Reviews from Laura Briggs (15)

Marina Review for Spring Cove Marina - Solomons

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Apr 23, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Wonderful, quiet, park-like setting for a marina. In-slip pump out (self-serve), 3 washer-dryers, heated private shower/restrooms, free bicycles, great bar open some evenings, and food delivery available (via door dash from a great Thai restaurant nearby). Very nice folks running the marina. Setting is very convenient for provisioning. The 40' slip we were assigned was very skinny - very little room between us and our neighbors - with a very tight approach lane. Without a bow thruster we would not have made it in. We tied up stern-to, and had to scramble to get off the boat onto the finger pier. All worth it, however, for the great amenities.

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Marina Review for Waterside Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Apr 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great floating docks (NO SPLINTERS when coiling lines), great dockmasters, great location! Only drawback is that the restrooms/shower are pretty far (my iPhone says it is a .2 mile walk one way). If you like to be in the middle of all that is happening, but feel safely tucked away, this is the place!

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Marina Review for Dowry Creek Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Apr 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Our third stay at Dowry Creek - and it is certainly one of our very favorite marinas on our south-north trek! Run by a wonderful family that are always really helpful. Great restrooms/showers (towels are supplied!!!). Beautiful pool. Great docks. Excellent assistance with line handling. Pump out at your slip. Awesomely stocked marina store for provisions. And the setting is very peaceful - and spectacular.

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Marina Review for Alligator River Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Apr 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Nicely improved docks (over a year ago). Great docking assistance (thanks, Ian!). Decent restrooms. Showers a little run down and I'd avoid using the laundry facilities. As others have noted - basically a gas station with a marina in the back. But really nice folks. Good fried chicken! Great launching point for the Albemarle crossing!

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Marina Review for Atlantic Yacht Basin, Inc.

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Apr 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Love this place! Easy tie up on the face dock, just steps to restroom/showers. Great dockmasters (there 24 hours a day). Edd helped us tie up, gave us the lay of the land, and had good recommendations for places to eat (a short walk). Added bonus - its proximity to the Great Bridge, which opens hourly, meant pretty much zero wake overnight.

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Marina Review for Minisceongo Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Oct 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. We had bad weather out on the Hudson and needed some protection. This marina was like an oasis - fully protected. A club member (who also functions as the dockmaster) grabbed a line to get us into our slip in heavy winds and rain. Convenient laundry and shower/restroom facilities. Super nice club members. Pump out very accessible. A refuge in a storm.

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Marina Review for Poughkeepsie Yacht Club-PRIVATE

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Oct 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great Club-type setting. We were able to use the laundry facilities free of charge. Club members are really friendly and helpful (and came out to help us dock in some tricky conditions that included a log floating at one end of the T-head where we docked).

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Marina Review for Osprey Point

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Oct 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Beautiful setting, well-protected slips, floating docks, friendly people, clean restrooms and showers, and free bicycles! What is not to love? As our visit was late in the season, dock staff were off-duty at 3 - just before our arrival. We were given very clear instructions on our slip assignment (as well as bathroom codes) and had no problems docking. This location has great access, via bicycle, to a grocery store, pharmacy, and hardware store. Also, the Osprey Point restaurant (reservations required at time of this review - make them through the office, rather than try on OpenTable) is one of our favorites between Florida and New York.

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Marina Review for The Marina at Nautilus Point

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Oct 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Marina is well up Back Creek so well protected and no issues with wake. Restroom is located .4 miles from G dock, so pump out your tanks at convenient Annapolis Landing marina before docking! While there is a pump out at this marina, it is 1/2 mile to A dock - nearest point to restroom and pool. Dockmaster Leigh was terrific. Great location for access to services and restaurants. A good stay (and would be a five star review except for restroom accessibility).

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Marina Review for Charlestown Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Oct 5, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Super clean restrooms and showers! Very friendly marina staff (but there were no dockhands to help us tie up). We were not on a floating dock (and I'm not sure they have them), and the docks were pretty rough. Of note, for someone coming from the C&D Canal - the approach takes you nearly to Havre de Grace - and might be iffy at low tide. We passed through water reading 3.8 depth at low tide - and since we draft 3.6, it was a bit disconcerting. There is a nice restaurant directly across the street - and a bar/restaurant/package store/convenience mart with good takeout .3 miles away.

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Marina Review for Brielle Yacht Club Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Sep 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Beautiful marina with very nice, clean, fixed docks. Super helpful dockhands. Because location is past the railroad bridge, no issues with current or wake. Two restaurants within steps of the marina. Only downsides: restroom/shower is shared with restaurant patrons during working hours (so door into rooms is not locked, nor do restroom stalls lock); (on a busy weekend) restrooms frequently out of TP/paper towels/soap; our stern was aground at low tide.

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Anchorage Review for Sandy Hook

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs, Simpatico, on Sep 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Good holding and nice shoreline views in this anchorage. But the wake!
From 4 a.m. until 11 p.m. the wake from ferries and fishing boats was enough to knock items off countertops. We've had some rough anchorages in the past year, but this was the worst. Short dinghy trip to sandy beach.

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Anchorage Review for Rum Point Basin

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs, Simpatico, on Sep 27, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

As of this date, the channel to this anchorage is well-marked and has 6' of water two hours past low tide. Within the anchorage do some exploring. We found good spots (7 - 8.5') but when we let out enough rode our stern was in 3'. A lovely, scenic, quiet anchorage with great holding in mud.

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Marina Review for Half Moon Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Jun 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

While I agree with other reviewers that Harbormaster Steve is super friendly and helpful, our experience was less than stellar. The finger pier on which we docked was covered in duck and goose excrement. So much so it was not possible to place one’s foot flat on the dock without “stepping in it.” Hence, the dock lines all became covered in “it” (we washed the dock down, of course). The walk to the restroom/shower was treacherous (to say the least) at night. And the women’s restroom was the worst I’ve experienced in terms of cleanliness (and we’ve traveled from Florida). Updated, but large balls of wet hair at numerous places in the restroom and shower area. What the place has going for it is a fun “Looper” vibe.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Marina response:
  
  That Monday night you came in was an aberration in that the large, annual once a year, summer kick-off pool party had been going on, and with all the women in and out of the restroom, l am very sorry you had that experience. ***We have spoken w our staff and have updated our cleaning frequency and regimen as it's cleaned every few hours. As for the dock I feel terrible i didn't notice the duck droppings on that slip. I pride myself on making sure the docks are always in tip top shape and super clean. We've also just installed new lights to illuminate the pathway to the office. We hope you're return soon and give us a chance to show you our huge improvements. Have a wonderful and safe summer! - Steve

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Marina Review for St. Johnsville Municipal Marina

Reviewed by: Laura Briggs , Simpatico, on Jun 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Please be advised that the floating docks at this marina were lost in a flood. There is a single concrete wall appx 6’ above waterline. 7’ depth to center of wall (looked shallower at eastern end). Only one easily accessible ladder, so tie up there or having high gunwale will be a necessity. Restrooms are marginal - randomly out of TP or soap or paper towels. That said - pretty location, and new (one week ago) harbormaster is quite nice. There is a pizza place that (generally) delivers to the marina, but could not last night. A mile or so walk to a small town with limited services.

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