A popular side trip off the Waterway and up the Savannah River, the city of Savannah will be a busy port during the visit of tall ships from around the world. As of this date there are 14 ships confirmed for the Tall Ship Challenge and more are expected. These ships will be moored on both banks of the river in downtown Savannah, Thursday through Monday. Navigation Restrictions will be place for the waters adjacent to moorings, staging and parade of the participating vessels. This is definitely a weekend to visit Savannah by land. There is an admission charge. For more information, go to: www.savannahtallshipchallenge.com

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the downtown Savannah Waterfront

The message below comes to us from Charlie Waller, owner of Isle of Hope Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, and past president of the Georgia Marine Business Owners Association.  Charlie and his organization have been working tirelessly to get the archaic, often ignored, but still a threat, regulation limiting boat owners to a 30 day stay aboard, changed.  Congratulations to “GAMBA,” and everyone else who worked for this change.
As Charlie explains below, now, by filling out a simple form, cruisers can stay aboard for up to a year in Georgia waters! Finally, a real victory for the cruising community!!!

Claiborne,
Good News!
The State of Georgia has just modified the Live-Aboard rule so that it will be legal and practical to say on board your boat in Georgia for more than 30 days. A rule change will allow boaters to fill out a simple form to receive permission to be onboard for up to one year in Georgia so long as the boat is docked at a marina that meets the state’s minimum requirements for pump-out facilities. Isle of Hope Marina and just a couple of other marinas currently meet those standards, but I expect that other marinas will upgrade their facilities to take advantage of this rule change. I am heading a committee that will be working with the DNR to finalize the application form in the next few weeks. The rule change will be effective January 1, 2012.
Charlie Waller
Isle of Hope Marina

Below, we present a wide cross section of responses from the cruising community to this change in Georgia’s live-aboard regulations, As you will see, some cruisers are very appreciative, others question why any regulation is needed and/or justified, and at least one fellow captain points out the process of applying to live aboard in Georgia waters for more than 30 days is not necessarily “simple.”

We had a similar problem in Washington State years ago. The head of our DNR just flatly wanted no live aboards at all. We formed the Washington Live Aboards and fought and won. The big issues now is raw sewage being dumped and soap when washing your boat.
The best advise I can give is get together with the marina owners and managers, develop rules dealing with sewage and pump outs. Be proactive and get in front of the issue. Getting teamed up with marinas gives you more credability and greater influnce.
Final thought, don’t bad mouth the state and govermental officals its difficult to further your point of view if they’re pissed at you.
We work closely with Seattle, Tacoma and Everett and they are all pro live aboards and help keep DNR in check.
Detlev Willoughby
President Tacoma Live Aboards, VP of the Washington Live Aboards

The Seattle situation is still evolving, but it is shaping up to be about greywater. The City of Seattle has proposed limiting liveaboards (where marinas will accept them) to 25% of available slips. Current LABs will be allowed to stay, but once they leave the marina can’t rent to another LAB until they come below the 25% cap. The City has also proposed imposing a fee on marinas that accept LABs and additional administrative burdens. We all know that this will discourage private marina owners from renting to LABs and that the costs will flow downstream. My question re the Georgia situation is: what happens at the end of one year? That’s a good development for cruisers wanting to stay more than a month, but what’s the impact on full time residents of the state?
Gail L.

I think the title of this piece should be changed to “Liveaboards now tolerated at a few marinas in Georgia.” The word “welcome” does not come to mind. Like other long-term cruisers I prefer to anchor out, which means I won’t be living aboard in Georgia waters any time in the near future. By the way, I still highly recommend the beautiful ICW waters of Georgia for those who like to anchor and get away from it all–just don’t stay in one place for more than 30 days.
John Kettlewell

THANKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CRUISERS
Bill

Thanks Charlie!!!
Betsy Basch

Oh Goddie! The awful is now only bad.
Why should I need a States permission to live on my boat? And why should I be forced to pay for dockage to do so?
I use a composting head and had have no need for pump-out facilities. My water and electric needs are also self met. I much prefer to live on the hook.
Bad precedent to set or accept. My opinion is that Georgia is still a place to pass through until this law is totally abandoned.
Philip

Charlie has done a great job along with many other people to help the liveaboard community.
We & MANY others each year just go off shore to avoid Georgia since they still JUST DON’T get it. They need to make their portion of the ICW navigatible at ALL tide levels. Our money their loss!
We feel sorry for all the businesses that are struggling, but until Georgia catches up with the rest of the world we & many others will just go off shore & NOT put up with the hassel!
Mike M/V Elan

Actually it is a little more complicated than just “filling out a simple form”. The 30 day law has not changed, now you must file for an extension of the 30day rule. You have to file for the extension to the Commissioner of the Georgia DNR. The commissioner, in his or her sole discretion, may grant or deny any request for an extension of time to occupy a live-aboard.
Again it is not just a simple form you must meet the following Eligibility requirements:
1. No live-aboard may be occupied in Georgia coastal waters subject to the jurisdiction of the CMPA for more than 30 days during any calendar year unless the live-aboard owner has been granted an extension of time in writing by the Commissioner.
2. The applicant shall submit a written request for an extension to the Commissioner.
3. The Commissioner shall promptly consider any written request that meet the following requirements.
a. The applicant submits the request on the application form provided by the Department to the Commissioner, c/o the Coastal Resources Division, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.
b. The Coastal Resources Division receives the request at least 15 calendar days prior to the requested extension start date.
c. The applicant certifies that the live-aboard has a secured mechanism to prevent discharge of treated and untreated sewage.
Examples of secured mechanisms considered to be effective at preventing discharge include, but are not limited to, closing the seacock and padlocking, using a non-releasable wire tie, or removing the seacock handle (with the seacock closed).
d. The applicant certifies that they will not discharge any sewage, treated or untreated, into Georgia coastal waters subject to the jurisdiction of the CMPA.
e. The applicant certifies that the live-aboard is capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water and is capable of safe, mechanically-propelled, navigation under average Georgia coastal wind and current conditions.
f. The applicant identifies the eligible marina at which the live-aboard operator will moor the live-aboard.
g. The applicant provides written documentation of a slip rental agreement with an eligible marina.
h. The applicant states the reasons for requesting the extension and the period of time for which the extension is requested.
Doesn’t seem that simple to me! Is working with the government ever simple? When you give them all that information you have given them all they need to through you out of the state and band you from ever entering the state on your way to Florida.
What about the fines when you break one of their laws?
There is no fee or tax this first year!
What other state do you have to go before a Commissioner to live in that state?
Kevin R. Quinn

I don’t see this as a victory for cruisers at all. It is a victory for the marinas. Many of us anchor whenever possible and stay away from marina life and all its distractions and expense. Trust me, I will continue to go outside and bypass Georgia altogether. My dollars are much better spent elsewhere.
Jerry Simpson

At long last. Thanks to all who brought this about. It makes sense.
Diana Prentice

I have to agree with the other posters–the title of this blog entry is complete propaganda. Shame on you for trying to spin this as some great win/win situation for boaters. As if we are too stupid to figure out for ourselves what the real facts are! Pathetic.
That form is the opposite of simple, INO. And way too intrusive, asking too many questions that have zero to do with the idea of living for a while in Georgia waters.
The sad thing is, that with this guy ‘fighting’ for us boaters, we can expect that the status quo for Georgia to boaters will continue for the foreseeable future. The Georgia ‘solution’ isn’t a solution at all, as obviously made note of ad nauseum above by most boaters responding. So I agree, we will continue to avoid lingering in Georgia waters. I can’t imagine how much money the marinas lose in Georgia because of the attitude of the State.
Alan Avante

Go to the bahamas instead. I was going to cruise North for a change, but with Georgias new regs and St. Augustines new 10 day anchoring limits upcoming why should I spend my money and time where I am not wanted. Please do not spend money in any places that are not cruiser friendly.
Dave C.

