Two good sets of recommendations!

I have heard good things about Hinckley, but we use Thunderbolt Marine. Their primary business is mega yacht type boats, but they do plenty of smaller boats too, including sailboats of every size and description. Their hourly rates are good, but a few notes:
1) they are very thorough, and don’t do things half baked, so those cheap hours mount quickly
2) they charge for everything: dockage, “yard fee” etc.
On the other hand 3) they will give you a very thorough work order/estimate in advance, which tends to estimate on the high side so that “surprises” are minimized unless something is discovered once they open ‘er up.
4) They stand behind their work with the highest degree of integrity.
Our most recent experience with them was pretty amazing in this day and age. The project manager for boats under 100′ is a younger guy named Phillip Howe. He was a QC guy (I think) with
Mainship prior to Thunderbolt, so is familiar with trawler and simpler craft. He will not BS you, and will steer you away from unnecessary or ill advised repairs and projects.
There is a “captain’s lounge” at the yard, and the marina across the basin, which is part of TMI, has very nice shower and laundry facilities.
George
“Incentive” Hatteras 56MY
currently anchored off Cocoa FL.. actually wore a T-shirt on the
flying bridge yesterday! Headed to Vero Beach later on.

I too heartily agree with Bill and his recommendation for Hinckley Yacht Services. We were at Hinckley off & on this past summer. We left Life’s2Short there for 5 weeks when we went back to MO to visit friends & family. We also had to return back to Hinckley after heading north when we had an elcectrical fire on board just south of Hilton Head. The guys in the yard are outstanding and really know their business!! I never met Dustin when I was there but you can call Mike Pranschke @ 912-629-2400, Mike is the Service Operations Manager. We also found that Hinckley had the best in-the-water transient rate of anyone in the Savannah area. Note that the tides are between 8 & 10 foot in that area, plan your approach at slack tide if at all possible, high slack tide if they are going to put you on the inside of the face dock!! Hinckley is not a true marina when it comes to all the bells and whistles a transient might need but they have clean showers and a great crew to support your
mechanical needs!! Tell them Life’s2Short sent you.
Brenda & Todd Lanning
M/V Life’s2Short

We stayed at Thunderbolt Marina last year. Very nice. The laundry and restrooms are air-conditioned. There are a few restaurants in the town of Thunderbolt and it is an easy run to grocery store (new Piggly Wiggly) and Home Depot. Bussing into Savannah is easy. Big yard across the harbor has excellent service. The marina delivers newspaper and Crispy Cream donuts to your boat every morning. Try to tie on inside of dock as current can be swift here and there are numerous crab pots in stream.
Isle of Hope a little further downstream is also nice. It is harder to get into town from here but they have a courtesy car. Marinas up the Savannah River are run by hotels and are expensive.
B. Deans
OCEANUS