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Reviews from Cruisers (10) Review Marina

1. Whit Sibley -  December 13, 2013 - 4:28 pm

   I echo Jean’s comments. Our YC visits Twin Dolphins each year as part of our cruise schedule. A great destination, a great facility with excellent amenities, and a great staff.
   Whit Sibley

2. Jean Thomason -  November 30, 2013 - 9:47 am

   We come to Bradenton every year and always stay for a few days at Twin Dolphin Marina. Everything is top-notch and the staff are friendly and helpful. The only difference for us is that this year we extended our stay to a week!

3. R. Holiman -  August 21, 2013 - 2:03 pm

   Stayed here for a few days in 2010 on our way to the Bahamas. Really, really nice with a great location and great amenities. Only problem was we really didn’t want to leave!

4. Manuel Farinas -  May 19, 2013 - 10:04 am

   Stayed at Twin Dolphin again this year for three nights, and as usual, the service was outstanding. The pool and Jacuzzi is a welcome change of pace from cruising and the occasional anchoring out. This is a top-notch facility with very helpful and courteous staff. Will repeat next year.

5. Manuel -  June 3, 2012 - 12:56 pm

   We visited Twin Dolphins in April 2012. Stayed for three nights. Wonderful place, friendly and very helpful staff. The pool and grills were great! The staff brings the pump-out hose right to your boat while at your slip. Definitely will return in the future.

6. Claiborne -  January 4, 2011 - 3:10 pm

   We love Mattison’s Riverside! They have the best Happy Hour in town. $5.00 appetizers (mini pizza, Thai Chicken, Calamari, and lets nots forget the cheap beers! Plus you can’t beat the sunset view. The outside bar is great, and the fire pit looks really fun too, they have lots of heaters too for those cold winter nights. We love this place!!
   Laura

7. Mike Shanley -  May 22, 2010 - 3:06 pm

   Twin Dolphin is the Gulf Coast’s Premier Resort Marina
   nestled safely along the beautiful Manatee River in Bradenton, Fl. Twin Dolphin Marina is within walking distance of the historic downtown and it’s quaint Old Main Street. The historic Bradenton Pier, centrally located within the marina is host to the famed Mattison’s Riverside Restaurant where you can enjoy fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere . Come and enjoy the best of what the Gulf Coast has to offer.

   Amentities Include:

   Beautiful Heated Pool and Spa
   ♦ Concierge Services
   ♦ Fuel Dock (Diesel/Gas)
   ♦ 225 Wet Slips to 100 feet
   ♦ New Modern Floating Docks and Fixed Docks
   ♦ Pump Out at your Slip
   ♦ Laundry and Private Shower Facilities
   ♦ Yacht Brokerage on-site
   ♦ Upscale and Casual Waterfront Dining at Mattison’s Riverside Restaurant
   ♦ Full Time Harbormaster
   ♦ Annual, Transient and Overnight Slips
   ♦ Power 50/30 amp, Water, Cable TV and Phone at Each Slip
   ♦ Cable TV Package from Brighthouse Networks, Channels 2-99.
   ♦ Boat Clubs and Organized Groups Accommodated
   ♦ No Bridges to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
   ♦ Superior Business Center Services
   ♦ Fax and E-Mail Service Available
   ♦ High-speed Wireless Internet Service Available
   ♦ Rental Bikes Available
   ♦ Gas Grills Located at the Pool
   ♦ Poolside Parties
   ♦ Designated Clean Marina

8. Claiborne -  March 5, 2010 - 11:57 am

   Twin Dolphin is a great spot. I may be a live-aboard there by the end of the year. Great location and the near weekly street parties are lots of fun. The town hall and police department are right across the street making it pretty safe.
   Sharkey

9. Claiborne -  August 27, 2009 - 2:14 pm

   Good day, Claiborne;
   Yes, our web site address is the same [Twindolphinmarina.com]; we just did major cosmetics and remodeling. Especially noteworthy is our “Meet the Staff page, the virtual tour and links to weather, navigation/tide charts and others. I’m very proud of the staff we have here and what they have “built” here at TDM. Our club/transient specials are listed on our web site and Marinas.com.
   One of our new programs is the “Provisioning Program” with our Mattison’s Riverside restaurant. We have a grocery list to select from so that our boaters, or transients, can “grocery shop” without having to go out to a grocery store. The pricing is at or below grocery store prices, so it has been a big hit with our boaters – especially if they don’t have a lot of room to store food and groceries.
   Thank you again for your contributions to recreational and commercial boating this past year. From our “house” to yours’, have a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.
   Charlie and the Staff,
   Twin Dolphin Marina