We certainly agree with Captains Tammy and Michael that a trip upstream on Savannah River to its like named city is well worth your while, with the understanding that your vessel might (or might not) be severely rocked by the bow wave of a passing freighter. However, with all the negative comments here on the Cruisers’ Net about the Savannah City Dock, we strongly suggest you coil your lines at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, the Savannah Hyatt Docks.

I would save the visit to the historic section of savannah by taking the boat to the downtown city dock. You get an occasional wake but nothing horrible. The beauty is you are right in the center of the district with no need to deal with cars. If you do want to do some grocery shopping, they used to have a free bus that did a loop and stopped at a kroger grocery store.
Savannah is a great stop.
Tammy & Michael

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Savannah Hyatt Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Downtown Savannah Waterfront and the Savannah Hyatt Docks

Savannah Hyatt Dock flanks the southern banks of Savannah River, just west of the Savannah City Docks.

I suggested to Malla that it would be a shame to be so close to Savannah, Georgia to miss the opportunity to visit this historic and architypical southern city. It is 20 miles or so out of the way to go up the Savannah River to the city, but we agreed to do it as, if our plans for the future are followed, we will not be back this way again.
I checked out the three facilities on the river which offer transient accommodations and called the municipal dock. The dockmaster cut me off as he was in the midst of assisting a 75 footer, promising to return my call within the hour. We were put off by this facility as it offered no showers, so I wasn’t terribly disappointed when my call was not returned.
Instead, I called the Hyatt, which is located next to City Hall and has 414 feet of dock on the river. I expected the dock to be full of 100 foot megayachts, but Jennifer, the dockmaster, said there was plenty of room and even a 30 amp outlet she could put us near (they advertise 50 and 100 amp service only). We went for that even at the price of $3/foot. The advertised ammenities seemed worth it at only 50-cents more than the other dock. The third facility is at an even more splendiferous hotel than the Hyatt, but it is on the South Carolina side of the river. Even though they offered free ferry
service to the Savannah waterfront, we decided not to go there. We would rather have the old port a step off O.G’s deck.
While we were there, several very large container ships passed by, blocking our view of the opposite shoreline, and so close you could almost reach out and touch them. The ships appear to be longer than the river is wide, and there’s a bend in the river right where we were docked. The pilots must really be on their toes here, yet on more than one ship I saw several officers on wing bridges, taking photographs of the historic riverfront as unconcerned as the gawking tourists who took pictures of the passing ships. The Savannah waterfront is very photogenic, and we took our share of pictures.
We had an fair tidal current when we got back on the ICW but it was not far to the Savannah River where the ebb was flowing vigorously. The current was strong, and we made good less than 4 knots pushing upstream. There is a short cut behind Elba Island, but a 30 foot clearance bridge blocked our passage, costing us several miles going around the long way. Jennifer met us and helped us tie up, giving us the lowdown on what to do, how to do it, and how to find it. I asked
about staying longer than the noon check out time, and she said she was in no hurry to see us leave, suggesting we take the historic bus tour before we departed.
We checked in at the hotel’s front desk and were given a card to display on the boat to indicate that we were paid guests. I listed the date we had arrived and the departure date, and the desk clerk quoted a price double the single night fee. I pointed out that we were only staying one night, and the clerk seemed to be correcting the entry he had made in the computer. Malla didn’t look at the amount and we didn’t discover until we had left that we had been charged for one and a half nights. Jennifer will hear about this on Monday.*
The shower (only one, but very sumptuous) was in the exercise room by the pool. One needed a room key to A) get into the hotel, B) work the elevator, and C) get into the fitness center. No big deal, but it meant taking turns to use the shower, etc.
Savannah’s is a fascinating waterfront, kinda like Newport on steroids. The old cotton warehouses line River Street, complete with a railroad spur and cobblestones from sailing ship’s ballast. The warehouses are three story affairs, now housing shops and restaurants, the top floor connected to the adjacent square, at a higher level, by metal walkways. We climbed up the cobblestones to the park above, and walked to the historic district a few blocks away. Almost everything is pristine and authentic from colonial times.
We were both tired from a busy day on the water, so returned to O.G. before dark after sampling the fare at a Greek restaurant.
We took the 0900 bus tour to learn about historic Savannah. The driver was uninspired. I suppose it is difficult to be inspiring and witty at 0900 on Saturday morning, but I would have preferred a canned schpiel. It didn’t help that those in the back of the bus continued to talk amongst themselves instead of listening to the driver. I was very disappointed. I was annoyed that the bus spent more time in the business district and sped through the residential streets making it
difficult to appreciate Savannah’s architectural splendor which is really what I wanted to see and hear about.
We had an early, unremarkable lunch on River Street, and made a brief visit to the tall ship docked nearby offering “Free Tours.” I couldn’t find out much about her except that she was built in Brazil, a barkentine (look it up on Wikopedia as I did but only to confirm what I thought it was). The hull and rig were unimpressive, but she was nicely finished inside. Then we were gone down river, with the current, by 1300.
Captain Ted Jones

