Maria on January 5th, 2023:

Honestly, I don't know why so many people are in love with this marina. The marina is full of and seems to cater to very large yachts; my 32' Ranger Tug was easily the smallest boat there. They parked me and the two other transients at the far end of the marina, near the fuel dock and patio boat rentals. It was a nearly 1/4 mile long walk -- I measured it -- to the only restrooms on the property. The docks are in generally good condition, although the screws holding the planks down were loose or even missing in more than a few places. The marina claimed it was doing renovations, but the only sign of work that I saw was a pair of guys noisily power washing the concrete walls and docks daily on weekdays. The trash receptacles on the dock were only emptied once during the week I was there; most were full and one was overflowing. The restrooms, private boater's lounge, and small but sufficient laundry room is probably the best feature of this place. Even then it was flawed: one of the showers had a rattling exhaust fan that cycled on and off intermittently and the handicapped restroom had missing ceiling tiles. Everything was clean. There is no courtesy car or shuttle. The slips/docks are not secured with locked gates; there's a simple chain across the walkway ramps at night and a plainclothes security guy who walks the premises. That said, I never felt unsafe walking around. The place is very dog-friendly with ample area to walk or exercise a dog.

The adjacent shopping center is a mix of brand name shops and the typical coastal tourist fare. If you want groceries beyond milk, pop, chips, or alcoholic beverages, you'll need to Uber to a Publix or Walmart. There are restaurants and bars. (The one I visited for their twice weekly prime rib special served me the worst prime rib I'd ever eaten. I hope the other restaurants are better.) The "marine retail" referred to in the marina listing is a logo shop with mostly clothing; there were no boat supplies at all.

Transients -- even for one night! -- are required to sign a 13-page lease agreement, show proof of insurance, and submit boat documentation/registration paperwork. (I've never been to a marina with requirements like this.) The marina charges $3.25/foot/night plus tax. You can save 75¢/foot/night if you're an AGLCA member; I actually joined and saved enough to pay for my membership. They offer a weekly rate of $10/foot plus power for AGLCA members but you must stay a full seven days. (I mistakenly thought it would apply to my five-day stay and when I was told it wouldn't, I stayed the extra two days to save $80 plus tax.) Although I was charged based on the actual length of my boat (32 feet), I heard the marina manager tell a customer who called that the minimum boat length was 40 feet and they would be charged that even if the boat was shorter. My power bill came to $29. I was told on check-in that if I didn't return the key card I needed to access the bathrooms, I'd be charged $150.

Overall, I think this facility is overpriced for what it offers. The only reason I came was because I needed to replace the batteries on my boat and this is where the service guys told me to come. Unseasonably cold weather and the Christmas holidays made me stay longer than I normally would have. It might make a nice overnight stay if you need a shopping or dining fix, but beyond that? I can't recommend it.