Belhaven Sports & Outdoors Tips by grandmaR

MM 135.9 Better Anchorage

Up by the hospital is another anchorage in the Belhaven harbor. . From here you can dinghy to Belhaven's visitor dinghy dock and walk to Food Lion, Dollar store, pharmacy and propane fill. Note that propane tanks are heavy. Photo 2 shows a chart

Equipment: Sign says:

"Welcome to Belhaven, NC Visitor's Dinghy Dock"

"You may tie up your dingy boat or other private vessel between the hours of 800 am and 1000 pm. We ask that you limit your stay to 4 hours and that you use the trash recepticles... Thank you"

Directions: For better protection, go up to R12 - take a heading of 290/200M toward the fixed bridge. You can dinghy up the canal near G11 past the hospital (brick) and tie up near the low bridge

Phone: 252-944-0077

Theme: Boating/Sailing

GONE - Robb's Marina

Robb's Marina has now been leveled to the ground.

The actual name of the marina was Marlen C. Robb & Son Boatyard & Marina

Robb's Marina was hated by many people partly because of the owner and/or former employee. We've stayed there 3 times because it is cheap, and have never had a problem with them. However, I understand they've now gone out of business.

Before they did that, they raised the prices so they aren't so cheap anymore - to $1.25/ft (it used to be 75 cents/ft) and $4.00 for 30 amp.

They had good cheap washing machines (75 cents a load and there was also a full laundromat 2 blocks away), nice showers, and would allow the use of the fax line to download email provided you had an 800 # as there are NO local ISPs.

The fuel was also pretty reasonable. All the docks were face docks (no slips), and the dock girl draged the hoses down to you where you are at the dock. You didn't have to go to a separate fuel dock.

Equipment: They also had a small marine store and it was easy to walk out into town to go to restauratns. There was a yard associated with the marina, where people often have to stop and have repairs because of dead heads etc in the Alligator Pungo Canal.

They had free use of the golf carts to go to the grocery store although you couldn't use them after dark or the police would confiscate them. They also let the passengers of the American Eagle cruise ship use them when the AE docks for fuel. It takes the American Eagle quite a long time to fuel up. They gave them a discount on the fuel.

Address: 316 East Front St.

Directions: Second marina 1.7 m past breakwater on north bank mm 135.7

Other Contact: 1-252-943-2110

Phone: 800-554-7622

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.robbsboatyard.com/

MM 135.7 Belhaven Waterway Marina

I have been told that this marina is for sale in 2009

Belhaven Waterway Marina is $1.00/ft and $3.00 for 30 amp electric. You will be greeted by Les and Brenda Porter. Les and Brenda bought a 1928 35-foot wooden motor launch about 16 years ago and fixed it up as a live-aboard. The boat is beautiful and they called it Loafalong. They took it cruising themselves for three years before they worked at a marina in Charleston, which they managed for a couple of years before they bought this marina in Belhaven. Their intention with this marina was to provide for cruisers all the things they had wanted when they were cruising,

They have free bikes and will drive you to the grocery store. The gate is locked at 2100 at night. The women's bathroom is up in the office trailer - the men's bathroom is on ground level. They are all very nicely decorated and have wonderful showers.

They also have a wi-fi network which I can access out on the hot tub deck.

There is nothing open on Sunday night. The Helmsman closes at 2, and River Forest does not always have dinner on Sunday. Belhaven is essentially dead on Sunday, at least at the end of April.

Address: 332 East Water Street, Belhaven

Phone: 252-944-0066

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM 135.7 Anchor In the Harbor

Boats also anchor in Pantego Creek near the south shore in about 7-8 feet of water. Be careful to avoid the shoal in the middle. The anchorage is not very protected and you will rock and roll. Plus it is a long dinghy trip ashore.

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM 140.0 Slade Creek

If you want to go past Belhaven to make it a bit shorter trip to Oriental (or if you can't quite make it to Belhaven going north), you can anchor in Slade Creek. Enter at N35 deg 27.0 and W076 deg 33.78 and follow the creek bank. Anchor in the first mile in 8-9 feet of water.

Equipment: The entrance to this creek is tricky and some folks don't find but 3-4 feet.