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Savannah Hyatt Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Savannah Hyatt Dock

It’s unfortunate when communications get crossed up which can easily be the case when municipal services are involved. Despite any limitations, Savannah City Docks has…LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! We’re glad Jeff survived his run-in with bureaucracy with a sense of humor!

Don’t waste your valuable time heading for this dock. I called a week ago asked for a reservation, I was told it was 1st come 1st served. NOT TRUE. After tying up (and surviving a divorce) got all set and headed off to pay, we were ready for a little nightlife after many nights up the icw on the hook. Well we phoned a lady by the name of Shawn, we were told we could not stay as there were boats coming in with RESERVATIONS! I told Shawn that we were the only boat, 42′ at the end of the 250 foot dock. She did not seem to care and suggested a dock further up river at $3.50 per foot. It is now 8 PM, five hours later, we had dinner across from the city dock and the dock is still completely empty. Now I need a divorce lawyer.
Skipper Jeff

I think it sounds like a scam to send business elsewhere and a call should be made to the city with a complaint about this.
Susan Dawson

We had a similar problem last year on Memorial Day. We were run off as well. We were told first come-first serve and when you get there there is a number to call. Nobody answered, and next thing you know a police officer came by and made us all leave.
Sea Huddle

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Savannah City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Savannah City Docks

Savannah Hyatt Dock flanks the southern banks of Savannah River, just west of the Savannah City Docks.

Cruising News*: The Hyatt Docks on the Savannah River have been updated and are open to boats 25 ft and up. 416 ft of docks offer electric, water and cable included in the rental fee. The Hyatt also has BoatUS and other seasonal discounts. The Hyatt is right in the middle of the Historic district and everything is close by. The Hyatt also offers many services not offered anywhere else on the river. Jennifer Crovatt runs the docks and is very helpful with questions and local resources. If you are heading to Savannah this is by far the best option. Cheers.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Savannah Hyatt Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Savannah Hyatt Dock

Many have expressed frustration over the payment process at these well-located docks on the waterfront in Savannah. Now we have step-by-step directions!

Stayed at the Savannah City docks for one night on Nov 18th. There is a sign on the docks but for some reason it doesn’t tell you how to pay! To pay ($1.50/ft incl elect and water) you need to go up the alley and two blocks in towards the center of town between two hotels to the parking garage and pay there. Very friendly and helpful folks.
Captain Dick Turner

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Savannah City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Savannah City Docks

The Savannah City Docks flank the Savannah River’s southerly banks, in the heart of downtown Savannah and had been free to boaters for many years. We have JUST updated our info on the Savannah City Docks in our “Georgia Marina Directory’ section. It took forever to actually get a responsible person on the telephone who could answer questions. The short version is these docks are no longer free.

