Port City Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR and newly opened for business, is located along the eastern banks of the Cape Fear River, in the heart of downtown Wilmington, NC.

Port City Marina

Truly in the `middle of it all’, the brand-new Port City Marina is your gateway to Historic Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. We believe Wilmington is not just a stop on the way to your destination, Wilmington is THE destination. Don’t take our word for it, Wilmington was recently named the `Best American Riverfront in the Country’ USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice.

Our Marina

Port City is a protected, deep-water Marina on the Northeast Cape Fear River, equipped with state-of-the-art floating concrete wet slips. We have over 6,000 feet of linear dock space covering 10 acres of water. Our amenities include a full-service fuel dock offering Gasoline & High-Speed Diesel, private & secure bathrooms / showers, metered electric (30, 50, & 100 amp / single & three phase), free wireless internet, pet walking areas, daily trash pick-up, complimentary pump-out services for guests, and a marina store. Have a large boat’¦no worries’¦Port City Marina can accommodate boats 250 feet +. We offer daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal & annual rates. We are in the process of installing a large amphitheater on our fixed pier where we will host a range of events from cookouts to live performances. Also coming soon are two new riverfront restaurants, opening in the spring of 2016.

Our Location

We can’t tell you about Port City Marina without bragging about our location. Our Marina is located in the heart of Downtown. Step off of your boat and onto the City’s Riverwalk which puts you within walking distance to all that Downtown Wilmington has to offer. You can eat at a variety of amazing restaurants, explore Wilmington’s scenic array of art and culture, peruse the locally owned shops and boutiques, enjoy some live music, or grab a drink at one of our rooftop bars’“ there is always plenty to do in Downtown Wilmington. Our marina is conveniently located just 3 miles from the ILM airport.

Attractions

No matter what you are into ‘“ Wilmington has something for you! Wilmington has a variety of area attractions including:
Beaches ‘“ Relax at Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach or Kure Beach
History ‘“ Tour the USS North Carolina Battleship (visible from the marina), the Bellamy Mansion, and the Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Family Friendly ‘“ Spend the day at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, visit the Cape Fear Serpentarium, or take a splash at the Jungle Rapids Waterpark.
Parks ‘“ Enjoy one of the many parks in our area including Greenfield Lake, Carolina Beach State Park, Airlie Gardens, and the City’s new North Waterfront Park.
Arts & Culture ‘“ Browse one of the many downtown art galleries, the Cameron Art Museum, or take a tour of Screen Gem Studios where over 400 projects in the area including `Iron Man 3’, `One Tree Hill’ and `Sleepy Hollow’ have been filmed. And tons more.

Plan your next stay at Port City Marina
We realize your boat is a major investment and protecting your investment is just as important as maintaining it ‘“ that’s why you will find our friendly staff, well-secured marina, and ideal location makes Port City a great home away from home.
Directions: Enter the Cape Fear River at Southport, North Carolina. We are located on the Northeast Cape Fear River, approximately 20 miles north of Southport. If you are coming from the North on the ICW, enter the River via Snow’s Cut. We are located approvimately 12 miles north of where Snow’s Cut meets the river. Follow the Cape Fear River north. Along the way you will pass the NC State Port Facility, the USS North Carolina and the scenic downtown Wilmington riverfront. You will pass under one bridge, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. Hail the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge on Channel 18. The bridge has a clearance of 65 feet when down and 138 feet when raised.

Planning your next trip? Think about Port City Marina. Call us at 910.251.6151 and we’ll save a spot for you!

Port City Marina | 10 Harnett Street | Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
Latitude/Longitude (34°14’39″N, 77°57’05″W)
www.portcitymarina.com

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Port City Marina

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Port City Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR and newly opened for business, is located along the eastern banks of the Cape Fear River, in the heart of downtown Wilmington, NC. Skippers Mike and Carol provide our inaugural review of this excellent new marina and we are sure there will be many more to follow!

Larry,
Port City Marina
We recently had the opportunity to spend a couple of nights at Port City Marina on the Wilmington Waterfront and would recommend this marina to anyone who is traveling to Wilmington by water and wanting to stay in a brand-new and well-managed marina.
We saw their ad in the banner section of Salty Southeast Cruisers Net and decided to give them a call. We also planned our trip around a tour of El Galeon, a 170 foot, 495 ton authentic wooden replica of a galleon that was part of Spain’s West Indies fleet in the 16th century. El Galeon was also docked at Port City Marina, so our slip was perfect.
Port City Marina is conveniently located within easy walking distance of downtown Wilmington restaurants and shops. The River Walk which provides a waterfront walkway to the heart of downtown is easily accessed right outside the marina gates. Another plus we found was that the Wilmington free trolley (WAVE) stops right in front of the marina gates. This surprise transportation really came in handy with the rain showers and thunderstorms we experienced for one of our days.
The Marina has state of the art concrete floating docks, 30-50 and 100 amp service, can handle boats up to 250 feet in length and most important, a knowledgeable and helpful staff. Dock Master Josh Alther and his staff made us feel welcome and went out of their way to make our trip there enjoyable. One other note; we noticed that we had little, if any of the effects of the Cape Fear River tidal currents which sometimes brings debris from the river.
We would recommend Port City Marina to anyone traveling to the Wilmington waterfront.
Mike and Carolyn
Hattitude

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Port City Marina

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The decommissioned Frying Pan Light Station is being privately restored as Frying Pan Tower, open to overnight guests. Frying Pan Shoals off the tip of Cape Fear is well known to off-shore cruisers. For more information and lots of photos, visit the Frying Pan Tower website at http://www.fptower.com/history.html.

The Frying Pan Tower – formerly the U.S. Coast Guard Frying Pan Light Station, is a lighthouse situated at the end of the Frying Pan Shoals, 32 miles south of Bald Head Island N.C.
This is the southernmost end of the feared `Graveyard of the Atlantic’ which stretches up to the northern end of the Outer Banks of N.C. The shallow waters of the shoals (only 35-50 feet under the Tower) made ship navigation treacherous so in 1854 a lightship was stationed there. For 110 years, except for a few years during The War Between the States and WWII, crews manned the lightship 24/7 in all weather.
The mission of the project is to protect and preserve the Frying Pan Tower, originally the USCG Frying Pan Light Station.
The restoration of the Frying Pan Tower is being conducted by volunteers; financed through contributions and the donation of needed supplies. This unique part of American history is being preserved so that generations to come will have an opportunity to enjoy what very few people have experienced: the ever changing, never changing life 85′ above the Atlantic Ocean.
The constant struggle to preserve an old, steel structure sited in the middle of an ocean, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean’s `hurricane alley’, is a labor of love and adventure by individuals who wish to see history preserved and shared. Conditions and materials as well as the forces of Mother Nature make it unlikely that this struggle will ever end. It will be an ongoing project for many years, likely decades, as rust and wind and salt and sun takes its toll on the Tower.
The Tower has stood vigilant since 1964, though the light has not been continuously lit since 1992. Now it is lit when crew members and guests return to enjoy and work, to change Old Glory, and to experience a unique and thrilling stay with the birds, the fish, the turtles, the rays and spectacular sky displays.
There are few places in the world such as the Tower and with your help it will be around for years to come!

And this from WGNO TV:

34-miles offshore, ocean hotel offers solitude
POSTED 11:14 AM, JUNE 23, 2015, BY SMARLBROUGH, UPDATED AT 12:05PM, JUNE 23, 2015

http://wgno.com/2015/06/23/34-miles-offshore-ocean-hotel-offers-solitude/

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We have heard nothing but good things about these informative weather and navigation briefings presented “at the dock” at Southport Marina. See /?p=144528. A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Southport Marina is located just west of the Cape Fear River along the northern banks of the Waterway hard by flashing daybeacon #2A. Give them a try and like Skipper Jones, you’ll like it!

