FOCUS ON Atlantic Yacht Basin, Great Bridge, VA, AICW Statute Mile 12
One of our many loyal sponsors, Atlantic Yacht Basin is located just south of the Great Bridge lock and bridge at Mile Marker 12. AYB’s continuing and longtime support of SSECN helps keep our site free to all users. This background material about their business and detailed information about their products and services is provided so that you our reader will be fully and better informed. Our thanks to Atlantic Yacht Basin for their participation with and sponsorship of “The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net.”
ATLANTIC YACHT BASIN
HISTORY AND REPUTATION DEFINE THIS ICONIC FACILITY
You can’t buy it, you can only build it: history and reputation. Atlantic Yacht Basin has been serving boaters, at the same location, for nearly 80 years. And over nearly eight decades, AYB has earned the reputation as a premier boat repair and storage facility on the eastern seaboard.
In order to understand who we are today, it helps to understand AYB’s history.
We are a third generation family owned business. Our founder, D. Dunwoody Atkinson founded AYB in 1936. The familiar bascule bridge, Great Bridge Bridge, over Mile 12 of the ICW—within walking distance to AYB– wasn’t built yet.
While convenience for boaters was an immediate advantage, it is the professional approach to boaters’ needs and attention to detail that is the foundation of AYB’s reputation.
Today, we are known as a facility that has the experience and expertise to carry out all facets of boat maintenance and repairs, and strategically located on the fresh water side (non-tidal) of the Great Bridge Locks.
We realize that your boat is a major investment. We believe that protecting your investment is as important as maintaining it. That’s why we committed to creating the largest undercover, freshwater boat storage facility on the eastern seaboard.
Today we offer 158,000 square feet of undercover storage. The vessels undercover here range from classic wood boats to contemporary, ocean going yachts. We have the height, width and depth to protect virtually any boat. In addition we are staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. There is always a Dockmaster on duty and AYB is a secure yard.
Not only have we been in business at the same location for nearly 80 years, we have professionals who have been taking care of all facets of repairs and maintenance for decades. Some of our professionals have built that experience at AYB, others have come on board, bringing with them their own reputation of excellence.
The fact is, no matter what brings boat owners to AYB, our professional staff has seen it before and has the ability, skills and work ethic that exceeds expectations.
Our mechanics, carpenters, paint and varnish crew, fiberglass team, re-fit specialists, detailing experts and supervisory staff are all committed to perfection. It seems to be in our DNA.
And, as an extra level of commitment to excellence, the work is monitored by a project manager.
We understand that when you are traveling the ICW, convenience is one of the factors that determines your stopping points.
AYB isn’t just close to the Waterway. We are ON the waterway. When you get to Mile 12 and Great Bridge, you are at the docks of AYB. You immediately notice our organized, clean and busy yard. You can’t miss our 1,700 linear feet of outdoor dockage space and fueling dock. And even if you just stop for fuel, you can take a breather, and relax in one of our comfortable Adirondack chairs, strategically located right at our docks. It’s a great spot to watch the ICW traffic going by, see some of the work being done at AYB or talk to other cruisers.
And if your plans call for an extended stay here, you will benefit from our convenient location that extends beyond the ICW.
We are within walking distance to a full service grocery store, many restaurants, a hospital is nearby, rental car facilities, hardware stores, banks, propane fill facility, you can catch up on your laundry at AYB, there is a wonderful park and walking path directly on the opposite side of the ICW from AYB, and much more.
If you need to catch a flight, Norfolk International Airport is a 20-minute ride from us.
We have a fully stocked marine store. It is staffed by professionals who not only have years of experience…they are boaters too. If we need to order parts for you, we know what you are looking for, we know where to find it, and we can often expedite the order if necessary.
If your boat repair or refit needs extend beyond what we offer…remember…we are in the heart of the largest maritime community in the world with the U.S. Navy in our back yard and a very active and progressive port supporting a wide range of industries. AYB has the support of qualified subcontractors from the local region that know boats. No matter what your needs for repair, refit or manufacture of a specialty part, we know who to trust to meet the specs and exceed your expectations.
We are understandably proud of our work and our reputation. We are honored to have earned the trust of boat owners like you. Telling you about us is one thing—seeing who we are, what we do, and hearing from our clients is another.
We invite you to click on our Video Archive section of our website. We recently initiated this aspect of our proof of performance. You will find a growing number of videos that show you what we do, what we offer, and see and hear why we are a trusted boat repair, refit and storage facility on the ICW.
Atlantic Yacht Basin has earned the trust of literally thousands of boat owners over the years. We would be honored to earn your trust too.
Please give us a call toll-free at (800) 992-2489 or local at (757) 482-2141 or drop us a line at info@atlanticyachtbasin.com to get a free quote or to find out more about our comprehensive range of marine services.
If you are outside of the area, we can also help arrange transport to our facility or recommend a licensed captain to bring the boat in for you via the Waterway.
Also, please check us out at www.atlanticyachtbasin.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for interesting updates, tips, and specials going on at the Yard.
Enjoy the rest of your Spring and looking forward to seeing you soon!
Your Friends at AYB
Click Here To View the VA to NC Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Atlantic Yacht Basin
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Atlantic Yacht Basin
Comments from Cruisers (3)
I would like to know how we could get the locks open to assist the lagoon as well, and what is the resoning behind the lock system?
I am a Merritt Island resident. I’ve lived here since I was eleven years old. I would just like to know what we can do as a community to get the Port Canaveral locks opened on a consistent basis, the purpose of which would be to clean our rivers and breathe life back into our estuary. Thank you for any advice.
I agree, I think opening up the Lock would benefit the Lagoon. Unfortunately you have to look at the reason it was put there the first place. before the Lock there was a lot of sand movement in the inlet and the Subs were running aground. The ACOE in their infinite wisdom decided to stop the water flow and thereby causing the sand bars to stabilize. this fixed the problem in the inlet but I believe like you caused problems in the Indian and Banana Rivers. I’d love to see some kind of “flush” to take place on a regular basis, even if it’s south of the inlet with a huge pipe or something.