On the other side of the river WNW of daymark #4 on Jordan Creek is the River Rat Yacht Club. This is a very friendly place, but it is tricky to get in if you have a vessel with any kind of a deep draft. We could only get in at high tide. The club docks are reportedly available only to members of other clubs. We know someone at this club and she offered us dock space, but we were afraid of the shallow depths and did not take her up on it. You can also anchor just past the club docks.

Phone: 252-964-6100

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM 136.5 Pungo Creek anchorage

As if it wasn't confusing enough with the Alligator Pungo canal leading to the Pungo River where the channel markers switch sides and the red side becomes the green side, and Belhaven, the principle city on the Pungo River actually being on Pantego Creek, there is ALSO a Pungo Creek off the Pungo RIver.

I hear this is the anchorage that one uses if one doesn't wish to access the businesses in the town of Belhaven.

Equipment: Anchor in 7-8 feet of water. LOTS of crab pots.

Sparsely developed shore with good depths reported within 200 yards of the shore on the most protected section. However it isn't particularly good protection in a heavy blow because it is so large.

Directions: Follow the channel markers and select a spot west of G3 depending on wind conditions. (G3 is on the edge of the chart with the G cut off)

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM135.7 River Forest Marina

We have never stayed here because it is more expensive, farther away from the center of town, and more exposed to wind and waves than the marinas farther inside the breakwater. Also dockside depths are between 5.5 and 10 feet. The low end is a bit shallower than we like.

Equipment: There is a shipyard and an inn and restaurant also here. Free golf carts are available and there is a pool, hot tub and tennis courts. Neither the hot tub nor the tennis courts tempt me, and it's usually too cold to swim in a pool. I wasn't that impressed with the restaurant when we ate there.

On the chart, Riverforest is #4, and the #3 with the diesel symbol is the old Robb's Marina location.

Address: 426 E. Pantego St.

Directions: First marina inside the breakwater.

Other Contact: 800-346-2151

Phone: 252-943-2141

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.riverforestmanor.com/marina.htm

MM 131.7 Dowry Creek Marina

On the way back north in 2001 we stopped at Dowry Creek Marina north of Belhaven, and it was $1/ft with electric included. They have a nice lounge with satellite TV. The only problem with that is that the weather channel doesn't have any local weather. There is a pool, and a pay phone, and they let me do e-mail in the office Another couple and ourselves took the courtesy car into Belhaven for dinner at the Helmsman. Apparently we cut inside the markers on the way in, but it was high tide so we didn't run aground. The marina was 51.9 miles from Oriental and it took us a little over 8 hours.

In 2003 on the way down from the Alligator River, we stopped here. We stayed for a second day because of fog in the morning, and predicted thunderstorms.

Equipment: From their website:
Hours: 7am - dark in season; 9am - dark out of season
On ICW at mile marker 132
Monitoring VHF channel 16
Ship's store with general supplies including: clothing, snacks, beverages, marine supplies, charts & maps
Block & crushed ice
Fully equipped laundromat; two washers, dryers, AC, heated
Spotless private showers and bathrooms; AC, heated
Dockage Rate: $.75 per foot
Dockside depth: 8 feet
Fuel dock: Diesel, gas, competitive prices, discounts
Electricity: 30amp, 50amp, 100amp
Sewage Pumpout
Phone/Cable: At main building
Wet Storage
Water hookups
Repair: Independent contractors, diver on call
Golf/ Tennis: Double tennis court on site.
Swimming pool with clubhouse
Party trays, pig pickin's, crab cooks, oyster roasts, kegs of beer, etc. available for pre-planned parties
Popular destination for yacht clubs
Proximity to Town: Six miles
Shopping: Nearby, courtesy car
Local attractions: Belhaven, museum
Restaurants: Nearby
Airport: Pitt-Greenville Airport
Special features: On site security, owner operated

Address: 110 Spinnaker Run Road - Belhaven, NC 27810

Directions: Mile 131.7 first stop after the 20 mile Alligator River-Pungo River Canal. Bear 350% at Pungo River green day marker 15 and cruise through our well-marked lighted channel

Other Contact: 800-824-7035

Phone: 252-943-2728

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.dowrycreekmarina.com/welcome.htm