Baytown Marina at San Destin is found on the southern shores of Choctawhatchee Bay, east of Destin and East Pass., It always interesting to read opinions from other cruisers. In the past, I have only been moderately impressed with this facility, but  message is certainly going to cause me to take another look!

The biggest life-changing discovery for us on our Loop in '03 was the FL Panhandle. We're now in our 8th winter at Baytowne Marina, Sandestin, FL (on the south shore of Choctawhatchee Bay, just east of the Mid-Bay Bridge at Destin).  Check out the marina (and resort) website:http://www.sandestin.com/golfactivities/marina/tabid/218/Default.aspx. Or call Capn Ron, Dockmaster at 850-428-1016.
Enjoy the Emerald Coast with us!
Dick Hanson
on Souvenir in the FL Panhandle

Mary Walker Marina IS off the beaten path, and has a bit of a backwater feeling. I bet Captain Reggie did raise a few eyebrows in bringing a sailcraft to this marina!

If you want to raise eyebrows, go to Mary Walker Marina in a sailboat!  Can be done, crossing the marsh.  Makes you pucker if your draft approaches 6 feet.
Really nice people.  We were having problems and they were great help.  Engine water pump died.  Leon knew where to get one.  Margaret took me there and back.  King's Machine Inc is a full service machine shop and diesel engine shop.
no fuel
no diesel.  We needed diesel so Leon "Little Boy " Mendenhall, employed there 43 years, took us for two loads in gerry cans. 
all their fuel pumps need to be replaced since hurricanes. 
no pumpout.
50 amp electricity at our dock but useless to us since se didn't have a 50to30 adapter and neither did they.
no onsite repair services.
Reggie

The Pearl River acts as the coastal division between the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. It has MANY cruisable miles, and lots of anchorage possibilities. Just watch for barge traffic on the main Pearl River channel coming downstream from the Stennis Space Center.

Tucked in tonight at anchor just east of the CSX Pearl bridge on the Pearl River.  Fish are jumpin’, owls are hootin’, beautiful scenery.  soft bottom.  hooked on third try.8-9 ft of water.
Reggie Good

Wow, even after all this time, the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, as described below by Captain Reggie, is still very much with us.

Services Update [Bioxoi, MS]
Point Cadet.  They currently have no landline.  You must call cell 228-209-4807.  They sign you in out of the back seat of a car.  water and fuel available.  no electricity or services such as showers, laundry, etc.  rehab not started on office building.  $1.07/ft and plus tax, of course.
Biloxi Yacht Club docks in ruins.  Al emphasis seems to be on completing new gorgeous clubhouse for now.  see their website.
Small Craft Harbor not open at this time.  supposed to be by nov.  its building is also wrecked.  
Reggie

Additional info Biloxi
No pump out available point cadet
Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum has docks with transient slip availability.  228-435-6320, ask for Robin
Also found a neat Vietnamese grocery store two blocks north of the Grand Hotel land Casino, and a ships supply company wholesale and retail a block west of the store. 
Reggie

I'm sorry Captain Reggie did not realize that his edition of my "Cruising Guide to the Northern Gulf Coast" was written pre-Hurricane Katrina. Since that great storm, we have virtually let this book go out of print, and it will be at least another six months before we have an updated version in hand. It has been necessary to wait all this time to let the sitation on the Mississippi and Louisiana coastlines stabilize enough for any sort of accurate reporting.
Note the web site Captain Reggie supplies below for checking on the latest news concerning the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor

