDB at mm 56.9 Hal's Slough is the entrance to Hal's Lake. The slough is just off the channel and tows come by close but, because of the configuration of the entrance, a single boat anchored here is completely out of their way. We came to use this anchorage out of necessity and found that it was actually better than what we had thought it would be.

    Enter the anchorage going up the center of the channel until your reach a depth of 14-15 feet normal pool. Drop your anchor, back up, set it well, and then take up chain to shorten your scope. Our anchor dug into the mud and did not budge. There is no current to speak of and the boat would have sat in the middle of the slough through the night if it were not for the water displacements of the passing tows. We found that we moved from side to side as they passed and even bumped into downed trees on the shore once or twice but always came back to the middle of the channel. We set a 75' radius alarm and it did not trip. The anchorage is a good pocket and is protected from wind quite well. There is some small boat traffic that comes by on the way to and from fishing. There is no shore access. We did not record cell strengths but we did have usable cell service on all three networks and even had internet connectivity a well.

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  • Marina Review for Bobby's Fish Camp

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 2

    Stopping at Bobby's is a piece of history. The fish camp goes back to 1956, long before most of us were born. The place seems to have stopped in the 1970's and most of the maintenance may have stopped at the same time. It's a shame that the restaurant is closed. We would love to have experienced it. We, like everyone else, were left with older docks that were not really stable, electric hookups that were questionable, and an old sign that says to call a number that you can't reach because the cell service is not sufficient for voice calls. We managed to dock ourselves, find out who to pay, (same price as Kingfisher Bay and no services) and how to manage the evening and departure in the morning from a dock that is just off the channel. We stopped because we needed to see what Bobby's was and is. We are glad we did. It is a safe and secure spot two miles for the Coffeeville Lock for an early morning departure. Next time we come through there are a couple of anchorages just upstream that look good.

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  • Anchorage Review for Turkey Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    We did not fully explore Turkey Creek. According to the charts, you should be able to go up this narrow creek one half mile in ten feet of water to an opening at the beginning of a lake that will allow you to turn around to come out again. We did not take the dinghy down to verify that this was possible before committing our 48' boat to the task. We can say that there is sufficient depth and bottom character to use this creek as a pocket anchorage for one larger boat. Approach RDB upstream slowly and drop anchor in 25 feet of water off the northern point of the creek. Back down and allow the current to keep you properly oriented. There is not close by shore access. Cell service has 1 bar for ATT and T-Mobile, and 3 bars for Verizon.

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  • Anchorage Review for Okatuppa Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    This anchorage looks good. We did not go into the creek because there was already a 45' boat tied up to the southern shore about 200 yards in. We know that two other large boats joined them later in the evening. Reports from the three were positive. Depths reported to be 8 feet minimum normal pool and good depth up against the banks. By visual inspection this looks like a good alternative to Bobby's. No shore access. Cell strength 2 bars Verizon, one bar for ATT and T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Cowans Gin Bar

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    2

    This anchorage looks very nice. On the inside edge of a turn, tows will be on the opposite bank, aiming for a point that is upriver from this anchorage. Good sandy beach with good depths, especially at the downstream end of the bank. Okay wind and wave protection from most angles except from the SSW where fetch may be a problem with winds higher than 15 mph. At the downstream end of the bank there is 15 foot depth 75 feet from shore. Take Fido ashore and run him up and down the bank. There is room for two to three boats in a line here. There is no cell reception at all here.

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  • Anchorage Review for Bashi Creek (Alternate)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    1

    Bashi Creek is subject to so much conversation either for or against anchoring there. Across from Bashi has no such problems. It is a simple, open anchorage that is protected from tow traffic by being on the inside edge of a staple shaped turn, leaving tows off the bank in the middle of the straightaway between the two turns.

    Turn in going upstream towards RDB just opposite the entrance to Bashi Creek. Move towards shore until you reach 10 foot depths 50 – 100 feet off the bank and deploy your anchor. There is sufficient current to keep you properly oriented with the river flow. You might consider a stern anchor taken into shore to keep the stern tucked in. Good holding in sandy mud. Wake protection is tolerable and wind/wave protection is good with the exception of the NE/SW axis. There is enough room for 3 – 4 good size boats in a line off the shore. Shore access is either to the RDB or over to the boat launch in Bashi Creek which gives you access to the Bashi Creek recreation area. Cell service is minimal: Verizon 0 bars, ATT and T-Mobile 2bars.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lock 1 Cutoff

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    1
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3

    At normal pool nobody would even think about going into this anchorage. It is an obvious trap to be avoided. At higher water levels it looks better and might be an enticement to some. There are people who have successfully anchored here but there are many stories about near disasters. Even in a small shallow draft vessel, it is best to avoid this place.

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  • Anchorage Review for SR 10 Bridge - South

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 25, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Move off the channel towards LDB downstream of the bridge and move to the shore side of the bridge support for 10 to 12 feet of depth and a minimum amount of current to help you stay oriented with the river flow. There have been reports of anchors tangling with stuff on the bottom so it is advised to rig a trip line on your anchor if you consider anchoring here. You are definitely out of the channel if you anchor here because tows have to go through the center arch of the bridge. No shore access. Cell signals: Verizon 1 bar, ATT 3 bars, T-Mobile 2 bars 5G.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Barons Landing

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 25, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    We left Demopolis and went through the lock as a part of a group of twelve going down river into a 90 mile stretch with very few anchoring choices and a lot of competition. We, being slow, devised a strategy that allowed us to bring up the rear and start looking at anchoring alternatives 30 miles below the Kingfisher Bay Marina with the idea that that would be enough of a run to make Bobby's Fish Camp easily reachable the following day while not finding ourselves later in the day in the middle of a group of already occupied anchorages as light was fading.

    We looked at four early candidates for anchoring and dismissed them all for one reason or another. We just did not like the idea of anchoring directly in front of a tow understanding that they were going to turn off 400 yards in front of us to make the turn. Other alternatives were dismissed because it was probable that the flotsam at the edge of the water extended out into the area that we would have to drop our anchor.

    We then came to Barron's Landing which is listed as an emergency anchorage on Waterway Guide. Right across from a small boat ramp, Barron's sits n LDB at mile marker 168.2 in a small pocket of deep water where old Lock #2 was situated. Moving into pocket takes you off the channel by 150 yards and in line with the LDB. As you move upriver in the pocket the water shoals to 20 feet and we dropped anchor about 20 yards offshore. We let the boat settle down with the engines running and found that we had sufficient current to keep the boat properly oriented and off the bank with the light winds that we had.

    We consulted two tows who both said that we were in a good place and were not a bother to their navigation. The fully loaded 8 barge tow did mess with the current flow going by and it took the boat a minute or two after the tow passed to calm down and regain its default position. The tow's passing momentarily increased current flow and then sucked our boat upstream about 20 feet before releasing its grip.

    Other than the fact that we felt somewhat precarious in our position, we spend a comfortable evening s, a restful night, and a morning that saw us still in the same place. There is limited boat traffic in the area and limited cell phone service. ATT had one bar an Verizon and T-Mobile had two bars and internet connectivity as well. In all this was a better experience than we thought it would be.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Marina Review for Kingfisher Bay Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 24, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Kingfisher Bay Marina is in the middle of the metropolis of Demopolis Alabama. That, in itself, should make you wonder. The Good News is that the marina is a wonderful stop on the Black Warrior River and a welcomed relief to the Tenn-Tom Marina Challenged waterway.

    The approach to the marina is LDB with a well-marked channel into the basin with a minimum of 6.5 feet of water opening up to 7+ in the basin. Gas dock is a long side tie with pump out and a pay station for fuel, pump out ($20 if you don't buy fuel – free if you do), and pay station for your stay. Slips are on two fingers in front of the fuel dock and negotiating the fairways and slips is easy as there is good protection from wind, no current and wide fairways. The docks and infrastructure is in good order and we found easy access to Wi Fi and acceptable speeds. The Dock office/store was adequate and the bathrooms/showers were clean and well taken care of. Laundry is available on site ($2 for wash and dry, quarters available in the store) and you are issued a tag to let security (on at night) know that you are not a freeloader.

    The staff were wonderful. We were helped at the gas dock, helped at the slip and helped negotiating a trip into town for supplies at the Wal-Mart by the dock master, Anne-Marie. There were a lot of people moving south and Ann-Marie sponsored a meeting to coordinate moving towards the Demopolis lock in the morning. In all 12 boats left as sunrise.

    Town is "adorable" but there is a Super Wal-Mart, a Dollar General, and a state liquor store as well as several local restaurants including "Smokin' Joe's" bar-b-que take out that serves local delicacies. No more needs to be said. There are several local attractions that, with time, might be interesting.

    All in all, this is a stop that is worth considering beyond its strategic location right above the Demopolis Lock.

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  • Anchorage Review for McAcan Bend

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 23, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    This anchorage is primarily for emergency use. It is in the river and near the marked channel. Only a combination of being right up against shore on the inside edge of a curve makes this even something to consider. At daymark 243.3 turn into the current and head upriver slowly moving over towards RDB until you are in 7 to 9 feet of water and out of the majority of the current. Make sure that you have room to drop back as you set your anchor. Consider throwing out a stern anchor towards shore to keep your stern from being pulled out towards the channel by a passing tow. There are no amenities here but you do have minimal ATT and Verizon cell coverage so that you can communicate with the outside world. Stay well illuminated and keep your AIS transponder on if so equipped. Inform passing tows of your situation and the word will be spread of your presence.

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  • Anchorage Review for Rattlesnake Bend - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    The first half mile of South Rattlesnake Bend is occupied by barges and towboats. We therefore can be sure that there is a minimum of 10-12 feet of depth and you will not be disappointed.

    More than 30 feet on entry, no less than 20 feet all the way back 1.1 miles, around the corner. We anchored in 18 feet of water with good holding and plenty of swing room. There is good protection from waves and wake in all directions. There is boat traffic so make sure your anchor light is on and working. There is room for any number of boats with swing room for everyone. There is no shore access. Cell service is adequate but not great: 1 bar Verizon and T-Mobile, 2 bars ATT.

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  • Anchorage Review for Rattlesnake Bend - north

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Entered mid channel carefully looking at the charts and had 5.5 feet normal pool at the bar and 20 feet at the anchorage icon. Protection from Cell waves and wind is excellent. There is a marina in the back of the bend so there will be some small boat traffic. Holding should be good and there is plenty of swing room. Shore access would be back at the boat launch several miles in from the river. Cell service was 2 bars for the big three. If you draw under 4 feet, this is a good anchorage. For those of us with depth, we would suggest South Rattlesnake Bend for a worry free entrance and exit.

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  • Anchorage Review for Upper Windham Landing

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Leave channel down bound at mile marker 286.6 center channel, being careful to avoid the long and shallow bar that comes off the tip of Windham Bar Island with 20 feet of water on entry, shoaling to 15 feet at the bar and then back to over 20 feet in the chute. Channel is about 200 feet wide with good wind, wave, and wake protection with the exception of the NE/SW axis in line with the channel's orientation. Mild current will help you stay in the channel when anchored. No shore access. Cellular quality is ATT 2 bars, Verizon 4, and T-Mobile 2 bars 4G. On leaving go back and turn down bound at the channel to honor the bar sticking out from the north end of the island.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lower Catfish Bend

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    If coming downriver allow at least 200 yards beyond the tail of the island before turning off the channel towards RDB and moving upriver in the chute with 11 feet at the entrance, favoring the shore side of the bend. Move upriver towards the tail of the island, continuing to favor the shore side of the chute. Move in to the tail of the island to anchor in 10 feet of water or continue up the shore side of the chute to the anchorage icon with better protection and still with 9 to ten feet of water with adequate swing room considering there is a mild downstream current holding the boat in line with the channel. Wind, wave, and wake protection is excellent with the exception of the N/S axis where there is a clear fetch for waves. Holding is good in mud. There is no immediate shore access available for Fido. Cell service is good with ATT and Verizon having 3 bars and T-Mobile having 2 bars 5G.

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  • Anchorage Review for Upper Catfish Bend

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 22, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Leave channel RDB at 288.1 and move into the bend center chute in 20 feet of water at the entrance and 13 feet of water at the bar which is far enough off the travelway for a safe anchorage with good holding and good but not great wind, wave, and wake protection. There is plenty of swing room at this point and there is a small current going into the bend that will help orient your boat but may not be enough to prevent some swinging. Moving beyond the bar the depth increases to 15+ feet. The anchorage goes back and, if you are interested, you can explore. There is no immediate shore access. Cellular reception: ATT 3 bars, Verizon and T-Mobile 1 bar.

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  • Anchorage Review for Tombigbee Oxbow

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    4

    Immediately on exiting the Heflin Lock turn towards RDB and to upstream mid channel into the "Old River" heading upstream towards the Heflin Sluiceway in no less than 20 feet of water with the full force of the river's current facing you. Move upstream well beyond the icon and the boat ramp on the north side of the river in 20 feet of water and anchor midstream with sufficient current to keep you oriented with the channel. Holding is good and protection for wind and waves is excellent. The boat ramp is a popular launch spot for boats fishing the dam's tailwaters so you may find that on good weekend day, there will be several boats passing you to go fishing. Proper lighting at night is advised. There is room for at least eight boats in a line with ample separation. We had five the night we were there and were not in any way pressed. Shore access is available at the launch ramp and you can actually walk up into town if Dollar General will fulfill your needs. Cellular service is 2 bars for Verizon, 4 for ATT, and 5 for T-Mobile 5G.

