At the mouth of the channel into Carolina Beach and on the ocean side of the AICW, Joyner Marina is immediately east of the AICW’s turn into the eastern mouth of Snows Cut.

To get a change of scenery from our home marina, we have just spent the last month (April 2010) at Joyner Marina. This place has been nothing short of fantastic! Tim and his staff has made us feel very welcome (to the point of seriously considering moving there full-time). Wi_Fi signal is strong, floating docks are new and nice, and bathroom facilities are very good. The fuel docks are easy to get to, but the entrance to the marina is a bit tricky in high winds and swift current. It would be nice if they had a courtesy car available as the marina is in a residential part of Carolina Beach and shopping and eating (other than one place) are several miles away.
Being right on the ICW, there is a little rolling from passing boat traffic, but the breakwater does a really good job and the marina is well protected. The great view more than makes up for that, and if you like to watch boats go by’¦ this is the place for you.
One of the best things about Joyner is its proximity to beautiful Carolina Beach. It’s just a five minute walk to a huge sandy beach that allows camping and driving on the beach. A long walk on the beach is a `must do’ while you are there.
The new management and staff there are doing an amazing job. They are really trying to engage the boaters with day trips and cook-outs. You can tell they want your business. Joyner Marina has been a great experience for us. We will stop there from now on when passing by Carolina Beach and may decide to make it a permanent home in the future.
Captain Tom Beaty

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

Carolina Beach no longer has any transient dockage for transient visitors south of Snows Cut, though you can anchor, as described below, or pick up a slip at Joyner Marina, just east of Snows Cut’s easterly mouth..

One of our regular anchorages. Anchored here 4-20-10 in 9 ft MLW. There is now a very unattractive bait barge (selling bait I guess) anchored in the middle of the cove. Doesn’t interfere with anchoring though.
Jean Thomason

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Carolina Beach Anchorage

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

Moving south on the AICW, Bridge Tender Marina will come abeam to the west, immediately south of the Wrightsville Beach swing bridge. These waters are a marina rich environment, with many choices that cruisers may pick from.

Stayed there 3/17. Nice people. Showers are in a public restroom and not available after 5PM. Only about a half mile walk thru a very safe neighborhood to a grocery, general hardware store, and a West Marine. Also, about a block from the marina is a shop that sells model boats with some of the best you have ever seen on display.
Sykes
SV Aquarius

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

To easily access Seapath Yacht Club (transient dockage is usually readily available), you must leave the AICW just south of the Wrightsville Beach Bridge, and traverse Motts Channel. This passage can get shoally between dredging cycles. Call Seapath for the latest channel info.

This was our 3rd stay at Seapath. It is an easy marina to dock at and use of the courtesy car is a plus. We might have hit them on an off day, but I found the crew not as friendly and helpful as our last visits. Bought fuel ( diesel ) for $2.99/gal.
Larry Morrow

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Seapath Yacht Club

Glad to hear that Harbour Village Marina is once again emphasizing services for transients. This facility features a very sheltered harbor.

Subject: Harbour Village Marina
Cruising News: First off, so sorry to hear about your Mom.
We just tied up in Hampstead at Harbour Village Marina. We’ve learned that transients are now welcome at any empty slip and not just the fuel dock. You still need to call the dockmaster on the phone to make a reservation. The attitude of the community seems to have changed in these trying economic times and all are once again welcome. The Chinese restaurant still delivers to your boat and there is a new Italian restaurant that does the same. This is a great stop if you don’t want to run all the way to Wrightsville Beach from Morehead City/Beaufort.
Bill
Tapestry – Krogen 58

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Harbour Village Marina

The Banks Channel Northside Anchorage is truly a great spot to drop the hook, with nearby public dinghy dockage, plus shopping and dining within walking distance. The only problem I’ve ever had with this haven is that the most direct approach from the AICW is by way of Motts Channel, and this passage is subject to periodic shoaling.

We are currently lying in this anchorage and agree it’s not sheltered from southwesterly winds and only marginally better for northeasterly winds. The channel in easy to follow >if< you allow for the shoal NE of the R’14’³. Holding seems to be good. Wakes can be an issue, particularly with small boat traffic running along the SE shore. The `not Rum Runner’ location is the Blockade Runner hotel.
Rick Emerson

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For

As Captain Dave notes below, it’s a very good idea to call the bridge tender prior to your arrival at her/his span, to check on the latest vertical clearance stats.

Subject: Bridge clearances
Cruising News: The Socastee and Wrightsville Bridges both have 20 foot clearances listed. When we passed Socastee they had 22 feet which allowed us to pass without an opening – and Wrightsville Bridge a short time later had 17 feet which did require an opening as we need 20\’. We learned that a call ahead to ask what the real clearance is proved useful.
Dave
on GB 46 At Last

The information below from Captains Ashley and Carol is important. It’s good to know that the “Carolina Beach Anchorage” does not have holding ground appropriate for heavy weather. We have never dropped the hook here when the wind really had its dander up, so this is news to me, but news well worth knowing!

