Safe Harbor Marina

We met up with our daughter and grandchildren for a breakfast picnic and play time. The grandchildren ran from one apparatus to another in the playground area. Sliding, climbing, spinning all the way. After having our breakfast we walked down to the water's edge and threw sticks in the water for our dog. Before we knew it we had spent 3 hours there enjoying the weather, water and playground.

Needs some improvements. The 2017 redesign was somewhat poorly thought through, though they have finally added some signs and painted lanes at the launch to at least reduce some of the chaos. Fewer launch and retrieval docks means a longer wait to launch and retrieve at peak launch and retrieval times. They put a crosswalk right across the busiest part of the launch and retrieval lanes, and pedestrians often try to cross while boats and trailers are backing down the ramp. They finally have added some regular car parking spaces so you can travel in multiple vehicles if need be. There is no dock for dropping off or picking up passengers, so you’d also better hope everyone arrives together at the same time! The launch/retrieval docks have an odd “knuckle” in the side that makes tying up your boat awkward, and the cleats are spaced too far apart, so you have limited options to tie up your boat if there is more than one boat on the dock. The rubber rub rail on the dock is stapled on, and will definitely scrape, scratch and gouge your hull if it rubs hard against them. They also put the launch and retrieval signs at the very outer corners of the dock, which is a hazard to boats as they pull in to retrieve. They’ve been damaged by boats hitting them several times already. The curbs are also too narrow in the entrance and exits to the marina, and the turns too sharp. You can see where many trailers have jumped the curb. For slip holders, the situation is similarly bad. Where previously all the docks were pointed into the predominant direction of the wind, allowing boaters to arrive or depart their slip even in windy conditions (because their boat would face into or back into the wind), the docks are now perpendicular to the wind, meaning that if there’s more than a gentle breeze, you’re broadside to the wind and have to pull in fast or risk hitting the dock, or the boat next to you. Hope you’re not a sailboater, because if the wind is up your boat is going to be trapped at the dock. The docks are also shorter than in the past, and much closer together, further compounding the issue. The gas dock is nicely done, and they added a concrete breakwater with a dock anchored to it at the main entrance/exit, which helps protect the boats at that dock, and added some transient docking as well. Overall I can see where they had some good ideas for improvements. The newly paved parking lots, new docks and new ramps are much nicer than the old ones, but the implementation of the changes is poor. If they had taken the time to talk to boaters in the area, get their input, and ask for public comment on their design prior to implementation, many of their major pitfalls and shortcomings could have been addressed long before they became fundamental issues that will now be costly to correct.

Very busy on the weekend. Usually not so much during the week. They have really have done a nice job on the waterfront and boat docks and launching area

Good food and drinks. U can sit in or out. Good place to sit watch boats and the harbour...busy place with a cool breeze.

Overall this is a great place to launch your boat. My only issue is with the new floating breakwall they put in to protect the marina gas station. It makes for narrow passage around what is almost a blind curve.