We happened upon this place four years ago and it is now our first stop going south every time. Can't say enough good things about it. Pool, clubhouse, marina store, gas grills and picnic tables, courtesy car, great shelter from the wind, shore power and fuel. Haven't seen better. Well worth any extra cruising time to get there. As stated in a previous review, the place only gets better.
Dowry Creek was God send to us. We stopped for fuel and the dock help was great as the wind was not cooperating. After fueling my port battery decide to give it up. The owner let us stay on the fuel dock for the night then drove me to the Advance auto to get a new 8D battery, and helped me lift it out and the new one into position. It was clean and well kept and friendly. Well family run business. Kurt & Barbarajean Walter M/v “in HIS time”
I was going to second this but was beaten to it. So I’ll “third” it. It’s the best run little marina we’ve been to and have stayed there the last couple times through that area. Phil/Karen Barbalace 2009 Mainship 40 Seascape
I’ll second that. I have stayed there twice last year. Going north and than again on the south bound journey. Great people nice place. Will use it again. Jeff Irwin
We also want to add to the positive review of this marina. The new owners are slowly rebuilding the docks, including new electrical pedestals.All the freebies listed in other reviews are as stated. There is supposed to be an on-site restaurant opening up in summer 2019; the building it will be in looks wonderful. One of the reasons we liked it so much was the attention of Jeff and his crew. We ended up having an extra day there, due to weather, and we were safe and secure. This place will only get better as time passes.
Just left Dowry Creek Marina in Belhaven, NC, this am. Had a great visit and wanted to let everyone know. It’s well run, has brand new docks, free laundry, courtesy car, pool, and protected water. Jeff does a great job and we will definitely be back. Steve and Jane McKinney M/V Sabbatical 36′ Albin
We stopped at Dowry Creek Marina for an overnight in November 2018. Quiet, friendly a very comfortable overnight. Offered a loaner car for local transport. Good fuel. Pool. Clean bathrooms. Very nice. Great sunsets and sunrises. Thank you. Charles Rogers MV Great Adventure Ranger Tug 29
This marina is the best on the ICW. Car, pool and club house are outstanding. It is quite and clean. We had beer can chicken at the club house and watched captain Ron with fellow cruisers, a night to remember. If you need a place to rest for a couple days, this is the place. They make you feel at home. In the morning have coffee on the deck and watch the humming birds.
This is one of my favorite places to stop whenever heading north or south from Albemarle Plantation. Staff is very friendly and knowledgable. Rates are good and there is a lovely club house where there is a social hour each evening. Loaner cars are available for trips into town. Bill Denison
Dowry Creek was a fabulous place to be! We were there with about 12 other boats waiting for Hurricane Sandy to pass! Mary and her staff could not have been more cordial or helpful! We had full use if her pool house and were told we could stay there if we felt uncomfortable due to the storm. We had cocktails or a potluck every night and seminars during the day! We felt like kids at Camp Dowry Creek with Mary as our Camp counselor. There was a courtesy car to use for shopping or dining. The showers and laundry were clean. The sailors quickly became close friends and shared experiences! We made friends there who will be friends forever! Mary offered us all a great rate due to the storm. She and her staff went out of their way to make sure we were all safe and happy! We hope to return in May northbound! Happy to have chosen Dowry as a safe place. It is protected from NWE but in far enough that we hardly rocked! Tomfoolery
Without question, this marina is a must stop traveling N. or S. Excellent facility, fuel, clean restrooms, vehicle for your use, easy access with help from the staff. Great hospitality room for potluck meals. Relax! Captain Steve Atkinson
Dowry Creek is a nice stop. It is a clean friendly place. They supplied transportation for trips into town. The only downside to the Marina is, it is less then 30 miles south of the Alligator River anchorage and that is not a days run for me. On the way south, everyone stops at Alligator River mile 103, so they at least want to make it to Belhaven, before they stop. Edward Hart
Bob and Margaret Kaine- October 28, 2012 - 3:12 pm
We are here to tuck in out of the storm and Mary and her staff made us feel very welcome. No electrical outages. Mark and Diane from Chart Guides are here and they helped organize things to do including: Yoga; seminar classes and discussions. Great Happy Hours and Potlucks. We lucked out and are not bored.
