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May 2020 by Jay C.
I was a new customer for the 2019 season and after years of trailering from my home to public ramps, I love the convenience of Essex Marina's valet service. The service makes boating hassle-free joy, and keeps my hull and motor out of the water when they are not being used in the summer and safe/dry in the winter. And the Essex River is a great point of departure for Crane and Wingaersheek Beaches, Plum Island and all the attractive shores of Ipswich Bay. This off-season the shop installed a new outboard and helped me sell the old one. While I have read the earlier reviews and sympathize with the challenge of change, I have had nothing but clear and helpful interactions with owner Curt and his capable mechanics, Dave and Austin.
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May 2019 by Bernie L.
I have held a slip at the Essex Marina for greater than 25 years. I have been a good citizen, did not cause any problems and paid all my bills on time. The lease was renewed annually. Each year in March we would receive a notice to renew the lease and what the charges are. This year in early March I received a letter stating that this letter is a formal notice that your boat space will not be renewed for this year 2019. This decision is final. There was no explanation. I contacted the owners of the Marina and received a reply that they wanted customers who used all their services. No one at the Marina had ever mentioned this to me previously. In fact a few years ago when I asked them to repair my boat the reply I received was that they were very busy and it may take a few weeks. I asked then if I could arrange for another mechanic from outside to come to repair it and I was told that would be great. I understand from a business perspective they wish to maximize their income. And I do not have a problem with that. If I had been presented with the option that if I wished to continue at the Marina I would have to utilize all their services. I probably would have agreed considering how long I had been at that marina. But I was never given that option.There are more boats than boat slips available on the North Shore. This notice came at a time when boat slips are already booked for the season. My case is very similar to that described on this page by John C in 2015. And I am sure we are not the only ones so treated.I hope this review will make other boaters at the Marina or those looking at the Essex Marian aware of what happened to me and what could happen to them.Now at age 78 I must learn to navigate an entirely different area of water after I had learned many of the nuances of the Essex River.
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October 2018 by Patty Racca
So much fun.
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May 2016 by Michelle B.
Promised new docks water at the docks bathrooms ....nothing for 3 years Parking at the marina is difficult at best - with Essex river cruise, SUP customers and now a new restaurant forget finding a place for your car . The customer service is poor, the owner is bitingly short and clearly unhappy with having to interact in any way with his customers . Interactions are always uncomfortable. Our family loathed seeing the owner or his father in law as they would glare scowl or bark at us to move our car if it was parked in a spot they deemed wrong that particular day. We have never experienced customer service that was so angry and negative for no apparent reason. There are more people with boats than slips on the north shore and they know they have a monopoly. It's a shame really because boating and family time should be pleasant- not so much as Essex marina.
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June 2015 by John L.
I'm a little perplexed by the most of the previous reviewers -we've had our boat at Essex Marina for two years now. Curt the owner has been VERY responsive and has helped me (as a new boat owner) on several occasions. We use the valet service (they will put in and take out the boat for us) - we've never waited more than a few minutes to be taken over to the launch, and Curt is always helpful.
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May 2015 by John C.
Sadly I must report that after 18 years at Essex River Marina, the new owners have informed us that our "boat space lease will not be renewed". We received this notice the last week of March in a one-sentence letter - no call, no options - at a time when every other marine is fully booked. We immediately called Essex River Marina many times and after a week of trying we finally got a call back. We were told that because we do not purchase other services beyond a slip, which by the way is $3500, we aren't valuable enough to them. Equally important, do NOT feel relaxed, or feel any attachment, because, as Kurt told me, "this is my place and I'll do what I want". He was very upset with us because after 18 years we comfortably enjoyed being there. Our kids grew up here, worked here, and loved being here. We felt apart of the place. But this is not a place you want to be. And if you read the other reviews, you will see that we are not alone in our experience, with the exception of Ryan E, who lives on the West Coast. To his point, let's just say we've been around enough to know that no one will ever catch a "Largemouth Bass" along the backside, because it's a fresh water fish. It's truly a shame and we will miss it.
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April 2015 by Joseph Poirier
Loved the people here last year; and I heard about all the improvements coming this year - apparently an awesome restaurant, and a cafe for take out!! Come on summer!!
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March 2015 by Dustin P.
The new owners are fools, they may have made money elsewhere in a far off place but with no eye for customer care, service or insight. I used to get my boat serviced there, but Tim the mechanic left because of the new owners inability to comprehend basic concepts of a small town marina. I understand that running a marina must be tough, but I own a business and deal with the public all the time, they set the precedent for my business, not me. This man feels he can set a new benchmark for the business, he can't, it was branded years ago by Lufkin, now he expects customers to change? His wife is a fruit loop, she called me looking for proof I paid my bill, she had no record except that the slip she had was marked paid? I said yeah I paid cash, ask Tim, oh Tim is gone he left, oh no surprise, she starts crying saying she is the new owner and is expecting a baby and how everyone is so rotten to her and her husband.... Get a clue lady, you guys are not wanted....
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August 2014 by T C.
So far, so good. Since bringing our boat to Essex Marina this season, we - as a family - have been very happy with the service. The owner - Curt - is responsive and helpful and the mechanic got my engine repaired and working in record time and for less than the prior marina on the south shore. While the decision to close the launch to the public might not be well received, in years past my family and I have been exposed to some folks who came back in, very drunk, and put everyone in danger. We even had our car hit in the parking lot last year . . . Now, we know that the people parked in the lot have a vested interest in the marina and are likely to be responsible and respect rules. (like not speeding on the residential street). We have never waited more than a few minutes to have our boat launched and it seems that safety of the boat and its occupants are paramount. Curt and his father seem to be very friendly and have always greeted us with a smile. They seem to do a super job making use of a tight space for boats, trailers and cars/trucks - especially on the weekends when it is busy and folks are anxious to get going. We are pleased to be part of this community and while there are many choices around - we are glad we waited for Essex Marina to have a spot available. (If I had to add a criticism, I would say that the tie-offs on the launch dock are a bit sorry - but they work)
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June 2014 by Donna L.
We have had nothing but great service and friendliness dealing with the new owners, Kurt and Lindsay since we have kept our boat at this marina. They are always helpful and courteous to us and our family. The parking is wonderful now that they tell us where we should park. We have had friends come join us on the boat, and they too were treated with respect. I don't understand the bad reviews I have been reading, calling them " out of towners" that don't have a small town feel. Maybe its these " small town thinkers" that aren't giving the new owners a chance. It's clean, well run and always we are always met with a smile and a hello. Wake up Essex, give this family a chance and maybe you'll make a new friend.
