Free Dock Review for Waterford Harbor Visitor Center

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Jun 18, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Like others said, it is a great free stop for two days. They have cool $15 T-shirts you can buy (cash only). McGreivey's Irish Pub is a MUST STOP for dinner. Their $20 Fish & Chips was the best fish we've ever had and the $20 meatloaf was four huge slices and was very good. Don't let their "Lite Fare" section of their menu fool you; the portions are huge! Lite means "Simple Foods" they told me. I did want to point out a new correction from other reviews. The Hannaford Grocery Store that you can walk to, no longer will unlock their carts for the boaters to use to wheel their groceries back to the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center. I asked about this with the checkout cashier before she rang me up, letting her know that I only wanted to buy several 2-litre sodas if I could have a cart unlocked to haul them back. She nicely said yes, just go to the customer service counter and the lady there will do it for you. When I got to "customer service" the woman rudely said that they were no longer doing that, and for me to tell "all the boaters" that they won't unlock carts anymore to be taken off their premises. I won't go back to Hannaford's again.

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Anchorage Review for Canton

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on May 30, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

This is a convenient spot for shore access for all the things there are to do in Baltimore. Our first experience at the Boston Street public dinghy dock (that was only about 30 yards away) was as soon as we arrived, we noticed a black garbage bag twisted around our motor. Baltimore is filthy...there is trash floating everywhere in the inner harbor and around the shore. Just be prepared. The free ferry to Fort McHenry is just a few minutes away on foot. Just up from the ferry landing as you walk towards Fort McHenry there is a great restaurant/bar called Hull Street Blues (yes, it is on Hull St). The Cheesesteak sandwich and the Fort McChicken sandwich with crab dip, onion rings, and bacon were delicious. This anchorage is also near the free Circulator bus stops to take you to the museums. The anchorage had good holding, we did not have other boats waking us, and like others mentioned, there was filthy black mud on the anchor with a plastic bag stuck to it upon retrieval. Be ready to rinse! Safeway, West Marine and an Ace Hardware are across street from public dock. We would stay here again.

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Free Dock Review for Mid-Atlantic Christian University

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on May 8, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

We were in phone contact with Dan Smith of Maritime Ministries prior to arrival. Early in the day he let us know his dock was full, but told us where we could anchor nearby. We did that the first night then came into the dock the next morning. The water was super calm so tying up was easy and so was stepping off the boat. We were the only boat at the dock our whole stay. Dan gave us access to a loaner car so we would go to Walmart and pick up Rx and groceries and to the UPS store to get a schedule package that we had shipped to his UPS mailbox address (needed boat parts). We enjoyed a very good, very reasonably priced seafood dinner at Quality Seafood Market (fast food style meal). We also toured the Museum of the Albemarle for some NC history. Everyone associated with the university were so friendly from Dan to the grounds people, the students playing on the grass, and the workers in the food court at the university commons (they even gave us ice). The MACU docks are a must stop for those going through the Dismal Swamp Canal.

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Anchorage Review for Brittlebank Park

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Apr 23, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

We picked this spot in Charleston because there was a very nice dinghy dock at Brittlebank Park with a Publix grocery store across the street. What we didn't know was that it was a slalom course of crab pots at the anchorage. There was comfortably room for 3 boats and we were the third one! We liked this much better than out in the big water area.

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Anchorage Review for Mackay River - Wallys Leg

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Apr 19, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

This is a super peaceful anchorage. We were the only ones there, except for a few alligators! There were tons of flies as we were anchoring the late afternoon before and was very buggy outside while pulling up the anchor this morning. Only a little bit if mud on the anchor and the chain was clean. Awesome spot if you don't need to go ashore.

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Anchorage Review for Cumberland Island South

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Nov 11, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

My only complaint about this anchorage was it was soooo buggy! We got eaten alive by no-see-ums when pulling the anchor in the morning.

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Bridge comment on F.J. Torras Causeway Bridge

Comment by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Nov 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'

There are still no height boards. We passed under with air draft of 63.5 ft. plus antenna, just after high tide (+6.5 ft). The water was just about to the top of the 3rd fender board and we cleared with our antenna scraping.

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Anchorage Review for Beaufort - Taylor Creek

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Oct 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Great anchorage. We stayed several nights. We had lots of swing in a crowded spot, but had beautiful views of the historic town and island. Many dolphins came to jump alongside our boat. and we saw four wild horses on the island. Lots of tour boats come RIGHT BY your boat throughout the day, giving some wake. On Saturday mornings there is a farmers market to walk to after a short dinghy ride to town. Get there early as they run out of the baked goods. The Piggly Wiggly grocery store is about a one-mile scooter or bike ride north of the docks. However, there is a small corner market (Big Daddy Wesley's) you can easily walk to that has milk, eggs, butter, etc. (for high prices). You can get a $3 shower at Beaufort Docks Marina. Carteret County also has an inexpensive public transportation system (CCATS) where you can get a ride into Morehead City, for instance, for $4 per way. This came in handy for urgent care visits that I needed (way cheaper than Uber). You just need to schedule your ride the morning before. I would definitely stay here again!

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Free Dock Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Oct 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

We had a great stay here. Since there are only 2 spots on dock #1 and 2 spots on dock #2, we couldn't find space on our first attempt so we anchored out. The city has a Harbor Cam that updates a picture every 5 minutes that faces dock #1 so you can keep checking to see if there is an available spot. We got a spot the next day and stayed Monday and Tuesday nights. Unfortunately, a lot of the stores and restaurants aren't open until Thursday. West Marine is closed Sunday & Monday. The Oriental Marina & Inn offers showers for $5 and they provide towels, soap, shampoo, and hairdryers. Very nice! We got freshly caught flounder to cook from Endurance Seafood, had a nice dinner at M&M's, and Inland Waterway Provision had GREAT wine prices and were super friendly. Nautical Wheelers is a super cute two-story store/house that had a little bit of everything, like clothes, knick-knacks, and wine. There is a Piggly Wiggly a mile down the road that is open every day. The Bean coffee shop seems to be the town hangout place and you can hear people talking on the porch early in the morning if you have your windows open. Only negative we had was that the flies were CRAZY. I counted about 30 flies we swatted inside our boat when we had the sliding door open.

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Free Dock Review for Belhaven Town Docks at Cooperage Landing

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Oct 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Since we are a catamaran and wide, we opted to anchor just off the free dock. Nice protected anchorage near the bridge that has pretty red & green lights at night. I took a fabulous sunset picture here. Only complaint is when we woke up in the morning, mosquitoes were EVERYWHERE. They were all over our sliding door and Isinglass. The flies were thick too, but they may have hitched a ride from our previous location.

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