We seldom go to marinas, and there are all sorts of places to anchor out nearby, but this time we stopped just to be sociable, and we were not disappointed. There is a lovely pool, important when the weather is hot, and Mary gathered up everyone she could and had a gathering in the party room, just because I mentioned we were hoping for some visiting. You can’t get more gracious than that. We will make this a must do stop in the future as so many of our friends have always done.
Cruising News: We all tend to remember things being bigger, prettier, and brighter than they really were. Then we return to the best marina on the entire AICW, Dowry Creek Marina, and we see that it is just as big, just as bright, and Mary is just as pretty as we remember. Maybe even more than we remember. And, suddenly, the whole world is a good place to be, and Dowry Creek Marina is the best place to be. Wherever we cruise, we always measure how far we are from Mary, and how long it will take to get back to her. Jim and Talley Powell
Doug Jacoby..m/v CHANGER- November 9, 2011 - 9:32 pm
Made our first visit to Dowry in early Nov 2011. Will be back. Mary is a great host, the folks around the marina are a good group of cruisers who enjoy what we are all doing. Clean facilities, good staff and a very nice daily social gathering each evening…quick easy on / off the AICW.
What can be said after everyone has already sung the praises of Dowry Creek Marina? Only that this is the nicest facility we have ever been to. This isn’t just a bunch of cruisers. It’s family. Every evening you miss the ones that sailed on, and welcome the ones that just came in. You search the room for familiar faces, and always smile when you see Mary. Jim and Talley Powell
It was our plan to put into Dowry Creek Marina, just a few miles further on the Pungo River, for fuel, water, and ice. We had discovered Dowry Creek Marina when it was new, a dozen years ago. It was started by Ted Klapperich and his family, but Ted died early in 2007 according to Maptech’s Embassy Guide. We had stopped there in 2008 and found things in disarray, but when we stopped on our way north last spring everyone was cheerful and helpful. The marina appeared to be doing well although there were a number of vacant slips. Captain Ted Jones
The slog to Belhaven wasn’t nearly as bad. We desperately needed ice and given the high loads we had put on the Yanmar, I thought it prudent to take on fuel from our ice provider. A call to River Forest Marina failed to elicit a response. My second call was to Dowry Creek, who responded immediately with full docking instructions. We went to Dowry Creek which I have preferred anyway. They had four bags left, I took them all. It was the fastest pit stop on record, and we were fueled and iced in jig time and outta there lickety split. Captain Ted Jones
We hunkered down at Dowry Creek Marina for four days (11/10-14/2009) to ride out the effects of a nasty front and Hurricane/TS Ida. Riding out the wind and rain was not bad, but it wasn’t pleasant either. The piers were almost ninety degrees to the wind so we were broadside to the wind which gave us a pretty good heel right in the slip. We enjoyed happy hours and pot luck dinners with transient boaters from England, Canada, and US. One night all the transient boaters and Mary, the Marina owner, piled in to several vehicles and went into Belhaven for dinner. We dined at George’s Sport & Oyster Bar. It’s nothing fancy, but obviously a locals’ favorite. Seafood was either grilled or steamed, no deep fry stuff here. Hatteras style clam chowder was steamy good, but a little heavy on the potato. The grilled Crab Cake sandwich was tasty, but not as spicy as I like it. We all returned to the boaters’ lounge for after dinner libations and conversation. A great place even in bad weather.