10. Claiborne -  August 23, 2009 - 8:26 am

    Twin Dolphins Marina on the Manatee River in Bradenton, FL is offering a summer transient dockage special of $1.00 per foot. If you stay two nights or more, you also receive a voucher for 2 free cocktails or appetizer or dessert at Mattison’s Restaurant on site, plus a $20 discount off your dining check. A 50% admission discount is also offered for the aquarium/planetarium.
    Twin dolphins is a modern, clean marina with pool, laundry, showers and restaurant all on site. Chester (harbormaster)and Julie will do everything to ensure you have an enjoyable stay. Historic downtown is just a block away, and the marina will arrange for car rental at a discounted price if needed..
    Susann & Alan Syme
    M/V Kaos

    The summer adv / discounts for Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton is everything it says it is from our experiences in November ’08. Charlie and his staff are very friendly and accomodating, services excellent, and we found the accomodations, restaurant, and ammenities, etc. worth the stop.
    Regards, Tom & Sue
    m/v ‘Marbles’

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Reviews from Cruisers (3) Review Marina

1. John -  May 21, 2014 - 2:11 pm

   For the best price and best protected harbor try Riviera Dunes on the Manatee River, up from Twin Dolphins and Regatta Point.
   John
   SeaWing

   Reply to John
2. Craig Lewis -  March 19, 2014 - 1:13 pm

   Riviera Dunes in Palmetto up the Manatee river is fantastic. Well protected, pools, bar, restaurant and friendly staff.
   Craig Lewis

   Reply to Craig
3. Rob Homan -  May 27, 2013 - 9:59 pm

   While the basin that the marina is located in is not charted, it is not large enough to require charting. The shallowest water found is the channel to the basin. Our boat is in this marina and normally has over 15′ of water under her.

   The marina is well maintained, the staff is great, the location is excellent.

   Reply to Rob

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Reviews from Cruisers (15) Review Marina

1. Bob McKane -  July 16, 2017 - 8:41 pm

   Overall a nice place to stay. Doug the master is enthusiastic and helpful. Tied up along a T/A Pier. A couple of places are roped off.
   Marina only accepts reservations via Dockwa. No phone reservations accepted.

   [Editor’s note: Confirmed: reservations and registrations through Dockwa]

   Reply to Bob
2. Marc Holtzberg -  September 8, 2015 - 10:53 am

   Refilled my charter boat on Labor Day after a weekend of sailing/motoring. Very nice chap met us at the docks and helped us tie up and pump the diesel that we needed. They have remodeled their marina supply store and it is very nice.

   Reply to Marc
3. Tom -  May 12, 2014 - 2:13 pm

   For leaving your boat for a time, I would recommend the St Pete Municipal Marina. They have good security, are in calmer waters, and have lots of folks looking after boats with absentee owners.
   Stay safe,
   Tom

   Reply to Tom
4. John Walsh -  March 19, 2014 - 2:04 pm

   We are currently enjoying a weekend at St Pete Municipal with the Tampa Bay MTOA. 2 years ago we visited most of the local marinas looking for a place to spend the summer. There are a number of options but no other marina has the walk – to attractions as does St Pete.
   John Walsh

   Reply to John
5. Steve Willett -  March 19, 2014 - 2:03 pm

   We enjoyed St Pete municipal a few years ago. Lots of walkable places of interest to visit .
   Steve Willett
   Monk 36, Gumbo

   Reply to Steve
6. David -  March 10, 2014 - 11:07 am

   St. Petersburg Municipal Marina is great for liveaboards. It would be a 30-45 minute drive to downtown Tampa, depending on the time of day. The facilities are very good including laundry, showers, and a captains lounge. Vinoy Park and the Pier are on the same property. Downtown St. Pete is just across the street. There are resturants, clubs, gyms, banking, groceries, and parks within walking distance.
   I pay $505 for a liveaboard slip for boats under 34′. Larger slips are about $100 more up to 45 feet, I believe.
   Good Luck,
   David

