Marinas.com
Helps pick better stops (worth-it) without much burden. Pair with a booking app for actual reservations.
Best for: Trip planning and marina reconnaissance.
Skip if: You only need one-tap booking.
Software · Fair stack-up · cast-off scores
Compare — then go
Pick 2–4 apps and see our editorial scores. Same plain question as the directory: does it help you cast off — or pile on another login?
Fair Boat Day stack-up (we score ourselves the same way). Not affiliate rankings, not invented partner density. Owners free forever. Safety never joked about.
| What we score | Marinas.com Marinas.com | Dockwa Dockwa | Garmin ActiveCaptain Garmin |
|---|---|---|---|
| More boat daysGets you on the water | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Worth-it daysDay quality once underway | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Clears adminLess phone-tag & surprise | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Adds clutter ↓Lower is better | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Safety supportNever joked about | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Overall fitTypical recreational owner | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Confidence | high | high | high |
| Pricing | freemium | freemium | freemium |
Our take · then cast off
Short editorial verdicts — best for / skip if — not star ratings. When you're done stacking up, Go Today or open My boats.
Dockwa
Burden-clearing champion for cruising weekends — more days happen when the slip is booked. Complements Boat Day itineraries; doesn't replace Passport/TCO.
Best for: Coastal and ICW cruisers booking overnight docks.
Skip if: You only use a private home dock and never travel.
Garmin ActiveCaptain
Clears sync friction for Garmin owners and adds local intel that can raise day quality. Low burden when it replaces a separate review app; less essential without Garmin MFDs.
Best for: Garmin chartplotter owners.
Skip if: Non-Garmin glass and you already use Navionics + Dockwa.
Sense
Stack-up done — cast off
Evals stay here; the point is more days on the water. Find them online · their sites · ≠ founding. Owners free forever.