Bar and Grill at Akwa Marina
 

Though I am no longer a member of the boat club at Akwa Marina, I have chosen to keep my "social membership? which gives us access to all the facilities there. Our grandkids love the pool and we like taking them there.
But, this year, they have added a bar and grill that is accessible to the public, not only members. They even have easily accessible docking available for non member visitors.
My wife had the lobster roll and said it was the best one she ever had. Served on a hot buttered bun, she shared a bite and I can't disagree with her. I had the haddock basket, nicely cooked, flaky and tasty, perfectly battered. Delicious.
Thanks go to the Mailloux family who have done a great job with this new venture. The view is fantastic, the venue is cordial and friendly, and judging from what we ordered and asking others about their meals, the food is excellent.
Well worth the trip, by boat or by car. I think you'll like it.

How does one access this by boat? I'm guessing (as I haven't been up that way by boat in a while) that their dock is jus past the Weirs a bit?

Thanks..

Yes, just past the Weirs. Maybe they can pipe in and give direction as to exactly where to tie up.

Check out their web page! http://www.akwamarina.com/photogallery.htm


http://www.akwamarina.com/images/grill1.gif
.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SIshIjkzs_g/TG...to%2525202.jpg
.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7qODu_3r9wA/TG...to%2525204.jpg

Thanks Phantom for the nice review. I have to agree the Lobster roll is extremely good and quickly becoming the house favorite. Our Chefs do a great job of finding great ingredient. All our lobsters, steamers and muscles come from Lobster Connection near Winnisquam. All our produce from Beans and Greens in Gilford, and the awesome breads and desserts come from Picnic Rock Farms.
We are having our grand opening this weekend so I hope some of you all will swing by and give us a shot.
I have attached a chart showing our location, and a picture of where to dock at the marina and how to find your way up the restaurant. I also attached a few fun pics. We have a ton more up to date photos on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/AkwaMarinaYachtClub
You can follow the entire time line of how the truly extraordinary structure was built and how we turned the 1904 Anona Sail boat into the center piece of the restaurant on Facebook. If you all would like I would be happy to create a new thread here walking through a photo timeline of the construction.

Thanks
Kurt
603-231-6002 (my cell)
kurt@akwamarina.com

Akwa Marina Beach Bar land line 603-968-5533

That lobster roll looks killer!

Thanks for the pics and info.. Definitly be up!

That Lobsta roll looks yummy. We'll be sure to go there by boat for lunch! Thanks for posting..:D

could you post a menu kurt? probably get there sunday with my wife

Ahoy SurfnSnow,
I have attached our menu as it stands today. We run daily specials, depending on what the fresh catch is, etc. So be sure to stop in and see what is new. Hope to see some new faces for this weekends opening!
Cheers
Kurt

We stopped for lunch yesterday and had a great meal there! I had a chicken sandwich which was very good and table mates had fish sandwiches that looked fantastic.

You need to update the website as it still says opening soon. What are the hours of operation? The wife and I would love to go.....

Hi Lakesrider,
Working on the website, sorry about that. I wish I knew HTML a little better :)
The official hours are 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM 7 days a week. We do stay open later on busy days. You can always call directly the land line 603-968-5533, or my cell 603-231-6002 (just not right now, my phone is currently in Davie Jones locker, hoping for a new really soon)

Great question keep them coming
Kurt

Don't y'ah just hate it when you drop your cell-phone in the Lake!! Been there, done that more'n to-once myself!! :) :(
Best wishes for your new venture!! Terry

I think the new bar is absolutely awesome! What a great place to hang out and have a few beers! The food is heavy on the seafood.. But it looks great! (I don't eat fish)

The only issue is the docking... they placed a bunch of large mooring balls instead of tie posts down the length of the public dock.... on a rough day (and we all know those are coming) the mooring balls will wear your paint or gelcoat.

Woodsy

I notice the huge mooring balls. You would also dock on the outside slip and it is unprotected from the waves. It is definitely something to think about when you visit. Especially on weekends.

Those aren't mooring balls, they are large round fenders. They work great.

Phantom...

Sorry I had the description wrong....

I have to disagree with you. Regardless of what you want to call them, on a busy weekend, that water WILL be rough and they WILL rub your paint or Gelcoat. Boats have a RUB rail for a reason and its not just to cover a seam.

They need to install tie posts.... and then the place will give the NAZ a run for its money!


Woodsy

Kurt,

Does the beach bar have any gluten free menu options?

I agree this place could give the NAZ some needed competition.

I disagree on the idea that the Bumpers would cause damage to the Gelcoat. I suppose over a number of years that could be true, in extreme conditions but come on to tie up for a hour or two, I don't think so.... I have used bumpers with my boats for years... and not had an issues....

LI....

I use bumpers all the time.... to protect the boat from other boats... rub rail to rub rail. Now take your 4000# boat, and protect it only at the waterline with a rubber balloon.... in very rough (for a dock) water....

That's why they make these....

http://fendersox.com/

Woodsy

No Fenders on Gel Coat!
 

I have an Eastern 22' Lobster with a rub rail, no fenders required at any vertical post style dock or recommended.

If I were to use unprotected fenders against the gel coat it will definitely scratch the #$%* out of the gel coat in no time at all, minutes not hours! Fendersox would be the only way I would use any fenders directly against gel coat, even then it would be for a short time only and with little to no movement, such as boats tied tightly together.

Dan

Our kitchen is too small to have a true certified gluten free options, but we do gluten tolerant items, just tell your server. We have BBQ Chicken Wings, Salads with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Salmon and Tuna Specials, Gluten free French Fries and gluten free Buns. I have many relatives that are celiac (sp?) so it is something the cooks are very used to preparing.

I am going to look into socks for the fenders, right now...

I have not seen the setup so I can only guess, if they are large mooring type balls at basically water level they would be fine for pontoons. For regular gelcoat clad boats-not so much.

A few years back I had our Monterey 298SS tied up in Gilford Yacht Club. Docks there are straight wooden tie posts. I had a few of the big bertha, or similar fenders tied around the lower post to fend off the boat if it bounced a bit so that the metal rub rail did not get trashed. In a very short span of time the boat rocking back and forth against the fender rubbed a perfect square on the side of the boat in the black gelcoat. After $500 in touchups I went with fender socks. Even with them you have to be careful. My boat was tied rather loosely, had it been tighter the damage would have been worse.

Fender socks are only good if they are new and clean.

Obviously fenders or anything rubbing on bare gelcoat will wear it. On the other hand, rub rails directly on posts can flex the boat at the hull deck joint and cause stress cracks. There is no perfect way to dock a boat in rough water.

When I dock at the Weirs, it's always a debate on which is the least damaging, fenders to hold the boat off the dock or just let rails take the beating. In calm water rails always win, in rough fenders win.

If you a have pilings on both sides, you can do a four way tie, how about some pilings? :D:D

Not For Nuttin
 

Almost all of my years of boating has been in Salt Water. I used fenders. No "Socks." My dockspace was in a protected marina. When I got back from sailing I still hosed off the hull AND the fenders with fresh water.

Salt water splashes on the hull will crystalize... and is very abrasive. I never had any indication that there was a problem with fenders abrading the gel coat. I am a meticulous SOB. :D

When I go to the lake with my little 20' runabout for two weeks...A rented cabin with dock space: The dock is broadside to the wind and wakes of the boats that go by. I bring my own 12 X 28 "Fend Aire" fenders. Totally oversize for the boat ..I hang them from the verticle posts on dock..but they work. I don't carry them on the boat. TOO Big. No Socks. No abrasion problems. Going on 15 years..same boat.:look: :look: NB

NoBozo....

That works because you are putting the fenders on a VERTICAL tie post, and the fenders get pinched between the RUB RAIL and the VERTICAL TIE POST. Eliminating most of if not all of the wear on the gelcoat or paint. it also helps that they are oversized for the boat, eliminating a lot of the compression.

Anyway...

Bottom line, Akwa needs to forgo the fender covers and just put in some 2x6 vertical tie posts.... every 12 ft or so with a cleat in the middle between each post. They don't have to extend to the bottom (they have floating docks there) Probably use 10' long boards.. 4' above the dock, the rest below. this will give them the maximum usage of their dock. More cleats and more posts make it for more options fitting in boats of all sizes. Not too expensive and it solves the issue for everyone. Then it doesn't matter if the water gets snotty on a busy day!

