Panama City, FL

[Cap Cod Bay]

Hi. We are going to spend a month or 2 in Panama City starting in January. We will have a 30 footer.
If any one can comment on the marinas there, it would be much appreciated!
Thanks to all.

[Frankly]

St Andrews Marina and City Marina are the two municipal marinas on St Andrews Bay. Little more in the way of restaurants in St Andrews. Would not expect you to have any problems getting a slip. Couple of private marinas around also.

St Andrews Bay is a great bay for knocking around in a small sailboat. We think January is cold, coming from your part of the country you will probably be running around in shorts. Strong fronts will blow some of the water out of the bay so watch the depth below your keel if you end up in a shallow situation.

[bletso]

Try Watson Bayou Marina 30 9.3N 85 38.4W or Massalina Bayou 30 9.1N 85 39.5W (I don't know the name of that marina)

Watson has descent facilities. City Marina may be difficult for space. It can get a bit rough as well with the wind from the right direction. St Andrews marina is a bit rougher as it caters to commercial fisherman and shrimpers.

[a64pilot]

"Something" is going on at the City Marina, it will soon be sold to developers some of us think and likely be closed and Condominiums be built. I have stayed as we leave permanently next spring and I doubt anything will happen before then.
Anyway that has had a lot of people leave because if and or when that happens, a good Marina will be hard to find, however this results in lots of available space.
It is an old Marina, built I think around the late 50's, however it is right in the old Downtown area of Panama City.
It does not have floating docks, but there isn't much tide there either.
St Andrews is a newer Marina, in a more touristy part of town and has floating docks.
However the docks are open for anyone to walk around, the old City Marina has locked gates.

You may want to spend some time at Port St. Joe and possibly Carrabelle, Apalachicola

Panama City is an old city with a lot of history.
Panama City Beach is completely different, very close by, but that is where all the partying by kids etc. goes on.