Reviews from Wade Durant (6)

Marina Review for Midway Marina

Reviewed by: Wade Durant , M/V Lazy Libra, on May 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Family-owned marina that is beautiful and friendly! I have made this a yearly stop! Great food too. They have a courtesy truck as well!

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Marina Review for Dog River Marina and Boat Works Inc.

Reviewed by: Wade Durant , M/V Lazy Libra, on May 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 1

Came in with generator no start issues. After a week of the breaking and replacing parts, they charged me $1300, said it was unrepairable and sent me on my way. When we got to Panama City its fixed within 30 minutes. Bad fuel pump. CRUISERS BEWARE!

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Marina Review for Marina Jack Yacht Basin

Reviewed by: Wade Durant , M/V Lazy Libra, on Apr 6, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 5

Because it's a little pricier than we generally choose, we only stayed one night to deliver some guests who were floating with us to their rental car, but it was excellent.
The transient docks are the easiest ones to get to, just to the right when you come in the marina's channel. The staff waiting for us to throw lines could not have been more helpful and friendly.
The docks are floating concrete and well maintained with a gate at the end, operated by code or key fob. The walk to the main road is a wide sidewalk that takes you around to a park of sorts with a small restaurant called O'Leary's if you are being cost conscious. While there is a restaurant and bar on site, it was a bit more than we needed for just a quick bite.
There is a Whole Foods and Publix within walking distance (up to 1mi).
The bathroom facilities were great and well attended to. There is also a self service pump out cart on every dock, but you can ask marina staff to help for a fee.
We have our own Wifi on board so we didn't use the marina's, and can't testify to the signal strength.
All in all, great stop for us as we cruise up the west coast of Florida to cross the Gulf.

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Anchorage Review for Lemon Bay East of R26

Reviewed by: Wade Durant, M/V Lazy Libra, on Apr 5, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.3'

Heading up the Gulf Coast we stopped in here for a night. The holding was great. Wind protection depends on where it is coming from. From the W and NW was not good at all, but it switched around to the E and NE and was very calm. The current flow almost always seems light to us when we're not in SC & GA. Wake protection was limited. We were far enough off the channel to dull the impact though while still being a respectful distance from the homes on the shoreline. It is a populated area but still very pretty, and we spent the late afternoon fishing and boat watching. Shore access was great at the boat ramp a little north of us so we had a spot to take the dogs for a walk and game of fetch. Cell and Wifi were strong. We did not attempt to go shopping hence the "neutral" rating.

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Anchorage Review for Little Shark River

Reviewed by: Wade Durant, M/V Lazy Libra, on Apr 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.3'

For us, this location was great as far as protection from the NE wind we were ducking, and the waves that went along with it, but there was no land for miles to take the dogs for a break.
The scenery was beautiful, the stars at night were awe inspiring.
This was a very easy in and out anchorage, and was great for an overnight stop.

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Anchorage Review for Key West - Wisteria Island Northwest

Reviewed by: Wade Durant, M/V Lazy Libra, on Mar 2, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.3'

We stopped here on our return trip from the Dry Tortugas. Let me clarify some of the star ratings:
Holding: We did not have strong seas or wind so we did not have a problem. Other reviews elsewhere indicated there might be challenges with holding.
Wind protection from the east is probably about it. North, West and South are all exposed where we anchored.
Current flow: We're used to Carolina waters so we found the current very light
Wake protection: This area does get used for parasailing and small boats come in and out at a good clip.
Scenery: Perfect sunset view, a wide variety of boats anchor here so definitely interesting, if not always typically beautiful.
Left ease of shopping at a 3 because I don't know where the shopping is, but I hear it is not far from here.
Shore access is the beach on Wisteria. Unpopulated and wide so plenty of room for all. This is why we rate it a 5 for pet friendly.
Cell service was great for us with AT&T.
No wifi here.
We were expecting nothing more than 10kts from the east and south for the overnight we spent here, and rocking a little doesn't bother us, so this was an excellent anchorage for our circumstances. It isn't somewhere I would plan a vacation to...especially after the Dry Tortugas!

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