04-17-2010 We stopped off at Dowry Creek Marina 3 years ago and had a great time. We are returning to Virginia and decided to stop off at Dowry Creek again. We are the only transients here tonight. We took part in the nightly cocktail hour at the boaters lounge and we had a wonderful time. I do hope many more boaters will decide to stop off. We need to keep Marinas like this in business for future generations of boaters. If you want to have a memorable evening on your way up or down the ICW stop off at Dowry Creek Marina. You won’t regret it. Claudia Young
Stopped at Dowry Creek Marina on Feb. 18th. We were greeted at the fuel dock by 2 liveaboards who expertly tied our dock lines. Mary, the owner, was very friendly and made us feel very welcome. The water is turned off because of the cold weather and the diesel was $2.65 gallon. We were able to watch the Olympics that night due to great reception on the dock.
Mile 132.3 – Dowry Creek Marina. Another very friendly and delightful marina for either fuel or transient layover. Just a gorgeous club house and bar, swimming pool and first class showers and rest rooms. Owner Mary Klapperich keeps everything in shipshape condition. Easy markers in and out. Arnold
Stopped there three times. Last Fall stayed for two days due to weather. A wonderful place to be, so kind and caring. I share a minute at the site she has for her husband, a Vietnam Vet, and a Marine> I share this moment to reflect, alone with him, and what we shared. He will always be a “Brother In Arms”. May God Bless You Always. You will always be remembered. That is one reason why I return each year. See you soon————-
We’d heard so many positive things about Dowry Creek Marina that we stopped there mid-July 2009 for 1 night. Mary has fresh veggies in a basket on the porch –ours for the taking. We enjoyed the use of the pool, lounge, laundry facility, and courtesy car. It’s a long trip into Belhaven for groceries but a nice, restful stop.
I stopped at Dowry Creek Marina once on the way south last November and again on the way north in late April and early May. I stayed two days in November and a week on the way back in April and May. This is a truly great marina and a great place to relax for a couple of days. Mary, the owner, will let you use the marina’s SUV to go to town and stock up on supplies and visit the local restaurants. All she asks in exchange is that you put gas in the vehicle. Dowry Creek Marina has wonderful bathrooms. Each bathroom is complete with its own commode, sink and shower. No gang showers and slippery floors. They are also kept spotlessly clean. Friday night the marina hosts a get together with light snacks and drinks. The marina is extremely well protected. The approach to the marina is clearly marked and had 8’ at MLW plus the marina has around 8’ at MLW. I’m 47’ LOA with a 6’ DRAFT and the marina is very easy to get in to, out of and visit the fuel dock. Dowry Creek has diesel, gasoline and a pump-out station at their fuel dock. They do enough volume to maintain fresh fuel. There are plenty of liveaboards, seasonal renters and dockhands to help you get into your slip anytime of the day or night. Due to severe head winds and thunderstorms I was late getting to Dowry Creek in April. I called the marina and told them that I could not make it there by 6:00pm and it would be closer to 7:30pm. They told me that would be fine and had four people at the slip when I got there around 8:00pm in the dark. They helped handle my lines in a 20 knot crosswind. That was much appreciated. The marina is also very pet friendly. As a bonus I caught the largest Speckled Trout of my life fishing from the bow of my boat while in the slip. I recommend this marina without hesitation. Regards, Ric Seymour
We were at this marina in 2008. Very nice people. Loaner car available. Great, great, great boaters lounge and pool. The photos they have in the lounge of the hurricane that hit NC a few years back really ripped up their docks, so the message was clear……..don’t get caught there in strong SE winds. We planned to stay one night and ended up enjoying the place so much we stayed for 3 nights just because it was so relaxing. Rick
Dear Claiborne, I just spent a pleasant evening in the Dowry Creek Marina. It is still a premier facility with excellent service. To enter you turn to 350 from marker 15 and it heads you directly into their channel. The charts can be misleading because they show a sand bar to port. The channel is 7 to 8 feet. The fuel and pumpout stations are direclty ahead on your starboard side. When heading to a slip stay close to the docks because the opposite side in the grasses is shallow. I wish we could have stayed longer to use the pool and clubhouse. We did take advantage of the free loaner car to drive to Belhaven. Incidentally, their website quotes $ 0.75 per foot but it is now $1.25, but that is a good value considering the facility and prices elsewhere. Best regards, David Hughes Expedition