Has anyone stopped at the River St docks in Savannah recently? Have they started any new policies of charging and enforcement?
Captains Greg and Susan Han aboard Allegria

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Savannah City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Savannah City Docks

The River Street Market Place is the southernmost of the three marinas along Savannah’s historic waterfront and is adjacent to the Savannah City Docks. The downstream current here can be swift, but the floating face docks allow manageable tie-ups.

I agree with Pascal. If you want to be in downtown Savannah, this is a good place to be. We walked by the city dock and the power pedestals were covered with trash bags. Somehow, you’re supposed to pay at the parking garage. Also, they don’t take reservations, The River Street Market Place Dock does. It should be noted that this is a “dock”, little more. There are no showers and the restrooms are shared with customers of the River Street Market Place and are locked at night. You do have power and water at no extra charge. No ice either although Chaz volunteered to go get us some. The wakes from ships are not bad, but an occasional private boat or the ferry may produce a wake bigger than you might like. If we return to Savannah, this is where we’ll stay.
Captain Ron

The River Street docks are the place to be and Chaz is ultra helpful. There is a lot of shipping traffic (it’s the second busiest port on the east coast) and we enjoyed watching the big ships go by. You can go to the marinetraffic.com website and see the ships moving up and down the Savannah River and get terrific information about each ship. You can also turn the radio to channels 16 and 13 and listen to the ships and tugs. Savannah is a great city to visit.
Captain Ted Williams

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For River Street Market Place Dock

If you’ve had experience with the trip from Savannah to Sunbury, please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.. Thanks! Sunbury Crab Company Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

How long a boat trip is it to the Sunbury from Savannah? Looking to rent a group tour boat.
Alicia

Bernard Maley, dockmaster at Sunbury, estimates about 60 miles by water from downtown Savannah to Sunbury, which can be a long day depending on type of boat and weather conditions. Bernard had several suggestions for departure points between Savannah and Sunbury to shorten the travel distance. I suggest you call him and discuss your plans. He’s at 912 884 8640 or maley@coastalnow.net. He will be happy to assist you in making your voyage plans.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Sunbury Crab Company Marina

The report below, which originally appeared on the MTOA List-Serve, was in response to earlier reports here on the Cruisers’ Net and other nautical lists, which reported the Savannah City Docks were going to be closed for some time to come on Mondays through Wednesdays for maintenance work. Then, we saw reports that these closures were a thing of the past, so I removed the earlier posting here on the Net. From what Captain Feller says below, sounds like you’d better call ahead to make sure. Follow the link below for a telephone number.
Also, you could always moor at the River Street Market Place Dock, just a tad farther downstream. This facility is also within easy walking distance of Savannah’s wonderful historic district, and its many, many dining attractions.

The phone said it would be closed Mon-Wed, we got here today (Thu) and the worker said it was CLOSED! But not to worry, they got what they needed done and opened the docks this evening….there will b work being done in the next couple of weeks so b sure to call ahead…..ps we found out if u pull into the hyatt dock, u can stay for up to 4 hrs if u buy something in there lounge….cokes count….fyi.
Bill Feller
Knot Tide Down

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For the Savannah City Docks

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For River Street Market Place Dock

So much for free dockage in downtown Savannah! With these new fees, cruisers may want to seriously consider tying their lines at River Street Market Place Dock, just a touch farther downstream, or making use of a marina at nearby Thunderbolt or Isle of Hope. From these latter facilities, it’s only a quick taxi ride into the Savannah Historic and Downtown Business District.

