Western Florida/Gulf Coast Marinas

[jhulmer]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Looking for marina suggestions for the next couple of months in Western Fl/Gulf Coast to New Orleans. Looking for something reasonably price for my 41'/6.4' draft boat at around $500-750/mo including electrical. Got no car so there needs to be grocery and a few bars/restaurants within walking distance or a place with a good bus system (but not some 1 hour each way bus trip to go to just the store). Would like something with reasonable weather protection (I know I know).

I'm currently in Sarasota Fl on a mooring but with the heat ramping up the added costs of running the generator for AC start to make the cost of a slip not much more than a mooring + fuel.

SB
Some suggestions



West Florida - Panama City has several nice marinas but generally leave for Clearwater from Pensacola. Pensacola Inlet to enter the intercoastal (navy Ships entrance) (there are low bridges between Destin and Pensacola) several marinas on the north shore of Pensacola bay - closer to the inlet is Santa Rosa Island Marinas but more expensive, it's high season and a lot going on. There are excellent anchorages behind Perdido Key.


Alabama - Bear Point Marina on the intercoastal, small but well protected and you can follow the intercoastal to Mobile Bay and beyond. The Perdido inlet has a low 50ft bridge. So it's outside or intercoastal from Pensacola to Mobile. Not a bad intercoastal tour. But, crowded on weekends (I've done most of the ICW east coast - no locks or bridges to wait on here just watch the depth)
Mobile bay - there is Dog River Marina - however, you can make Biloxi in a Long Day from Bear Point and easier navigation.



Mississippi coast - (all behind barrier islands. several good anchorages behind the islands)

Biloxi Point Cadet Marina, Biloxi Small Craft harbor (both behind the casinos with showers and laundry, tourist bus stops and restaurants within walking distance. Well protected behind Deer Island. Two channels to enter, East channel and West Channel both easy to navigate.

Gulfport Small Craft Harbor - Farther west down the coast, same amenities as Biloxi. Deep ship channel entrance in any weather.



These are newly renovated after hurricane Katrina with new facilities, electrical and docks. (it took 5 years because of FEMA - don't get me started)

[captlloyd]

The internet is your friend. Accurate pricing, approach depths, dockside depths, current docking and mooring rates, facilities.

[Teknishn]

Originally Posted by jhulmer

SB
Some suggestions

Mississippi coast - (all behind barrier islands. several good anchorages behind the islands)

Biloxi Point Cadet Marina, Biloxi Small Craft harbor (both behind the casinos with showers and laundry, tourist bus stops and restaurants within walking distance. Well protected behind Deer Island. Two channels to enter, East channel and West Channel both easy to navigate.

Gulfport Small Craft Harbor - Farther west down the coast, same amenities as Biloxi. Deep ship channel entrance in any weather.

These are newly renovated after hurricane Katrina with new facilities, electrical and docks. (it took 5 years because of FEMA - don't get me started)

Will add to the above in Mississippi: Biloxi Boardwalk Marina
(I'm here now). Showers and toilets, no laundry, on-site store for basics, restaurant on the waterfront. Fairly well protected but is a bit of a trek for provisions and supplies. $1/ft daily rate w/o electricity. No weekly or monthly rates. A basic transient stopover.

Bay St. Louis Municipal Marina (watch your depth going in and you'll make it). No laundry on site. Restaurants on the waterfront. Convenience store about a mile away. Further for provisions and supplies. That being said, $1.25/ft/day or monthly transient rate of about $190 including power and water irregardless of boat length. Wifi is "iffy". As of 3-weeks ago the system was scheduled to be replaced at some point.

New Orleans: Pontchartrain Landing (RV and Marina). Full amenities except fuel (available at dry storage marina and boatyard next door). Restaurant and on-site store for basics. $1/ft w/o electricity, $1.50 with power. Daily bus run to the French Quarter ($6 round trip). Walmart, West Marine, grocery and hardware stores about a mile away.