We had a wonderful stay ay Dowry Creek Marina just north of Belhaven. It is right on the ICW, has a peaceful setting and the dock crew were waiting for us at 7pm. Others who were staying there said they never miss it. We later saw their full page ad in Skipper Bob. Wish we could stay longer. Thanks, Steve and Ruth Schmedtje aboard m/v Mistress on the endless Alligator River NC
For those of you heading heading north past Beaufort, NC a really nice stop at MM131.7 is Dowry Creek. Beautiful clean restrooms/showers, swimming pool waiting for inspection to open, lounge suitable for looper get togethers, car available for provisioning, tennis courts and $1.25 per foot. Fuel is available. This is run by the recent widow of a U S Marine. Bob & Joyce Mueller Sheetless
Subject: Dowry Creek Marina Cruising News: Just a note on Dowry Creek Marina on the Pungo River in NC. We stayed at Dowry Creek on our trip north last year. We were shocked after staying four days to be told that their rates were not the $0.75 / foot that was advertised on their website, but instead were $1.50/ ft. We paid without comment. This year as we PASS Dowry Creek I checked their website again and sure enough they are still advertising at $0.75 /ft. I also run a business and I would never let my prices on lumber I sell online be wrong for a Minuit never mind for a year. I felt entrapped last year and will never return. This is a very bad business practice which I can not help but wonder if it is deliberate. Joe Pooler
Dowry Creek Marina is my home tonight. Nice facilitises and staff. Not Cable but wifi works great. Captains lounge with nightly get together. They also have courtesy car for trip to Belhaven for food or booze or….Channel depth coming in was between 8 to 10 feet. Docks are fixed with about 15 foot finger piers so some lines will have to be hung on pilings. Southeast to south, souteast is exposed but other directions are protected. They also have a pool and seem to have tennis courts. Chairs and patios for lounging in the sunny weather. Small ships store. Easy in and easy out from ICW. Take it easy have a nice evening. Pat Banyas s/v Marguerite
Kismet arrived at Dowry Creek Marina @ MM132 on the NC ICW today just in time to beat the high winds. If you have not been before this is a nice place with a friendly staff. The daily rate is $1.50 plus electric, diesel fuel is $1.99 if you stay at the marina and $2.09 if you do not. Gas is $2.38 and $2.48 and they have a courtesy car available for up to 90 minutes. Jim & Lisa Favors – Kismet Fathom 40
I agree. We have been to Dowery Creek several times and enjoyed each time. Very friendly people. Nice Captains Lounge, very clean facilities, barbeque and grill area. Our Power Squadron has been there for rendezvous several times. Rick Johnson Rick ‘N Roll II
While I generally anchor out most of the time, Dowry Creek is a ‘must-stop’ for me. Aside from being one of the friendliest marinas on the AICW, they are well protected . . . . Mary is doing a great job of maintaining the facilities and ambiance that makes Dowry Creek such a great stop. I have left EOS there twice for a month and, in addition to being very reasonable, found that she was very well looked after. An additional plus is that if you need a good mechanic, Capt. Frank Smith is on of the finest around. ….anyone know of a good place north of the 32 parallel? Bill & Ana Knot Tide Down
Dowry Creek Marina (MM131) With all due respect to the recent post, this marina is not well protected from the south and south east (also possibly east) as the photos in their scrap book will attest. Other than this, I couldn’t agree more with anyone who praises the facility and people at DCM. It is super friendly, laid back and oh so comfortable. Just watch the forecast and choose another spot if winds are predicted to be strong from the SE quadrant. Rick Parish s/v Sea Breeze
Reviews from Cruisers (35)
We happened upon this place four years ago and it is now our first stop going south every time. Can't say enough good things about it. Pool, clubhouse, marina store, gas grills and picnic tables, courtesy car, great shelter from the wind, shore power and fuel. Haven't seen better. Well worth any extra cruising time to get there. As stated in a previous review, the place only gets better.
