Brunswick Landing Marina – Click for Chartview

Brunswick Landing Marina, a very popular facility with long term resident cruisers, actually sits well off the direct path of the AICW, flanking the eastern banks of Academy Creek, just off Brunswick River, near the heart of downtown Brunswick, Georgia. The discussions below, comparing Brunswick Landing with Morningstar Marina at Golden Isles, were copied from Cruisers Forum (http://www.cruisersforum.com/).

We just bought a Hunter 380 and are moving to St. Simons Island within the year. We need to move our new boat up from St. Mary’s Island and are undecided as to whether we want to keep it at Brunswick landing Marina or Morningstar Golden Isles. The difference is about 10 minutes further drive to Brunswick from our house on SSI, but probably at least an hour to open water by boat. BLM is slightly cheaper and offer more “free” amenities. Any opinions from people who have had experience at either/both marinas? Any thoughts on the social aspects? Customer Service? We plan to be in one or the other by the second week in April.
Thanks,
Dave

Stayed at BLM for about a week a couple of years ago. Great marina, good pizza close by, farmers market on Saturday. Understand you don’t want any work done on your boat by them.
Finistere

Also no experience with MGI but kept my boat at Brunswick Landing for three months and was very happy with the stay. Management was friendly and laid back, prices very reasonable, facilities were clean.
The only negative, the place is huge. If you’re on the last dock towards the end of the pier it’s a bit of a hike to the restrooms or even the parking lot.
Have also heard that this is not the best place to get boat work done.
Problem going to the Brunswick Landing showers, the hike is mostly down a really long pier (at least if you’re on the last dock up the river) so not a good place to ride, even if allowed by the marina (most don’t).
Skipmac

I suggest a couple of cheap bicycles for the commute to the showers, etc. You can find them for ~$10 at GoodWill, yard sales, etc. We have had a pair of bikes passed around our marina for years. Kind of fun to track where they end up.
Dale Hedtke

Have stayed at both…
Morningstar is a hike to the showers/restrooms too.
BLM is closer to shopping I believe but still a mile from grocery, West Marine. A car is the equalizer and I believe Morningstar has a loaner (on a tight leash).
I’ve never spent more than a night at Morningstar so I don’t have a feel for the residents of the marina…BLM has a large nmber of regulars and a local sailing association out of it for a whole gang of friends and activities (my friend in current commodore).
pseelnd

When we spoke to the lady who is dock master at BLM she indicated that the former Yard Manager is no longer in that capacity and they have a new one who is great. They were aware of the reputation for bad customer service on having work done and have tried to address it.
Thanks,
Dave

We spent a couple months at BLM a few years back:
If you are concerned about the hike to the showers, ask for a slip closer up or at least compare slip locations they are suggesting in both marinas. Odds are there isn’t a huge difference.
We looked at GI but without a car it’s pretty isolated. BLM won out for convience to walk to things. (if you have a car this may be less of an issue).
BLM is better protected. We tried to anchor near GI one time and with a strong south wind, it looked pretty bouncy.
BLM has the advantage of being right next to the shrimp docks and farmers market.
GI’s big advantage is distance to the open ocean for a sail boat. If you are weekending and have a car, that might win out.
Valhalla360

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Brunswick Landing Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Brunswick Landing Marina
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