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  • Anchorage Review for Warsaw Cutoff

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Warsaw Bend is a drive through anchorage. There is more than 20 feet of water through the entire bend. Enter RDB mid chute at the green buoy at mile marker 275.4 with 22 feet at the bar and sufficient current to keep the boat aligned in most winds, even when anchoring in 20 feet of water. The ideal spot is where the anchor icon is located, with 20 to 22 feet of water and plenty of room for swing with adverse winds. Good holding in mud with good protection for wind, wake and waves with the exception of winds from the northeast were there might be less comfort. A quiet anchorage with the possibilitwy of pet access o the sandy bank of the back of the island. Cellular reception is good with 4 bars for ATT and Verizon and 1 bar for T-Mobile 5G.

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  • Anchorage Review for Cooks Bend Cutoff - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter chute at by turning towards RDB at least 200 yards beyond the tail of the island to avoid the major bar extending downriver. Go up mid-chute with 40 feet of water at the bottom of the island, shoaling to 21 feet at the anchorage icon at the first bend. Anchor mid channel with a sufficient current to help you stay oriented in with the flow in light winds. Good protection from wind, waves, and wakes with good holding in mud. No easy shore access. Cellular reception is just adequate with 2 bars for ATT and Verizon and only one for T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Cooks Bend Cutoff - north

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    2

    Enter Crooks Bend North at by turning off the travelway at least 200 yards north of the green buoy at mile marker 277.9 to avoid the major bar extending off the upstream point of the island with 18 feet of water on entering, 12 feet at the bar and then back to 18 feet plus all the way back to the anchorage icon. Just beyond the icon the water shoals to 18 feet for 300 plus yards, providing the best protection and anchoring depth on the north side of the bend. Good wind, wave, and wake protection with just enough current to help keep the boat oriented on anchor. No shore access. Cell reception is just adequate with ATT and Verizon having 2 bars, and T-Mobile with a single bar. Leave back upstream and honor the bar coming off the upstream end of the island.

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  • Anchorage Review for Lower Windham Landing Cutoff

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    4

    Enter the chute going upriver from at least 200 yards below the tail of the island to avoid the bar trailing downriver. Move over to 50 feet off the RDB moving upcurrent in 15 feet of water. Just before the tail of the island move center channel for good anchoring in 10 to 1 feet of water with good protection from wind and waves from all directions except from the east. Good holding in mud and a small current to help you stay oriented with the chute direction. No shore access. Cellular quality is 3 bars for the big three.

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  • Anchorage Review for Coal Fire Creek Cutoff

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    2

    There is a major intersection at mile marker 309.3 between the Tenn-Tom waterway, Coal Fire Creek, The Tombigbee River and Bigbee Valley Recreation area on a shoaled in cut on RDB. Coal Fire Creek is the turn off into what looks like an open bay on the northeast corner of the intersection bounded on the south by a part of the LDB. Turn off towards LDB at mm 309.3 and head NE up the Coal Fire Cutoff holding the bank on your starboard side about 100 yards offshore for more than 20 feet of water. Continue up 0.2 miles and move north into lesser depths and anchor in 10 to 15 feet of water with good swing room and enough space for three boats. Good protection from wakes, wind, and waves and good holding in mud. If you are planning to stay for a while, continue up the cutoff for another three quarters of a mile into an open area, well protected with ten to fifteen feet of water and plenty of swing room an privacy. Dinghy to shore at the rec center across the channel on RDB for pet relief and leg stretching. Cellular coverage is 1 bar for Verizon and T-Mobile, 3 bars ATT.

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  • Anchorage Review for Tom Bevill Visitor Center

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter off the channel towards LDB just above the lock and move towards the visitors center dock with over 20 feet of water. There is a bank that extends from the Visitors Center Dock towards the end of the breakwater to the NE. Deeper depths are in the 20's and the bank shoals up to 3-5 feet progressively. There is enough space to anchor in the deeper water with good swing room and good holding in mud. Wind, Wave, and Wake protection are adequate for winds up to 15 mph. Shore access is possible at the visitor's dock with approximately 5' of depth that will allow a smaller boat to tie up. The Visitors Center is closed for COVID as is the Snag Boat Montgomery. Cell reception is 4 bars for ATT, 2 for Verizon, and 1 for T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pickensville - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    2

    Exit towards LDB at mm 308.1 and enter the Tombigbee River at the Pickensville Recreation area in 40 feet of water and continue by the boat ramp, around the corner and move off the deep water to the north to find proper anchoring depths of 10 to 15 feet with good protection from wind and waves and, depending on the activity from the boat ramp, good wake protection as well. Daylight tranquility on a nice weekend might be problematic but we assume that things will quiet down at dusk. You can continue on up the cutoff for another half mile and have a larger anchorage area with room for six or more boats with non-overlapping swing areas. There is no current that we could see running through the cutoff. Shore access is excellent at the Pickensville ramp you passed on entrance with bathrooms and trash cans in evidence. Cell coverage was 2 bars ATT and Verizon, one bar T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Hairston Bend Cutoff

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Hairston Bend Cutoff has silted in and the anchorage is now nothing but a pocket that will accommodate one boat about 200 feet off the channel.

    Leave the channel at mm 318.5 and head towards the opening in RDB between the bank on the north side and the little island on the south side. Favor the north side as there is a 5 foot shallow just off the island. Move back in towards the NW for 9 – 10 feet of water with enough swing room for one boat. Protection from wakes is poor as the channel is within 200 feet. Wind protection is adequate from the south through west and around to the north. No shore access. Cell service is 2 bars for ATT and Verizon with no service for T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Columbus Oxbow

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    3

    The Columbus Cutoff is an oxbow off the main channel with entrances at the north and south end. The entrance at the north has shoaled in and is not usable so, in order to get into this interesting anchorage you must go south to mile marker 329.2 and exit the channel towards LDB and go back up the cutoff channel with a minimum of 11 feet of water all the way up to the upper bridges to the island, a distance of about two miles. On the way up you will pass several active barge facilities on the island side and what looks like forest on the shore side. Continue on past the last of the barge operations and go under a railroad bridge and the two bridges at the top of the island using the shore side arch on the first bridge and the middle arch of the road bridge for anchoring between 15 and 25 feet of water. You might consider stopping between the last barge operations area and the railroad bridge for 10 feet of water and good holding but a further distance to the town landing. Good water continues up the channel almost all the way to the north entrance. The problem with the anchorage is that there is too much depth in most places for necessary swing room with normal scope. There are only a few places where the mid-channel depth is under 15 feet so seek them out. Wind, wave, and wake protection is excellent. Holding is good in mud but swing room is restricted and what little current there may be is not enough to hold you straight in the channel with contrary winds. Consider short scope with a heavy anchor or a stern anchor to keep you oriented in the channel. Cellular service adequate with 2 bars for ATT and Verizon and one bar 5G for T-Mobile.

    You are now anchored in Downtown Columbus, Mississippi. Go to shore at the public dock just south of the anchorage on the shore side and go one block up the River Walk trail into downtown Columbus. There are a half dozen restaurants within four blocks of the park. There does not seem to be any grocery stores within easy walking distance.

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  • Anchorage Review for Waverly

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    2

    Exit the channel RDB at 337.4 and turn upstream into the cutoff leaving sufficient room for the bar at the tail of the island with 13 feet of water mid channel at the bottom of the island and 12 feet of water at the icon. Excellent protection from waves, wind, and wakes with good holding in mud. Good depths continue almost all the way up to the abandoned bridge but be careful of overhead wires of unknown clearance before the bridge. Dinghy to a boat launch north of the bridge for shore access. Cell service: 3 bars ATT, 1 bar Verizon and T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Dewayne Hayes

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Leave channel towards LDB at mm 340.2 and turn north into cutoff channel with 15 feet of water at the bottom of the island with 12 to 15 feet of water all the way up to the icon. Good water extends another 0.2 miles up the channel beyond the icon so there is room for at least four to six boats in a line with good swing room for all. Excellent protection from wind, waves, and wakes with allowances for the NE/SW orientation of the cutoff. Good holding in 10 to 15 feet. Shore access by dinghy further up the cutoff as well as just below the exit LDB. Cellular reception was good with 2 bars for ATT and Verizon, 2 bars T-Mobile 5G.

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  • Anchorage Review for Town Creek Cutoff South

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    3

    Town Creek Cutoff is unusual in that it appears to have excellent depth from the entrance at the north end to the exit at the south end. In theory you could fit any number of boats but what is important is that there will always be room for one more so you can count on having an anchoring spot here at all times.

    Enter Town Creek Cutoff South by leaving the channel at mile marker 341.5 taking care to leave sufficient room for the bar of the downriver tail of the island. Move up the center of the channel in 20 plus feet of water at the bottom of the island and then fluctuating between 12 to 20 feet all the way up to the anchorage icon where there was 18 feet of water. Above the icon the channel widens and the depths decrease to 10 to 15 feet in places for excellent holding with excellent wind, wave, and wake protection. There is a campground on the shore with several places to land with our pets. Care should be taken as the campground has a sign that says "Guests only". Cell reception good for all three carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for McKinley Creek Cutoff

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    2

    Turn off LDB at to enter straight into cutoff at mid creek for 9 feet at the bar and then 10 feet or more moving up the channel. Anchor as far in as you want but we anchored 100 yards off the waterway in 10 feet of water with a short scope due to narrow channel. There is no current to hold you in line with the channel so you will wander a bit. Consider a stern anchor to hold you mid channel. Some boat traffic but not bad. Good holding in mud and good protection from wind, wake, and waves. Cell reception is there but barely adequate. There is no local shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Tombigbee River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 18, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turn towards RDB at mm 366.3 center channel going upriver into the Tombigbee River channel with a minimum of 14 feet on entry and 30 feet at the icon, shallowing up after that. Recommend that you consider anchoring at the mouth of the river 100 yards off the channel in the 14 foot bar area for best scope and holding. Wake protection will be less but you still have good wind, wave and current protection and at night, it is going to be pretty quiet. Cell phone coverage is good with 2 bars for Verizon and ATT and 2 bars T-Mobile 5G.

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  • Anchorage Review for Amory

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 18, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    3

    Turn off the channel just before engaging the lock and look for secondary markers to guide you to LDB boat launch. Water shoals to 6 feet quickly and then moves at that depth three quarters of the way towards the boat landing. Depending on your draft and your nerves, move in towards shore and anchor in what appears to be a large, relatively flat area in 5-6 feet of water. Based on our draft we did not push in but it appears that there is a good anchorage for smaller boats in good weather with shore access at the boat launch. We did not record cell coverage.

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  • Anchorage Review for Smithville

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 18, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    4

    From Smithville Marina all the way down to the lock basin there is a wonderful bank with 10 to 12 feet of water and good holding in mud. Room for 10 to 12 boats with plenty of swing room. Protection is good from the northeast to the southwest. Consider this to be a fair weather anchorage for winds from the west to the north. There will be local boating wakes during the day and some wakes from vessels upbound out of Wilkins Lock at all times. The anchorage was quiet while we were there with the exception of a local church carillon playing music on a lovely Sunday evening. Shore access is available at the marina and town is about a mile up the road. Excellent cellular coverage for ATT and T-Mobile, 2 bars for Verizon.

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  • Anchorage Review for Piney Grove Rec Area

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    This anchorage offers a quick off and on from the channel and is an acceptable anchorage when winds are from the south. Exit channel towards RDB and turn south into the cove with 27 feet of water on entrance and 18 feet at the icon. Anchor at the icon with sufficient swing room for one boat with good protection from the SE to the SW and exposures from the NW to the NE. Protection is good but protection here is limited. There is a campground on the point and your evenings may be sharing your evenings with shore bound friends. If you need to get your dog ashore there is a sandy landing on the west side of the cove with no outside access. Cellular service is good for ATT and Verizon and marginal for T-Mobile.

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  • Anchorage Review for Natchez Trace Rec Area

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Leave the channel at mm 414 and head towards the LDB, turning north into the channel, staying in the middle with 30+ feet of water all the way up to the anchorage icon which is in 40 feet of water (414 pool). This is the simple part, what comes next is more challenging.

    Natchez Trace Recreation Area is not really an anchorage: The icon is a starting point for departures into at least five or six different “fingers” each one of which contains one or more really good anchoring spots. The area is not developed at all and each of these fingers has excellent protection from wind, waves, and wakes. Each has scenic beauty. Shore access in all the finger is where you can find a patch of sand to land your dinghy. While there is fair cellular reception at the anchorage icon, there is little or no reception once you get back into a cove. The most challenging part of anchoring will be to find a patch of sufficiently shallow water with sufficient swing room in your chosen finger but, wandering around we found plenty of good spots with protection from differing directions. During the day your privacy may be interrupted by passing bass boats but they are moving slow and are not a problem back in the coves. For those interested in a quick off and on you should check out the finger on the east shore just as you get off the channel. For those who are looking to rest a while, you have a smorgasbord of choices.

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  • Anchorage Review for Jackson Camp

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    It is reported that there is a lot of submerged standing timber in Big Springs Lake. We chose not to test this and stayed in the deepest water (creek beds) when venturing off the main channel to minimize our risk. It worked this time.

    Enter Jackson Camp arm at 416.5 RDB from the main channel and take aim at the back of the old creek to move from 30+ feet of water (414 pool) at the mouth of the cove gently shoaling to 23 feet at the anchorage icon. Continuing up the old creek bed another 0.4 miles put us in 16 feet of water with excellent protection from wind, wakes, and waves in all directions except the southeast. There is excellent holding in mud with room for six or more boats without having to explore the several interesting cuts on the western shore that might be good anchorages as well. Shore access is indicated by a boat ramp icon at the head of the bay but it was not visible. There is no T-Mobile service, 1 bar on ATT and 2 bars for Verizon. Internet service on Verizon only.

