IF YOU HAVE KIDS PLEASEEEE READ THIS! I am not usually the person to leave a review but I knew that it was a MUST after my experience with Bills Marine Service in Deep Creek Lake, MD. IF you read any review.. please read this one...5 minutes of your time could save a life. First and foremost, I want to try and prevent everyone from the traumatic experience my family had with this company. The company failed to provide any instruction on how to "properly" use the raft or any type of guidance except the minimal 30 second instructions on operating the boat. This is not my first time doing this so I am fully aware how it goes. I have never experienced anything like this. Everything from the overall interaction with the staff, the faulty equipment, the lack of instruction and MOST importantly, the lack of genuine care that a person has for another person. The people at this company were not just unprofessional, they were also the least empathetic people I have ever encountered in my life. You can tell that all they care about is money and nothing else. It was shameful to hear that she was also a mother. The fact that she responded the way she did just shows the type of heartless person she is. Before we took the boat out, we asked and we were told there could be 3 people on the raft at a time. We only put two kids on and immediately when we started pulling the raft it went underwater. Both kids went down and we had to turn the boat around and go pick them up. Fine, that stuff happens..no biggie... While trying to do all of that, there was another boat speeding in the exact direction of the kids. We started waving and screaming while my husband jumped into the water and swam towards them as fast as he could. A PURE moment of torture thinking the boat would hit them. By the time my husband got back to the boat, he was seconds from drowning. The water was rough, he was worn out and it took all he had to make it back with the girls. Needless to say, we returned to the dock early because everyone was traumatized. NO one wanted to get in the water again, nor stay on the boat in general. My son was in tears thinking his sister and father were dying in the water. We told the staff what happened and their reaction was so insensitive and unconcerned. They blamed the raft going underwater on "too much weight" regardless of the fact that they told me it could hold 3 people and we only put 2. I asked to speak with the manager and that's when things got worse. It was then, I met the most DESPICABLE person, Raeslee Dick (Vice President). After we informed her of what happened and had asked for a refund on the last hour that we did not use. She was cold hearted and adamant on her no refund policy. She stated we signed a contract and that there was no refund possible. (Yes... I know what a contract means and I know that it's black and white. BUT I also know that there is an exception to every rule and policy per manager/owner discretion). I wasn't trying to get over on the company for my money, I was simply trying to get a partial refund in hopes that I could take my children to do another activity to lift their spirits. She stood her ground and refused any type of compensation besides sending my kids back out on the water again for another hour. There is a special place in hell for these types of monsters and I hope you never have to encounter this one. She tried to relate saying she was a mother too, but that only made me think less of her. Because otherwise she would have understood the trauma we experienced and been more compassionate. A genuine person/company would have at least responded in a way that was comforting. Something about re-training staff to do better, ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen again. but there was nothing but a stale cold hearted face. There is nothing you can do about a person with a black heart besides avoiding them. I hope that no one ever has this experience. Do yourself a favor and search elsewhere. They do not deserve business at all. read more

Bill's Marine Service - Mc Henry, Maryland

I would go for 4 1/2 stars if I could. We have stored our boat at bills marina for a number of years now. It's not been without hiccups but I can't say I've known and marina without problems. Previously we store the http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2014/1/14/5301014/wrigley-field-history-april-22-1980#commentsboat at deep Creek Marina, and were overcharged and always disappointed. When we do discover problems, Bill's works with us to work it out. Whenever we have needed emergency service, they are out quickly wherever we are on the lake. Follow up. Bills has changed with the times. They become a rip off operation that over charges and if you store with them, they will charge you for repairs that you have not heard of or approved. They refused to quote work in advance. they did major work on our boat which created problems that they did not know how to fix so we had to live with Random alarms and alerts going off without them able to troubleshoot or fix. Avoid if possible. read more

When we finally arrived and got settled into our vacation rental, our Boat decided it didn't want to start. I called three local marinas, and Bills was the only one that called back. A technician came out on the water, tried to trouble shoot, and ended up towing me over to the marina. After getting the computer connected and checking everything out, he got it running, saving our vacation. He was courteous and helpful, and stayed after hours to help us out. They then trusted me to come back the next day and pay. I needed to fill the boat and he asked the attendant at the gas pump to stay open until I had filled up. The next day I went over to pay the clerk was friendly and personable. When staying at Deep Creek Lake, Bills will be my first choice for service. read more

The prices have gone up and I don't think it was worth the day rate, which wasn't even 8 hours!. We got a speed boat for 4 people, but it took so long to get the "bow" down and get it up to speed. For the money we paid, we should not have that kind of lag, not to mention how small the boat was. read more