Cruising Charleston, SC

[Heron]

Just asking for suggestions on visiting Charleston. Any good anchorages or are you stuck with high marina fees? What marinas do you recommend? Any navigation challenges?

Thanks

HERON

[Vasco]

Quite a few good anchorages. If you want to go into town the best anchorage is just off City Marina, only thing is the free dink dock is dry (actually 2 feet of mud) at low water. City Marina is good or Ashley Marina if you can get under the bridge, Westsail 32 should be ok for the bridge height. Straight forward piloting, good marks all over. If you don't want to anchor there are moorings off City Marina. City Marina has a shuttle into town.

[Sunspot Baby]

Moorings at City Marina are no longer maintained. Latest Cruising World mag has some anchorages listed.

Coast Guard Station now has an area around it restricted for anchorage. Used to be OK.

City Marina is pricey by my standards, but is an excellent marina and as mentioned above, they have a shuttle into town.

Eat downtown at Hymans, frequently rated as best seafood restaurant by Southern Living magazine.

George

[Sesame]

The only thing worse than anchoring off the Charleston City Marina in any kind of blow is being on the face of the Megadock in a blow in a small (under 100') boat! Anywhere else, the marina offers good value: nice showers, free WiFi, a courtesy van, etc..

[MCathcart]

Also Kaminiski's for desert. Egggggzactly on the Mega Dock. Spent 5 or 6 days there last year and thought I'd traded my bote for a roller coaster (that was tied to the dock). I'd just as soon be anchored in the Ashley if there's a place to park the dink. There was people coming into a slip at the Mega Dock on dinks and no one seemed to care. I love Charleston, it's a great place to visit. If you have bikes on board it's an easy ride to downtown. There was a Harris Teeter that was near downtown too (but maybe to far to walk).

Mike