Yesterday we called the Biloxi Yacht Club number listed in our copy of your 4th edition Cruising Guide to the Northern Gulf, 228-435-5455
and it has been disconnected.  Do they no longer exist?
At 4 pm yesterday, a Sunday, nobody answered the phone at Biloxi Small Craft Sailing Harbor.
We ended up anchoring just east of the shipping channel between the CSX bridge and the ruins of the old bridge, about half way in towards shore.  Good protection from the easterlies we've seen for a couple days, approximately 10 ft of water, semi-lit at night by lights from the new Highway 90 bridge.
You are correct about a bumpy anchorage at Dauphine Island if the wind is easterly.  We anchored towards the island from bouy 25.  We set a 36 lb CQR and 100 feet of chain in about 11 ft.  Winds blew all noght, gusting to over 20 knots at times.  Short steep chop kept the boat rocking, but good holding, no dragging.
Roberts Bayou off Perdido Bay was a great anchorage.  We anchored at the Y where the short arm of the bay which serves the public boat ramp meets the main bay.  Late lunch at Pirates cove included cold Yeunglings and hamburgers with country fries.  Tasty.
Anchoring in the southeast corner of Big Lagoon out of Pensacola was fine on a light to no air night.  Plane are a little noisy until the navy shuts down for the night.
Reggie
CAL Cruising 36 "Submit"

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsRebuildofBlxSmallCraftHarbor092208htm.htm
 
internet search gives this phone number for Biloxi Yacht Club
(228) 374-6344
Reggie Good

I copied the discussion below from the Net’s “Ask Your Neighbor” page, which was in turn copies from the AGLCA list page. Note the two diametrically opposed points of view on Eastern Shore Marine!

We are planning on starting the loop this fall and would like to find a marina in Mobile Bay for our 38′ Bayliner.  We plan to get there around 1 Nov. and would like to leave our boat there, travelling back and forth over the winter months from Illinois before moving on.  Of course, we’d like to use the boat as our “southern condo” during the winter and stay aboard.  We’ll probably move on sometime early spring.
I am familiar with Dog River Marina in Mobile and Eastern Shore Marina on Fly Creek (near Fairhope).  Are there any others out there that you recommend?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Kathy & Gary
Crazy Q

Eastern Shore is a nice place.  We stayed there for three days last Nov. .  I would go back again.  They do have a working boatyard.  The marina is about 2 miles from Fairhope ( a great town).  The marina has two courtesy cars.  The dock area is a dead zone for cell phones.  It is necessary to walk around the steel work building for good reception.  Depth is not a problem, the yacht club across the fairway is packed with sailboats.
Jerry Cilibraise
Morning Star

Our experience with Eastern Shore Marina was disappointing. I phoned ahead to tell them we were coming to their marina. We stopped to purchase fuel and obtain repairs.
Engine service was requested. Several employees sat on the decks, visited,and speculated about the possibilities of what might be causing an unusual problem. No more than ten minutes were used to even look at the engine. That time was spent to verify that we were telling them the truth regarding the way the fuel lines were connected.
No equipment to diagnose the problem. We were charged two hours of labor at the rates expected for a skilled mechanic. We never saw anyone that had a clue as to what they we doing. The charges were outrageous.
Eddy Beard
aboard Seldom’s Escape

Kathy & Gary ,
Grand Mariner Marina is a good family run marina.  It is also on Dog  River across from Dog River Marina and Turners.
Alan  Lloyd
Great Circle Navigation Notes

Kathy:
Don’t overlook Grand Mariner Marina directly across Dog River from Dog River Marina.  Very nice folks, good rates, courtesy car, etc.  We have stayed there a couple of times for a week or so each.  They can accommodate your Bayliner quite comfortably.
Of course Dog River Marina (a major AGLCA sponsor) and Eastern Shore Marine are both very good facilities also.
Bill

If you can make it a little further to the Gulf Coast, you’d have a much more enjoyable “floating condo” to visit during the winter than in the Mobile area. Anywhere from Gulf Shores, AL, to Panama City, FL, there are at least a half dozen great marinas. We’re very biased on Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Resort, just east of Destin, FL. This is our 7th winter there.
Dick Hanson on Souvenir

So glad to hear that this fine club has reopened its dockage facilities following the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Sounds like the remainder of the city owned Gulfport Small Craft Harbor has, at least so far, not been so lucky.