Dowry Creek was God send to us. We stopped for fuel and the dock help was great as the wind was not cooperating. After fueling my port battery decide to give it up. The owner let us stay on the fuel dock for the night then drove me to the Advance auto to get a new 8D battery, and helped me lift it out and the new one into position. It was clean and well kept and friendly.
Well family run business.
Kurt & Barbarajean Walter
M/v “in HIS time”
I was going to second this but was beaten to it. So I’ll “third” it. It’s the best run little marina we’ve been to and have stayed there the last couple times through that area.
Phil/Karen Barbalace
2009 Mainship 40 Seascape
I’ll second that. I have stayed there twice last year. Going north and than again on the south bound journey. Great people nice place. Will use it again.
Jeff Irwin
We also want to add to the positive review of this marina. The new owners are slowly rebuilding the docks, including new electrical pedestals.All the freebies listed in other reviews are as stated. There is supposed to be an on-site restaurant opening up in summer 2019; the building it will be in looks wonderful. One of the reasons we liked it so much was the attention of Jeff and his crew. We ended up having an extra day there, due to weather, and we were safe and secure. This place will only get better as time passes.
Just left Dowry Creek Marina in Belhaven, NC, this am. Had a great visit and wanted to let everyone know. It’s well run, has brand new docks, free laundry, courtesy car, pool, and protected water. Jeff does a great job and we will definitely be back.
Steve and Jane McKinney
M/V Sabbatical
36′ Albin
We stopped at Dowry Creek Marina for an overnight in November 2018. Quiet, friendly a very comfortable overnight. Offered a loaner car for local transport. Good fuel. Pool. Clean bathrooms. Very nice. Great sunsets and sunrises. Thank you.
Charles Rogers
MV Great Adventure
Ranger Tug 29
I’ve been quite happy with the marina and staff.
Josh Johnson S/V Temora
This marina is the best on the ICW. Car, pool and club house are outstanding. It is quite and clean. We had beer can chicken at the club house and watched captain Ron with fellow cruisers, a night to remember. If you need a place to rest for a couple days, this is the place. They make you feel at home.
In the morning have coffee on the deck and watch the humming birds.
This is one of my favorite places to stop whenever heading north or south from Albemarle Plantation. Staff is very friendly and knowledgable. Rates are good and there is a lovely club house where there is a social hour each evening. Loaner cars are available for trips into town.
Bill Denison
Dowry Creek was a fabulous place to be! We were there with about 12 other boats waiting for Hurricane Sandy to pass! Mary and her staff could not have been more cordial or helpful! We had full use if her pool house and were told we could stay there if we felt uncomfortable due to the storm. We had cocktails or a potluck every night and seminars during the day! We felt like kids at Camp Dowry Creek with Mary as our Camp counselor. There was a courtesy car to use for shopping or dining. The showers and laundry were clean. The sailors quickly became close friends and shared experiences!
We made friends there who will be friends forever! Mary offered us all a great rate due to the storm. She and her staff went out of their way to make sure we were all safe and happy! We hope to return in May northbound!
Happy to have chosen Dowry as a safe place. It is protected from NWE but in far enough that we hardly rocked!
Tomfoolery
Without question, this marina is a must stop traveling N. or S. Excellent facility, fuel, clean restrooms, vehicle for your use, easy access with help from the staff. Great hospitality room for potluck meals. Relax!
Captain Steve Atkinson
Dowry Creek is a nice stop. It is a clean friendly place. They supplied transportation for trips into town. The only downside to the Marina is, it is less then 30 miles south of the Alligator River anchorage and that is not a days run for me. On the way south, everyone stops at Alligator River mile 103, so they at least want to make it to Belhaven, before they stop.
