Reviews from Sandra Kay (7)
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Marina Review for Albemarle Plantation Marina
Reviewed by:
Sandra Kay
on Nov 12, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 4
We've been here several times. This time they have an inviting crackling wood fire in a brick open pizza oven - a nice addition. The amenities are very nice. Because it is a resort laid out with a lot of space, a golf cart was furnished by the marina to make getting around very easy. We were their 70th Albemarle (Sound) Loop boat for the years. There is a washer and dryer at no cost at the marina Dockside restaurant. Golfing is the big activity here. In the off season (fall through spring) the marina offers an attractive reduce monthly rate. From 2015-2018 they, and seven other marinas around the Albemarle offered 48 hours of free dockage to attract boaters to the Albemarle Loop. Follow the bouys into the marina; they were placed differently than indicated on the navigation charts.
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Free Dock Review for Deep Creek Bulkhead (Chesapeake, VA)
Reviewed by: Sandra Kay on Nov 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 3
We've been through the Deep Creek Lock and Dismal Swamp Canal, but never noticed this dock and park. Needing to go to a local birthday party for our youngest great grandson and missing the first lock opening, we pulled into the Elizabeth Dock for the first time. In-and-out and on-and-off was easy. There were other boaters here, too. While the lock is operating believe you can use their facilities. The lock master enjoys the boaters and is a practiced local historian. Robert gathers the boaters first thing in the morning providing coffee and pastries for a 8 am coordination meeting, so everyone knows the morning locking / bridge operating process, as he also finds out the number of boaters leaving, staying a second day, and those projected to be heading north and south (above and below the Lock / Bridge). This exercise and operation is interesting and worth a day if you have it to stay over an extra day.
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Free Dock Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Reviewed by: Sandra Kay on Nov 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 4
We frequently travel the Dismal Swamp Canal, stopping at the Welcome Center. The facilities are very nice, clean, safe, and open/attended, all the time. The Center is closed on Sundays, but the docks are always available. When open it is a nice center with an accompanying foot bridge across the canal to a small wildlife museum, and walking/biking paths. Although we motor south late in the season, this year there were other boaters that rafted with us. This was no problem for us and the comradery with the other boaters was also enjoyable. The lock masters and the Welcome Center staff work together to help keep everyone informed of the number of boater leaving a location and expected at the next. Along the canal keep your eyes open to avoid floating limbs. The canal was beautiful and easy to maneuver.
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Free Dock Review for Mariners' Wharf, Elizabeth City
Reviewed by: Sandra Kay on Nov 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 4
For several years we've stopped by Elizabeth City on our way south. The waterfront is in a slow process of re-vitalization. The free docks and walls north of the bridge, short finger piers and walls south of the bridge are in good shape. For the first time we tied to the wall closest to the boaters facilities south of the bridge and on the edge of the town. It was an easy in-and-out and on-and-off. There are close by restaurants, and frequent gatherings behind Grooper's restaurant for boaters where town volunteer supply refreshments and answer questions. The Museum of the Albemarle, 1-2 blocks away, has good exhibits and changing exhibits. The newest is a six year excavation exhibit of River Bridge an 1790-1880 seaport within a mile of the South Mills Lock. This is a good stop for the waterfront's scenic beauty, and a few activities and clean facilities.
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Marina Review for Hertford Bay City Dock
Reviewed by:
Sandra Kay
on Nov 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 4
We travel around the Albemarle Loop while heading south for the winter. The docks are excellent with power, water, and pump-out (via Dispatch 252-426-5751 for a worker to operate the pump equipment on shore). It's a 1-2 block walk into downtown with an informative Visitor Center, impressive Catfish Jimmy Hunter museum, a corner drug store with double dips of ice cream for 82 cents at the fountain, restaurants, hardware and other shops, a convenience/gas station, and street corner fresh produce trailer. On Oct. 30 the merchants celebrate Halloween by giving out treats to the town's children in costume. The town offers other frequent activities, such as yesterday's Tractor Parade to Missing Mill Park for lunch (2 blocks away). www.VisitPerquimans.com for current activities. This is one of eight Albemarle Loop towns that offer 48 hours of free dockage to attract boaters. The S Bridge is the only one in the US and is to be replaced sometime in the future. However, it has the most courteous tenders, operates without any problems, and quickly opens upon request (Channel 13) in the off season from 10 am to 10 pm daily. It is a delightful place to go, see, and enjoy.
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Marina Review for Capital Yacht Club
Reviewed by:
Sandra Kay
on Sep 8, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 5
We'd been here in 2015 while the new waterfront was under construction. Now the waterfront is inviting and beautiful. Capital Yacht Club offers an upscale building to go with their nice floating docks and a great bunch of welcoming members. Half a bock away, up Sutton toward Maine there is a parking garage for visitors and a bus stop. Within walking distance there are plenty of stores and numerous ways to get around the city, if that's what you want to do. However, we mostly enjoy the waterfront, Capital Yacht Club facilities, and the ambiance of being in Washington, DC on the waterfront.
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Marina Review for Carolina Beach Yacht Club & Marina
Reviewed by:
Sandra Kay
on Apr 2, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Rating: 4
Nice facilities, staff, boaters, and a beautiful ICW view. There is a direct path to the public Atlantic ocean side beach. Although it is a long way from the islands central businesses, a 2 mi dinghy ride takes you there, and from that same location three times a day there are good bus service connections into Wilmington, NC (6 miles away). We stayed during the month of March. Even though it was cooler than normal, we enjoyed our stay and could always find a ride, including good service from Uber - $15 to Monkey Junction or $24 to Fordham bus terminal. From Monkey Junction there are connecting buses to downtown Wilmington for $2 or seniors $1.
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