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rkssail · 09-04-2021, 11:54

Does anyone have any suggestions / recommendations for good marinas in St. Augustine in which to winter? My wife and I are planning a trip down the ICW (first time) from Annapolis on our Hunter 376. We plan to leave near the end of Sept. and arrive by the end of Nov. and would like to spend Dec. 2021 thru March 2022 in St. Augustine, FL. Any and all thoughts regarding St. Augustine or the ICW would be appreciated. Thanks.

**djousset** · 09-04-2021, 12:21

Marker 8 just across the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island is very clean and friendly. A very short walk across the bridge to downtown area.

ThereAndBack · 09-04-2021, 12:24

If you're alright with a mooring ball, the city marina isn't bad, right at the bridge of lions. We found that St. Augustine still gets pretty chilly in the winter, so bring warm stuff!

Sailing August · 09-04-2021, 12:48

The City Marina on a mooring ball works well. However, SA still gets quite cool in the winter. You may want to consider a destination further south. Key Biscayne off of Miami or all the way down to Key West.

ranger58sb · 10-04-2021, 05:24

Friends have stayed at Marker 8, said they liked it but also they got rocked and rolled a bit, off and on, by wind, current, and boat wakes.

Other friends stayed at Conch House, said they liked it, further to town, got a bit blowy sometimes.

I've stayed at the Municipal Marina, but only for a short visits... so can't comment on long-term stays.

Camachee Cove looks best on paper for our own purposes, and we intended to stay there for a while last winter... but that didn't work out. We visited there a few years ago (by car) to have a look, seems better protected... and the additional distance from right downtown didn't seem to be insurmountable.

Some of the marinas on the San Sebastian River might be viable, but I didn't check those closely...

-Chris

**Hudson Force** · 10-04-2021, 05:35

I have enjoyed stays at many marinas in the St. Augustine area. For the best prices and best protection from weather and wakes, I would recommend those up the San Sebastian River. Further up this river toward US 1 and King Street brings you closer to town and shopping. River Edge Marina (formerly Oyster Creek Marina) is the one that I recall among these.

MicHughV · 10-04-2021, 05:53

If you really want to be "downtown"....there is really only one choice...the St. A City Marina....it puts you right in the heart of things...well run, clean, has all the amenities, power, showers, stores, etc......and it's south of the Bridge of Lions, so some protection from northers.
Try it for a while...like it...stay....if not....several other choices around.

AA3JY · 10-04-2021, 06:12

Though some love St. Augustine with its historical significances and many amenities..we find it too ‘Touristy’ for our likings..prefer the less crowded and quiet Marineland marina..it’s not for everyone.

zboss · 10-04-2021, 14:52

STA is our homeport. The city marina usually won't take long term stay requests this early but you can try. The northers that roll in during the winter can make even the city marina slips and marker 8 slips a bit bumpy but its not too bad. The mooring field is a great alternative if you are able to run your heat for Jan/Feb.

Conch house is nice but its a bit far from down town being on Anastasia Island. Its also fairly exposed to winds so when its blowing you can get a little crazy in the head aftre 3 weeks of 20 knot winds.

Camachee Cove is great - if you can get in - they usually have a long wait list. Its also further out of town.

Going up the San Sabastian you have:

- Oyster Creek Marina, which has some wall dockage but isn't really a live aboard facility. More of a dry-stack facility.
- Saint Augustine Marine Center which has slips but no pump out.
- Then you have Oasis which is impossible to get in and has no pump out.
- St. Augustine Shipyard, which is really a dry stack right now.
- English Landing, which is hard to get into but has great access to restaurants, west marine, and grocery stores. They have onsite food trucks which is awesome. Good luck getting in!
- Rivers Edge - no in slip pump out but they DO have a pump out you can pull the boat into. Ok restaurant with live music and access to the same places as English landing.
-San Sabastian Marina is closest to downtown except the city marina. Very few slips and mostly long-term live-aboards. Not really a marina per se... no dockhands of anything.
- Hidden Harbor should be opening back up in a year. That was our homebase ($500 a month for slip right in the middle of town!) until it was bought and they put in a Hilton. No doubt the price will then become $5000 a month.

So there you have it...

Rubicon King · 10-04-2021, 15:00

Have stayed 3 times at the city marina, and mooring the south side of lions bridge. Very accommodating, WiFi in nonexistent, even though they advertise, services are good and their dinghy dock is very safe. The facilities are superb, and safe. Be careful of wind and current if anchoring. It rips