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  • Anchorage Review for Goat Island - Yellow Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter from the North at mm 446.7 and continue down the channel between Goat Island and LDB with 20+ feet of deth (414 pool) until you reach the cove on the southeast of the island. Leave and head directly in towards shore and anchor in 15 feet of water with good protection from the south through the northwest and adequate protection from wind, waves and wakes otherwise. Reported good holding in mud. The anchorage leaves you partially exposed and is not a good choice for bad weather. Zippy Branch (mm 449.5) would be a much better option. Very good cell service for all carriers. While it looks like there is good shore access we would counsel against it as the island is not only named "Goat" island, it is occupied by a group of them who probably have experience with intimidating humans for food. Leave the anchorage by going around the southeastern tip of the island and aiming for the southwestern tip for 15+ feet of water back to the channel.

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  • Marina Review for Grand Harbor Marina, LLC

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 14, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Grand Harbor Marina's greatest asset is its people. From the front office to the dock everyone that we came in contact with was outstanding. Neeley, the dockmaster, in particular could not have been more helpful. Approach and marina depths are more than adequate. Wind and wave protection are good. Good wake protection is sometimes an issue when an idiot goes by the marina at speed despite huge NO WAKE signs. Add to this a great ships store at the gas dock, the nicest courtesy cars we have ever seen, good security, good cell phone coverage and a pet friendly marina and you have it all. Bathrooms were clean and there is a laundry on the dock. The only negatives would be that the place is really busy on weekends so plan your arrival/departure accordingly and the marina Wi-Fi was only adequate.

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  • Anchorage Review for Zippy Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Zippy Branch is right across Yellow Creek from Grand Harbor Marina and a mile and half off Pickwick Lake. The inlet is simple to navigate. Enter in the middle and move towards the back, staying in the middle all the way. There is 35 feet of water (414 pool) at entrance, 20 feet at icon and 12 feet 300 yards past the icon towards the back of the cove with 300 feet of usable space for swing room. The anchorage is well off the creek so whatever wakes are generated die before getting too deep in. There are really high banks all around the cove for excellent wind protection with the exception of big winds from the north. Holding is good. Cell reception is 3 bars for ATT, 2 for Verizon and T-Mobile. There is unimproved shore access at the back of the cove for Fido or you can motor over to the fuel dock at Grand Harbor for a pizza.

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  • Anchorage Review for Panther Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter at mm 218.5 mid creek with 24 feet (414 pool) gently shoaling to 16 feet at anchorage icon at the fork. There is sufficient depth in both the northeast and southeast arms to move either way. We went up the middle of the southeast arm past a small boat launch / campsite on the eastern shore and moved up the 0.3 miles into 10 feet of water with plenty of swing room and excellent wind, wave, wake, and current protection. Cell service at the icon was 2 bar ATT and Verizon, 1 bar T-Mobile. Cell service at the back of the cove was not available. With no development the anchorage is really peaceful. This is a first choice anchorage for the area.

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  • Anchorage Review for Bruton Branch

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2

    Enter by turning off channel at 300 yards south of green mark located at 210.2 and aim mid cove for 18 feet (414 pool) entering and 12 feet at the anchorage icon. Protection is okay from northwest around to the southeast but open weather and winds from the other half. Bay is wide and there is plenty of swing room. Shore access in a little park at the north side of the cove. Not a good bad weather anchorage.

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  • Anchorage Review for Haw Branch

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter mid-channel just south of the 209.6 day mark with 35 feet of water at the entrance (414 pool) and 27 feet of water at the anchorage icon. There are no protruding docks in this area. Beyond the icon depth is 23 feet with sufficient swing room. Good protection from wind and waves with high wooded banks except from the southwest. First cove on the west shore of the anchorage has good anchoring and swing room in 17 feet of water but is not as well protected. Cell service 2-3 bars ATT and Verizon, 3 bars T-Mobile. No shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Sailboat Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter from south mid channel with 30 feet of water (414 pool) at the entrance and 28 feet at the icon. This is a deep anchorage and you will not find usable shallow water. Be prepared to anchor in 25 plus feet and provide for the necessary scope and swing room. Excellent wind and wave protection except from the south. Cell service 3 bars ATT and Verizon and 1 bar T-Mobile. This is a built up anchorage with private docks. No shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Blowing Spring

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Exit the lake at mm 208.6 in 40 plus feet of water (414 foot pool) and slowly make your way up the narrow creek in better than 20 feet of water for one half mile to the icon located in 24 feet of water. Move up the north channel another 300 yards to a wider spot in 12 feet surrounded by docks and houses. This is not a remote anchorage but cellular reception is barely there because of the high hills surrounding this perfectly protected anchorage. Anchoring with scope is a problem here but, with no wind and no current we successfully used our heavy anchor with a gentle set and shortened scope to keep us in place. There is no shore access. The anchorage is quiet and the residents waved as they went by in their boats.

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  • Anchorage Review for Diamond Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    1

    Enter chute from the north at 195.3 mid chute RDB with a depth of 40 feet. At anchorage icon there is a minimum of 18 feet winter pool in the middle of the chute. Continue south in the channel for shoaling waters. Move off towards island for appropriate anchoring depth but let out sufficient scope: There is full current in the chute. Well protected except with winds from the north.

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  • Anchorage Review for Wolf Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter at the north end of the island at mm 191.9 turn into chute RDB favoring right side of channel with minimum 14 feet of depth winter pool at the north tip of the island. There is a shallow that crosses the chute at this point and, depending on weather, could be as far as you have to go into the anchorage. Continue up the channel favoring the Wolf Island shore. At the anchorage icon depth is approximately 20 feet. There is a full current running through chute. Wind and wave protection is good except E/W which is exposed. Continue on south between Wolf Island and unnamed towhead with a minimum of 10 feet of water exiting. Restaurant across the river LDB 193.5 with landing but no dock for shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Swallow Bluff Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter from the north mid channel RDB with 22 foot depth at north tip of island, 22 feet at icon, and 10 feet winter pool at the south end of the island behind Dickey Towhead. Anchorage has full current running through it. Good holding and protection from wakes and wind from most directions. Less current when you tuck in behind Dickey Towhead. Okay Verizon and fair ATT and T-Mobile service. Shore access at Point Pleasant Landing LDB mm 170.5. Last good anchorage before Wolf Island at mm 192

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  • Anchorage Review for Eagle Nest Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Eagles Nest Island Chute is not so much an anchorage but an alternative to the marked main channel. It is wide enough and deep enough to run tows through it and it is reported that sometimes they do. With that said, turn off the main channel towards RDB in mid chute for 35 foot depth winter pool at the entrance, 30 feet at icon, and a minimum 18 foot depth winter pool at south end of channel. Anchor at appropriate depth on island side with full current keeping you oriented. Channel is wide an dexposed east and west.Good cellular coverage for all carriers. No shore access. Small boat traffic uses this channel during the day. Make sure you have your anchor light on and, if you are so equipped, leave your AIS transponder on for the night.

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  • Anchorage Review for Jeter Towhead

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turn off channel upstream into chute RDB with 20 feet of water winter pool. Go one quarter of the way up the island for 24 feet of water at the icon. Protected from all directions from waves and wind. Good holding in mud with reduced current. Excellent ATT and Verizon coverage, poor T-Mobile. Exit downstream leaving 200 yards from tail of island before turning out into channel. Room two or three cooperating boats. The anchorage is better than it looks on the charts.

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  • Anchorage Review for Double Islands

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter from the north at 148.5 mid chute RDB in 30 feet of water winter pool. 25 foot depth at the tail of the island and 20 feet at icon and shallowing further as you move south. Move towards island for appropriate depth with ample swing room. Island is densely wooded and protected from wakes and wind on the NW to SE axis. Okay cellular coverage for all major carriers. No shore access. Exit downbound leaving at least 200 yards north of the tail of the island before turning into the channel.

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  • Anchorage Review for Kelleys Island - TN

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    1
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    1

    When approaching from the north go at least 200 yards south of the red buoy marking the island at 143.1 before turning off the channel and moving over to the chute between Kelly's Island and the LDB. Move north in the chute aided by the 1+ mph current and move over to either the LDB or the shore side of Kelly's Island paying attention to several snags in the area. Depth in the chute is about 25' winter pool. Anchor in 15 to 20 feet of water facing upstream and make sure that you have a strong anchor set as you will be spending the night with current and whatever wind there is. Anchor alarm and anchor trip lines are recommended. Boat will stay aligned with the current unless there is a very strong wind from the north. Excellent wind protection for winds from the southeast around to the northwest. Good holding in mud, fair wake protection behind the island, and river traffic is far enough away so the noises are not a problem. No shore access, no cell service. Room for four to six boats along the shoreline. Consider Double Island Anchorage at mm 149 as a better alternative.

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  • Anchorage Review for Densons Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    2

    Enter the Denson's Island Chute mid channel from the north going upstream in 30+ feet of water winter pool. Depth at anchorage icon is 40 feet. There is a 1 mph current moving through the chute so move towards island from center channel to the appropriate anchoring depth. Good holding in mud. The current will keep you oriented in all but the heavy weather coming from the north. Good wind and wave protection. One bar cellular service. No shore access. Leave the anchorage by continuing south in the chute and stay on LDB until you get to the prominent rock outcropping in shore.

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  • Anchorage Review for Upper Rockport Landing

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Leave the channel and run 100 yards off LDB southbound at mm 106 and move upcurrent in 20 feet of water winter pool. Continue up channel behind islands in 40 feet of water and move toward island side for proper anchoring depth in 1 mph of current. Island is heavily wooded with good protection except from north. Room for many boats properly spaced. Good cell reception for all three cell carriers. No shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Birdsong Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter the marked secondary channel into Birdsong Creek on LDB at mm 103.5 in 15 feet of water winter pool. Channel depth minimum is 10 feet. After the second set of buoys move out of the channel into deeper water representing the old creek bed with 15 feet winter pool available. Anchor in 10 feet to minimize scope. Good holding in mud. Good protection from wind and waves but there are two marinas in the back of the bay so there will be small boat traffic moving past you although not at high speeds as the channel has many twists and turns. For those with good charts you can follow the buoys back into the bay and find several more places just off the channel with good holding and lovely surroundings. Shore access is a dinghy ride up the creek to the Birdsong Marina. Cell coverage is good with 2-3 bars for the major carriers.

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  • Anchorage Review for White Oak Landing

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 5, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    1
    WiFi:
    1

    Leave the main channel at mm 80.9 and head in a southeasterly direction with a minimum of 11 feet of water winter pool. The channel is marked with secondary navigation buoys leading you towards the south shore inside the shoaling that come off the southern point. At the anchorage icon there was 10 feet of water winter pool in the pocket cove with good protection from weather coming from the south and west. Continue on around the south shore honoring the green buoys with continued ten feet of water. The further in you go the more protection you will have from north winds however this is not a good anchorage for a serious blow from the northwest around to the east. Good holding in mud. Cell reception is poor for all carriers. There is no close by shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Cane Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 5, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2
    WiFi:
    1

    Right angle turn towards RDB just south of the old railroad bridge. Move east 150 feet of the old railroad bed in 13 feet of water winter pool.. There are secondary buoys to mark the channel. Stay close to shore until you reach N 36.18.25, W 87.56.51 as there is a shallow spot to the south. Depth at the anchorage icon is 12' winter pool and, from that point for the first half of the bay there is adequate water winter pool to find appropriate anchoring spots on the north and south shores. Small marina in Southeast corner of the bay. Shore access is on the north side of the bridge at a boat launch. Fair cell phone reception (1-2 bars)

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  • Anchorage Review for Leatherwood Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 5, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2
    WiFi:
    1

    Follow the secondary markers towards RDB leaving main channel at mm 73.6. Markers define the old creek bed so the channel wanders some. Honor all marks as you zig towards the south bank and then zag back towards the north bank turning directly towards the marina just off the west shore. The anchorage icon is in the secondary channel in 15 feet of water winter pool. You can move towards the west shore to anchor in 20 feet of water with good protection or continue on towards the marina and the zig to the east in 15 feet of water to find favorable anchorage spots in the first half of the inner bay on the north and south shores. Shore access at the marina or the landing on the north shore beyond the marina. Cell coverage 2 bars.

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  • Anchorage Review for Fort Heiman Cove

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 5, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Turn in to LDB south of red buoy at mm 62.7. Head towards middle of first cove on north shore with 12+ feet winter pool minimum depth on approach. On entering cove favor west shore for 20' of water, decreasing as you move towards the back of the cove. 17 feet of water winter pool at the anchorage icon. There is easily room for three boats, protected from waves, wind, and wakes except from the south. High banks and trees on all sides. Anchor in mud with good holding. 2-3 bars on cell phones. No shore access but very peaceful.

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  • Anchorage Review for Duncan Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter Duncan Bay on the southern half of the entrance. Northern side has shoaling. Green buoys mark the limit for tows for the second class mooring at the entrance on the south side of the bay. Once inside the entrance there are several options on both the north and south sides of the bay. Your choice depends on the anticipated winds. There is 14 feet of water winter pool at the anchorage icon. Reported good holding in mud. No campgrounds. Quiet anchorage. Fair cell phone reception. No formal shore access.

