Reviews: Chadwick Bay Marina

Reviewed by: Phillip Hopkins , Castaway, on Sep 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 33'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 2

Depth was good all the way to the A dock where we stayed. Docks were in pretty rough shape. Metal patches all over the aluminum docks. As other reviewers had stated, the docks were noisy. Expensive for what you get. Cash deposit on the key, which sucks because we had an early departure. Bathrooms were clean but in need of some minor repairs which doesn't make sense for the cost of the stay.

On the plus side, it was nice to have lots of places to eat and drink within walking distance!

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Reviewed by: Ken Beyer , Hull of a life, on Aug 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Friendly and helpful staff. Docks are okay, noisy as they are aluminum, only had 30 amp at the pedestals. There are security gates but where we were there is a lift and you can get around the security gate and that's exactly what happened at 0500 while we were sleeping, luckily our Ring alerted us and I was able to apprehend our uninvited guest. Police response was excellent! The marina is subject to wave action particularly if any southern winds. Would recommend that they do away with the gate key and install a keypad.

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Reviewed by: Kevin Williams , m/v Blue Tortuga, on Jul 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Very helpful staff- 3 dock hands to help us tie up. Solid floating docks with good power. Restrooms and showers, while basic, were adequate. The downgrade from a 5 star is primarily that they charge a $30 cash deposit for the key to the dock gate (which is usually open anyway), so you have to wait for the office to open before you get your cash deposit back. Hence, if you want to depart earlier than the office opens then you have a problem. Why not make it part of the credit card charge and then credit the deposit back like other marinas do? Also, at $2.25 per foot it is more expensive than nicer marinas in Buffalo and Erie.

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Reviewed by: John Newman on Aug 8, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Fuel
$2/ft, BoatUS members $1.50/ft
bathroom has 1 shower and 2 toilets. Very basic. Always had toilet paper.

Older marina - the Transient dock wall could accommodate 2 large boats - we have a 50 foot trawler. We got the only 50 amp power on the dock. The rest are 30. The docks are metal, but are stable. The residents are friendly and it is a short walk to great pizza and a little tourist area.

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Reviewed by: Jerald Jones , Titan, on Jun 26, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

The staff here was very helpful, but the facility is in poor repair. They tried to put me two different finger slips on A dock, the most western dock, that had unprotected metal brackets jutting out, I refused. Eventually found safe docking on face dock just north of travellift, behind commercial fishing vessel. Power worked fine, restrooms useable but were a bit rough. With this marina in it's current condition I would only stay here if I could dock on the Face dock north of the travel lift.

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Reviewed by: Shauna Welch on Aug 18, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Avoid at all cost. The transient docks were in disrepair with cleats held on by a single bolt, sharp edges on the docks and bent up cleats. Short staffed which led to confusion during docking.

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Reviewed by: Barb Robertson on Aug 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 1

Docks are simply unsafe given the Harbor conditions. Three strikes for this Marina. I made a reservation was assigned a dock, 30 minutes out I confirmed, but on arrival that dock was taken. Strike 1. My power pedestal was being used by another boat. I asked if I should use the cross dock. That power didn't work. On the positive side the office sent one to check the power, removed the other boats cords and I had power. This was followed by a screaming session from the technician blaming me for the problem. Strike 2. Finally the docks. Upon arrival I tied off to the aluminum cleats. A local advised I should use the posts. I changed a few things. A few hours later another local told me my boat was in perilous danger as tied to the dock. Bottom line - you can't use the cleats AT ALL too flimsy. We spider web the boat using the outside poles. During the night a raging storm hit and quite honestly it felt like the middle of the lake, not a safe harbor. Any wind from the north but especially north east comes off the lake, hits the City Pier and ricochets to the end of the transient. This is a problem known to all locals. Strike 3.

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Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel, Contributing Editor on Jul 27, 2021
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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Reviewed by: Wade A. on Jul 16, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Pro: good dog walking, restaurants nearby, good breakwater, gated docks.

Con: Docks are old and poorly maintained. Power infrastructure is sketchy. Restrooms are filthy. Staff is poorly trained and unsupervised. Weekend noise from adjacent public pier. Took 2 days, 4 conversations and 3 staff to find our mail. Dock gates often propped open.

Conclusion: Chosen by our delivery captain. We are told marina is still recovering from storm damage, but no one was working on it. Owner seems to be absentee. Needs a full time Manger to train and oversee staff and to maintain facility. Would not choose again.

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Reviewed by: George Green on Jul 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 3.6'

Rating: 1

We called to make reservations about 2 weeks in advance. We offered to pay money up front to ensure that we would have dockage when we arrived. We were told that would not be necessary that there would be space for us.
We radioed 30 minutes out to make sure we had dockage. Again we were told come on in there was room and that dock hands would be waiting for us.
We arrived at the marina and dock hands were waiting for us. Then the dock master, I presume came out and told us to go away that there was not space for us. Everyone left us high and dry.
I don't mind that there was not room, although if one boat had been moved 10 ft we could have fit in, but if I had known in advance I would have made other arrangements.
We stayed on the free City Pier with winds beating our boat against the wall all night.
I was told by the dock master that when we tried to make reservations we should have been told no then. So much for communication.
I would not recommend this marina for anything, they were rude and did not communicate at all. Don't stay here.

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Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Jul 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Very helpful friendly dock hand. Nice marina with a good breakwater. Good pumpout. Diesel fuel pump is slow. Good size parks on both sides of the marina. Several nice restaurants and bars within a block of the marina.

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Reviewed by: Brian Chapin , Tug Life, on Jun 23, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 4

Helpful, friendly staff. Marina adjacent to city pier behind long breakwater. Boat US discount 25%. Key provided to access dock and restrooms after hours. Restrooms basic. Good wifi. Several restaurants and pubs within 1 block.

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