Reviews: Beaufort Docks Marina

Reviewed by: Richard Lewis , Sea-Quel, on May 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 56'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Great location for shops and restaurants but way overpriced for amenities offered. It was one of the more expensive marinas we have stayed at. The restroom facilities were in pretty bad shape. No security on the docks . Doubtful if we will return.

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Reviewed by: Debbie Blair , Princess Gia, on Sep 27, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Just spent a couple of nights at the Beaufort Docks. Super friendly staff, very professional. Location can't be beat. We had restaurants, shops and museums to our port side and dolphins and beautiful scenery to our starboard. We paid $2.50 per ft. Look forward to returning we will stay here again.

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Reviewed by: Graeme Walker , Confirmed Aquaholic, on May 14, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Great location to beautiful little town. Wildly overpriced ($3.75/ft plus $25/day 50amp) for what you get. No security. Public laundry across the street, $3.50wash/$2dry. Easy to bike around town. Courtesy car only for 1hr, they seem very concerned about time. Friends stayed at Homer Smith, would likely do that next time, cheaper but 3 blocks out of town.

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Reviewed by: Todd Merritt on Apr 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Stayed for one night while on the Loop. Very windy day so a tee head came in handy. There is fuel and pump out on the docks. Right in the center of Beaufort. Walking distance to several restaurants and historic sites. Upon check in I got my two wooden coins s good for 2 beers at the dock office restaurant. Water way is super busy but the wakes weren't that bad. Restrooms and showers are a short walk down the waterfront. No security at the docks but I did not see any issues.

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Reviewed by: Joseph Dewitt , Escapade, on Dec 13, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.1'

Rating: 5

Quick one night stay on a T-Head. We originally just stopped for fuel, but since we were staying the rest of the day and overnight for weather we opted to stay on the dock. They offer refueling at every slip, and the dockhands were professional and competant. Got two free beer tokens for the dockside restaurant where the dock master office resides. Lots of dining out choices,: we liked the coal fired Pizza place to the East for lunch, and Aqua for dinner. Quaint town, and cute with all the Christmas decorations up.

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Reviewed by: Xiaolun Sun , Anodyne , on Nov 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

We were worried about the traffic around Beaufort/Morehead City area, but the staff was great in providing useful information to avoid shoals and in helping us dock. The bathrooms were old, but clean. The marina is at a great location and offers two free beers. We enjoyed the maritime museum. People were very friendly.

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Reviewed by: Karen Munson , Oasis, on Oct 20, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

As usual the staff here was awesome. Went above and beyond to make sure we arrived safely with the current and wind. Great advice for the speed of the current and wind. Once dock, fuel was readily available and steps away were the many shops and restaurants in Beaufort, Aqua, Beaufort Grocery, Moonrakers, Beaufort Olive Oil Shop and the new taco shop was awesome. Dog friendly and many historical homes to view. Bathrooms were very rustic. Laundry is public which means that there were a dozen or so washers and dryers. A little pricey at $2.75 for wash and $2.00 for a dryer, but it was done quickly in multiple machines. Multiple Loaner cars are available and got us to a local grocery store as well as the West Marine, Harris Teeter, and TJ Maxx in Morehead City (a lot of fun window shopping for a few minutes). Love this town and love this marina. Just completed our 7th visit.

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Reviewed by: Gena Olson on Jun 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Love the town and marina. Staff were great, good landing. We were given tokens for some free beers at the restaurant! Marina is right in town, lots of restaurants and bars, wonderful museum, just blocks away. As some have said, restrooms and showers were clean and functional, but could use updating.

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Reviewed by: Bill Mcmahon on May 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Great location in a great town. Near lots of good restaurants, shops and a wonderful (free admission) maritime museum. Showers and toilets are a bit rustic, but clean and functional. Great location in a great town.

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Reviewed by: Steve Harris , Oh You, on Dec 19, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This is our fourth visit to Beaufort. We love this town! This is quintessential southern coastal style. An easy run down Adams Creek ICW cut from the Pamlico with immediate access to blue water, well-protected by the barrier islands!

Beaufort Docks crew gets us secured in our slip within 5 minutes of arrival, and fueled in 15. We are literally right across the street from great local shopping and a variety of very good restaurants -- with nary a national logo in sight! Steak, fresh local seafood, Italian, Mexican and local southern favorites. Bars with covered deck and rooftop seating to sip the sunsets over the Rachel Carson Estuarine Sanctuary island directly across Taylor Creek.

We saw dolphins cavorting in the creek last evening under a spectacular lingering sunset of pinks and oranges and turquoise. Occasionally you can see wild ponies grazing along the shore across the creek.

Tapas last night at Aqua, one of our favorites just a block off the water, where we met some tourists and some locals. Trish (bartender at Aqua) is just masterful. Susan (owns local shop Harbor Specialities) has lived here since 2005. She's a long-time cruiser, and engaged with the local tourism authorities, so she was keenly interested in our impressions of the marina -- what they did right, what they could improve (very short list).