The City of Savannah is preparing to once again charge for docking at the Riverfront Plaza facilities. Per a phone conversation with Shawn Emerson of the Mobility and Parking Services Department, the policy will be in place by the end of May. Bottom line is the fee will be $1.50/ft for 24 hours. Tieing up for less than 3 hours is free. Complete information may be found on the Waterway Guide or City of Savannah websites.
Ted Stehle
Waterway Guide/Skipper Bob Publications

It will be interesting to see how the boating market responds to this. Even though the location is excellent my experience is that the free nature is the main draw of the site. The hotels docks nearby charge around double the 1.50/ft but you have some services especially water and real electricity not the 15amp service (on GFI sockets that do not work with my boat) and that sometimes work and sometimes not. Water bibs are in bad repair and only a few for the whole dock.
I have made this a regular stop but will now have to re-evaluate stopping at Thunderbolt instead. This will free up space for the locals who come to enjoy and afternoon and do not stay overnight and who were probably complaining about all the freeloaders who stayed for days and took all the space.
Aw I will probably stop there again in the fall and pay the freight and remember the good ol days.
Greg and Susan Han
Key Biscayne, FL
Allegria — Krogen Whaleback #16

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For River Street Market Place Dock

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For the Savannah City Docks

There is a passel of useful cruising news in Captain Arnold’s long posting below. Pay particulary attention to his description of visiting downtown Savannah. Wish I could join our “made Englishmen” at “Abes” for a drink of Mount Gay Rum tonight (see below)!

Subject: Cruising Georgia
Cruising News: After (officially) the coldest winter ever in Florida, it’s a relief to again have warmer climes while slowly cruising north “as the azealas bloom”.
Some comments possibly of interest to “snowbirds” enjoying the ICW in Georgia.
1) Bad shoaling to report in the Little Mud River – I registered around 5 ft mid tide and mid channel. At one point the mud blocked up my knotmeter (yet again).
2) A delightful mooring for sure is the Wahoo River at Mile 630. 15ft or so of water and not too bad a current with good solid anchor holding.
3) The infamous Hell Gate cut (Mile 602) has recently been dredged and showed no problems except fairly substantial cross currents. Stay in mid channel and you should be OK.
4) Following irreverent tradition I was able to quaff a gin and tonic and under a full moon armed with such moonshine I managed to moon the Moon River. There are not many people can make such a claim with any degree of authentication.
5) Kilkenny Marina offers a low overnight transient fee, lower than normal diesel cost, and rustic surroundings of bygone days. Watch out for those no see ‘ums however.
6) A pleasant mooring just south of Isle of Hope Marina and you can either dinghy in for general facilities at a sight fee – or dock at everage rate. Very friendly and worth a stroll ashore.
7) Pick an incoming tide to go up-river to Savannah which offers one of the best Free City Docks on the ICW – even including free power and water! You’re right downtown in the Historic District and while touristy it does offer some delightful strolls in the many parks covered in azaleas. Churchills Pub now alas only opens after 5pm but a great little local bar is ‘Abes’ on Lincoln Street very close to the dock. Avoid the costly tour buses but at any normal bus stop the Free Shuttle arrives every half hour to take you to Kroegers grocery store and others. Riverside Park can get a bit noisy at night (it was Spring Break for me) but people walking by constantly seemed to get more enjoyment watching my cat than the variety of guitar players and break dancers. Once a week the City Dock is cleared to allow an American Cruise boat to dock – so check with the Visitors Centre. Overall I would say – Savannah is a MUST. Thank heavens Sherman left it standing!
Soon , fully provisioned and all systems GO, I will set off slowly for Charleston where, as yet, I have failed to find any free dock -or even any marina with low transient rates. If anyone knows of such, please let me know.
Happy Cruising to one and to all.
Cap’n Arnold

Captain Arnold’s photo is of the Pink House Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. He’s quite right. It IS one of our favorites, and pretty much everyone else’s favorite for that matter. Don’t miss it!!!
Cruisers berthing in Thunderbolt or Isle of Hope, can easily take a taxi to and from the Pink House!