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  • Anchorage Review for Panther Bay - Dry Fork Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    Turn into Panther Bay South of Green buoy at mm 60.2. Follow the course line marked on some charts towards the norther shore of the bay towards the green and red secondary channel buoys marking the deep water entrance to the bay. Parallel north shore bank 100 yards out in 20 feet of water winter pool. 18 foot depth at Dry Fork Creek cutoff and 15 feet winter pool at the anchorage icon. Room for a large number of boats. Good holding in mud. Two bars for Verizon T-Mobile and ATT.

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  • Anchorage Review for Panther Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Turn into Panther Bay South of Green buoy at mm 60.2. Follow the course line marked on some charts towards the norther shore of the bay towards the green and red secondary channel buoys marking the deep water entrance to the bay. Parallel north shore bank 100 yards out in 20 feet of water winter pool. 18 foot depth at Dry Fork Creek cutoff. Continue east into Panther Creek with depths gently shallowing to 10 feet winter pool at the Panther Creek anchorage icon. Reported good holding in mud. There is room for a large number of boats. Shore access is at Boswell Landing on south shore entrance to bay.

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  • Anchorage Review for Ginger Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter south of main channel green buoy. Parallel north bank 100 yards out. Just before first pocket move away from shore to avoid shoaling off north short. 18 feet of water traveling down towards anchorage icon. Slowly shallows to 10 feet winter pool at anchorage icon. Reported good holding in mud. There are several other possibilities to evaluate based on your conditions. Shore access at the boat ramp on the south side of the bay. Cell signal fair (two bars).

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  • Anchorage Review for Vickers Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Turn in to RDB south of green buoy. Favor south shore for deepest water at the entrance to the bay 20' winter pool following the old creek bed past the first cove on the south side of the bay. 18 feet at the entrance to the second cove on the south side. 16 feet winter pool at the anchorage icon. The anchorage cove is lovely but it is only large enough for one boat. Good cell phone reception, good protection. Reported good holding in mud. A gem for the solo boat. Beach access is possible at winter pool by just beaching your dinghy.

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  • Anchorage Review for Sugar Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter Sugar Bay by leaving the Channel north of the green mark at mm 35.8 and move into the charted deeper water outside the channel at the entrance to the Bay. At the center of this patch of deeper water steer SE towards the opening of the first arm off the south bank. Continue up this arm with water shoaling towards the rear. Good protection here in all directions. Alternatively, turn towards the back of the bay 200 feet off the south bank and continue in 20 feet of water winter pool towards the back of the bay several choices present themselves. There is the anchorage at the icon on the south side with 17 feet of water winter pool at the icon. Reported good holding in mud. There are also two attractive cuts on the north shore of the bay for maximum protection against north winds. Shore access is at the boat ramp located in the main arm behind the anchorage icon. Cell service is fair to good. This is a really good anchorage for any number of boats.

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  • Anchorage Review for Smith Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    3
    Pet Friendly:
    3
    Cell Service:
    2

    Smith Bay is a "second class harbor" which means that there is 9 feet of water available for tows, winter pool, except during extreme draw down stages. Honor the green mark by at least 50 yards at the entrance as there is a bar coming off the northern bank. Once past the green buoy there is 20 feet gently shoaling as you move towards the back of the bay. The depth at the anchorage icon is 16 feet. Wind protection depends on where you anchor but there are sufficient choices for winds from all points on the compass. Reported good holding in mud. Cell service is fair with two bars for all carriers. Shore access is from the boat ramp located on the north side of the bay.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pisgah Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2

    For deep water enter on the south side of the opening into the bay, honoring the two local green markers on entry. On passing the greens move over to the north side of the channel within 50 yards of the bank until the anchorage opens up half way up the bank separating the Bay from the Cove. Depths going straight in at winter pool get down to 8 feet in spots. There are two arms to the bay: East and South. Your choice depends on winds. Move towards the back of the coves with the gently shoaling from 15 feet winter pool to your desired depth. The depth at the anchorage icon is 13 feet, winter pool. The bay has good wind, wave and wake protection but is large enough to create boat traffic that might stir things up on summer weekends. Reported good holding in mud. Cell service is 2-3 bars for ATT, Verizon and T-Mobile. Shore access is available at the boat ramp in the center of the bay. There is a boat launch with dock on the north shore of the eastern arm.

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  • Anchorage Review for Moss Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 2, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Turn off main channel just south of Green buoy at mm 28.7 and head for the back of the cove in the middle of the channel. Enter with greater than 20' of water winter pool and find gently shoaling depths almost all the way to the back of the entrance. Move either into the middle of either the north or south arm and find the desired depth to anchor. We anchored in the south arm near the swimming area and boat launch with plenty of swing room and 10' of water. Excellent holding, wake, wave and wind protection with the exception of winds coming from the West. We would anchor in the north arm of the anchorage with a west wind. Good Cell reception for all three carriers, shore access at the boat launch and a park/swimming area for personal and pet exercise. No shopping opportunities. This might be an active place during a good summer weekend but it was quiet at the beginning of October.

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  • Marina Review for Green Turtle Bay Resort (Boat Works)

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 2, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    We spent a pleasant week here getting some work done on the boat and just relaxing. GTB is a large resort marina with three restaurants, a spa, and several pools. Dockage gets you a temporary membership in the Yacht Club and gives you access to all the facilities and club restaurant.

    Enter the marina by way of the marked channel only. The gas dock/office is visible towards the back of the marina when you move through the entrance. Transient dockage with a minimum of 7' depth winter pool is clustered around this dock and assistance is readily provided by competent dock hands. The floating infrastructure is all solid and well maintained. Separate Bath/Shower rooms and a full laundry are located near the office and are clean. Cellular service is very good and the marina Wi Fi is excellent with good connectivity and excellent speeds. Grand River is a mile away and the marina runs a shuttle to town. There is a surprisingly good supermarket there. Patti's 1880's Settlement restaurant is the main attraction and they will pick you up at the marina for dinner if you so choose. The marina also offers a courtesy car that will get you to Paducah (25 miles) for major shopping.

    Green Turtle Bay also offers an AGLCA discount: Stay for a week and pay for five nights. It is definitely an excellent stop.

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  • Anchorage Review for Canal Rec Area

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Oct 2, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    5
    Pet Friendly:
    5
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Turn west into the anchorage by the red mark at Cumberland mm 32.1 and honor the secondary red mark as you enter the cove. Stay 50' off the south bank to have 15' (winter pool) going towards the boat launch and courtesy dock. At the dock move out into the middle of the cove and go towards the back of the cove into either the north or south arm with gently shoaling depths. Anchor at your preferred depth with reported good holding in mud. Good wind, wave, and current protection except with winds from the NE to SE. Good Cellular reception for ATT, Verizon and T-Mobile. Courtesy dock and shore access for dinghy with a 1 mile walk into town for shopping and restaurants.

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  • Anchorage Review for Cumberland Towhead Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    4
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Anchoring at Cumberland Island Towhead sets you up for a 35 mile day going up the Cumberland River and entering Barkley Lake. With adverse currents, using this anchorage will make for a reasonable day's run.

    Leave main channel just prior to Cumberland River to go upriver in the chute between Cumberland Island and the LDB of the Cumberland River at mm 0. Go up channel in 16' of water normal pool beyond the tail of Cumberland Island and move towards the island until you find the depth that you wish to drop your anchor. Good holding in sand with approximately 1 mph of current to hold you in place. Current less as you move towards shore and into shallower water. Room for any number of boats to anchor. Good protection from wakes and winds if you go far enough up the island. Fair cellular service. No shore access. Leave by going downstream and around the tail of Cumberland Island, going downriver at least 400 yards before attempting to cross over into the main river channel. Do not try to go out upriver as there is a major wing dam across the opening and significant shoaling behind it.

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  • Marina Review for Paducah Transient Boat Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    The Paducah Transient Boat Dock is back in business with new docks floating on the biggest and tallest pilings that I have ever seen. Gas and Diesel are available, so is power, water, and free pump out. There is also very good free Wi Fi with 10/5 mbps speeds. Deeper draft vessels tie up on the outside of the dock and face more turbulence from passing boats. Shallow draft boats that can negotiate the tight turn due to shoaling just downstream from the docks, tie up on the inside. The four level floating shore ramp is an engineering marvel.

    The Paducah Transient Boat Dock is operated by the parks department and they are very responsive to your calls and will take Dockwa reservations for you instead of just referring you to the site. Email and even Nebo Communications are informative and helpful for the dock and also for the town of Paducah. The parks department, however, is not really running a marina; they are running a service dock. There are no bathrooms, no showers, no laundry and no office. The two very helpful dockhands are employees of the parks department, they work from 6 am to 3 pm seven days a week, and they work out of their parks department pickup truck.

    Downtown Paducah is a short walk away and there are several things to do and see and several good restaurants within walking distance. This is a good place to stop on your way to Lake Barkley and the Tennessee River. The three star rating is only because of what the dock lacks as a marina. What it does have is excellent.

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  • Anchorage Review for Metropolis

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    3
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    There is an interesting stop in Metropolis at Fort Massac State Park Boat Launch and Dock. Small boats may be able to tie up to the dock. Larger boats will have to anchor upstream of the dock and short of the Green Buoy about a quarter mile upstream and dinghy in to dock. Fort Massac looks interesting for history buffs and Metropolitan Metropolis (Home of Superman) is a short walk west. Big John's Supermarket is less than a ten minute walk from the dock if provisioning is needed. Not recommended as an overnight so only three stars.

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  • Anchorage Review for P&I RR Bridge - SE

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    1
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Just upstream from the P&I RR bridge head directly towards the boat ramp on the RDB in 30 feet of water. On approaching bank turn up towards Harrah's Casino Barge and anchor between the boat ramp and the Casino in your desired depth. There should be diminished current but enough to hold you pointing upstream. Harrah's makes no shore access available. There is the basic boat ramp with no dock available but at the top of the hill there is nothing but large Harrah's parking lots. We did not stay here so cannot comment on the tranquility of this stop.

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  • Anchorage Review for Bean Branch Creek - Ohio River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Leave the main channel at mile marker 954 and head directly towards the anchorage icon with 15 to 20 foot chart depths (actual depths will be greater). Anchorage has charted 12 foot depths. We saw 18 foot recorded depths as we moved through the anchorage. Select depth by moving closer to shore, drop anchor and fall back downstream on current less than one mile per hour. Holding is good in sand. High Trees will give protection from winds from SE around to NW but anchorage is exposed to other winds and wakes. Cell reception is good and there looks to be possible shore access at the creek mouth if Fido needs to get off the boat.

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  • Anchorage Review for Little River Diversion Channel

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    1
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Little River Diversion Canal Anchorage is just off the channel in Cape Girardeau but is a completely separated world. Current in the river starts at four miles an hour; in the canal it is negligible unless you are in the middle of rainstorms when the canal can be difficult.

    Enter facing upstream into the current RDB from main channel at mile 48.8 making allowances for the transition from river current to still water. Depth immediately goes up to about 12' normal pool and continues up the canal for a distance. Reported depths decreased to eight feet about 300 yards in from the river but could not be verified due to rafted boats blocking the channel. Water levels were low and it was difficult to set an anchor with no current and limited swing room. Perhaps an excellent stop when there is adequate water, better channel width, and some current to orient boats well. Care should be taken when anchoring near the mouth of the canal as there is an eddy current that will move your boat upstream in unexpected ways.

    We pulled anchor and went elsewhere for the night.

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  • Anchorage Review for Little River Diversion Channel

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter RDB from main channel at mile 48.8 making allowances for the transition from river current to still water. Depth immediately goes up to about 12' normal pool and continues up the canal for a distance. Reported depths decreased about 300 yards in from the river but could not be verified due to rafted boats blocking the channel. Water levels were low and it was difficult to set an anchor with no current and limited swing room in these conditions. An excellent stop when there is adequate water and some current to orient boats well. Care should be taken when anchoring near the mouth of the canal as there is an eddy current that will move your boat upstream in unexpected ways.

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  • Marina Review for Hoppie's Marine Service

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Hoppie's Marina is one of a handful of places on the 6,000 miles of the loop that has achieved legendary status. Hoppie's, quite honestly is not much but it is the only "marina" and the only fuel stop between Alton and Paducah. The fact that it exists at all is a testament to the strong will of family against the river and the powers that be.

    Call for reservations. Do not be alarmed by the casual nature of the reservation process, they really do know who is coming and what space is available. Space is a port side upstream side tie on a series of barges tied up against the RDB of the Mississippi. There will be several people there to assist you as you will be tying up against a minimum of a 2 knot current.

    Amenities at Hoppie's are minimal. Electricity is available. So is diesel and gasoline. No water. No toilets or showers. Certainly no swimming pool or hot tub. Care should be taken walking on the deck (barges) as there are numerous cutouts. The spirit of camping prevails except you have entered the river dominated by commercial barge traffic that operates 24 hours a day between St. Louis and New Orleans and does not cater to pleasure traffic. Deb, the owner's daughter, gives a route briefing in the evening to help get boats safely from St. Louis to Paducah. Hoppie's is an essential service for boaters and deserves our patronage.

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  • Anchorage Review for Meramec River

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 16, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Approach from downstream side going up current and ferry out of Mississippi River current into the opening going up the river in 12' normal pool of water in the middle of the channel. The Mississippi was near normal pool so the Meramec was a tight fit between the narrowed banks. Smaller boats will feel comfortable here but 40"+ boats will feel uneasy because of channel width. If you go up the Meramec beyond the opening consider a stern anchor with wind as there was not much current in low water levels. The alternative is for a single boat to anchor out on the lower tip in the beginning of Mississippi river current in slightly deeper water with the current pulling you downriver. Bottom should be mud and sand and holding should be good.