I am originally from Gulfport MS and was hoping to side trip there before crossing to FL. The Gulfport Yacht Club just opened a brand new facility last month and they used to have a good size transient dock. The club is located just to the west side of the channel as you enter. The rest of Gulfport yacht basin is waiting to be dredged and rebuilt. I did not know if your club had rescoprocity or not.
John Haluska
M/V Emery El
Defever 49 RPH

ALWAYS good to know about quality marine repair people. I copied this note from the Greal Loop list as I thought this sort of info also needed exposure here on the Cruisers' Net.

I hope this information might help some Loopers needing AC work in the Pensacola, FL area. I also posted this at the Trawlers and Trawlering Board.
Pine Knot developed a refrigerant leak in her pilothouse Cruisair AC unit. We left her at Palafox Marina in Pensacola for 10 days to return home to Texas for a visit. While we were gone, Sea Air Marine came aboard and took care of the repair, all under warranty and at no charge to us. Sea Air kept in touch with us by phone, letting us know about the progress of the job.
The Cruisair unit was within days of being out of its 2 year warranty period, but Cruisair sent a whole new evaporator unit to replace the leaking one, not just replacement parts. Bill Costello at Sea Air Marine got all the work done in time for our planned departure to Texas.
I wish to praise Cruisair and Sea Air Marine for a job well done! Be sure to remember Sea Air Marine if you need AC work in the Pensacola, FL area.
I have no connection with Cruisair or Sea Air Marine, just a very satisfied customer!
Pine Knot will be heading offshore tomorrow for a 460 mile run from Pensacola, around the "boot" of Louisiana and on to Galveston, TX, completing her trip from Texas to Mexico to Florida to Texas.
Kelton and Louisia Ogletree

I’m really glad to be able to post the note below, whch I copied off the AGLCA mailing list. We NEED some more info about available marina facilities, or lack thereof, in the regions of the Northern Gulf Coast, decimated by Hurricane Katrina. Additional postings on this type would be MORE THAN WELCOME!

We came through New Orleans in March of this year.  Orleans marina is accepting transients (we stayed there 2 weeks) also they told me that SouthPoint was to open the following week. Oak Harbor on the north side of Pontchartrain is open and accepting transients and have a lot of sllips vaccant I think for permanent. (we stayed there)  Oceans Springs [Mississippi] has a few transients docks.  fill up when they have a fishing turny. (we stayed there)
Harry J. Armenia, Linda Guiffre
"CABARET"
40′ Defever Passagemaker hull #3

I’m really glad to be able to post the note below, whch I copied off the AGLCA mailing list. We NEED some more info about available marina facilities, or lack thereof, in the regions of the Northern Gulf Coast, decimated by Hurricane Katrina. Additional postings on this type would be MORE THAN WELCOME!

We came through New Orleans in March of this year.  Orleans marina is accepting transients (we stayed there 2 weeks) also they told me that SouthPoint was to open the following week. Oak Harbor on the north side of Pontchartrain is open and accepting transients and have a lot of sllips vaccant I think for permanent. (we stayed there)  Oceans Springs [Mississippi] has a few transients docks.  fill up when they have a fishing turny. (we stayed there)
Harry J. Armenia, Linda Guiffre
"CABARET"
40′ Defever Passagemaker hull #3

It’s awfully good to hear from services are at last returning to this portion of the Northern Gulf coast, devastated almost three years ago by Hurricane Katrina!