And here I am in Savannah – here’s a favourite restaurant of yours I believe. Sunshine and azaleas – Spring has sprung at last
Best
Cap’n Arnold

One of the South’s top restaurants. Have dined here many times. Highly reco’d.
Capt Dave

The exchange of information below was copied from the AGLCA mail list.
I agree that River Street docks is a worthy of consideration along the downtown Savannah waterfront. However, as Captain Bob notes, if you don’t want to make the somewhat lengthy trek off the AICW, upstream on Savannah River to downtown, stop at one of the marinas in Thunderbolt, or nearby Isle of Hope Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR), and take a taxi into the Savannah historic/shipping district! Don’t miss the candy factory on Water Street. The smells wafting from this establishment are indescribable!

Seamantha and crew are on our way to the AGLCA Rendezvous, currently in Daytona Beach. On the way, we would like to visit Savannah, GA for 4 nights, April 8 through April 12.
We would very much appreciate a recommendation of a “dog friendly” marina with good walking access to downtown.
Thank you
John and Paulette Lee and Millie

There aren’t any typical “marinas” within walking distance to downtown Savannah, but there are a few facilities along the long River Street docks that can accommodate your need for “close to town”
and “dog-friendly.”. One that gets good reviews is the River Street Market Place Dock (http://www.riverstreetmarketplace.com/dock). It, like all the docks in the area, is exposed to wakes, which aren’t
usually bad. It is in the heart of the action and there is a park nearby to walk the dog. There is no pump-out or fueling facilities in the area, so you may want to take care of that on the way up. Try
Isle of Hope Marina or Thunderbolt Marine for those services.
Bear in mind that downtown Savannah is several miles off the ICW.
Savannah is worth the visit, even if you stay in a “traditional” marina and take the bus or taxi into town.
Bill

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For River Street Market Docks

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For Isle of Hope Marina

Here is an excellent report on the Savannah City Docks from Captains Dick and Elle. Note the new telephone number, and that there is no longer a docking fee!

Just talked to the City of Savannah about staying over night on their docks. There is a new telephone number 912-651-6470 ext.1 and it is now handled by the Park Service. We were told it is first come first served and presently not charging any fee where in the past it was $1 per foot. You must call in advance for they have a cruise ship that may be in port and take up the whole dock. It is a great stop but be aware you become one of the attractions on the waterfront.
Going there this coming weekend and will report any more onformation if necessary.
Regards,
Dick and Elle Lassman
M/V Summer Wind

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Georgia Marina Directory Listing For The Savannah City Docks

Be SURE to read BOTH notes below, and, then, if anyone else has insights on this issue, PLEASE click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and register your input.

A note to cruisers traveling through Georgia waters. Georgia DNR requires that all boats equipped with a marine toilet must NOT have a “Y” valve in the system. Not Tyraped, not padlocked but removed if one exists.
The law says nothing about transient boats just boats. My local DNR Ranger (Lake Wakter F, George) says that he has not been told to inspect boats for proper plumbing but will do so if ordered to.
Dennis Nichols

Subject: GA marine toilet rules
Cruising News: I believe Capt. Nichols got some garbled info. The Georgia no y-valve law pertains only to certain lakes specifically named in the
regulation–I think lakes George, Hartwell, Russell, Lanier and Thurmond (may of missed some).
John in Augusta

I join with Captain Jenkins in highly recommending the Pink House restaurant in downtown Savannah. If you berth at nearby Thunderbolt, as do most cruisers, an inexpensive taxi ride will get you there. Those who dock at one of the two facilities along the downtown Savannan River waterfront can probably walk in nice weather.

Subject: Savannah Restaurant
Cruising News: Quite possibly the best restaurant in Savannah is “The Pink House”. Try their signature dish which is pan fried flounder. I have dined there many times and have sent family and friends there as well — always with rave reviews. A little pricey but really worth it. Ask any local for walking directions from the city docks.
Capt Dave