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  • Marina Review for The Alton Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 16, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Located at mile marker 202.9 LDB in Alton IL, the Alton Marina is a complete package. Approach along the outer wall in 20' depths. As you reach the bridge you will make a 180 degree turn to port to enter the marina. It sounds worse than it actually is. The gas dock is an immediate turn to starboard and down the firs fairway. Once inside the current, wind, and wave issues disappear. Docks are all floating, mostly covered, with bumpers on the posts to make it easy to get into your slip. Docks are all well maintained, with water and appropriate power available and working properly. The entire marina, pool, showers and baths, office, store and deli are all floating at the middle of the docks. The staff is more than willing to help. Security is excellent. Cellular reception and marina Wi Fi are very good.

    The marina is all on 24 foot pylons to accommodate river fluctuations. On shore there are restaurants, bars, parks, and entertainment venues within a mile of the marina entrance. A major grocery store will send a courtesy car to pick you up and bring you back from the local grocery store. All of this with the Mel Price Lock just a mile below the marina. Call in the morning and leave ten minutes before you are expected at the lock. What is not to like? The AGLCA discount deal is "Buy three night and get three more free." Definitely a good stop

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  • Anchorage Review for Mason and Island #526

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Enter mid channel and go upstream to the south and towards the Mississippi with 12' minimum depth going up to the anchorage icon. At the icon there was 18' np. Chute is over 500 feet wide. There is a wing dam mid channel at the top of the channel between the two islands as you get to the Mississippi. Grafton Marina is one mile away for shore access. Cell service is good for all three major carriers.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Island #525

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    2
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3

    Turn towards RDB and the Mississippi River at the 2.0 mile marker and green buoy in 16' normal pool of water at the turn and go south back upstream with a minimum of 9' or better throughout the anchorage and plenty of swing room. Anchorage is open to south winds and has a good current running through it. Also the anchorage is a shortcut for boats coming from or going to the Mississippi River so be prepared for some boat traffic. Grafton Marina is two miles downriver for shore access. Cell service is good for all three carriers.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Twelve Mile Island - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    Turn off channel towards LDB 300 yards past downstream tip of the island in 12' normal pool or more of water and to up the narrow chute towards the island with depth increasing to over 20' at the tip of the island. Chute is narrow and depth will require more chain so we do not recommend this anchorage.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Mortland Island - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    Go 200 yards beyond the downstream tip of Mortland Island and turn towards the RDB and go up the chute to the tip of the island carrying 12' normal pool minimum depth. Chute is 300 feet wide with plenty of room to swing on one anchor. No cellular service for three providers.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Mortland Island - north

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    Looks to be a good upstream pocket off the RDB at the 300 foot wide entrance to the RDB chute behing Mortland Island. Unfortunately there were several snags in the channel and we did not go close. Depth on the right side was greater than 8' normal pool off the channel. No cell service for three providers.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Diamond Island - Illinois

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    See conversation about The Dark Chute in the listing for the Hurricane Island North Anchorage.

    Leave channel towards RDB 200 yards below the downstream tip of Diamond Island and go upstream mid-channel in no less than 16'np with channel widths of 300 feet. No cell service for three major providers.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Hurricane Island - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    See conversation about The Dark Chute in the listing for the Hurricane Island North Anchorage.

    Turn off the channel towards the RDB at the green mark at mm 25.7 and cross the bar at no less than 6.5' np. Across the bar there is over 10' np in either direction with 300' swing room. Consider the wind and current in your decision. Good holding in sandy mud. No cellular service. Dinghy to the Diamond Island launch if shore access is an issue. No cell service.

    NP = normal pool.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Hurricane Island - north

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    Enter Hurricane Island North Anchorage towards the RDB across from the Red Buoy at mm 29.5. Aim for the middle of the channel in no less than 10' (normal pool) continuing past the tip of the island and into the chute. There is plenty of swing room to sit on one anchor with good protection for wind and waves and, in most circumstances, boat traffic. No cell service.

    When you look at the map of the Illinois River, the Hurricane Island North anchorage is at the start of an alternate route called the Dark Chute. Starting at mile marker 28.4 and continuing down the west sides of Hurricane and Diamond Islands, it empties back into the main channel at marker 22.6. There are charted depths greater than 10' np the entire length of the six mile channel and widths are about 300'. Anchoring is therefore available anywhere in this six mile cut. It is simply a question as to how far away from the main channel you wish to be.

    The Dark Chute is a popular area, especially on weekends and in good weather. There is a boat launch behind Diamond Island so there will be more traffic there.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Sugar Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Pocket anchorage at mm 94.3.. Turn towards LDB at least 200 yards beyond the tip of the anchor and find 14' np below the island near shore. At the tip of the island mid channel depth is 7' with 100 feet channel width. We went no further in. Consider stern anchor.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Buckhorn Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Pocket Anchorage on the downstream end of the Island. Turn towards LDB and go back up towards downstream tip of the island in 8' (normal pool) within 50' of the bank. Consider stern anchor.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Buckhorn Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    3
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Nice anchorage at the upstream end of Buckhorn Island RDB. Enter as if you are going to go down the channel between the shore and the island for 6' normal pool depth with room to swing on one anchor near the upstream tip of the island for one or two boats with about 200' of channel width. Very good wind protection from the south around to the northwest.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Wing Island - south

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter Wing Island South 100 yards above the green buoy at mm 39.5 towards RDB in 9' normal pool of water. Favor shore slightly for deeper water but beware of snags. Anchor off tip of island short of the anchorage icon in 9' np with a channel width of 200 feet Consider Stern anchor if there are winds. There is a wing dam in the channel half way up the island.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Twin Islands

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Enter upstream of Twin Islands towards RDB at the green buoy mm 38.1 and continue as if you were going to go down the middle of the channel between the islands. You will have 9' np as you move to the upstream tip of the island. There is plenty of swing room and adequate space for one or two 40' boat in the anchorage. Good wind protection from the South around to the Northwest. Anchorage is exposed to the channel but far enough off to not be an issue.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Bar Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Proceed downstream beyond Bar Island almost all the way to the Coal Creek daymark (Green 85.5) and turn in towards LDB with a minimum of nine feet of water (normal pool). Turn back up stream favoring the LDB in ten feet of water and make your way back up to the island mid channel to anchor in ten feet of water with adequate swing room. Holding is good in sandy mud and the bottom seems clean. There is easily room for four to six boats and perhaps more if you explore depths further upstream. There really is no shore access in Beardstown. The anchorage was quiet with little or no traffic. Cell service is 3 bars for Verizon and T-Mobile and 2 bars for AT&T.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Willow Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 15, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    1

    Enter Willow Island Anchorage from channel to LDB downstream of the island at mile marker 30.0 Go towards shore and turn north in 12' normal pool and continue upstream splitting the channel between the island and the LDB. As you approach the tip of the island the water will deepen to 14'+. Set anchor mid channel with a stronger current passing by the island. Good anchoring depths continue for the length of the island and the channel is 250 feet wide so there is room to swing, The anchorage will hold more than ten boats if everyone behaves. Holding is good in sandy mud. Wind protection is good except on the North/South axis. Wake and wave protection are very good. Closest dock is almost two miles upstream. No Wi. Cell service is poor with Verizon and T-Mobile not having connectivity and AT&T having one or two bars. Anchorage is quiet with little or no traffic.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Free Dock Review for Havana Nature Center Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 12, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 1

    Dock is on the bank.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Quiver Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 12, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3

    Go downstream beyond the tip of the island at mm 120.5 and turn out of the channel towards the LDB and go upstream in a minimum of 8 feet of water (normal pool) to above the barge dock on the LDB. Nine feet or more of water goes up at least 400 yards beyond the docks, allowing for a minimum of six to eight boats to anchor with adequate swing room. Depth is reported to extend much further up the island. Holding is good in sandy mud with little current, complete wake protection, and good wind/wave protection unless there are strong winds for the NE/SW. The anchorage is quiet. Shore access is downstream one mile at the Havana boat launch. There is adequate cellular reception on AT&T and T-Mobile and fair reception on Verizon. Shore access is one mile downriver in Havana.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Duck Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    1
    Current Flow:
    1
    Wake Protection:
    1
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Duck Island anchorage is a pocket anchorage where, on the downstream end of the island, there is a spot with deeper water extending towards shore. Go past the downstream Red on the LDB and turn in towards shore. We found nine feet of water about 150 feet outside the channel with room for two or three boats to anchor. Consider stern anchors if there is any doubt about swinging. Anchorage is exposed to wind and wakes but holding should be good. We did not anchor. If it is getting dark this might be a good alternative.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Coon Hollow Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    2
    Holding:
    3
    Wind Protection:
    1
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    1
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1

    Coon Hollow Island anchorage is a pocket anchorage where, on the downstream end of the island, there is a spot with deeper water extending towards shore. Go past the downstream Red on the LDB and turn in towards shore. We found nine feet of water about 100 feet outside the channel and room for one or two boats to anchor. Consider stern anchors if there is any doubt about swinging. Anchorage is exposed to wind and wakes but holding should be good. If it is getting dark this might be a good alternative.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Free Dock Review for Chillicothe Day Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 2

    Chillicothe Free Dock is a floating dock, about 100 feet long with an approach depth of 10 feet and a dockside depth of four feet at normal pool. Dock has cleats but no water or power. There is no overnight docking allowed and a published half hour maximum stay during the day. There is a bar/restaurant called Bananas on the bulkhead with reputed "good food when kitchen open." With a 30 minute dock limit you will have to eat fast.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Blue Creek Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 10, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    2
    Scenic Beauty:
    2
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    2
    WiFi:
    1

    This is one of those places where you would not plan to be but, in a pinch, just might be enough to save the day (or night) On the north side of Blue Creek point, outside the channel between the red marker and the point, there is a pocket of 10 foot water with a sand bottom and good wave protection from the northeast around to the southwest. There is room for one boat and, as the anchorage is on a corner, boats will not typically cut close to you. Not the best place in the world but, under the right conditions, it may be just what you need to escape a storm or spend the night when Peoria is full.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Anchorage Review for Lower Henry Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 10, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    5
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Enter RDB at the Red mark below Lower Henry Island to clear the tail shoaling at the bottom of the island. Proceed upriver favoring the RDB shore with 15 feet of depth increasing to 17 feet mean pool as you come even with the island. Continue mid channel over a quarter mile upstream in waters slowly decreasing to 12 feet. Anchor mid channel with ½ knot current with good holding in mud and sand with excellent protection from waves and wind with the exception of either a northeast or southwest wind. The channel is 200 feet wide and there is room for 12 or more boats. There is no reasonable shore access. Cell reception is fair for AT&T good for Verizon and T-Mobile. The anchorage is scenic, quite, without wakes and isolated from river noises. We had one small boat come by in the evening. Definitely an excellent anchorage and a strategic stop between Ottawa and Peoria.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Marina Review for Heritage Harbor Ottawa

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 9, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Heritage Harbor Marina is a "Top Ten" marina and definitely an excellent place to stop. AGLCA and Tow Boat US discounts also make it one of the least expensive marinas for overnighting. Quite a remarkable combination.

    Other reviews have highlighted the services, the quality and cleanliness of the infrastructure, the food at the restaurant and the resort amenities including courtesy car. We agree with it all and will not be redundant. There are a couple of points to add.

    On leaving the river hug the right side of the channel going around the corner for the deepest water. We had a minimum of six feet going over the "hump' and seven feet in the basin all the way up to the dock.

    The marina supplies free Wi-Fi and it is as you would expect for a marina, slow in the evening when others are trying to watch a movie. For an extra five dollars per day you can subscribe to high speed internet. We did and found that we had between 30 and 50 mb download speeds and similar speeds going up.

    Finally, Jeremy, the harbormaster, gives one of the best route briefings on the loop, covering the area from Ottawa to Green Turtle Bay. His knowledge comes from a lifetime on this stretch of the rivers as well as current, up to date information from his "sources." Bring note taking materials, you will need them. The briefing is worth the total cost of the stay.

    "Three Thumbs Up"

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  • Free Dock Review for Ottawa City Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 8, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    We did not stay here but we visited the dock while touring Ottawa. The Ottawa Free Dock is in the middle of downtown Ottawa. The dock is off the Illinois River at the mouth of the Fox River. Exit the channel on the downstream side of the Veteran's Memorial Bridge (MM 239.7) to avoid the shoaling above the bridge on the RDB. The dock is a 100 foot long face dock with two 30 amp power pedestals. The fixed dock is in good condition but you will be using wooden poles to tie up your boat. The depth at the dock at normal pool is over 7 feet. There was a sailboat with a 6 foot draft tied to the dock and he reported no problems with depth. In addition to the face dock there are six smaller floating slips further up the river for boats up to about 35 feet.

    Downtown shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance. The free dock is almost under the bridge and access to the free dock by car is easy through an open parking lot. We don't know about security but if we were going to stay there we would call the local police station to inform them of our presence. Bridge noise could be a problem too but the price is right and the town has obviously invested in the dock.