Edward Hart
We are here to tuck in out of the storm and Mary and her staff made us feel very welcome. No electrical outages. Mark and Diane from Chart Guides are here and they helped organize things to do including: Yoga; seminar classes and discussions. Great Happy Hours and Potlucks. We lucked out and are not bored.
We seldom go to marinas, and there are all sorts of places to anchor out nearby, but this time we stopped just to be sociable, and we were not disappointed. There is a lovely pool, important when the weather is hot, and Mary gathered up everyone she could and had a gathering in the party room, just because I mentioned we were hoping for some visiting. You can’t get more gracious than that. We will make this a must do stop in the future as so many of our friends have always done.
We totally agree! Dowry Creek is our favorite stopping place and Mary and her crew are tops!
Marshall and Patty Timm
Cruising News:
We all tend to remember things being bigger, prettier, and brighter than they really were. Then we return to the best marina on the entire AICW, Dowry Creek Marina, and we see that it is just as big, just as bright, and Mary is just as pretty as we remember. Maybe even more than we remember. And, suddenly, the whole world is a good place to be, and Dowry Creek Marina is the best place to be. Wherever we cruise, we always measure how far we are from Mary, and how long it will take to get back to her.
Jim and Talley Powell
Made our first visit to Dowry in early Nov 2011. Will be back. Mary is a great host, the folks around the marina are a good group of cruisers who enjoy what we are all doing. Clean facilities, good staff and a very nice daily social gathering each evening…quick easy on / off the AICW.
What can be said after everyone has already sung the praises of Dowry Creek Marina? Only that this is the nicest facility we have ever been to. This isn’t just a bunch of cruisers. It’s family. Every evening you miss the ones that sailed on, and welcome the ones that just came in. You search the room for familiar faces, and always smile when you see Mary.
Jim and Talley Powell
It was our plan to put into Dowry Creek Marina, just a few miles further on the Pungo River, for fuel, water, and ice. We had discovered Dowry Creek Marina when it was new, a dozen years ago. It was started by Ted Klapperich and his family, but Ted died early in 2007 according to Maptech’s Embassy Guide. We had stopped there in 2008 and found things in disarray, but when we stopped on our way north last spring everyone was cheerful and helpful. The marina appeared to be doing well although there were a number of vacant slips.
Captain Ted Jones
The slog to Belhaven wasn’t nearly as bad. We desperately needed ice and given the high loads we had put on the Yanmar, I thought it prudent to take on fuel from our ice provider. A call to River Forest Marina failed to elicit a response. My second call was to Dowry Creek, who responded immediately with full docking instructions. We went to Dowry Creek which I have preferred anyway. They had four bags left, I took them all. It was the fastest pit stop on record, and we were fueled and iced in jig time and outta there lickety split.
Captain Ted Jones
We hunkered down at Dowry Creek Marina for four days (11/10-14/2009) to ride out the effects of a nasty front and Hurricane/TS Ida. Riding out the wind and rain was not bad, but it wasn’t pleasant either. The piers were almost ninety degrees to the wind so we were broadside to the wind which gave us a pretty good heel right in the slip.
We enjoyed happy hours and pot luck dinners with transient boaters from England, Canada, and US. One night all the transient boaters and Mary, the Marina owner, piled in to several vehicles and went into Belhaven for dinner. We dined at George’s Sport & Oyster Bar. It’s nothing fancy, but obviously a locals’ favorite. Seafood was either grilled or steamed, no deep fry stuff here. Hatteras style clam chowder was steamy good, but a little heavy on the potato. The grilled Crab Cake sandwich was tasty, but not as spicy as I like it. We all returned to the boaters’ lounge for after dinner libations and conversation.
A great place even in bad weather.