From AGLCA’s Forum:
Thanks, Foster, we did make several weather briefings at Southpoint while we waited for Ana to pass. We learned a great deal. Took notes and have used all his info to date. Excellent service Southport provides.
Donadee Jones
“Always Home”
DeFever 47 POC

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Southport Marina

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Progress continues to be made toward the opening of this new SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Port City Marina, which will open for business in a few weeks along the eastern banks of the Cape Fear River, in the heart of downtown Wilmington, NC. See /?p=148108 for photos of the facilities.

BIG Announcement. We mean BIG.
Dear Boating Enthusiast:
We are thrilled to announce the marina opening is not far off!!!! We are finishing up the last minute touches, and are NOW accepting reservations. Our soft opening is June 5th, and we are gearing up for a grand opening later this summer. (Hint: Stay tuned for announcement and invite to our celebration).
We hate to brag, but our location can’t be beat! Did you know you will be able to step off your boat and walk right downtown or along the Cape Fear River on the Riverwalk? Our Downtown is quaint and offers boutique style shopping, lots of good eats, culture, and entertainment. Wrightsville Beach (just one of three nearby beaches) is just 15 minutes away if you want to enjoy a beach sunset or feel the sand on your toes. Need to travel — the Wilmington International Airport is just 5 minutes away from PCM. Whatever you want to do ‘“ Port City Marina is in the middle of it all.
Wilmington is thriving, and we have some really exciting (AND BIG) plans in the works for the marina. Sneak peeks can be found on our website www.portcitymarina.com. On our home page – scroll down to see a cool video of what’s happening at PCM!
Call to schedule a time to come and check us out at 910.251.6151 ‘“ or feel free to reach out directly to our staff.

Marina Manager
Pete Werling
Cell: 910.612.8810
Email: petew@portcitymarina.com

Dockmaster
Josh Alther
Cell: 443.871.1250
Email: josha@portcitymarina.com

No one deserves this honor more than Southport Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, located just west of the Cape Fear River along the northern banks of the Waterway hard by flashing daybeacon #2A. Congratulations Southport!

ValvTect Names Marina of the Year
North Carolina’s Southport Marina Honored

Northbrook, Illinois – In 2006, Preston Development Company of Cary, North Carolina purchased an aging marina in Southport, North Carolina, on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).

What started as a simple remodeling project grew into a multi-million dollar, multi-year rebuild of the entire location. The result is one of the finest full-service marinas along the ICW. With 225 wet slips and 240 dry slips, Southport Marina can dock and service vessels from 20′ to 100′. By balancing Southern Hospitality-based customer service with first-class facilities and amenities, Southport Marinaï‚Ž has become one of the most popular marinas for boaters cruising the ICW, local sport fishermen and local power and sail boaters.

Left to right: Paul Craufurd, ValvTect Regional Manager, Robin Rose of Preston Development, Hank Whitley CMM, of Southport Marina, Thad Moore of Preston Development and Jerry Nessenson, founder of ValvTect Petroleum

`To recognize Southport Marina’s accomplishments for customer service excellence, environmental stewardship, community involvement and marketing of ValvTect Marine Fuels, we are pleased to present the 2014 Certified ValvTect Marina of the Year award,’ said ValvTect founder Jerry Nessenson. The award was presented at the ValvTect Marina of the Year award dinner held last month at the International Marina and Boatyard Conference (IMBC) in Tampa, Florida.

Accepting the prestigious award were Robin Rose and Thad Moore of Preston Development Company (owner’s representatives) and Hank Whitley, CMM (Southport Marina Manager). All stressed their ongoing efforts to make Southport Marina a destination for transients and local boaters alike. `By striving to exceed our customer’s expectations we have been able to develop strong loyalty from both transient and local boaters,’ said Hank Whitley. `Throughout the renovation process, our effort to build a top-notch facility was accompanied by a focus on environmental impact. Our efforts have earned us Certified Clean Marina status by North Carolina and the appreciation of our customers,’ said Thad Moore. `We are proud to support the nation’s veterans and our community by hosting the Military Appreciation Day Fishing Event, sponsoring the North Carolina Maritime Museum and various other community activities,’ added Robin Rose.

