What makes a good marina?
12 March 2022
• Islamorada
by John and Penni Singleton • Very windy
We must have stayed in about ten different marinas by now and I am learning what to look for. Now we are in warm climes, I love having a pool - it is more refreshing than a shower and gives us a chance to exercise different muscles. Clearly that is not the most important thing though. A safe, protected slip that is easy to get in and out of is always a good start - but often we can achieve that at an anchorage. According to our greatest need, the next things on my list would be- power, fuel, pump out and water. Clean and updated toilets and shower - preferably bathroom style rather separate stalls are a luxury that not all marinas have. Every couple of weeks, we look for laundry facilities too. Although the showers here are basic, this marina on Islamorada does have a beach, pool, dog park and restaurants close by. To top it off, everyone we have met have been very welcoming. It definitely is one of my faves but there are other marinas that stood out for different reasons. Jekyll Island had bikes that gave you access to everything the island had to offer. Palm Cove had a laid back vibe and it was easy to meet people. It also had a village that was easy to walk to. Gilbert’s had cocktails and food on the other side of the dock. That is one of the things that makes the marinas so much fun- they all have their own personality. I would give Lake Worth the coveted prize of worst marina - although they were so kind and helpful, I would ask you not to tell them. It was a working marina in a busy port. I had to climb a ladder to get on and off the boat. We had the noise of the tug boats and tankers throughout the night - glad it was only one night. You may be wondering why we choose to anchor out. Of course, it is a bonus that anchoring out is free, but it is not just about cost. Anchorage’s have their own personalities too. Some are isolated, others are social with several boats. My favorites are where we can dinghy into a restaurant or town. Timmy would agree with me on that too. After a couple of nights at anchor I am always ready for a marina though. Not sure how John feels …
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