Reviews from JEFF WHITNEY (14)

Marina Review for Loggerhead Marina - Riverwatch Marina

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on Apr 2, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Diesel fuel price jumped to $5.25, dock stated that our 4 ft draft was too much to get to the fuel dock anyway.

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Marina Review for C-Quarters Marina

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on Jan 25, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Friendly and helpful staff. Slips are narrow for us but were adequate with the dockhands help. We are 15'6" and would NOT try if your vessel is wider. Current does rip thru, try to hit at slack tide if possible.
Ditto the other reviews, old school marina that shows it's age but is safe and clean. Good fuel prices and great overnight prices for transient boats. Also walking distance to grocery, small hardware store, amazing fried oysters at Fisherman's Wife. We were trapped here for a week waiting out weather and were very happy we found this marina. Great staging site for crossing the Armpit.

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Marina Review for Gulfport Municipal Marina-MS

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on Jan 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great staff, clean facility and docks are in excellent shape. Very long docks, our WiFi signal was barely adequate but we were on the end of the T. When strong winds from the north drove several feet of water out of the marina it was a bit difficult to get off boat at low tide (rare). 2 nice washers and 2 dryers at $1 each, takes quarters. Pump outs at every slip, self-service. Separate M/F showers were clean and there was always at least 1 available. Well marked channel. Lowest fuel prices around (ValveTec!). Ken's Marine is very close, top marine store for a wide area and can order in nearly anything you need. Jones Park adjacent to marina is terrific. Dog friendly. For grocery you'll need to Uber or bus, but there are restaurants within a good walk.
We really loved our stay.

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Marina Review for Holiday Harbor Marina & Grill

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Charts are wrong, no green markers coming in, only red. We were on the T dock and there was no room between us and the red markers to turn around, had to back out. Boats entering and leaving were literally 10 feet from us, no protection from W or SW winds - we were mashed against the dock pretty hard.
Very nice new docks, one pedestal with 2 30s on one side and a 50 on the other and good voltage. Great pricing and Boat US discount. Showers and bathrooms are a bit of a hike but very nice.
They didn’t monitor 16, had to call when we arrived and no dock help.
Dockhand offered to walk us back off the dock when leaving, told him we’d be ready in 5 minutes but he never came back. Left on our own.
Restaurant is extremely popular and well regarded. Overall a good stay at a great price.

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Marina Review for Apalachicola Marina, Inc.

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

As reported, further north than indicated position, just past a shrimp processing facility. Look for a brick building with the wall toward the water mostly removed.
Good power, no showers or restrooms. Neighbor informed us to “don’t overhang, ya gotta be 100% on the dock face”. Reminded me of the old guy that hates kids cutting across his yard, lol.
Most restaurants closed on Sunday, surprisingly since the tourists are returning.
Don’t leave any external lights on, the gnats were unbelievable at end of May. Lots of Martins were fun to watch and they had plenty to eat.
George was an excellent communicator and quite accommodating. With no amenities it is a tad expensive at $2/foot but location convenience has a price.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Waterway Guide has moved the icon to the correct location.

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Marina Review for Treasure Island Marina

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Mostly rebuilt since Michael, but the new boat storage facility is under construction and as a result the marina is quite dusty and loud during the day.
New marine store is very nice, showers and bathrooms clean and comfortable. George the Dockmaster was very accommodating, helped us into a slip only a foot wider than our beam with strong gusts and found us a loaner 50 amp to 2 30 amp splitter since there was no 50 on our pedestal.
Nice fuel dock with pump out. No restaurant on site.
Be very careful coming and going thru the confusing entry channel, quite shallow outside the channel.
Overall nice stay.

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Marina Review for Clearwater Municipal Marinas (Clearwater Beach Marina)

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

One nite stay on our way north. Lots of dinner cruise boats, floating tiki bars, fishing day trip boats, etc.. Majority of vessels are commercial.
Dockhands were very pleasant and helpful, but didn’t monitor 16 or their phones when on the dock. Very active with several restaurants and souvenir shopping. Not too confident in their security but we had no issues. Didn’t use showers. VOLTAGE WAS LOW at our pedestal, 106. Our Booster took it to 119, but most boats don’t have one. Might have been our T dock end placement but make sure you double check before running electric motors.
Overall we enjoyed it a lot...for one night.

