Robinhood Marine Center - Yacht Builders, Brokerage, Marina - Georgetown, Maine

First, A Quick Rundown of What You'll Find

• Courtesy cars.
• Live bands in season.
• A visiting produce boat with fresh Maine goods.
• The Osprey Restaurant and Tavern
• A quarterly newsletter published by the marina staff.
• Marine Parts & Supplies - nearly warehouse size
• Gas & Diesel Fuel
• Ice
• Pump-out Facility
• One-person, private Restrooms & Showers
• Laundromat
• Shoreside Library - BUILDING!
• Gazebo
• 24/7 enclosed vending machines
• Rigging Shop
• Gallery at Riggs Cove - with chairs and tables
• On site Parking
• Full Time Uniformed Dock Staff
• Monitoring VHF Ch. 9
• Seaside Grill
• Slips and Moorings
• Dingy Dock
• Picnic tables

There's also a brokerage, lecture series, full boat yard support, and more.

You Only Have One Chance for a Good First Impression

Arriving at the dock, a uniformed dock attendant came swiftly to meet us. She was moving so fast I thought I might be doing something wrong! Instead, she grabbed the bow line to secure the boat while welcoming us to the marina. She was professional and friendly.

The next thing I noticed was how organized the dock was - all spill and convenience items neatly stowed ship-shape and Bristol ready.

I met the dockhand again at their booth overlooking the marina. The one with a loudspeaker so attendants can hear boat calls while working the docks. In my hand I carried a bag of trash. When asked where the dumpster was, the attendant offered to dispose of my trash for me. And, she said it with a smile.

The Facilities

• Robinhood hits another home run here. The first thing you'll notice is the landscaping, with purposely-planted shade trees, flowers and neatly trimmed grass.

• The walkways are curvaceous and decorated - reminding me of our visit to a Disney Campground some years ago.

• The showers and restrooms are private and clean - actually receiving a full thumbs up from my wife Kathleen and our guest Beth.

• When Robinhood says they have a library for guests, we are not talking a single bookshelf. We are talking an entire building!

• The Gallery building provides a rich history of the Robinhood Cove area and offers seats and tables to relax and chat with friends.

• Of course, no discussion is complete without mentioning the Osprey restaurant.

The One Thing I Wish For

No launching ramp - at Robinhood or nearby.

An Interesting Tidbit about the Journey to Robinhood Marina.

We arrived during the middle of the tide swing. Robinhood Cove connects to the open Sheepscot River via relatively small inlet. We could see the water churning as the waters of the Cove rushed into the inlet on the way to Sheepscot River. Motoring slowly, I felt the boat begin to twist - enough that I felt like something had reached out a grabbed me. I turned the wheel to compensate. We all felt it.

When I turned I saw it - a serious whirlpool brought about by the turbulent tide waters. One would not want to go overboard at that point!

It was then that I noticed how fast other boats were going through the relatively narrow inlet. Next time I go there, I may pick up speed a bit if we're in the middle of a tide change.

Conclusion