Reviews from PaulFromRI (12)

  • Bridge comment on Southern Boulevard (SR 700/80) Bridge

    Comment by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'

    Went through on November 24. It is indeed still a lift bridge with less than 14 feet when closed. The lift operator is very pleasant and helpful. The newer Draw bridge under construction has the west leaf in the down position so you will need to stay to the east side. Otherwise no real problems

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  • Marina Review for Palm Harbor Marina

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 3

    The staff are very nice and helpful. The facilities are amazing. Large concrete floats in excellent condition. They seem to cater more to mega yachts (there were several docked here). The slips are quite large - there was ample room between me and my slip mate for a third boat. There are also concerns:
    1. It has a very sophisticated locked gate system with 24 hour security guards. At night one sits on a chair at the head of the dock. Given the activity on the street, I am guessing that crime and trespassing are an issue in this part of West Palm.
    2. The minimum fee is for a 50’ boat and is $200 plus power hook up.
    3. Fuel was also a bit pricey though they do offer a discount for 140 gallons or more.

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  • Marina Review for Melbourne Harbor Marina

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    Last time I was here was for fuel only and the dockmaster was a notorious curmudgeon. That was 3 years ago and much has changed. New owner management and the curmudgeon is gone. Dockmaster is very helpful and efficient. Facilities have improved however, boats with a lot of freeboard will find that the piling tops are lower than the deck which creates a risk that your lines will slide off the top on less tied securely. Lots of amenities nearby.

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  • Marina Review for Loggerhead Marina - Daytona Beach Marina

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    Staff are very nice and also helpful when docking. Nice restaurant (Caribbean Jacks) adjacent to the marina. They do not have fuel, but it is available 1.5 NM south. The facilities are good but not great. Better for a one or two night stay than a multi day visit to Daytona.

    • WG Editor Comment:

      Clarify last sentence.

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  • Marina Review for Windward at Amelia Island Marina

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    This place is a hidden gem. Facilities and service are great and a good restaurant at the marina. It is not close to the town but a rental car is available. I agree with others that the entrance channel is shallow (stay in the center). We draw 4’ and arrived very close to dead low water. Our depth finder registered 6” of water at one point. We went very slow. The owner said that he has had a few people anchor until the tide was higher. This is an excellent place to hole up for a storm and to avoid the inevitable ICW wakes.

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  • Marina Review for Safe Harbor Bahia Bleu

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    I stayed here for several nights due to bad weather (it’s been a tough fall). The facilities are good and staff are very helpful. As a Safe Harbor customer in New England we get free nights and fuel discounts at other Safe Harbor facilities. The office staff here were very helpful with this. Good restaurants nearby and several others that will deliver to the marina parking lot. I’d go back again if passing through.

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  • Marina Review for Hinckley Yacht Services Savannah

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Stayed here one night. They helped us out of a jam as we needed a place for the night due to bad weather and everywhere else was full. The people are very nice. Facilities are great. A previous reviewer said that they hardly noticed they were in a boatyard. I must respectfully disagree, I felt like I was most definitely in a boatyard and not a marina. You have to go through almost all of the boatyard to get to the gate to meet an Uber driver. Good place to stay for the night and/or repairs, but there are better facilities if you want an extended stay in Savannah.

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  • Marina Review for Isle of Hope Marina

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Docks are older, but in good shape. Dock staff are very helpful and the office staff are wonderful to deal with. Dock access is controlled by a locked gate but I did not see any indication of this being a high crime area. Two great restaurants a short walk from the marina and they have a loaner car that can be signed out for 2 hour blocks of time. A great stop.

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  • Marina Review for Safe Harbor Charleston City

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 3

    As others have said, this is a huge marina; 10 minutes to walk from my slip to the shore. The fuel dock is very busy and you may have to stand off the dock for 30 minutes or more until it’s your turn. Once tied to the fuel dock you may need to wait further as another boat is still using the pump you will need. As a Safe Harbor slip renter I receive fuel discounts and free nights at other Safe Harbor facilities. This marina “blacked out” the dates of my arrival so I had to pay the going rate. Fuel discounts were less than what they charge at other Safe Harbor marinas. Dock hands were very helpful. As others have noted, there is a strong current that runs here. It is important to be mindful of this when docking. I will be looking for other options on my next trip to Charleston.

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  • Marina Review for Seapath Yacht Club & Transient Dock

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    I went back here this year for the first time since my review of 2018. The facility is still very good and I believe they now have two cars that can be borrowed for local errands. There were two young women who took my lines this year - they know almost nothing about boats and were pretty useless. I caught one of them rolling her eyes to her friend when I asked her a question. Dock staff change year-to–year, but the management is the same and they do a nice job. The fuel prices were slightly higher than I would have expected. I will return here when passing through in the future.

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  • Marina Review for River Dunes Marina at Grace Harbor

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Went back there this year and again had a great experience. The facilities were excellent and service was good but not as good as previous years. A previous reviewer reported running aground in the channel. I have not had this experience there however unless local knowledge says otherwise, I stick to the center of narrow channels.

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  • Marina Review for Coinjock Marina & Restaurant

    Reviewed by: PaulFromRI on Dec 1, 2020
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    I was wrong about this marina. I only gave them 3 stars due to their treatment of me and my crew the last time I reviewed them. We had a great visit this year. The crew was polite and helpful, though squeezed into our space (all boats are bow to stern along the sea wall) it was well done and no risk of damage. Prices for fuel, food and dockage were very reasonable especially when you realize that they are the only marina in the vicinity. They now own the old marina across from them and have overflow go there. They have a boat that will pick up and bring people back that are tied up on the other side. On the East shore (the main facility) you can get fuel and a pump out from nearly all spaces.

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