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  • Bridge comment on Chessie System Transportation Railroad Bridge

    Comment by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 8, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'

    USACE calls this bridge "Chessie Railroad Drawbridge"

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Free Dock Review for Joliet City Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    "Free" means you get what you pay for. Sometimes it is a grand surprise and other times not so grand. Joliet Free Dock is a good deal but is not a home run. First, the wall is open to the park. The only thing separating the rest of the world from the boaters is a low fence which is easy to get over or around but makes it hard to get bikes off boats. Second, there is electricity and some of the cabinets built into the light posts actually have circuits that work. Ours and some other did not. There is no water on the wall. Trash disposal is possible is when you find a park trash can that is not full. There are well anchored cleats to tie up to but the wall is rough and requires that you protect your ropes. There is plenty of water depth on the wall and the current downriver is not a problem. Be prepared to see large tows come by in the evening and through the night. They really don't make that much noise. There were six boats on the wall the night we were there. There is room for eight to ten.

    On arrival we were met one of the officers from the police station directly across the river. He assured us that they would stage an officer overnight in the park to watch over us and the other goings on in the park. As night fell we were reassured by the excellent lighting along the river that illuminated six boats that tied up for the night. There were no problems after the late afternoon Labor Day Park people finished their barbeques and went home.

    The wall is an ideal distance from the lake; fifty miles. We managed to make it in by three in the afternoon, coming from Hammond and using the Calumet. Most of the others had made it through from Chicago, no mean feat on Labor Day. If downbound, make sure you call the Brandon Roads Lock in the morning before leaving the wall so that you do not wait holding place in the middle of the river.

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  • Marina Review for Hammond Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 6, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    It is difficult to write a fair and complete review of Hammond Port Authority Marina when you are there Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend. The marina was alive with all sorts of boats, from jet skis to 60 foot motor yachts. We were using the marina to stage for the Calumet River which is a short two miles from the marina. Hammond is a big marina. We were on Dock "W", close to the entrance and gas dock. Staff was very helpful with reservations and also on the crowded gas dock, helping us with a pump-out.

    The docks were in good shape and the slips were sufficiently wide to make it easy to get in and out. Approach and fairway depths were over 20 feet. Power and water were no problems. We did not avail ourselves of much else as there was a $20 cash deposit for key cards and it was not possible to return them until after the gas dock opened in the morning (0830 hrs). As we were leaving early, we declined the keys and therefore stayed out of the casino and other amenities.

    For bigger boats staging for entry into the river system from the lake, this is a good alternative at a reasonable price. It is also an alternative location to stage a visit to Chicago.

    View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer


  • Marina Review for Larsen Marine Service, Inc.

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 5, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Larsen Marine Services of Waukegan is a full service marine enterprise with expertise in everything from minor issues up to major repairs. We cannot speak to the full spectrum of services because our experience was specific but we can speak to the services advertised and what we received.

    Mark Kish, the service manager engaged us a week out, listened to our problem, researched the issues, ordered the parts, prepared to receive us, helped us dock, and then assigned the appropriate person to the job and made sure that the work was done properly. If necessary there is a 50 ton travel lift for work the needs to be done on the hard.

    The service staff was excellent and professional. All the work was done properly and it was clear that the staff was expected to treat customers and their boats with respect. Our work was done on schedule and the charges presented were reasonable, considering the unique nature of our problem and that they managed to move technicians around to meet our schedule. The ships store also doubles as the parts department and it appeared that they had a wide selection of parts on hand and the ability to get parts in either by pre-order or special order for next day delivery.

    Larsen Marine Services is an excellent choice for marine service issues for both locals and through-boaters.

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  • Marina Review for Reefpoint Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Sep 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Reefpoint Marina is owned by Racine County and professionally managed by F3 Marinas. It is strategically located about fifty miles north of Chicago and 75 miles north of the Calumet River entrance and makes an excellent stop before entering the Western Rivers. The marina is very big with over 900 slips but is laid out in such a way that, for its size, everything is reasonably close at hand.

    The marina is located behind a secondary breakwater inside the main Racine Harbor. Approach and marina depths are more than adequate: we had 13 feet at the slip. The gas dock is a floating side tie on the "T" of the West Wharf with several pump out stations, a good price on diesel fuel. There is sufficient space to maneuver. The gas dock help was excellent. The marina is well protected and there are no issues with wind/wave/currents. Marina traffic is not bad when you consider that there are over 900 slips.

    The marina has two main fixed concrete wharfs that are extra wide with an "Amenity Station" located halfway out the West Wharf where the transient slips are located. The amenity station contains a set of bathroom/showers, trash cans, and a large second story covered area with tables and grills. All the docks come off these fixed wharves and they are all floating, wide, in good shape, and with appropriate water and power hookups. Deck boxes are also provided for each slip. There is plenty of space in the slips and there are no center pylons between boats in a bay. Laundry, boaters lounge, store and office are located in the main building on shore along with a full service brew pub restaurant on the second floor with music on Friday and Saturday evenings during the season. Card controlled security gates are on each wharf, on the showers and other amenities, as well as on a dedicated parking area for boaters. Everything is clearly well maintained and serviced.

    Reefpoint amenities are excellent. In addition to pleasant and responsive staff, there is an excellent store, picnic areas with grills, pool and hot tub, fire pit and a park area leading out to the entrance of the harbor. We were docked near one of the hot spots for marina internet to there was plenty of signal strength. Speed slows down when there is a load on the system but it is still usable. There is good cell service on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

    The marina is located in a municipal park so there is plenty of space to walk the dog or just stroll. Be aware that the bulkheads are inhabited by minks so it is best to keep your pets on a leash. Town is centered on Main St. which is a quarter mile up from the marina. Several good restaurants are there. We ate breakfast at the Maple Table which is an excellent farm to table restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Some groceries and beverages are available at the marina with the closest real grocery store a mile away and the nearest hardware store is almost two miles distant.

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  • Marina Review for Lakeshore State Park Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 25, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Lakeshore State Park Marina in the "Historic 3rd Ward District" of Milwaukee is not easy to characterize. The facility is tiny, with only 20 slips but six of them are for 60 foot vessels and the rest are 40 foot. The marina has no water service but has well maintained 30 and 50 amp electric service on the longer slips and twin 30's on the others. There are no marina facilities available (bathroom, shower, laundry, fuel, pump out, Wi-Fi, trash) but the service from the marina manager was responsive, professional, and to the point. The marina/park seems to be separated from the town but is actually closer to town than the alternatives. If you like concerts you just might get one because the Summer Festival venue is about half mile away. Check the schedules: we had the Doobie Brothers while we were there.

    The marina is in its own little lagoon, contained within a second breakwater inside the principal harbor protecting it on all sides from waves and current. We had a nasty front come through with 40 knot winds and there was no issue at all. Depth is no problem, with fifteen feet at the slips and more in the marina basin. For those who are just looking for a place to stop for the night, there is ample room to anchor for quite a few boats in water from ten to more than twenty feet. The marina floating docks are connected to land by a single ramp that then ties into the pathways of the larger park and then to the city itself. Although the park looks to be well used, there is no sense of too many people too close to your boat. The nearest exit to town (and parking) is about a third of a mile away and the center of the 3rd Ward is about a mile and half walk along the water and up the Milwaukee River. Cell service was two to three bars for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

    Lakeshore State Park Marina has a four night limit. We stayed for three and did not regret our decision. It was quiet, it was easy to get into town even though it was a distance, and we did not miss the services but had do reduce the star rating of the marina because they were lacking.

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  • Marina Review for Harbor Centre Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 23, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Harbor Centre Marina is very large. Transients are all grouped together at the docks at the south end of the marina which is where the gas dock and the public boat launch are located. I can't speak to the gas docks because we never went there but the rest of the marina has everything that you will need and it is all in good condition. Approach and marina depths are adequate all the way to the shore end of the fairways where I had 14 feet of water. Fairways are wide as are the slips. The only navigation issue is the very active sailing program for the Sheboygan Yacht Club that shares the harbor with Harbor Centre. We found ourselves moving through ten small sailboats that were out practicing. Even this was not really a problem because they made sure to stay out of our way even though they had the right of way.

    The marina has gated security and an evening person patrolling. The office/store/ice cream/hot food was well manned by attentive staff. We requested and received assistance when docking. Electric, water, and Wi-Fi were no problem and internet speed was good. The floating docks were in good condition and the entire marina was well lit. The boater's lounge/bathrooms/shower/laundry area was very clean every time we went in. Add the pool, hot tub, and second floor bar and there is not much else that you could wish for. Even the price ($1.75 /ft) is not unreasonable.

    Harbor Centre Marina is part of a waterfront revitalization project with plenty of green space, a major boat launch that includes a fish cleaning station, and a large lakefront sand beach within walking distance. Town is centered around 8th Street which is a half mile up from the marina and serviced by a bus system that stops in front of the marina. There are several good restaurants there including a breakfast/lunch place called "Field to Fork" that makes particularly good breakfasts. There is a very good farmer's market on 8th St. Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. The nearest grocery store is two miles west although there are several specialty markets of 8th St. that will serve limited needs.

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  • Marina Review for Salmon Harbor Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Salmon Harbor Marina was our landing spot for the Lake Michigan transit. Approach was through the outer harbor and a short channel to the right hand turn for the marina. We carried over 12 feet of water all the way up to the marina and had better than 10 feet in the slip. The floating docks were in good shape and the slips and fairways were comfortably wide. 30/50 amp Power and water were no problem. There was no current in the marina basin and wind/wave protection was excellent. There are bathrooms and showers as well as a lounge and laundry We did not get a chance to check them out. Wi-Fi is available but weak at the end of the dock where we were. We had difficulty getting connected and when we finally did connect, speeds were just acceptable. Cellular coverage for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile were good. The marina is pet-friendly and, although the marina is open, there was very little dock traffic. The marina staff was responsive to our needs but left us to handle our own lines at the dock. Fortunately other wiling boaters lent a hand.

    The marina is a full service marina that offers fuel, service, haul-outs, fishing chargers, and is part of a larger enterprise that offers RV camping as well. The marina is at the corner of the town and there was one restaurant within walking distance. The nearest grocery store is over a mile and a half from the marina but Lafond's Fish Market is a short walk to the other side of the harbor. It has a reputation for really good smoked fish.

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  • Marina Review for Frankfort Municipal Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Frankfort Municipal Marina is part of the Michigan DNR Marina group and provides well-maintained marina facilities at a very reasonable price. Approach is through the outer harbor then through the canal into Lake Betsie. The marina is on the north shore of the lake half way into the lake. Approach depths were 12' and we had 10' at the dock. All slips, including the gas dock are slips attached to the town bulkhead and you walk off your finger pier onto the village green with main street 100 yards across the lawn.

    The slips were in good shape and everything including bathrooms and showers was well taken care of. 50 amp electric and water were on a new pedestal on the bulkhead. The marina staff is friendly, responsive, and very competent.

    Frankfort Marina is actually a part of the town park and so you should be prepared for people engaged in their own activities just off the end of your pier. Everyone was very nice and we had no issues with intrusive people. Even though there is no security whatsoever we did not feel any real concerns. There are over ten restaurants to choose from all within walking distance as well as a supermarket and a hardware store within a block of the marina. Wi-Fi reception and speed were good and cellular service for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile was very good. The park is pet friendly. Definitely a very pleasant stop for an overnight or for a longer stay.

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  • Marina Review for Leland Township Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Leland Municipal Harbor is an excellent stopping point while moving down the western shore of Michigan. It sits half way between Charlevoix and Frankfort and for slow boats divides the journey in half. Leland is not a DNR marina and reservations are suggested and must be made by phone with the marina. Dockage is $2.00 per foot with electric included in the price.

    The harbor is well protected and you enter from the south end of the breakwater. The channel is well marked but pay attention to shallow water extending south from the breakwater. Give the end of the breakwater some room and line up for a straight shot into the harbor. The harbor is well protected but the water color favors the lake the empties in through a short river. Count on 12 feet coming into the harbor. We had 10 feet at our slip. Docks are fixed and well maintained with new cleats. Power and water are good and we had no problems hooking up. Wi-Fi is very good and cellular reception is good to very good for the three major providers.

    The fuel dock is at the beginning of the harbor with pump out available. The "Office" includes large clean restrooms, individual shower rooms, a large and clean laundry room, and a spacious boater's lounge. Tables are available for picnics. The harbor is quite literally in the middle of town with boat launch, restaurant and grocery store all within a block of the marina. If the weather is good, the beach is two blocks away in either direction. Definitely a place to come back to!

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  • Marina Review for Bay Harbor Lake Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Bay Harbor Lake Marina is part of a newer high end resort development and is therefore unlike almost all of the other Michigan Great Lake Marinas. The "Lake" is actually an old mine pit that was opened to the lake as part of a planned development. Water depths, currents, swells are not a problem and even wind is not as much of an issue as the marina sits underneath a high ridge on the south and the developed north edge of the old quarry.

    Everything about this marina has been well thought out. The docks are floating and slips are wide and in great shape. Power and water are not a problem. The marina is part of a larger planned mixed use "village center" with shops, restaurants, bars, services, and facilities that include pool, social center, boaters lounge, showers and restrooms right off the docks. All facilities are first class and kept in top shape by the staff. The marina staff is great, with two experienced dock hands awaiting our arrival. Wi-Fi works but slows down during the evening demand. Cellular service is good to excellent. The marina is pet friendly and has poop bag dispensers strategically located. For humans, at slip pump out is available. If you need fuel you will have to go to Petoskey, Harbor Springs, or Charlevoix.

    The only disadvantage (not a negative) to Bay Harbor is that it is self-contained. If you like getting off your boat and being in town the nearest town, Petoskey, is four miles away. If you have bikes you can bike it on part of the Little Traverse Wheelway.