I am lucky enough to be able to walk down to Gazebo. I keep my Donzi at Anchor marine. So I really have no dog in the fight. I just know all of my friends are as anal about their boats (Fountains, Donzi's, Formulas etc) as I am about my boat.

Woodsy

The Broads
 

For years I had to endure the rough waters on the widest part of the lake. The most effective way to have a boat in front of the property is to moor it. What I find effective when tying to a single dock with no pilings to tie to. is to tie the opposite side middle boat cleat to a tree or piling on shore. This keep the boat away from the dock. I think NoBozo can take advantage of this trick. I had many broken whips to tell me it is a waste of money.

Akwa Marina should cover the metal rings around the pilings. It looks like it can cause major damage to a boat. I personally would rather use my own snubbers than use the huge balls provided by the marina.

If you want expert advise as to handling this situation I would talk to John Spooner of Diamond Shine. He's 'Da Man'.

We are working on a better solution for the situations when the water is rough. Many of the solutions mentioned here we are not allowed to do.

Hi Akwa
I think you are already doing more than yoru share to make things accomedating, some folks just will not be happy
keep up the good work and food and the people will come!!!!!

I bought my BIG 12 X 28 "Fend Aire" fenders ...USED.. at a "Nautical Consignment" shop for $10 each. They are normally around $100.

SO: AKWA..Go out and buy some BIG rubber fenders at a Nautical consignment shop @ $10 each and hang them up on the pier. Your boating customers will appreciate it. :look: NB

I parked there last Friday and would not do it again. The place is awesome and food was great!! The only way I will be back is by car or park at the weirs. My boat has white sides and I'm sure it left a mark even in short time! Had it been a "colored" boat....I wouldn't have tied up after seeing those fender/balls. Looks like the Naz will still get me if I'm too lazy to walk )

Gotta love smaller businesses...
 

I absolutely love to see smaller businesses make a go of it, especially when you see the evidence of ownership wanting to and trying to "do the right thing".

I work in Big Business (yes, Im just a number) where its not hard to see the motivations that drive the agenda.

Dock, walk or drive, the Par Four dining team should be dining there in the not too distant future!

Best of luck to you, looks like you've got a very good start going on.

Great Stop!!
 

We just came back from the Akwa Marina Beach Bar and must say the food and atmosphere is very good! We had buffalo wings which were tender and very tasty, I had a lobster roll which was excellent and my wife had a chicken ceasar salad which she said was very good and one of our friends had a burger which he said was fantastic!

As far as boat docking, it's perfect for my pontoon boat!!.... not so great for any high end gel coat finish.

The Akwa Marina is definitely a great stop on the big lake!!

See pics below of buffalo wings, lobster roll and dock area....

Dan

What are the odds of this place being even a little bit "dog friendly?"

I brought my dog but she was left on the boat. I would not think pets are allowed anywhere on the premises except your boat...

Dan

That would be my impression too. I stopped by there last week in morning, before they were open to chat with Kurt for a bit.

You park at the marina docks and head across a beach area and over to the restaurant. Not much of a place for dogs to run or anything, and the eating area is a little bit tight, not in a bad way, but no room for a dog to lounge around either.

I saw some dogs around- their owners may have been club members though...

By popular demand, we added little dock posts. So now you can use the big fenders we provide or flip them up and just use the dock posts. Either was we have tons of cleats.

You are welcome to bring your dogs we just ask that you keep them on your boats. We are dog lovers too but we just have to many people to allow people that have dogs to bring there dogs into the facility.

I would also like to point out that even though the city of Laconia has blocked off the street to "local traffic" if you are coming to Akwa Marina for your boat, the Akwa Marina Beach Bar, the American Boat Club, etc consider yourself "local traffic" and come on down.

Thanks
Kurt
AND I final got my cell phone back!!! 603-231-6002 if you need me

Now that's what I call accomodating!
We'll see you this weekend, and we'll leave our killer chihuahua at home! :)

Specials
 

I hope it is okay to post here?

We are offer a few fun specials.

"Whenever it is raining it is still Sunny at Akwa" $2 Sam Summer Drafts, When it is raining.

We will also be having an app special every Thursday from 4-6, "Buy one get another half off, all apps"

Thanks
Kurt