Reviews: Safe Harbor Bluewater

Reviewed by: Erich Hahn on Oct 18, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 72'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Great place to stay. Very nice, safe facilities, good restaurant and the Service Yard was awesome. Acquired and installed new start batteries on our boat in less than 24 hours. We will be back!!

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Reviewed by: Gerald Sherman on Jul 19, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Loved this marina so much we decided to make it our home! Dockmaster Dave is very knowlegeable, kind and attentive to all his slips. The facilities are top-notch, clean and easy to find. The pool is right next to the Surfrider Restaurant where you can eat inside or out. Floating docks and very pet-friendly! There's an area for pets right near the parking lot and for the most part, people pick up after their dogs. The entrance to the marina is an easy cruise with it being sheltered in Hampton Roads across from Norfolk Navy shipyard. A busy harbor, but not overwhelming so.
The Safe Harbor reciprical privileges are fantastic with so many across the waterways! We are able to stay at available Safe Harbor marinas for 3 consecutive nights for free. We also get fuel at the marina's cost. You just can't beat it!

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Reviewed by: Debbie Blair , Princess Gia, on May 31, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Fantastic marina. Staff are friendly and super helpful. Fuel prices were good. Docks are floating and in great shape. Nice pool and great restaurant, food was delicious. We definitely look forward to coming back. Bravo to the staff for such a well run marina.

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Reviewed by: Daniel Warthan on May 10, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We were here 1 night; Great help tying up. Office seemed nice; good bathroom facilities, always enjoy Surfrider!

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Reviewed by: Kirk Conners , Fancy Nancy, on Aug 11, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

The marina and all it's employees are great. Had some stuff delivered prior to arrival and Anita and David took care of my stuff with kid gloves, and it was all there waiting for me when I got there. Dock hands were very helpful getting boat tied up, even went on boat next to our slip to throw a line around the piling for our bow line (we were much shorter than the piling took into account for). Restrooms were clean and functional and accessible. Docks were sturdy floating docks.
However, the restaurant has taken over the pool. There's a sign that says the pool is for registered marina guests only, but there were others (a family of about 6 comes to mind) that also uses the pool. Additionally, the restaurant is now making the rules for the pool. Since they are connected, you cannot bring any food or drinks from the boat to the pool. It all has to come from the restaurant. If the marina is going to have a pool for their guests, they need to keep the restaurant out the running of it. This is not the case at this location. They lose 2 stars for that, but the marina itself should get 5 stars.

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Reviewed by: Teresa Scott , Vayu, on Jun 7, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Very nice marina. Everyone we met was super friendly and helpful. Pool, showers and a restaurant onsite.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Sterling on Jul 31, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Nice floating docks, t mobile cell phone service, Uber ride to groceries, they have a free boat shuttle to down town. Good dockhands.

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Reviewed by: Karen Ratte on Jul 12, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 49'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Excellent marina! Every dockhand and staff we met was professional, friendly, and helpful. Dave the manager was always walking around checking things out. Very nice facilities, extremely well maintained. Easy walk for groceries, bike or dinghy to town or they had a water taxi to take you on request. Hampton is a quiet town with lots of history, good dining and the Space Museum. This is a great marina for a couple days or to leave your boat for a few weeks if you need to. Highly recommend.

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Reviewed by: Jerry Coleman , Makin Memories , on Jun 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Nice marina with a salt water pool. None of the power poles worked near our slip but they sent someone pretty quickly to fix it for us. Water taxi across to downtown Hampton would be nice but we are delivering a boat which means it's all work and no play this time! We'll be back.

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Reviewed by: Allan Straughan on Sep 24, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This marina is well maintained and the dock hands are excellent! Floating docks are planked with ipe - nice! Fuel prices are very competitive. We actually refueled in our slip. The WiFi is passable, though not great. And the Restaurant on site is worth a visit!

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Reviewed by: Jason Erbecker , Liberty Risk, on Apr 9, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 52'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

This is a great marina. Very convenient to get in/out from the Chesapeake. The staff is top notch! Everyone is as helpful as can be, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The Manager, Dave, has made us feel very welcome. The facilities are maintained in a well-above average state. The dock hand routinely visually inspect the docks and boats to make sure everything is shipshape. Don't forget to eat at the on site restaurant.

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Reviewed by: Joe on Mar 1, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Love this facility and all it offers. It's a best-in-class operation and perfect to stop in Hampton. Hampton is great for supporting boaters and the community. Lots to do in a short distance!

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Reviewed by: Margaret Davis on Jul 12, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 62'
Draft: 6.5'

Rating: 5

David and his crew are the best around. I was so impressed by how clean the facility was and how knowledgeable the staff was. I will definitely be back here next time I'm in town!

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Reviewed by: Stanford Brown on Oct 1, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 54'
Draft: 6.6'

Rating: 1

This marina is very nice in terms of facilities and deckhands. The bathrooms are well-maintained, the pool is well kept, the water taxi is convenient, and the restaurant is great. The deckhands are always helpful and ready to lend a hand. I will not return to this marina, however, due to the marina manager. David makes it apparent that he is about one thing -- the dollar. He lacks respect for his customers and their property. He is passive aggressive and, at times, directly aggressive and unnecessarily so. This is common knowledge at Bluewater. I won't take my vessel to this place again for this reason.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Bill on Sep 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 1

The facilities are great and most of the staff are excellent. However the manager David was rude, condescending, and a complete jerk. Even his staff was apologizing for him. I would give 5 stars if not for him. And I will not be recommending anybody go there and have to deal with him.....

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Reviewed by: Aqua Bob , Aqua Bob, on Aug 1, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 58'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Can't say enough about these guys turning this place around. Great job, and very helpful. Dock hands know how to tie up a boat. The surrounding area is a little rough but they offer a free water taxi to downtown where there is the NASA museum and bars/restaurants, with a small town feel. I'll be back to stay with them again.

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