04-17-2010
We stopped off at Dowry Creek Marina 3 years ago and had a great time. We are returning to Virginia and decided to stop off at Dowry Creek again. We are the only transients here tonight. We took part in the nightly cocktail hour at the boaters lounge and we had a wonderful time. I do hope many more boaters will decide to stop off. We need to keep Marinas like this in business for future generations of boaters. If you want to have a memorable evening on your way up or down the ICW stop off at Dowry Creek Marina. You won’t regret it.
Claudia Young
Stopped at Dowry Creek Marina on Feb. 18th. We were greeted at the fuel dock by 2 liveaboards who expertly tied our dock lines. Mary, the owner, was very friendly and made us feel very welcome. The water is turned off because of the cold weather and the diesel was $2.65 gallon. We were able to watch the Olympics that night due to great reception on the dock.
Mile 132.3 – Dowry Creek Marina. Another very friendly and delightful marina for either fuel or transient layover. Just a gorgeous club house and bar, swimming pool and first class showers and rest rooms. Owner Mary Klapperich keeps everything in shipshape condition. Easy markers in and out.
Arnold
Stopped there three times. Last Fall stayed for two days due to weather. A wonderful place to be, so kind and caring. I share a minute at the site she has for her husband, a Vietnam Vet, and a Marine> I share this moment to reflect, alone with him, and what we shared. He will always be a “Brother In Arms”. May God Bless You Always. You will always be remembered. That is one reason why I return each year.
See you soon————-
We’d heard so many positive things about Dowry Creek Marina that we stopped there mid-July 2009 for 1 night. Mary has fresh veggies in a basket on the porch –ours for the taking. We enjoyed the use of the pool, lounge, laundry facility, and courtesy car. It’s a long trip into Belhaven for groceries but a nice, restful stop.
I stopped at Dowry Creek Marina once on the way south last November and again on the way north in late April and early May. I stayed two days in November and a week on the way back in April and May. This is a truly great marina and a great place to relax for a couple of days. Mary, the owner, will let you use the marina’s SUV to go to town and stock up on supplies and visit the local restaurants. All she asks in exchange is that you put gas in the vehicle. Dowry Creek Marina has wonderful bathrooms. Each bathroom is complete with its own commode, sink and shower. No gang showers and slippery floors. They are also kept spotlessly clean. Friday night the marina hosts a get together with light snacks and drinks.
The marina is extremely well protected. The approach to the marina is clearly marked and had 8’ at MLW plus the marina has around 8’ at MLW. I’m 47’ LOA with a 6’ DRAFT and the marina is very easy to get in to, out of and visit the fuel dock. Dowry Creek has diesel, gasoline and a pump-out station at their fuel dock. They do enough volume to maintain fresh fuel. There are plenty of liveaboards, seasonal renters and dockhands to help you get into your slip anytime of the day or night. Due to severe head winds and thunderstorms I was late getting to Dowry Creek in April. I called the marina and told them that I could not make it there by 6:00pm and it would be closer to 7:30pm. They told me that would be fine and had four people at the slip when I got there around 8:00pm in the dark. They helped handle my lines in a 20 knot crosswind. That was much appreciated. The marina is also very pet friendly.
As a bonus I caught the largest Speckled Trout of my life fishing from the bow of my boat while in the slip.
I recommend this marina without hesitation.
Regards,
Ric Seymour
We were at this marina in 2008. Very nice people. Loaner car available. Great, great, great boaters lounge and pool. The photos they have in the lounge of the hurricane that hit NC a few years back really ripped up their docks, so the message was clear……..don’t get caught there in strong SE winds. We planned to stay one night and ended up enjoying the place so much we stayed for 3 nights just because it was so relaxing.
Rick
Dear Claiborne,
I just spent a pleasant evening in the Dowry Creek Marina. It is still a premier facility with excellent service. To enter you turn to 350 from marker 15 and it heads you directly into their channel. The charts can be misleading because they show a sand bar to port. The channel is 7 to 8 feet. The fuel and pumpout stations are direclty ahead on your starboard side. When heading to a slip stay close to the docks because the opposite side in the grasses is shallow. I wish we could have stayed longer to use the pool and clubhouse. We did take advantage of the free loaner car to drive to Belhaven. Incidentally, their website quotes $ 0.75 per foot but it is now $1.25, but that is a good value considering the facility and prices elsewhere.
Best regards,
David Hughes
Expedition
We had a wonderful stay ay Dowry Creek Marina just north of Belhaven. It is right on the ICW, has a peaceful setting and the dock crew were waiting for us at 7pm. Others who were staying there said they never miss it. We later saw their full page ad in Skipper Bob. Wish we could stay longer.
Thanks,
Steve and Ruth Schmedtje
aboard m/v Mistress on the endless Alligator River NC
For those of you heading heading north past Beaufort, NC a really nice stop at MM131.7 is Dowry Creek. Beautiful clean restrooms/showers, swimming pool waiting for inspection to open, lounge suitable for looper get togethers, car available for provisioning, tennis courts and $1.25 per foot. Fuel is available. This is run by the recent widow of a U S Marine.
Bob & Joyce Mueller
Sheetless
Subject: Dowry Creek Marina
Cruising News: Just a note on Dowry Creek Marina on the Pungo River in NC. We stayed at Dowry Creek on our trip north last year. We were shocked after staying four days to be told that their rates were not the $0.75 / foot that was advertised on their website, but instead were $1.50/ ft. We paid without comment. This year as we PASS Dowry Creek I checked their website again and sure enough they are still advertising at $0.75 /ft. I also run a business and I would never let my prices on lumber I sell online be wrong for a Minuit never mind for a year. I felt entrapped last year and will never return. This is a very bad business practice which I can not help but wonder if it is deliberate.
Joe Pooler
Dowry Creek Marina is my home tonight. Nice facilitises and staff. Not Cable but wifi works great. Captains lounge with nightly get together. They also have courtesy car for trip to Belhaven for food or booze or….Channel depth coming in was between 8 to 10 feet. Docks are fixed with about 15 foot finger piers so some lines will have to be hung on pilings. Southeast to south, souteast is exposed but other directions are protected. They also have a pool and seem to have tennis courts. Chairs and patios for lounging in the sunny weather. Small ships store. Easy in and easy out from ICW.
Take it easy have a nice evening.
Pat Banyas
s/v Marguerite
Kismet arrived at Dowry Creek Marina @ MM132 on the NC ICW today just in time to beat the high winds. If you have not been before this is a nice place with a friendly staff. The daily rate is $1.50 plus electric, diesel fuel is $1.99 if you stay at the marina and $2.09 if you do not. Gas is $2.38 and $2.48 and they have a courtesy car available for up to 90 minutes.
Jim & Lisa Favors – Kismet
Fathom 40
I agree. We have been to Dowery Creek several times and enjoyed each time. Very friendly people. Nice Captains Lounge, very clean facilities, barbeque and grill area. Our Power Squadron has been there for rendezvous several times.
Rick Johnson
Rick ‘N Roll II
While I generally anchor out most of the time, Dowry Creek is a ‘must-stop’ for me. Aside from being one of the friendliest marinas on the AICW, they are well protected . . . . Mary is doing a great job of maintaining the facilities and ambiance that makes Dowry Creek such a great stop. I have left EOS there twice for a month and, in addition to being very reasonable, found that she was very well looked after. An additional plus is that if you need a good mechanic, Capt. Frank Smith is on of the finest around. ….anyone know of a good place north of the 32 parallel?
Bill & Ana
Knot Tide Down
Dowry Creek Marina (MM131) With all due respect to the recent post, this marina is not well protected from the south and south east (also possibly east) as the photos in their scrap book will attest. Other than this, I couldn’t agree more with anyone who praises the facility and people at DCM. It is super friendly, laid back and oh so comfortable. Just watch the forecast and choose another spot if winds are predicted to be strong from the SE quadrant.
Rick Parish
s/v Sea Breeze