Given the fixed docks, this is not a marina that's good for sailboats. We approached close to slack tide and still had a little trouble docking. Our boat was scratched by a piling after the stern was pushed wide by the current. Also, there were a few days of 20k wind which made it challenging to keep the fenders in line with the pilings despite having a fender board. Two days in a row we were up at 3am adjusting lines and fenders to keep the boat off the dock. It was a stressful visit.
The marina is very clean and well kept. Bathrooms are nice. There is one coin operated washer and dryer. The small village of Padanaram has a small but well stocked grocery store. Also don't miss the Little Moss restaurant. It's fabulous. On our last day the dockmaster asked us to move to the face dock which was disruptive. Not sure why because the slip we were originally in was unoccupied even by the time we left.
It's a good location with Whole Foods, Starbucks, Walgreens, Ace Hardware and multiple restaurants all just up the street. Very easy walking distance. The bathrooms and laundry are really nice. Laundry machines conveniently accept credit cards. Our slip was next to the pool and bbq grills. It can be noisy and the smoke from the grills blew into the open hatches of our boat. For a sailboat it was tricky to dock where they put us because a power boat was sticking out from the corner. Difficult both coming and going. Also be prepared for noise from the bridge construction.
We won't go back to Herreshoff Marine Museum marina. The docks are in bad condition. The dock hand does not have a VHF radio so he calls/texts you to schedule arrival. But when we arrived he wasn't there so we had to circle in the mooring field until he came. The slip is narrow with a large stone wall on one side. If there is a SW breeze it's menacing to bring your boat into that slip. We're a 43' sailboat and found it difficult to safely dock, especially since the dock hand didn't know how to secure a boat with a locking cleat hitch. The dock hand agreed to help us depart the next morning, but was a no show (we called twice and texted once). The wind was between 15-20k and without the help of local fishermen it would have been dangerous to leave that slip with just 2 people aboard.
This is an excellent marina for cruisers! The bathrooms, shower and laundry are well kept and clean. The courtesy car was always available when we needed it. Hamilton Marine is very close and well stocked with parts, etc. Wifi is strong even at the end of the dock. The only issue for some might be that it's a quarter mile walk from the end of the dock up to the main building. Extra kudos to Mark and Cam who work on the dock. They are professional, friendly and customer service oriented!
This is a beautiful little harbor. The marina is very small and easy to access. We didn't see the strong current that is prevalent at the marinas in Portsmouth. There isn't any wifi at the end of the dock. There is a single bathroom at the office area. It's well kept and clean. Even though the dockmaster wasn't there when we arrived, he was extremely communicative.
This marina has electricity and water but no other amenities. We couldn't even find a trash bin. But the price reflects the lack of services. The location is about 1 mile from all shops and restaurants but there is a water taxi you can take to town for $10.
This location is absolutely beautiful. Small protected cove, very close to Portland. The amenities are limited...no wifi, spotty cell service, bathrooms are quite a long walk. The residents of the island do not want marina guests to walk around. You are required to request a golf cart ride up to the Inn to use the pool. Chris is a very pleasant and customer service oriented manager. He does a great job! Also, skip the Diamond's Edge restaurant and eat at Crown Jewel instead where the food outstanding!
The location and price make this place a really good value. Beyond electric, water and trash there are no other amenities. The dock we tied up to was new but others have not been replaced. There is quite a bit of wake during the day from various ferries and commercial vessels, however it does subside at night. There is a pump out boat but I was told it didn't have the proper attachment to service sailboats. If you can deal with no restroom or pump out this is a good spot.
Another great experience at Hawthorne Cove. The work boat guided us in and we had plenty of help catching lines. The end of the dock is a new floating concrete addition to the pier. Very nice. Restrooms, laundry, recycling, proximity to town were all wonderful!
As mentioned in other reviews, the location of this marina is outstanding. It also looks like the restroom facilities are new. They are only open between 7a-7p so we were not able to use them. Also, we had an issue contacting the dockmaster on the radio for docking instructions. The range on her handheld radio is not very far. They put us at the very end of the linear dock and we found out that the current sucks your boat into the small cove at the end of the dock. We adjusted our approach to account for this and had no problems.
The marina staff (Allie & Roland) are extremely professional and competent. It's really impressive how efficiently this marina is managed. This is the perfect place to stage a trip through the Cape Cod Canal. Easy in and out. Highly recommended.
It's been mentioned that the current in the Piscataqua River is very strong. We arrived at slack tide and had no problem docking at the end of the dock. However, when the current increased our sailboat was rocking wildly. It was a rough night aboard. The dockmaster Dave was very helpful and friendly. He advised us on an ideal time to shove off given the current and proximity to the bridge.
Fore Points is only 2 years old so everything is brand new. The heads/showers are in temporary buildings but are very nice. The docks are wide and the cleats are movable so they can place them anywhere you want. The staff is extremely friendly helpful and attentive. Katherine and Eric are very hands on and go out of their way to make the experience at Fore Points a positive one. There is a bike/running path right outside the marina which provides a nice way to stroll to town. We spent a week at the marina during a tropical storm and found the docks to be very stable. The staff was available ahead of the storm to assist with additional lines/cleats. Lastly this marina is very quiet. We chose this spot vs. the marina in the heart of Portland because it's just far enough away from the buzz but close enough to walk when we wanted to partake in the fun. I highly recommend Fore Points!