Claiborne:
I just purchased your Cruising Guide to Western Florida. What a terrific resource!! We are residents of Punta Gorda, and Alligator Creek is our access to Charlotte Harbor. We are all too familiar with Riviara Marina (known to the locals as Barry’s), situated off Alligator Creek. Their half sunken boats crowd the channel accessing our canal system, and oil / sludge, which we presume is from the marina, routinely drifts into our canal. A fire several years ago destroyed the variety store as well as several of their docks and adjoining property docks. One can hardly call this a marina, although they do rent slips, mostly to local live-aboards. I suppose the boat yard could facilitate desperate boaters in need of hauling their boat for do-it-yourself repairs, but in my opinion they would be wise to seek other facilities. Much to the disappointment of local residents, the facility has survived the fire and more recently Hurricane Charlie (of course there wasn’t much there for the hurricane to destroy). It is an eyesore and a hazard to navigation and the environment.
Name Witheld by Request