Subject: N.O. West End to Cat Island
Cruising News: I recently returned from a round trip from New Orleans West End to Smuggler’s Cove at Cat Island.  I am happy to report that services are starting to return along the area, and we encountered prompt bridge openings at Highway 11 (Channel 13) and open RR bridges at Highway 11 (Channel 13) and the Rigolets RR (Channel 16).  Oak Harbor in Slidell (985-641-1044) has transient slips ($1.15/ft) with clean restrooms and showers.  There is fuel Monday through Saturday at Seabrook Marine on the Industrial Canal and every day (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Rigolets Marina on Geoghegan Canal across from Fort Pike.  The approach to Cat Island from the west is little changed since the storm, as far as I could tell.  Although the south eastern spit at Smuggler’s cove is now cut in half, the anchorage depth on the southern half was about 8-9 feet and off the mid-northern half was about 4-5 feet.   The beaches were also nice and the trout fishing great.
Thanks for the great site.
Tommy Diaz
M/V TOPAZ
Carver 3227

It’s awfully good to hear from services are at last returning to this portion of the Northern Gulf coast, devastated almost three years ago by Hurricane Katrina!

Subject: N.O. West End to Cat Island
Cruising News: I recently returned from a round trip from New Orleans West End to Smuggler’s Cove at Cat Island.  I am happy to report that services are starting to return along the area, and we encountered prompt bridge openings at Highway 11 (Channel 13) and open RR bridges at Highway 11 (Channel 13) and the Rigolets RR (Channel 16).  Oak Harbor in Slidell (985-641-1044) has transient slips ($1.15/ft) with clean restrooms and showers.  There is fuel Monday through Saturday at Seabrook Marine on the Industrial Canal and every day (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Rigolets Marina on Geoghegan Canal across from Fort Pike.  The approach to Cat Island from the west is little changed since the storm, as far as I could tell.  Although the south eastern spit at Smuggler’s cove is now cut in half, the anchorage depth on the southern half was about 8-9 feet and off the mid-northern half was about 4-5 feet.   The beaches were also nice and the trout fishing great.
Thanks for the great site.
Tommy Diaz
M/V TOPAZ
Carver 3227

Of course Captain had a good experience at Panama City Municipal Marina. After all, they are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Subject: City Marina in Panama City
Cruising News: Had good two days at City Marina in Panama City.  Service good. Concrete pilings in slips are now padded.
Gordon Fornell

Of course Captain had a good experience at Panama City Municipal Marina. After all, they are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Subject: City Marina in Panama City
Cruising News: Had good two days at City Marina in Panama City.  Service good. Concrete pilings in slips are now padded.
Gordon Fornell

I know that the entire cruising community will be saddened by the news of Louise Carlson's passing below. For many years now, I always looked forward to my annual visit to the Grand Mariner. Louise and I always got along very well, and she often took more than my share of time to bring me up to speed on what had been happening along the waters of Dog River. I will miss Louise very much, and know that many cruisers will join with me. Farewell, Louise; May the road rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, and may God hold you in the palm of his hand!

Hi Claiborne: 
I regret to inform you and the cruising community that Louise Carlson the owner and operator of The Grand Mariner Marina in Mobile has passed away. All who have cruised the Great loop or Mobile Bay will know of Louise and her friendly acceptance of cruisers who needed a spot to tie up or a great meal at the Mariner Restaurant over the dock store. We dined there last night and many spoke of Louise and her long tenure as owner of the Grand Mariner Marina.
Ted

I know that the entire cruising community will be saddened by the news of Louise Carlson's passing below. For many years now, I always looked forward to my annual visit to the Grand Mariner. Louise and I always got along very well, and she often took more than my share of time to bring me up to speed on what had been happening along the waters of Dog River. I will miss Louise very much, and know that many cruisers will join with me. Farewell, Louise; May the road rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, and may God hold you in the palm of his hand!

Hi Claiborne: 
I regret to inform you and the cruising community that Louise Carlson the owner and operator of The Grand Mariner Marina in Mobile has passed away. All who have cruised the Great loop or Mobile Bay will know of Louise and her friendly acceptance of cruisers who needed a spot to tie up or a great meal at the Mariner Restaurant over the dock store. We dined there last night and many spoke of Louise and her long tenure as owner of the Grand Mariner Marina.
Ted