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  • Marina Review for Straits State Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 14, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Double turn entry makes for a much calmer marina. East access fuel dock. We carried 13' of water all the way to our slip. MUCH quieter and calmer than Mackinaw City Municipal Marina where Shepler's ferries leave every half hour through the day. The Mackinaw Ice Breaker Museum acts as a windbreak for winds from the west. 5 minutes further from town but worth it in tranquility. Entire facility in great shape. Love the two outdoor pavilions with picnic tables and grills. Wi-Fi in office area only. Good cellular coverage for the big three. Clean rest rooms and laundry.. Definitely my choice for Mackinaw City.

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  • Marina Review for Cheboygan County Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 12, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Cheboygan County Marine is an easy off and back on stop for people moving through the Straits of Mackinac. Just off and at the beginning of the channel into Cheboygan I thought that there would be issues with traffic and wakes but was surprised to find no problems at all. Easy access to the fuel dock where we took on diesel that was $0.25 cheaper than anywhere else we called. Free pump out. Overnight stay was quiet and inexpensive. Docks were in good condition and there was 13 feet of water at the dock. Wide fairway made it easy to get in and out.

    Good Wi-Fi and good cellular coverage. Coin op laundry on site. Nice covered pavilions with tables and grills on the property. Nice park next to the marina for walking pets. Staff was extremely helpful. Would definitely come back especially if I were low on fuel.

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  • Marina Review for Shepler's Marine

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 12, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Full marine service and an excellent marine supply store. Service was five stars plus. I needed a specific replacement part and the service clerk found what I needed and got the item the following morning. Several other people were getting same day service on their problems as well. Talked to the manager and he was clearly interested in doing the best that he could for through boaters. Shepler's Marine is definitely worth a phone call if you have any issues while traveling through the Straits.

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  • Marina Review for Rogers City Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Rogers City Marina is another good example of the Michigan State DNR harbor system. A double turn entry for protection and the well-marked approach channel to the harbor carries a minimum of 10 foot depths inside. The gas dock/pump out is an easy side tie on a wide fairway and the slips are large and well maintained. Dock hands were there to help us tie up and were responsive to our needs. Slips were wide and in good condition. 30 and 50 amp electric service was available on the breakwater wall.

    The marina is well maintained, with a picnic tables spaced out on the breakwater and the shore along with grill pits for cooking. Bathrooms were clean as were the grounds. Open wifi is available but we had trouble getting connected. Cellular service was good so we used that. As with other state marinas there is no security so there is non-boating traffic on the docks and breakwater. There is a small grill/ice cream shop right next to the marina and town beach with outside seating.

    Rogers City is not that large but there is a good Save a Lot grocery store and a Family Dollar store two blocks from the Marina. A hardware store is a block further away if needed.

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  • Marina Review for Alpena Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Alpena City Harbor is another example of a first class Michigan DNR harbor. It is well constructed, well maintained, and well run. While we were there they were pressure washing the docks to get rid of algal growth. The harbor is just off the breakwater with a sharp 90 degree turn to port to enter. The high breakwater makes visibility a problem so a warning horn blast before entering or leaving is not a bad idea. Approach and dock depth were over 10 feet.

    Marina fairways were wide as were the slips. Marina help were on the dock to meet us and help us tie up. New power pedestals with 30 and 50 amp service. Fuel dock was easy to access and staff was in the fuel dock house all day. Calling the dock number gets faster response than does calling the office. Restrooms are keyed and deposit is necessary for the key fob. They were clean as was the rest of the marina. The grocery store is a block from the marina and there is a Wednesday/Saturday morning Farmers Market in the same area. There is excellent marina WiFi and cellular reception. The marina is dog friendly.

    The only negative about the Alpena City Harbor is that, if you are moving up or down the coast, the marina is 15 miles off the normal travel track.

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  • Marina Review for Port Austin State Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 11, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Port Austin State Marina is a typical Michigan DNR Harbor of Refuge. Well constructed, well maintained, well staffed, and well operated. The lawns are mowed, the trash is removed, the gas dock is clear and clean as are the restrooms and showers. The marina is open to the public so there is a lot of dock walkers to deal with although there were all respectful of boater privacy. Be prepared to answer occasional questions. The marina is still recovering from winter storm damage but the parts that are open are first rate. Power pedestals are new with 30 and 50 amp service and water. For the price you cannot beat it.

    Approach is 12 feet minimum and we had 8 feet at the wall. Entry to the harbor is a right angle turn so take it slow and the turn directly towards the gas dock for the most water. There is a lot of small boat and kayak traffic both for fishing and for tourism, visiting "Turnip Rock" at Pointe aux Barques Park a couple of miles east of the marina.

    Port Austin is small and quiet but sufficient for most needs. There is a beach right next to the marina and a large kayak rental business further up the harbor. All the kayaks come out by the dock. The town has a good hardware store and an IGA grocery a block from the docks, several small restaurants and a remarkably good Saturday Morning Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. We delayed our departure to attend and it was worthwhile. No WiFi but good cell reception for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Dog friendly.

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  • Marina Review for East Tawas State Harbor

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 7, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Saturday in August and East Tawas is jumping and so is the Marina. Very busy but well organized. New docks and electric. The dock layout is completely different than the current satellite image on Google maps. We were confused upon first entering the marina and not seeing what Google had represented. Good to excellent cellular coverage for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. No Wifi.

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  • Anchorage Review for Harbor Beach

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 6, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Anchored overnight. Where the anchorage icon is located looks good but is completely choked with weeds extending all the way up to just below the surface. We anchored on the East Breakwater about 0.3 miles north of the lighthouse in 15 feet of water about 200 yards off the breakwater.. Holding was good on a sand bottom. Chain came up with some weeds but it was managable. Adequate cell phone reception. A long way from shore. We had a wind from the south and with winds over 10 kts the anchorage was a little bumpy but still tolerable. There was noise from the factory located in the harbor that continued through the night. Would stay here again but would be careful with any strong southerly winds.

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  • Marina Review for Desmond Marine

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 6, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Desmond Marine is the closest Marina to the Lake Huron. Located on the Black River just of the St. Clair, the marina is busy and you must deal with marina as well as through traffic including boats waiting for bridge openings just up river. The marina staff is excellent and responsive. All dockage is on a long wall and the marina can handle boats of 60+ feet with no problems. Depth was always more than 8 feet. The marina has a marine hardware store on the property. There are several restaurants in easy walking distance. Electricity and water are provided. After 9pm the river quieted down. Reservations are advised as space is limited.

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  • Marina Review for Algonac Harbour Club

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 6, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Algonac is the birthplace of Chris Craft. If you are upbound, approach using the ship channel rather than the St. Clair River. The currents are not as bad. The Marina is part of a larger canal system so be prepared to deal with traffic in tight quarters. We encountered four boats and a jet ski while entering. The transient docks are located at the front of the marina with slips for boats up to 40' and a long side tie wall for larger boats. Depths were never less than 8 feet.

    The facility is located in the middle of town. The Kroger grocery store is a quarter mile from the entrance as is the local West Marine Store. There is an onsite restaurant with outdoor dining, pool, hot tub, basketball court, Tiki bar, horseshoe and bocci courts (seriously). There are even well spaced picnic table for transients on the lawn in front of the docks.

    Pros: Eight foot depth on entry and eight foot depth at dock. Be careful of the current that drops off as you enter. Excellent dock service. Responsive staff. $65 flat rate non-refundable fee with no charge for electric. Updated pedestals with 30 and 50 amps. New timber on the docks. Wifi that works, even when you are at the far end of the range. Good to excellent cellular coverage for AT&T, Vonage and T-Mobile. No wind or wave issues at all. Bathrooms are new and clean.

    Cons: Mostly posts for side ties at the far end of the transient dock. Pump out is $15 and the fuel prices are $0.10 - 0.20 above what is available in the area. We were there early in the week and it was quiet. We wonder how busy the facility might be on weekends.

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  • Marina Review for Safe Harbor Sandusky

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Aug 1, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Safe Harbor Sandusky Marina is a quiet marina at the far end of the harbor. We came in on a Saturday Afternoon and the harbor traffic was quite heavy with everything from a 600 foot long coal carrier to jet skis. The marina is located just beyond an active coal dock with boats and trains actively using the pier. Approach depths were 10 feet or greater and we never had less than 8 feet in the marina so concern about depths as marked on Garmin and Aquamaps is not an issue. Maneuvering in the marina was easy as the fairways are wide and our slip was extra-wide.

    Pros: With promotion discount the overnight was very inexpensive. They preassigned the slip, provided a marina map and info by email and it was an easy in and out. The marina is well protected from surge and wakes. It was quiet after the Saturday Night band finished at 10 so we had an excellent night's sleep. . Free laundry is a plus as is the pool. New and clean bathrooms and showers were appreciated. The grounds were well cared for as well. The marina was having a Saturday Night Parrot Head party with free Caribbean mixers available (you supply your favorite adult beverage.) Cellular signals were good for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

    Cons: No one responded to the radio on arrival and there was nobody from the marina on the dock when or after we arrived. Friendly neighbors were on hand and, as we had a pre-assigned slip and map, we managed with no problems. Old boards on the dock are being replaced but the docks are somewhat tired. Electric is questionable at best. Our pedestal did not work. The breaker cover was screwed shut so, if it were working we would have plugged into a hot receptacle. . The slip next to us reported 105 - 110 volts. Several people said that power was a big issue at the marina. Water pressure was poor: less than 1 gpm. There is a nice dog area but the Doggie Doo-Doo Dump had not been emptied for a while. We connected to the marina wifi but the system was not connected to the internet when we tried.

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  • Marina Review for Mentor Harbor Yachting Club-PRIVATE

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 31, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Mentor Harbor Yachting Center is everything you would want in a yacht club. Clubhouse, dining room, docks with tender service from dawn to late in the evening, gas dock, nice facilities that are clean and a staff that is there to help. Security, cleanliness, pool, and, in the summer, even a sailing camp and open area barbecue pits are the norm. Floating docks, good electricity and water, clean bathrooms and showers and a staff that takes care of everything on a daily basis. Pool and private restaurant including launch service. Good Cellular for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Pet friendly with a private park off the end of the pier overlooking the lake. What is not to love???

    The only negatives that we found were that the transient slips are a little tight (17.5 feet wide) and the fairways are a little narrow for boats over 45 feet. Care needs to be taken. The club is an easy off and on the lake but this means that, given winds with any northerly component, will build swells that will find their way into the harbor. In bad weather the docks can experience swells coming into the harbor. We spend two nights with a bit of swell passing under the boat. Nothing terrible, but not comfortable.

    Would we come back as transients? Yes. If we lived here would we join? Yes.

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  • Marina Review for Bootleggers Cove Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 29, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Bootlegger's Cove Marina sits well back in Tuscaroara Bay. The entrance is between two substantial piers and the channel is well marked all the way back. Floating docks with power and water are wide and in good shape. Th docks are reached from the bulkhead by going down steps. We had no power issues. Depth in the slip for us was 8 feet with good protection from wind and waves. No wake issues as everyone is well-behaved. The staff is friendly, the marine store is welll stocked but oriented to smaller boats. The restaurant is on a rise behind the docks and serves good food with large portions. Saturday night live music went until 11pm but was not overly loud. Sunday afternoon live music brought a full parking llot and a lot of boaters on their tables aloinside their boats. There is a nice small pool on site as well.

    Our stay was good although the staff was not prompt in responding to our reservatioin queries either by phone or text messaging. There are bathrooms and showers although they are tucked away in a building on the other side of the marina. WiFi was said to be there but I could not find it in the list of sources and the staff said that it was 'pretty weak down at that end of the dock.' Cellular was good for Verizon, poor for AT&T and T-Mobile. There is no pump-out at the marina but there is one at Tuscaroara Yacht Club with a 5' control depth and a short dock for $5. The person on the phone said we could stop by. The marina is good as a staging place for larger boats going through the Welland. We had no problems with our 48x15x5 size.

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  • Marina Review for Chadwick Bay Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 27, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Dunkirk is a utilitrian stop between Buffalo and Erie PA. It is also an excellent alterntive stop leaving the Welland, whiich is what we use it for. The docks are old and in need of repair. The electric hookups available to transits are undependable. We could not get power. The security on the docks was good although the docks themselves are in need of some tender loving care. The dock bar was busy and noisy until ten PM on a Monday night. The music continued at volume even after the clients left and finally ceased at Midnight. The lighting in the marina was good on the main pier and the face dock. Parking was good. Groceries are 3 miles away. Ample restaurants on or right next to the dock.
    The toilets and showers are clean but dated. The staff is wonderful even if they are all under 20 years of age. The depth at the dock was 10+' and the pumpout dock had better than six feet even thought the pumpout hose was 18 inches too short to reach the rear tank on our boat. No diesel for sale.
    If we ever have to come through the Welland again, we will stay here rather than Buffalo. We will not, however, make it a destination on its own.

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  • Marina Review for Port of Rochester Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 22, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Almost brand new marina, cut out of an old parking lot for the defunct fast ferry to Toronto. Two restaurants on site, ice cream, and other restaurants within walking distance. Remarkably quiet, considering the urban nature of the area. Closest grocery store is a mile away and the closest chain grocery is over 3 miles distant. Very nice lakefront park adjacent to the marina. Marina is well secured, has an excellent captain's lounge an laundry. Staff is friendly and helpful. Floating docks with wide berths, movable cleats, and with dockside depth of 12+ feet. Excellent WiFi and excellent cellular reception on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. No negatives to report.