Hope that helps...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

The internet is your friend. Accurate pricing, approach depths, dockside depths, current docking and mooring rates, facilities.

you of course know just how helpful you are

[dakno]

Southshore harbor for New Orleans, Lakeshore Marina Slidell, Gulfport Marina in Ms is hands down the best by a large margin and most affordable...I have stayed at everyone of them.
Palifox in downtown Pensacola is cool. Several in Alabama. Nothing between Appalachicola and Fort Walton survived the hurricane.

[CaptRory]

St Pete Municipal, right downtown. Harborage is 6 blocks from downtown but can't call it reasonable, the live aboard migrated to the municipal.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

well you need to support this recommendation as it seems to be near nothing

There are a few docks in and around St. Marks in addition to Shields Marina. I am fairly sure Shields does not have any live aboards. There are a couple of bars close by (walking distance) and a 7-11 type independent store. No public transportation. There is a big power plant and docks for fuel storage. Tallahassee is about 17 miles North and Crawfrodville is much closer but no way to get there without a car. I keep my boat at Lynn Brothers Seafood and there are a couple of live aboards there but it is full now except for the seawall. In stone crab season there are commercial boats that use the seawall and most of the area around it is used to store traps.

[Leo Ticheli]

Pelicans Perch Marina has just reopened in Pensacola with all new floating docks for $10.00 per month per foot. For a couple of reasons, it's not for me, but it's much cheaper than the others in the area.

Fair winds,
Leo

[svHyLyte]

Reviewing suggestions since I offered mine and your sometimes snide remarks in response, perhaps you should do your own research rather than beggaring others. Try ActiveCaptain.com which still works regardless of the Garmin influence; and, the Waterway Guide which also has useful information. BoatUS also has useful information. None of the foregoing are difficult to "suss" out.


FWIW...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Reviewing suggestions since I offered mine and your sometimes snide remarks in response, perhaps you should do your own research rather than beggaring others. Try ActiveCaptain.com which still works regardless of the Garmin influence; and, the Waterway Guide which also has useful information. BoatUS also has useful information. None of the foregoing are difficult to "suss" out.


FWIW...

gee I looked at your suggestion

You think I'm begging? I'm doing my homework, which xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Please put me on your ignore list and save yourself for something useful where they will jump to YOUR suggestions. Are you only now reading the thread to see if I wholly agreed with your suggestion?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Looking for marina suggestions for the next couple of months in Western Fl/Gulf Coast to New Orleans. Looking for something reasonably price for my 41'/6.4' draft boat at around $500-750/mo including electrical. Got no car so there needs to be grocery and a few bars/restaurants within walking distance or a place with a good bus system (but not some 1 hour each way bus trip to go to just the store).

Got one in Carrabelle FL for a little over $400. Found another in Pensacola for $1000 I'll look into again next month. Found a few around Tampa/St Pete for $2k. Problem was of the "reasonable" ones that weren't in the sticks if you were on foot were booked. I was starting to talk myself into $2k and a pool.

[Sidney777]

Problem in Panhandle is no liveaboards allowed in most marinas. If you find one you are lucky.
Across the state line in Alabama it is easier. But you have to search.

[Sidney777]

Carrabelle has an IGA grocery store,hardware store, and you are miles away from any big town. The "Moorings" has liveaboard prices. I think Extra $400 month over reg price.
Call Eastern Shore marina on Mobile Bay. (Mobile bay is shallow, but only follow channels.)

[Sidney777]

Higher price & really nice marinas in Gulf shores Al on intracoastal. Lulus homeport & the Wharf. A 73 FT bridge near, but you have to research

[sailorboy1]

I'm not a "liveaboard" I'm a cruiser in transient.

Just pulled into a slip here at C-Quarters in Carrabelle for the month, $419 including electric. If I stayed again next month it is $150 more for the "liveaboard" fee. But next month I'm going to a slip in Panama City for $1100/mo.

Meanwhile I have the air conditioning going and don't even have to listen to a generator priceless (almost)