Reviews from First Mate Nate (6)

Anchorage Review for Mermentau G1A

Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Jan 2, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Review for Dec 25, 2020. We approached after dark and felt our way in close to the port side green markers. Wind would push us outside of green markers and immediately would be too shallow for our 6 ft draft. Past the 1A green marker we stuck in the mud and with difficulty pulled free and rather than try to explore further upstream, we set anchor just inside the second green marker, 1A. That was far enough from the ICW for a peaceful night and the only traffic on the river was a couple of small boats early in the morning. Coyotes serenaded our anchoring in their territory!
Would cautiously anchor here again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Shell Morgan Landing Inc.

Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Jan 2, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Review is for Dec 27, 2020. Engine trouble caused us to dock here. Although we arrived after closing, staffer came to check on us. Entering & leaving was best from west side for our 6 ft draft. Close by store in previous reviews was non-existent, locals mentioned grocery store reachable 2 miles up the road or up the Vermilion River. The town of Abbeville was actually 20 miles north and no service such as Uber was available. Would stop here again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Shell Island

Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Jan 1, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Great spot to anchor right off of the ICW, just on the south side of this small island. Plenty of room and depth. We anchored close to the island for wind protection. This spot was beautiful at sunrise, including viewing some local wildlife. Note: you do have to keep an eye out for crab traps anchoring and leaving. Definitely would stop here again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Sabine Pass Port Authority Marina

Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Jan 1, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Amen to the positives about this marina. Great staff, fuel and assistance 24 hours-a-day. Obvious new facilities enclosed by security fence. With our 6 ft draft, the transient mooring on the end of the dock for our 60 ft sailboat did sit us on mud. But we made it ok even through low tide. Leaving out we stayed some to starboard to stay deep enough out to the channel. Would definitely stay here again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Anchorage Review for Charenton Drainage Canal

Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Dec 31, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Best night of anchoring of 3 nights of anchoring from Houston to NOLA. Wide canal, plenty deep for our 6 ft draft, even close to the east bank we were still in 8 foot of water. Current was going up canal when we arrived in the evening and coming out when we left in the morning. Beautiful scenic spot. Only traffic was some early morning boats. The ICW is wide here and it’s traffic was no influence through the night. We had no wind to deal with but if there had been any out of the east, it would have blocked it well. We anchored no more than 100 yards up the canal.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Marina Review for Downtown Marina of Houma

Reviewed by: First Mate Nate on Dec 31, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 60'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 4

Nice tie-up, not a marina per say, no fuel, no personnel but electricity and water, and FREE. Directly off the Gulf Intracoastal in the middle of town. Because of 6 foot draft, we had to take the first tie up on the dock. Sailboat captain already there said further up was less than 5 ft and tugboat waves would pull water out of the inlet. Dock was part of a nice park that locals would pass by on the walkway. Uber got us to close by stores and restaurant. Would stop here again.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer