Reviews from Carolyn Westbay (4)

Marina Review for Aquia Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: Carolyn Westbay on Aug 30, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

With Hurricane Debby heading our way we started looking for a safe place to duck into. Got a great tip about a marina WAY up Aquia Creek, so far up I hadn't even seen it on our charts.

Let me get the bad part out of the way, it is shallow, we saw 3.8 feet in the creek just before high tide, just one spot, soft bottom and they are getting it dredged. The bay coming in was 6.5 to 7 feet in some places, but if you can manage the depth, and getting under a 26' fixed RR bridge, Aquia Harbor Marina is a great place to stay. Our 3.5 foot did just fine, saw 4.5 foot boats that make it in and out, and the marina makes it worth the trip up Aquia Creek.

First off, only $1 a foot, plus $5 for 30 amp, $10 for 50 amp a day. Access to clean showers and pool, free pump put, gas and diesel on site, but didn't get rates. The floating docks are in great shape. All the big box stores are a short Uber away, or you can have Walmart and fast food delivered. Easy access to DC, Reagan National or Dulles airport. Dock masters Craig and Dave were very helpful, and have their own boats in the marina. The other boaters were very welcoming with suggestions of things to do and see, offers of rides, ideas for dinghy rides, being hailed "hello" on our way out and photos of us on the creek relayed to us via the marina.

The trip up Aquia Creek is like a mini nature cruise through the marshes, and then continues to be a nature lovers dream as the marina is in the middle of the marsh. Osprey, blue herons, bald eagles, egrets, heron rookery, beavers, and the tallest lily pad flowers I have ever seen. Following the winding creek in I had thoughts of heading to OZ , "follow the wet and green road, follow the wet and green road," but after being there a week I started to feel it was more like Brigadoon as everyone in the marina asked "how did you manage to find our marina?"

It was a very secure, well protected, perfect place to ride out what little impact we had from Hurricane Debbie. In four years of cruising, 23 states visited by boat, this is one of the friendliest places we have visited.

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Anchorage Review for Okatuppa Creek

Reviewed by: Carolyn Westbay on Nov 13, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.0'

This is our second time using Okatuppa Creek, first was in October 2020, and we still think this is a great anchorage. Stay slightly to port coming in, but watch for the small snag on that side. Saw no less than 7.5' all the way back to the first bend. There are overhanging branches, but easy to dodge, and the creek widens out at the bend, deepens then settles back to 10', perfect for anchoring. There is a slight flow out of the creek so anchor facing in. There are sometimes small fishing boats coming and going, but pretty polite for the most part. Chatted with a few of them in 2020.

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Anchorage Review for Ligumvitae Key Moorings

Reviewed by: Carolyn Westbay on Mar 12, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.0'

We stayed here for two nights on March 2-3 2021. Very beautiful and quiet. There are five mooring balls on NW side of island which is where we stayed. First come, no charge. Fist night was calm, dark and star filled. Second night the winds kicked up from the west and we rocked and banged hard all night, but mooring ball held. There is a botanical gardens and historical house on island, but only open Th to M and we were there T and W. Next trip hopefully. Would highly recommend as a stop if your boat draws 5' or less as inside passage can get skinny. No other amenities except mooring ball. But very quiet, no bugs and peaceful. Good fishing, but watch out for jellyfish floating by.

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Marina Review for Sanibel Marina

Reviewed by: Carolyn Westbay on Feb 7, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Small marina, but all marina staff were very helpful. Marina is a bit tight to get into, but staff did great on assist. Very few transient slips and primarily for under 37' boats. There is a small ships store on property, snacks available there. There is a nice, but pricey, restaurant on premises. Stores, restaurants and beaches an easy bike ride away. There are bathrooms and showers available, but the restaurant folks share them with the marina folks and the showers are in the individual stalls. Had to ask where laundry was, is tucked near the restrooms so that folks waiting in line for restrooms get to watch you fold your clothes. It was only $2.50 a load, and the dryer dried our jeans on only one cycle.. The blueberry muffins and daily paper delivered to the boat was a nice touch for transient boaters, but not letting us pump out the boat was a challenge. They have the equipment, post the Clean Florida sign, but couldn't use it. So more long hikes across the marina to their bathrooms for us.

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