   Reply to David
7. Jody Argo and Rick Schroath -  December 30, 2013 - 5:31 pm

   We couldn’t agree more! Downtown St. Petersburg, with its dozens of sidewalk cafés and its easy-going style, is the closest thing to a European city a cruiser will find on this side of the pond. And St. Pete Municipal Marina is right in the middle of it all! We’re as happy as clams to be here for the winter.
   Jody Argo and Rick Schroath
   and Skipper
   SV Moment of Zen

   Reply to Jody
8. Joe Pica -  December 23, 2013 - 11:54 am

   I am amazed by the number of cruiser “snow birds” that skip St. Petersburg Municipal Harbor (an approved live aboard marina) as a
   “wintering over” port. I guess 5 miles up Tampa Bay is too far off the GICW for many. We and several of our fellow cruisers have found it to be a real nugget of a spot to winter over. If you like beautiful waterfront parks with walking and bike paths and all the conveniences of City amenities you would like St Pete. You are in the easy walking middle of a vibrant big little City surrounded by an urban waterfront
   park hosting numerous activities all winter long. Easy walking to a major college, Nice Publix 3 blocks from marina, nice air park, the largest farmers market on the Gulf, Salvador Dali Museum, Chahuly Collection, glass hot shop, art classes, Mahaffey Center for the performing Arts, other museums, Vinoy Hotel, a large shopping Cinema Complex, many, many shops, quality restaurants, Sports arenas e.g. Tropicana field, 6 blocks from a major medical complex. etc., etc.etc. Permitted parking is available for marina residents convenient to the docks which are secured and have camera surveillance. Pump out boat service included in dock fee. 50 cent trolley ride to beaches. 20 car mins from Tampa International Airport.
   The only draw back is that it can fill so requires some planning.ahead although the Harborage is another option only 6 blocks away. St Pete also has many highly skilled boat repair technicians because of it’s history as a boat building venue. A Yard is available in Salt creek where major restorations can be done.
   The winters are very mild but water too cold for me to swim in but hardier souls do swim. Temperatures are very pleasant and cold snaps
   unusual. Oddly we puzzle over the lack of bugs that had us leaving the boat open many times? Not a complaint for sure
   Joe Pica
   Carolyn Ann GH N-37

   Reply to Joe
9. Bob Dersham -  October 2, 2013 - 11:18 am

   Suggest . . . the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. I have my boat there; they are great people and you are close to downtown and very easy to get to the Tampa Airport.
   Thank you,
   Bob Dersham

   Reply to Bob
10. Joe Pica -  June 13, 2013 - 9:42 am

    St Petersburg Municipal Marina is one of the largest liveaboard “approved” marina and offers the benefits of being downtown and within walking distance of all needs and attractions. Keyed gates secured with 24X seven security and cameras. dedicated parking,keyed mail box, etc, etc, etc,.. Plus the St Pete area is a wealth of boat technicians from it’s boat building eras.
    What is amazing about St Pete is it’s vibrancy of venues, events, shops, restaurants, museums, performing arts, sports venues, large
    hospitals college, etc., etc. etc. I all our cruising we find it to offer the most at a great price point.
    Joe Pica
    Carolyn Ann

