9 Novelty Lane
Essex, CT 06426
Dock
Offered
Mooring
Offered
Day Trip
Not Offered
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94 Reviews
by Ian L. on Oct 28, 2025
Had a great time here at Dauntless, Dylan and Alex were our tender captains for the two days we stayed, super friendly and super helpful guys! Took a Uber trip to reprovision in nearby Saybrook, and spent a few hours at the local museam just down the road from the marina.
Marina Response:
We're so pleased you enjoyed your time with us here at Dauntless Marina! Thank you for the kind review. We hope you book another stay with us next season!by Bill K. - Verified user on Oct 27, 2025
Another enjoyable visit.
The staff was pleasant, engaging and helpful in every interaction.
Esuring set up was appropriate, safe and allowed for easy options for all we needed.
Location is wonderful of course.
by Rhonda E. - Verified user on Oct 20, 2025
Would recommend...excellent location..
Very friendly staff..launch service is prompt and included in mooring fee..
Will definitely visit again next year ..
by Terri T. - Verified user on Oct 06, 2025
This was a great little marina - nice floating docks, clean and private showers/restrooms, and friendly and attentive staff. Mostly seasonal slipholders, not a lot of transients, so it was very quiet, which we really liked. Convenient and close to town and restaurants.
Marina Response:
We're so glad you enjoyed your stay with us! Thank you for the nice, detailed review. We hope to see you both again in the future!by Jon M. - Verified user on Sep 15, 2025
Perfect stay. Communication was superb, facility was clean and close. Everything we could want.
by Serge L. - Verified user on Sep 10, 2025
Friendly and efficient staff. Clean facilities and good mooring location. We originally planned to stay one night and extended our stay to an extra day to go explore the area.
Marina Response:
Thank you for staying with us! We're so pleased you enjoyed our facility and the quintessential town of Essex!by John R. - Verified user on Sep 09, 2025
We always enjoy our stays at in Essex. Two things: first the mooring pick up stick on mooring #20 was very short and the line connected to it was very deep. It was impossible to reach the pick up stick from a large trawler and too deep to hook with our boat hook. We had to call the launch to hand us the pick up stick. In addition the line from the pickup stick to the pendant loop was only on foot long. On a trawler the pendant long goes through a pipe haus. So in order to get the pendant loop on our cleat we had to stick the end of the pendant through the pipe haus. We have never seen anything like this having cruised the entire Atlantic seaboard. Secondly the launch stopped at 7pm on a weekend. Fortunately the yacht club close by was kind enough to bring us to our mooring. Surprising issues for a Safe Harbor after charging $100/night.
Marina Response:
Thank you for your valuable feedback. I’m sorry you did not enjoy your stay with us last weekend. All of our operating hours from 5/1 to 10/31 are posted online, around the marina, and sent to our guests in the Dockwa pre arrival email. These hours have remained unchanged for many years, and have always decreased after Labor Day. We understand your concern about the pick up stick lines, however it is standard practice for these to be between 1-2 ft long. The line is intentionally kept short so that the stick stays up right and visible, without interfering with vessels passing by. A longer line may cause the sick to tangle more frequently, or come into contact with neighboring boats in the CT River’s volatile and strong current. That being said, we always want our setup to work well for our boaters, so we thank you for sharing your input. We will use this information to make improvements where applicable. We hope you come stay with us again.by Bob W. - Verified user on Sep 08, 2025
Fantastic location. Very quiet and relaxing on their mooring. Great launch service.
by Mia L. - Verified user on Aug 22, 2025
Convenient location off the CT river, with plenty of depth. Doorbell to call for a launch at the dock seems not to work. Sometimes difficult to find a launch driver to take you to your boat (especially annoying on the 60 degree rainy day). But, when the launch drivers and dock hands are there, they are very pleasant and helpful. Ice and fuel available. Launch service available. Laundry available - $2.50 per wash. Bring quarters, no quarter machine. We didn't use the land heads but they looked nice, private and clean enough.
by FRANK B. - Verified user on Aug 19, 2025
Facility is very good and Staff is excellent. Fast launch service.
The line from the mooring ball that goes to the boat is too short for larger boats with high bows. Requires that your mate hang over the bow, reach down, and pass a line from your boat through the eye of the mooring line and back to you boat. Also, Wifi range should be enhanced as ats on moorings cannot pick up.
Marina Response:
I'm glad you enjoyed your stay with us! Thank you for the detailed review. We will be sure to complete a thorough inspection on the length of our pennants to ensure each ball contains one that corresponds to the appropriate vessel length and size that mooring can hold. We hope to see you again for another stay at Dauntless in the future!by Glen O. - Verified user on Aug 13, 2025
Excellent service, very nice facilities.
by Frans R. - Verified user on Aug 12, 2025
Great location. Launch service excellent. Professional and courteous staff.
by Scott M. - Verified user on Aug 05, 2025
Very helpful dick staff. Above and beyond.
by Gary S. - Verified user on Jul 31, 2025
Always a wonderful place, quiet at night, clean facility, and an easy walk into a great town. Marina staff are helpful and amenities such as washrooms and laundry are spotless.
by Robert S. - Verified user on Jul 24, 2025
Excellent facility with a great staff. Alex the marina manager is a step above! Thank you all.
Marina Response:
We are thrilled you enjoyed your stay with us! Thank you for the kind remarks about our facility and staff. We hope to see you again in the very near future!by alan s. - Verified user on Jul 23, 2025
Communication with the marina for the mooring was very easy, the launch was quick, friendly and reliable. Overall, a very nice stay- highly recommend.
by Giovanni C. - Verified user on Jul 14, 2025
Beautiful marina at walking distance to downtown!
by Donald V. - Verified user on Jul 13, 2025
Beautiful spot! Staff were great!
by Kenneth E. - Verified user on Jul 08, 2025
High marks for staff paying attention to detail
by Erick R. - Verified user on Jul 02, 2025
Great location, great staff, friendly neighbors. Had a blast getting to know the quintessential New England town of Essex. Visited again in 2025 and had an even better time. Thanks for the staff for being so present and helpfull.
by Bob S. - Verified user on Jun 27, 2025
Just to say everything was great - the facilities, the launch service, of course Essex was great to visit as well. Top notch and highly recommended !!
by Robert J. - Verified user on Jun 21, 2025
A staggeringly beautiful Marina and very responsive staff friendly. They’re great seasonal members that we talk to as a transient. HENRY is the best. We’re very pleased with our stay.
by Kenneth L. - Verified user on Oct 19, 2023
Very nice people Bathroom clean Stayed on a mooring Essex is quite nice
by Edward A. - Verified user on Sep 20, 2023
Just a great place to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. Rachael is a great doc master.
by Keith p. - Verified user on Sep 18, 2023
Helpful, professional staff. Founds well kept, and clean. Restaurant is excellent
About Safe Harbor Dauntless
*Please note that Safe Harbor Dauntless + Safe Harbor Essex Island are once again running on their own separate Dockwa pages. ALL mooring reservations are to be made through the Safe Harbor Dauntless Dockwa Profile. We will have an option for slip reservations at Dauntless, but they will be limited and likely wait-listed. There will be no guarantee of acceptance due to all slips being rented by seasonal members.
Safe Harbor Dauntless is situated on the west bank of the Connecticut River, where stunning New England summer sunsets await. As a sister facility to the nearby Shipyard, Safe Harbor Dauntless affords Members a full-service marina experience near the charming shopping and dining of historic Essex.
Fuel dock and pump out facilities are available during the season 5/1-10/31 and then by appointment only through November.
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