Looking for Affordable Good Marina in North Carolina

[FindingFreedom]

All,

I currently have my boat in Boston, MA and would like to move it farther south for several reasons, but the main reason being cost savings.

I am thinking that North Carolina might be a good landing spot due to fact that within a couple of years I plan on becoming a full time live-aboard and cruiser.

Does anyone out there have good insight on Marinas in the NC area that are affordable, have capability to support haul out of a 45 FT 30,000+ LBS boat and allows for onsite Storage & DIY work.

If you do, please respond with Marina Name and Area and I will check them out.

Thanks in advance for your insight and help.

Finding Freedom

[FindingFreedom]

All,

I currently have my boat in Boston, MA and would like to move it farther south for several reasons, but the main reason being cost savings.

I am thinking that North Carolina might be a good landing spot due to fact that within a couple of years I plan on becoming a full time live-aboard and cruiser.

Does anyone out there have good insight on Marinas in the NC area that are affordable, have capability to support haul out of a 45 FT 30,000+ LBS boat and allows for onsite Storage & DIY work.

If you do, please respond with Marina Name and Area and I will check them out.

Thanks in advance for your insight and help.

Finding Freedom

[DDabs]

Sailcraft Service in Oriental, NC - Alan is a great guy and has an awesome crew. I was also there about 7 years ago so...

New Bern Grand Marina - again, lived there about 7 years ago but it was a cheap, great marina that was walking/biking distance to all of New Bern. Wonderful amenities as you share with the hotel on site.

[svspirited]

Originally Posted by FindingFreedom

All,

I currently have my boat in Boston, MA and would like to move it farther south for several reasons, but the main reason being cost savings.

I am thinking that North Carolina might be a good landing spot due to fact that within a couple of years I plan on becoming a full time live-aboard and cruiser.

Does anyone out there have good insight on Marinas in the NC area that are affordable, have capability to support haul out of a 45 FT 30,000+ LBS boat and allows for onsite Storage & DIY work.

If you do, please respond with Marina Name and Area and I will check them out.

Thanks in advance for your insight and help.

Finding Freedom

No real experience aside from a couple of transient stays in NC but there are some great marinas in the Charleston, SC area if you don't mind heading a bit further south. Kept ours at St. John's Yacht Harbor for a while. Not too expensive compared to the city marinas and there are a few good working yards not far up the river. It's about a 10-20 minutes drive to downtown Charleston depending on traffic. They offer pump outs, good wifi, a nice pool, nice docks and good laundry facilities.

[Bill O]

FF,
Watch the tax implications in NC. Different counties have different tax structures https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-190393-2.html
Similarly different SC counties have variable personal property taxes, so do your homework. Here's an example: https://www.yorkcountygov.com/163/Watercraft-Taxes

Also make certain you insurance is ok keeping you boat in a hurricane zone.

[FindingFreedom]

Thanks for the info and great points on the insurance. I will make sure to look into everything very carefully.

[FindingFreedom]

Thanks for the great info. much appreciated.

[lejak]

I second New Bern Grand Marina. Right across the river is Bridgeton Boat Works with a large vessel haul out and a repair yard.

[SVTwilight]

If cost and hurricanes are the big concern check also around Deltaville , VA. Many yards with skilled services and reasonable prices and outside of the insurance concerns for hurricanes.

[AJ_n_Audrey]

I'm in Southport, NC, and there are several well protected marinas within 5 miles of travel lifts. Southport Marina has a travel lift via Zimmerman Marine, and Charlie Perry also has a lift near the bridge. Deep Point Marina is 5 miles away, and Indigo Plantation Marina a little closer. There were waiting lists for the marinas but that may have changed now. My boat is 36 feet and I pay about $420 a month.

That said, I second the recommendation of St. John's Yacht Harbor near Charleston; I stayed there as a transient, and it's excellent.

[dptconst]

Bennett Bro’s and Wilmington Marine Center in Wilmington, NC might interest you.

[rwaldrop13]

If you're open to more rural areas, Belhaven Marina in Belhaven NC is highly recommended. I was pretty impressed with the Oriental marinas when out there boat shopping as well. If you decide on the Wilmington area, keep in mind that you're dealing with a lot of tourism in the area, but have convenience of close-by shopping etc. I'm living in the Raleigh NC area, but go down to Wilmington frequently. One of the boats on our list once the house is sold, is in Wilmington at the Port City Marina but I haven't chased details as we're relocating to Florida once we're aboard the boat we acquire.

[hpeer]

Following. The found New Bern a neat town. Bridge water Marina is across the river and otherwise remote so if you are hauled up there you need a car. 6’ 6” draft, we got in, but only on second attempt after getting hind hard on a dropping off one tiny de and after I chatted the entrance with my dingy.

[svfinlandia]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Sailcraft Service in Oriental, NC - Alan is a great guy and has an awesome crew. I was also there about 7 years ago so...

New Bern Grand Marina - again, lived there about 7 years ago but it was a cheap, great marina that was walking/biking distance to all of New Bern. Wonderful amenities as you share with the hotel on site.

Sailcraft services has been sold and Alan no longer owns it.
As I understand it the jury is still out on how good the yard is now.
I have docked overnight in New Bern but I do not think that the marina has a haul out.

Al, S/V Finlandia

[DDabs]

Damn! Sorry to hear that about Sailcraft. There is another yard right across the creek called Deaton. Perhaps they are still around.

There are no haulout marinas in New Bern.

There is a badass mexican restaurant in New Bern called "El Cerro Grande"