In addition to the 2014 Certified ValvTect Marina of the Year, Southport Marina was recently named as one of the Top 25 Marinas in North America by Power and Motoryacht magazine. It also earned the 2013 Marina Dock Age Marina of the Year and received the Southport Chamber of Commerce `Golden Pineapple Award’ for Excellent Customer Service.

More about Southport Marina: Southport Marinaï‚Ž is located on the ICW at mile marker 309 approximately 30 miles south of the Port City of Wilmington, NC. It is the first mainland marina upon entering the Cape Fear River Channel from the Atlantic Ocean, which is the passage all ships enter to come to Wilmington. Southport is a full service marina and boat yard that services boaters cruising the ICW as well as local fishermen, recreational power and sail boaters. There are 225 wet slips for boats from 30′ to 225′, 260 dry slips, 2 boat ramps, a 75 ton lift and ValvTect Marine Gasoline and ValvTect Marine Diesel. We also provide housing for NC Boat Rentals, MarineMax, Freedom Boat Club and North Sails and have been certified as a Clean Marina in North Carolina.

More about ValvTect Petroleum: ValvTect Petroleum Productsï‚Ž is the largest supplier of fuel additives to the nation’s fuel distributors that supply specially formulated fuels under its brands of ValvTect Marine Fuels, Diesel Guard Premium Diesel, ThermoGuard Heating Oil, AgriGuard Farm Fuel and BioGuard. It is also a major supplier to the nation’s largest fleets and engine manufacturers. In the marine industry, approximately 700 Certified ValvTect Marinas in 42 states supply ValvTect Marine Fuels, which are `specially formulated for marine engines’.
Courtesy of Boating Magazine: http://www.boatingmag.com/valvtect-names-marine-year

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Southport Marina

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This response to an AGLCA Forum request for dry storage on the Atlantic coast comes from SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Bennett Brothers Yachts in Wilmington, NC. Patricia Bennett was recently featured by Marina Life Magazine, see /?p=145444.

Bennett Brothers Yachts is a AGLCA sponsor and we can accommodate catamarans! Our 70 Ton lift pit has a width of 26 ft so a beam of 22 ft is not a problem. We are located on the Northeast Cape Fear River in historic
Wilmington, NC. Height is not a restriction! Long term dry storage is available for monohulls as well as multihulls. Please call Tricia Bennett for details – 910.772.9277, www.bbyachts.com
Patricia Donovan Bennett
President
Bennett Brothers Yachts, Inc.
Cape Fear Marina
1701 J.E.L. Wade Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401
www.bbyachts.com
910.772.9277

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina

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The marked entry channel to Deep Point Marina – A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! – lies northwest of Cape Fear River/AICW marker #20.

Just left Deep Point Marina and can’t say enough great things about the staff, facility and the other boaters I met there. Everyone was extremely hospitable and ready to help with whatever you needed. Historic Southport is a good two miles away from the marina so a ride is needed. Also, there are no grocery stores in historic Southport so you need to go a little farther to get to a Food Lion or Walmart. However, there are lots of great restaurants in Southport. Try Loco Joe’s for an incredible pork sandwich and Bernie’s for a deep fried croissant! Docking fee was extremely reasonable and since we arrived in December there was a special on top of that for staying three days. We will come back!
Marcia

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Deep Point Marina

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Cape Fear Marina and Bennett Brother Yachts, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, continues to provide excellent service as well as convenient access to the many attractions Wilmington has to offer, including two new restaurants: Catch, with award winning local Chef and Food TV celebrity, Keith Rhodes at 6623 Market Street, 910-799-3847 and Dock Street Oyster Bar, ranked #11 out of 409 picks for 2014 by Tripadvisor, 12 Dock Street, 910-762-2827.
Along with the friendly folks at Cape Fear Marina, such haute cuisine makes the trip up the Cape Fear River very alluring!