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Anchorage Review for Atsena Otie Key

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Beautiful anchorage. Current really strong, frequently against wind which caused very strange swings and difficult for the anchor to set. Strong holding once set, however.
Dock under bridge is mudded in and extremely shallow with nails sticking out in places so be careful if you have an inflatable.
Athena Otie Key very cool, nice beach and actually saw a pair of flamingos! Lots of birds and dog friendly.

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Marina Review for Crow's Nest Marina & Restaurant

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 11, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Stayed 2 nights. Rick the Dockmaster and his crew were excellent and without them we never would have made it into the 16’ wide slip with our 15’6” beam boat...in a ripping 2 knot side current and 15 knot gusts.
Slip was right on the inlet and wakes repeatedly knocked the fenders from the pilings, setting up our rub rail grinding on the pilings. Most boats observed the no wake zone, but with very heavy traffic it only took a few to cause us to have to reset fenders constantly. A smaller vessel would not have had this issue.
Restaurant was excellent and VERY popular. Walmart delivers for provisioning.
Beach across the inlet was crowded on the weekend and music was loud, but fine during the week.
Power went out repeatedly the first night, issue stopped when large boat left. Dock hands said first time they’ve had that issue, but made for long night trudging a hundred yards to reset main breaker. I did a free bag of ice for the trouble!
Overall an ok stay, would have been worse if not for the great restaurant and top notch dock hands.

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Marina Review for Destin Fisherman's Co-op

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 10, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Called today, told they have had no transient slips for a long, long time.

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Marina Review for South Seas Resort & Marina

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Nice marina and resort, expensive but very well run and convenient. Very good wake and wave protection. Excellent WiFi and cell signals. $4/foot plus $20/person/day resort fees. Fixed dock with nice chafe protection on pilings. Pet friendly marina with dog walk stations. Good tacos and drinks at tiki bar but $70 for two drinks and two taco lunches w/tip.
Coming thru the pass it seems like you’re awfully close shore but followed the markers and had no issues. Will stop again!

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Anchorage Review for Pelican Bay

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 8, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Great anchorage, entrance was a bit scary based on other reviews but staying close to shore (100’) we saw over 7’ everywhere. Just go from red marker 74 to the sign and hug the shore from there. It was well protected from everything except the fishing boats that ignore the no wake signs and blast through. The park is not dog friendly (and the rangers are barely people friendly, lol) with no dogs allowed on the beach. There is a spit of land that is to starboard during entry that is dog friendly, as well as a small beach on an island NW in the basin.
The park is $2/day/person. It does NOT accept boat trash, but they did offer us tram rides to the gulf side. Small store sells postcards, ice, water, t shirts, ice cream and a small amount of food/snacks.
Lots of birds, dolphins, schools of fish in the boat shadows, etc. I would imagine there are lots of redfish in the mangroves!
Little lake is easy to access, plenty of water in the narrow channel for a low draft boat. There is an osprey nesting and an interesting floating deck house with large blowup manikins inside. Weird but fun!
Good Verizon and ATT signals and swing room for dozens of boats. Averaged 15-30 at anchor while we were here.
Overall an A+ anchorage!

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Marina Review for Safe Harbor Harborage Yacht Club

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on Feb 16, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Been here nearly a month getting upgrades and repairs done. Friendly staff, nice floating South Docks, have not had any trouble parking. I’m guessing the North Docks (fixed) are where the parking issues are. The train is kinda loud but we got used to it quickly. Location is terrific, close driving to HD, Walmart, Sams, West Marine, restaurants, etc..
Boat Owner’s Warehouse is a great resource nearby.

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Marina Review for Hinckley Yacht Services Stuart

Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on Feb 16, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

Ripped the rub rail off when trying to haul, did not place the sleeve properly. Would accept NO responsibility.

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