Reviews: 3 Knots Marine

Reviewed by: Lisa Mister , Lisa Anne, on Jun 13, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 5

We have been wanting to come to Smith Island for years, but have always worried about the depth and the docking situation. Talking to Patrick, the owner and Dockmaster, in the planning phase of the trip was a huge relief, and alleviated our concerns.

Navigation and marina: We arrived an hour after high tide, after setting up the night before in Crisfield, and entering via the Tangier sound. Watch your charts, as there is a 5ft nub that is before the entrance channel! Be prepared to weave around that and then set up to enter the channel in the middle. We never saw less than 7 ft of water the entire way, and most of the water was much deeper. The channel is very narrow and you will encounter passing traffic. Use caution and be prepared to pass closely and without the other boats slowing down. When arriving at 3 knots, call Patrick and he will help tie you up. The slips are fine for shallower draft vessels, but they can also accommodate deep draft vessels at the end of the dock used as a T head with your boat tied up perpendicular to the pier. Be prepared with extra long power cables. Exiting out to the bay is a breeze, just stay in the middle of the channel, there is plenty of depth and no really shallow areas. The marina is all new, has a modern bathhouse, boaters lounge, Wi-Fi and docks. The investment in this place was not lost on us.

The experience: you must visit this island even if it's just once, as it could be gone 50 years from now. The residents are truly trying to preserve it, and the effort shows in this unique community. It is truly another way of life. Rent a golf cart, see the museum, eat the cake! The sunsets are to die for, however, the bugs can be terrible… bring spray and long sleeves, maybe even a head net! Also don't look for fine dining, the food is basic, but fairly priced.
Talk to Patrick about private tours. He will go out of his way to make sure your stay is enjoyable. If you decide not to go there on your private vessel, he can arrange for a day trip for you as well. Highly recommend this place, and planning your visit in advance, to make sure you get the entire Smith Island experience.

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Reviewed by: Keith Martin on Jun 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Ewell on Smith Island, what a gem and the marina is a great addition to the location. Patrick has improved the facility and was there to greet us as we arrived. He provided information to assist us with our stay to this historic island. He provides StarLink internet service so connectivity at the marina is not an issue at this remote location. Ewell is worth the trip and we will stay at 3 Knots Marine the next time we come thru. Don't forget to get a large serving of Smith Island cake at the bakery a block from the marina - 30 flavors to choose from. Not affiliated with the marina but the fuel prices on the island are quite reasonable as well.

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Reviewed by: Tom Brown , Key 2 Cay, on Jun 8, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Patrick goes out of his way to accommodate his visitors. He met us at the dock as we came in and helped tie us up. He has a nice captain's lounge and a super bathroom for his guests. He has Starlink internet service for the guests. The dock location is central to the Ewell settlement and easily walkable. It is worth visiting the Cultural Center if you get in before 4:00 pm.

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Reviewed by: Gale on Jun 4, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Fun stop. Patrick goes out of his way to accommodate. New, clean restrooms and captains lounge. Easy walk to Smith Pies and museum. Be sure to dinghy to Tylerton to explore.

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Reviewed by: Michael McGinnis on Apr 19, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 54'
Draft: 4.6'

Rating: 5

I would echo most of the 20 April 2023 review with these editions. Coming to 3 Knot Marina from Crisfield, MD with a 4 1/2 foot draft, we opted for the Western / Chesapeake channel. Well marked AND locals have PVC and some temporary markers placed (which was very helpful since the channel is narrow and can be busy - never under 8 feet at high). We were off season so the Bayside Restaurant was not open but Harborside Restaurant was and we had the crab cakes from here made by "Otis''. We actually did a nice little dinghy ride to Tylerton for the Drum Point Market crab cakes but they are no longer made due to a recent change in ownership. We still purchased a few things from Missy there and walked the cute little town (took about 30 minutes)

So, Ewell, MD 3 Knot Marine was a good stop. Patrick is a very polite and very hardworking young man with a very interesting history, who is doing his best to make this little marina known. The improvements that he has made are excellent and he was quite accommodating with a little bigger than typical 54 foot boat. While electric is coming soon to the docks, the boathouse is new and cozy. The rate was $1.50 foot. The local watermen and their history is incredible. During our walk, a couple passed by on a golf cart and had us join them for drinks at "Idle Time" (their dock) and arranged for fresh local crabs, cooked for us to enjoy on our boat. I would definitely recommend Ewell and 3 Knot Marine for a good stop in mid Chesapeake.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel, Contributing Editor on Apr 20, 2023
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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Reviewed by: John Ellerton , Ecstasea, on Aug 19, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 3.3'

Rating: 1

I visited this marina for a few hours and it is now being renovated. The owners are very accommodating. Boaters had advised me to take the ferry instead of my boat because they thought the depth was too shallow but the owner said there was no problem if one remains in the channel. I saw no less than 7 feet from one side of the island to the other. My rating is low because much of the facility was closed because of the renovation.

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Reviewed by: Melanie Cahill , Sabot, on May 1, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 1

Closed when we visited in 5/1/22

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Reviewed by: John Rockwell on Nov 19, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

You can go by this place and not see it as most of the slips are filled with local smaller craft. (I did go by at night - not recommended - and not see it.) You have to go in side to the current. Can be tricky for some if the wind and current are pushing in the same direction. Place is dead in November.

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