    Reply to Joe
11. Rich Gano -  April 30, 2013 - 9:14 am

    Claiborne, as you asked a couple of weeks back as we left the Keys, here is a report on St Petersburg Municipal Marina. I will not recap the many published statistics on depths, etc, etc.
    For the newbie to this area (us), it is important to understand that the entrance is just a bit tricky because this marina is located in the Central Yacht Basin between North Yacht Basin (known locally as Vanoy Basin) and
    South Yacht Basin, where the St Petersburg Sailing Center is located. The St Petersburg Municipal Pier sticks a goodly distance into the bay between North (Vanoy) Basin and Central Basin; so there is little confusion about
    the difference in those two basins. However, there is a “Y” in the channel as you enter the breakwater to the Municipal Marina which allows a right turn into the Central Basin or a left turn into the South Basin . The
    sometimes noisy local small aircraft airport is located immediately to the south of South Basin but was not a nuisance at the transient pier.
    By the way, the “upside down pyramid” which has long marked the end of The Pier is scheduled to close very soon and be demolished. A grandiose design has been offered up, but there is local dissention about what will ultimately grace this area.
    Further confusing to the newbie is the fact that there are three separate landside marina entrances to their three separate piers (each with an office at the locked entrance), and the St Petersburg Yacht Club also resides in
    Central Basin. The long transient alongside-tie pier is part of the North Entrance pier structure and is quite easily seen once you enter central basin. You just angle right about 30 degrees to enter the basin from the
    breakwater entrance and then dogleg left about the same and look for the long pier.
    Piers are fixed, and tide is a couple of feet. We had to step on the handrails of our GB-42 at low tide in order to get aboard. Power was adequate with 30- and 50-Amp plugs at each pedestal. A limited cable TV service was provided, but was essentially worthless due to the poor channel selection.
    Potable water tasted good with no hint of sulfury “beach water” we encountered in marina near the coast.
    The northern portion of the basin is subject to the effects of easterly wind. We had some light winds from that direction during a part of our stay and rocked gently. Strong easterly winds might make it uncomfortable.
    We were not certain how long we intended to stay while awaiting a Gulf-crossing weather window to get home to the panhandle so we decided to sign up for a week, which the staff said they would rebate if we left early.
    The weekly “slip rate” before taxes for our Grand Banks 42 was $283.08 or a bit less than a dollar a foot per day while the daily rate was about 2 bucks a foot. Since my wife fell ill with a stomach virus and was out of commission for several days, we ended up needing at least four days, and by the fourth night, we were ahead of the game had we been paying a daily rate.
    The facilities are very clean and well kept without any of the usual rust and grime one so often sees in marina bathrooms and showers. The staff is friendly and helpful – ignore the one negative comment on Active Captain,
    except for the warning about strong easterly winds the guy must have encountered.
    We find the downtown area of this small city to be almost European in atmosphere with cultural, dining, and shopping clustered close to the marina amongst buildings in which people also live. The nearby college probably has something to do with this. In previous trips up and down the west coast of Florida, we were busy getting to some place else and ignored this place, but it really should be a destination in any trip by here. It is easily accessible from the ICW by simply running under the causeway of the Sunshine Skyway bridge to Bradenton and following the well-marked channel a few miles up the bay.
    There is a trolley stop outside the entrance to the north piers of the marina and 50 cents (25 for folks over 55) gets you aboard. It connects with buses which will run you all the way to the beaches and even Tarpon Springs.
    Rich Gano
    Calypso (GB42 Hull # 295)
    Panama City area, FL

    Reply to Rich
12. Steve Willett -  April 15, 2013 - 9:21 am

    We have stopped at St. Petersburg marina a couple of time and enjoyed it.
    Steve Willett
    Monk 36, Gumbo

    Reply to Steve
13. Paul Schlechter -  February 22, 2011 - 10:32 am

    Downtown St. Petersburg also has excellent dining along Central Avenue. Also to be seen is the new Dali Museum and if you like art glass the Chihuly museum. Many folks take the trolley around the downtown area to sightsee and it passes the Pier which has shops, an aquarium and a restaurant on the roof overlooking Tampa Bay.
    Paul Schlechter

    Reply to Paul
14. Nick -  August 31, 2010 - 2:08 pm

    In St. Petersburg proper I would recommend the St. Pete City Marina it is well secured and in the heart of down towns restaurants, bars, grocery, shops and museums. The St. Petersburg Yacht Club is in the same basin so if you have reciprocity that is a great option.
    Nick

    Reply to Nick
15. Gene and Sue Fuller -  August 27, 2009 - 2:29 pm

    We just spent three days at St. Pete. It was our first time there, so I cannot make any comparisons to previous facilities. The quality of the docks and services was fine. The restrooms and showers were in good condition. Friendly staff and easy access. Highly recommended.
    Best regards,
    Gene and Sue Fuller
    Punta Gorda, Florida

    Reply to Gene