In summertime, the white sandy island beach is an easy dinghy run around the bend in the channel.

Be advised, creek tidal current can be a factor when docking. It's not a big deal, but take note. Also, we were told that marina staffing will be limited over the next couple of months (beginning after Xmas), so be sure to call ahead to discuss your arrival plans with Mike who will staff the marina during the winter hiatus.

I should mention they offer a loaner car if needed for quick run to nearby West Marine, Food Lion or Piggly Wiggly. World-class Jarrett Bay Boatyard is only about 5 nm away. Kendra at Jarrett Bay can handle all of your arrangements for service/repairs. Dustin at Western Branch Diesel located in the boatyard handles all of our Volvo Penta service requirements. They can service your boat in her slip here at Beaufort Docks, or it's a very manageable trip/tow up to Jarrett Bay for haul-out, if needed.

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Reviewed by: Alex Tarlecky on Oct 30, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Stayed for two nights in the "basin" when strong SW and W winds kicked in. Water and 50 Amp at the dock with easy in for our catamaran. Facedock protected us from strong wave and current action. Dock hands were very friendly and got us tied up well with fuel right in the slip. Pump out not working. Had dinner at the fancy mexican restaurant across the street and it was fantastic. Also had breakfast at the Turner Street Market and Cafe... also superb.

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Reviewed by: Jody Paterson on Jun 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 64'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Fabulous marina with great staff. Willing to accommodate transient visit for the night even during all the activity surrounding Big Rock fishing tournament. Good proximity to great restaurants and ferry running to Shackelford Island.

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Reviewed by: Jim Zeigler on May 25, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Great staff and location. The loaner car helps with groceries, booze and getting parts from Morehead City. Yes, the WiFi is poor. It is at most marinas. I use a hotspot on my cell phone and have reliable and generally good service at most locations along the ICW. The only fault at Beaufort is the log walk to the head and showers.

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Reviewed by: Richard Schecher , Lucky Star, on May 21, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 57'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

'We have visited Beaufort Docks on almost every trip both North & Southbound between Atlantic City and our home in Florida. It is a great place to spend the night but the WiFi sucks if you need to get any work done on the computer. I for one, can do without work when I am enjoying myself at the docks but sometimes it is difficult when critical things must be done online. There are plenty of great restaurants to visit within walking distance and the staff has always been more then helpful. We topped off the tanks at $3.07 per gallon Vs the $3.69 per gallon at our last fuel fill in Myrtle Beach area. I would strongly recommend the new restaurant right at the end of the bar, they make great drinks and the pizza is coal fired.

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Reviewed by: Dave Cunningham on Mar 20, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 30'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 3

The WIFI is the worst we’ve experienced at any marina. The security certificate for their login has expired, forcing you to jump thru hoops to get it to work and even then you are at risk (other reviewers have also eluded to this) You are limited to 2 devices. You are limited to 2GB of download and 512kb of upload for the duration of the stay. Docks were in good shape and access to waterfront stores/businesses is excellent. Bathhouse is adequate but archaic. There is also no laundry facility on site, although information brochure said there was one close by.

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Reviewed by: Mark Peenstra on Nov 17, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

No longer worth the money or docking in current. Their pumpout station is in a 28-ft slip in a narrow fairway. The outside dock that could access the pumpout is rented to a very large trawler. Nice that they do have courtesy cars for running errands. The bathrooms and showers are ancient.

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Reviewed by: Al Anderson on Nov 3, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Friendly staff. WiFi could not be used as my laptop and phone said it was out of date, and not secure so they would not connect. This was a big complaint of other boaters. Our 4th or 5th stay, but we won't go back because we need WiFi.

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Reviewed by: Rob Irvine on Nov 15, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Very nice marina. Everything is within walking distance. Diesel fuel available at the slips. Would have enjoyed better wifi. Men's restrooms and showers need updating bad. Staff friendly and helpful.

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Reviewed by: John Barrett , Fortuitous, on Oct 29, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 53'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 4

Location can’t be beat. There is a lot of current so plan arrival at or near slack tide. Staff very knowledgeable and helpful. Serviceable courtesy car.

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Reviewed by: DOUGLAS WAY on Aug 11, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great location and helpful dock hands. Courtesy car was an interesting experience, but ran ok (an old woody).
Will definitely stop again.

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Reviewed by: Leslie F on Jun 12, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 28'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Loved the location but internet is unsatisfactory. Good internet is a must!

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Reviewed by: Jim Schwartz on Oct 25, 2016
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 72'
Draft: 9.0'

Rating: 5

Dock assistance was great. Very helpful. Courtesy car was very helpful.

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Reviewed by: Steve Larcen on Jun 1, 2016

Beaufort Docks Marina: Great location. Higher priced dockage than most in NC. For the higher cost, less customer service, especially with casting off assistance. Poor customer focus, and incomplete cast off, required other guests to assist. Not a first class approach to customer service.

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