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  • Anchorage Review for Thorntons Point - Sodas Bay

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 20, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    5
    WiFi:
    1

    Thornton Point anchorage actually extends from the point one mile in on the west side of the bay back as much as two miles to the back of the bay where it appears to continue around to the east side of the bay as well. There are no depth issues at all entering the well marked channel and none of concern approaching any of the potential anchoring spots. We anchored 300 yards south of the point in 18 feet of water to clear several mooring balls that were closer to land. Protection from south, west, and northwest winds in this spot was excellent. In this location were exposed to east winds with a half mile fetch but, if we had been concerned about winds from that direction we could have simply moved further into the bay. Boat traffic and wakes were not bad during the evening and dropped off to nothing after dark. The south part of the bay seems to be quiet at night. Holding was excellent in mud/sand.. The anchor set immediately and held firm during backdown. There is no access to land for pets in the area although there are several marinas a mile to the north that might accommodate. Cellular reception was good to excellent for AT&T, Verizon, an T-Mobile.

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  • Marina Review for Clayton Harbor Municipal Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 19, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Really nice new floating docks plus seawall. Minimum six foot depth at the docks and extra wide slips. Really good staff, and located right at the edge of Downtown Clayton with nothing more than 6 blocks away from the Marina. Clean bathrooms. Excellent WiFi and excellent cell coverage for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Dockwa reservations: 2.05 per foot, no discounts. Supermarket one mile distant.

    Exposed to the Northeast and to a lot of wakes from boats passing by at speed. No on site laundry facilities. The marina is busy and noisy with "go fasts" on weekends.

    Clayton is a great stop to go go ashore. Good dining, good activities, and an absolutely fantastic antique wooden boat museum which you must see.

    Definitely will come back when we get the chance.

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  • Free Dock Review for Frankfort Harbor Marina & Park - Free Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 12, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 1

    Entry off Erie Canal is clear and controlling depth into the creek where the marina is located is 8 feet before deepening to 14 - 16' heading back to where the marina is located. Depth drops precipitously as you leave the marked depths and stopped us when we hit bottom at 5' depth well short of the marina. Calls to the Town Office for clarification went unanswered. We anchored in the marked deeper water instead.

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

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 12, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Cons: No Power, No Water, No Pumpout

    Pros: Free. 300 feet of new wall with new cruiser spaced cleats instead of barge spaced bollards. Relatively quiet, even with the road bridge only a hundred yards away. No boat or car traffic; only a few boats passing at idle between the locks and only during the day. Total wave protection and good wind protection. No WiFi but good cellular on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. 13' dockside depth. Nice grassy area for pets. Short walk to many stores and restaurants but a half mile to the marina district. About as good as it gets if you are just interested in a rest.

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  • Marina Review for Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jul 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Not a luxury marina but very definitely first class in every way. Good docks, great staff, well stocked store that ordered me some parts that came in the following day. Nice grounds, clean showers, $1.00 wash, pool, multiple grills with tent, good restaurant, and even a fully functional courtesy car which, if you are thinking of shopping, you will definitely need because the marina is at the bottom of a steep hill (no biking unless you are really into your cardio workout) without a grocery store within walking distance. Very good WiFi but only fair cell signal. Pet friendly. There is no wake protection from traffic on the river but almost everyone behaves. Make sure that there is some slack in your lines for the few wakes that do make it in.

    Most of all, the place has a wonderfully calm, relaxed atmosphere. We spent a week here and will come back any time we are in the area. Definitely a great stop on the Hudson.

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  • Free Dock Review for Catskill Point Park - DAY USE ONLY

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 29, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 1

    Dock is in front of a restaurant. Do not be intimidated by bank showing on the shore side at low tide. There is 7' of depth on the dock face MLW. Easy stop during good weather but the dock is not sufficient to hold a 40' vessel with any serious wind from the SE through the SW. Not a recommended overnight stop under any but the most gentle of conditions as the dock does not inspire confidence as far as durability is concerned. Not a bad lunch stop when you can keep an eye on your boat.

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  • Anchorage Review for Rum Point Basin

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 23, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4
    WiFi:
    1

    The Entrance to the Rum Point Basin anchorage lies on the north side of the Abescon Inlet channel after the Red "12" bouy. On the chart the entrance looks intimidating and, in truth there is little room for error but it is not as difficult as you might think. First, others have said to stay on the grassy north side of the channel going in. To reinforce this some enterprising individual has put up a series of marker poles on the souith side of the channel delineating the shallow water on the south side. Stay in the middle of the :"channel" and you will have 5 feet of water MLW through the entire channel. We entered at MLW and saw the 5 foot depth about three quarters of the way into the basin. At high tide the marsh grass almost totally disappears so you need to pay attention to the charts and where the grasses are marked.

    Anchor on the north side of the basin going back from the entrance several hundred yards. Plenty of room for six or more boats in 7' of water MLW by our calculation, not having explored the totality of the anchorage. Holding is good. in mud We experienced 30 mph winds in a squall and did not budge. The weather was poor so boat traffic was light. Looking at the neighborhood we can imagine lots of boat traffic on a good weekend day.

    Cell service was good to very god for ATT, Verizon, and T-Mobile. We did not see any clear access to shore oi the basin. You will have to motor over to the Casino side of the channel (1 mile) is you want to go to shore. . An excellent stopping points for slow boats going up or down the Jersey coast.

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  • Anchorage Review for Worton Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 18, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    3
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    2

    Anchor in the cove outside the harbor a mile off the travel way towards Chesapeake City in 12' mlw water with good holding and sufficient clearance for some evening breezes. Good protection from the North through East to the South with reasonable holding for another 45 degrees to the West on both ends. Avoid or try to go inside the tight entrance with winds from the West. Okay cell service for Verizon and T-M. One bar on ATT. Did not try for shore access but there is nothing close by anyway. Mid June with a South wind and not too buggy at all.

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  • Anchorage Review for Mill Creek - Solomons

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    5
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    4
    WiFi:
    1

    Turning on to Mill Creel from the main channel puts you immediately in a different and much more residential world. Well protected and well developed, anchor in 12-15 feet of water in the little pockets on the sides of the creeks. Depths carry in close to the shores so you can "hug" the edges a bit more than you might normally. Holding is good in mud. One word of warning" the Waterway Guide Anchor Symbol is placed squarely on top of where the remnants of an old dock lie submerged. Nice looking spot, but probably not the best place to anchor.

    • WG Editor Comment:

      WG Staff have anchored there many times, no issues. See Mill Creek 2 Anchorage that reviewer added.

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  • Anchorage Review for Pungo River - Pantego Creek

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 16, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    4
    Shore Access:
    4
    Pet Friendly:
    4
    Cell Service:
    4

    Stopped for the night with North winds 20mph. Plenty of space in the less protected outer harbor. Good holding in 12 feet of water. Anchorage is inside the town breakwater but still has a bit of a chop when the wind is up. There is morning traffic but most boats were surprisingly polite and came by with little or no wake. Easy in and out. One mile off ICW. We did not go ashore this time but can assure you that, for a small town, they have plenty for the boater in the way of food and shops. Good dinghy dock

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  • Anchorage Review for East River - Long Point

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jun 16, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    4
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4

    2.5 miles up the East River, around the corner from the Williams Wharf Rowing Center is a 300 yard long bank of 11' mlw water 100 yards off shore, well protected in all directions with the exception of the South West (one mile fetch) and particularly pleasant with winds from the West through North East. Some boat traffic but not annoying. We ar told that, at high tide you can take your Dink up a side creek just across from the anchorage and go all the way up to Matthews. We did not try it. Good cell reception ATT Verizon and T-Mobile. Good holding in mud. Few bugs. A quiet and pleasant anchorage.

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  • Marina Review for Sanitary Fish Market & Restaurant

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 4, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Telephone # 252-242-5287
    Restaurant is open in season 7 days a week from 1130 am to 8:00pm.
    ---
    The Sanitary Seafood Restaurant is a fixture on the Moorhead City Waterfront. Food is good and the selection of local beers is extensive. For the boater there is a 150' floating dock with 15' of depth at the dock, well constructed and solid that is available on a first come first serve basis. No water or electric. Overnight dock fee is $1.00 per foot with no food or $25 flat fee if you eat at the restaurant or take out to eat on your boat. If the dock is full you can anchor up against the island on the other side of the channel. Holding is good but there is a good tidal current that runs through the channel. Lots of boat traffic but it all goes by as slow speeds in this crowded section of the harbor. On the weekends expect some noise from nearby bars. Dock is secured at night.

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  • Marina Review for Carolina Beach Municipal Marina

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Apr 3, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    The Carolina Municipal Marina mooring field is an excellent, safe, low cost stop on the way north or south on the Intracoastal. The mooring field is laid out with sufficient swing room and enough depth for any vessel traveling the ICW. The mooring pendant is usually stowed in a "basket" on the top of the ball so it is not full of slime and gunk. Very nice.
    The new feature for this marina is a trio of floating docks with water, power and sufficient depth for a 50' boat, although the bow will be hanging out beyond the outside mooring piers. Water and 50 amp power is also provided for a $60 Dockwa reservation. These three slips are about a mile south of the mooring field, almost at the end of the cut, located on the shore side just beyond a restaurant named "Stoked." This is a public landing with several fishing ad tourist boats sharing the dock and parking. Shopping, grocery and food choices abound. It was cold when we were here and we appreciated the electricity but, on a normal day, we would prefer to be in the mooring fie.d.
    Larry, the dockmaster, is about as responsive as you could ever wish for.

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  • Marina Review for PORT 32 Jacksonville

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    Marina life in the time of COVID. While some of the social activities are curtailed, the marina staff has done an outstanding job of trying to maintain the atmosphere and access to the facilities while paying close attention to the necessities of social distancing. You do not get a "Lockdown" feeling at all. The facilities and staff are first rate. I could rave about many things but other reviewers have already spelled them out and we agree. Our favorite place to stay.

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  • Marina Review for Green Cove Springs City Pier

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 4

    Not a free dock but the next best thing. $10 for a tie up, $10 for water and power (30 and 50 amp) on an honor system with pay envelopes available at the top of the dock. Pier is behind a concrete breakwater that really reduces wave action from the north through the east. Slips and one longer side tie available on a first come first serve basis with a 48 hour maximum. Slips are narrow and will accommodate boats under 40 feet. The "T" dock sits between two dolphins and will handle a boat of up to 70 feet with good depth. If you find space this is an excellent stop at a reasonable price. The park an local amenities (including St. Brendan's Isle Mail Forwarding Service) are within easy walking distance.

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  • Free Dock Review for Palatka Town Dock

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 3

    Newer floating docks in excellent condition. No electric and no water. Exposed to current that is somewhat tidal. Exposed to wind from the north through east to southeast and can be bouncy with a good wind. Exposed to noise from the bridge located 200 yards downstream from the landing. Landing is downtown and has access to local park, shops, post office, and restaurants. Have spent the night here twice and would come back again.

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  • Anchorage Review for Morrison Island

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    3
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    4
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    3
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Morrison Island is an urban anchorage with houses on the main channel as well as houses on the Morrison Island loop. Although there are speed restrictions in the area some boats don't abide by them and wakes will disturb you from time to time. We had six to eight early morning fishermen come by in bass and pontoon boats so solitude is not this anchorages strong point. 10 foot depth in the front of the anchorage with shallower depths towards the rear. Shore access is possible at one of several commercial and public landings further up the river towards the center of town.

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  • Anchorage Review for Starks Landing Loop

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    4
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Enter on north side of oxbow in a tight channel between the shore on the north side and the hyacinth in the opening.. Depth on entering is 7' and depth at the back of the oxbow are less than published, averaging 8-9' feet. Holding is good in soft mud. Shore access is available in several place along the bank where it looks like houseboaters tie up.

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  • Anchorage Review for Emanuel Bend

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    4
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    2
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    4
    Scenic Beauty:
    3
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    2
    Pet Friendly:
    2
    Cell Service:
    3
    WiFi:
    1

    Enter from the north end of the oxbow. Depths are shallower than indicated on the chart but never less than 9 feet on the north arm of the oxbow and 7 feet at the back of the oxbow in front of the five or six houses on shore. All shore access on land looks private. Access to shore on island looks possible but did not try.
    Cell reception for ATT and Verizon good.
    Anchorage will hold at least five or six boats in line with the current. Good anchorage but Butcher's Bend a mile further up the river is better.

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  • Anchorage Review for Butchers Bend

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Jan 17, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Overall Rating:
    5
    Holding:
    5
    Wind Protection:
    5
    Current Flow:
    2
    Wake Protection:
    5
    Scenic Beauty:
    4
    Ease of Shopping:
    1
    Shore Access:
    1
    Pet Friendly:
    1
    Cell Service:
    4
    WiFi:
    1

    Oxbow off the river with excellent wind protection all around. No wakes in the back of the oxbow but probably can be felt if you anchor close to the channel. Excellent holding in mud. No shore access but good cell phone reception for both ATT and Verizon. Plenty of room for a large number of boats anchoring in line with the slight current flowing downriver through the anchorage.. Depths vary between 10 feet to 15 feet through most of the anchorage. with 8' at both entrances to the oxbow. Definitely a first choice for the area. Shore access for pets on the island is pretty sketchy.

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  • Marina Review for Wayfarers Cove Marina & Boatyard

    Reviewed by: Malcolm Rubel on Mar 17, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 48'
    Draft: 5.0'

    Rating: 5

    One of the true gems. Tom, the manager is a true professional and his team and resident contractors (Gatlin Marine and Vogt Yachts) do first class work at reasonable prices. DIY work allowed on the hard and in the water. The yard and facilities are being updated by the new owner so stay tuned for updates. (03/20).

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