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina

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Patricia Bennett, President of Bennett Brothers Yachts, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, has been honored in this article by Ellen Honey in Marina Life Magazine.

Women in Boating
INTERVIEWS OF WOMEN IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY
Written by Ellen Honey
Once a rarity in the marine industry, women now often play a central role, whether that’s at the wheelhouse, in the galley, or at the helm of the entire operation. Some arrived at their position via family, others through serendipity or determination, but they are all passionate about their boating careers.

PATRICIA BENNETT
President, Bennett Brothers Yachts
Patricia assumed full responsibility at Bennett Brothers Yachts and Cape Fear Marina in Wilmington, North Carolina, when her husband and partner, Paul Bennett, passed away in 2007.

Tricia is used to preparing for hurricanes, but nothing could have prepared her for the recession that swept the industry in 2008. Conservative by nature, she was able to survive and grow, and is optimistic about the current uptick in the marine industry. Customers aren’t just doing necessary mechanical repairs but are now redoing their hulls. Recent projects include repainting a 72-foot Marlow Explorer and the Wilmington Fire Department fireboat.

Tricia has no plans to slow down. She labels herself a `demanding leader’ who expects 110 percent from employees because, `I give 110 percent every day.’ Two of her four children are interested in helping her further develop and enhance the marina and boatyard, located in one of the fastest growing areas in the country. No doubt, this energetic woman will keep pace with the growth of her surroundings.

For more on this story, go to: http://www.marinalife.com/magazine/403-women-in-boating

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina

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Our recommendation to Skipper Harllee is to call Southport Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, located just west of the Cape Fear River along the northern banks of the Waterway hard by flashing daybeacon #2A. Their daily Weather and Navigation Briefings (see /?p=144528) more than qualify them to provide needed advice and up-to-date information on the Cape Fear river. However, I’m sure Skipper Harllee would welcome your advice as well!

My husband and I have cruised on the Cape Fear River several times from Southport, NC to the Wilmington area in our 27 foot Ranger Tug (single screw) with no problems. But yesterday (Thursday, October 30) we faced confused seas and had difficulty with the run from Snows Cut south to Southport. The wind was only around 12 to 13 knots, but it was from an unusual direction, from the northwest. We tried to time our run for slack current, but obviously we miss calculated and had a following wind and we were going into the current. Very uncomfortable, rough chop and we were glad we finally made it to Southport. Since we plan more trips on the Cape Fear River, does anyone have any advice regarding how to time our trip to match the current and the wind? How do we get accurate information on the Cape Fear current? Thanks so much!
Jo Ann

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Southport Marina

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This reader is seeking advice about navigation Frying Pan Shoals from east to west at the large shoal off the tip of Cape Fear. If you have experience in those waters, let us hear from you!

Hi! I have a quick question that I am hoping that you can answer. We currently dock a 20 foot boat in Wrightsville Beach. We are looking to move to an older 45-50 foot Viking by July of 2015. At that time we may move to Southport area as our hailing port. I am originally form up north and still learning the NC waters. Is it possible to navigate across the FP shoals at the 3 mile line or do you need to be closer to the FP Shoals Slue or the territorial line. Looking at a chart is appears that the 3 mile line depth is a bit variable.
Thank you in advance for your time reviewing this note.
Regards, Tom
Thomas N. Denny

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Here’s a good plug for Wilmington and for Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, located on the eastern banks of the northeast Cape Fear River, just north of the Isabel Holmes – Highway 133 bascule bridge, and only a hop, skip and jump from the downtown Wilmington waterfront.

When traveling in the region consider touching base with Wilmington NC.
Just a short passage up the Cape Fear River will provide a bounty of provision options. Bennett Brothers Yachts @ Cape Fear Marina can haul 70 tons and provide a mechanical second opinion that could make the run up the river worth while.
Consider the “Fun to Fuel Burn” formula when making a decision to visit.
Can’t put a dollar value on the fun you will have in Historical Wilmington.
See you soon!
Peter Kurki
http://www.bbyachts. Com

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina

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