This is good anchorage in but not in heavy weather. My boat and one other were anchored here in a heavy NE gail, winds 35 kts and greater. Both of us dragged and tried reanchoring several times. We both finally had to go to a marina. The marina at marker `4’³ was kind enough to let us both tie up at his fuel dock for 2 days. All of the bridges going north were closed due the high winds and there was no traffic anyway. The locals told me afterwards that the bottom there is not good holding in heavy weather.
Ashley and Carol,
S/V Blind Date

I anchored in this location in Oct 2001, with a Catalina 400. Plenty of room
Jim

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Carolina Beach Anchorage

On 7/23/09, as part of a “North Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

50. Near Statute Mile 280, southbound cruisers will pass under the restricted Wrightsville Beach Bridge, and a whole array of marinas will open out before you. I’m sure many of you have berthed at one or another of these area marinas recently. Please described your experiences, and give recommendations. Also, did you have any good dining spots in Wrightsville.

Responses follow:

We stayed at the Bridge Tender Marina last summer and were pleased with the service. It is immediately south of the bridge and we very easily cast off and made the first opening heading north the next morning. Great food at the restaurant at that marina.
Pat Cummins, s/v Kentris

Wrightsville Beach Marina (just south of the bridge) is a great quick and easy stop on the ICW. Again, it lies right along the channel so if you can, ask for a spot on the inside of the fuel dock. If not, it’s not too bad on the outside as other boaters tend to respect the No Wake Zone in this marina congested area. There is fuel there, good bath facilities, as well as a nice restaurant, and plenty of marine services nearby if you need them. Last year I had to have some AC work done while in route and was able to coordinate it so they were at the dock when I arrived. Dock Master and staff are very helpful and friendly.
Peter

We stayed at Wrightsville Beach Marina in May, and while a little pricey ($2.25/ft) it was a lot of fun and facilities are good. You are hard by the large and active Bluewater restaurant and bar, but all in all a festive atmosphere, especially with all the boats `cruising’ up and down the ICW on a beautiful late spring weekend. The highlight of the visit was dinner at the Buoy 32 restaurant about three blocks east towards the beach. This is truly a first class gourmet spot, and we have eaten at some very nice places in our time, all over the world. There is also an excellent beer and wine shop a block closer to the marina on the way to Buoy 32, especially if you are an aficionado of micro brewery labels. We had only passed through or anchored overnight in Wrightsville before this, little did we know what we’d been missing!
George Hechtman
Incentive, Hatteras 56MY

Click Here For More Information About Wrightsville Beach Marina

Click Here For More Information About Bridge Tender Marina

On 7/23/09, as part of a “North Carolian Wish List,” I posed the following question:

51. Just southwest of the principal Wrightsville waterfront, mariners can turn southeast into the Motts Channel. This shoal prone passage leads to a good marina, and the best anchorage in the area. However, as hinted at above, Motts is subject to shoaling, and has to be dredged regularly. Who has cruised this passage within the last several months? What depths did you discover.

Responses follow:

Spent next night in Wrightsville Beach Marina just south of the bridge. Very nice facility but had lots of current to deal with when docking. Helpful dockhand got us in as we had no thruster due to electrical failure. Had very good meal in seafood restuarant adjacent to marina. There was also a small breakfast place right across the street that was recommended to us but we did not get to.
Thanks for a great website.
John Thayer
M/V Anna Suzanne

Click Here For More Information Concerning Wrightsville Beach Marina

On 7/23/09, as part of a “North Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

53. The Motts Channel eventually leads southeast to the Banks Channel. Here you will find many vessels anchored south of the 8-foot fixed bridge. Who has dropped the hook here? Did you find and make use of the nearby dinghy dock? Can anyone give us some shoreside dining and shopping recommendations.

Responses follow:

Banks Channel anchorage is fun because there are boats from all over. The dinghy dock is good for going ashore.
Wright and Gladys Anderson
First & Ten

We anchored in Wrightsville Beach across from the ‘¦not RUM Runner’¦but some kind of ‘˜Runner’ and took advantage of city’s very nice dinghy dock, were able to use our bikes’¦and rode to West Marine
Bill & Laura Bender
M/VKindred Spirit III

We were a week late getting to Wrightsville Beach, (due to extending our stay by a week at Barefoot Landing Resort Marina, arriving on the 3rd of July. Unfortunately, I forgot about the holiday weekend and didn’t have a marina reservation. We anchored south of the 8-foot bridge. Not having a dingy, we were boat-locked but had a wonderful time anyway. Went swimming by the boat to enjoy the beautiful blue water. Many boats were in the anchorage. One could almost walk from boat to boat.
Perry & Kathy Sellars
M/V Marsh Mellow

We have anchored there and found the holding good. The dinghy dock is excellent. A short walk to a small grocery/wine/beer shop. A longer walk to Motts Channel Seafood, but they have a dinghy dock for customers. Excellent seafood.
James Lea

Click Here For More Information Concerning the Banks Channel Anchorage

On 7/23/09, as part of a “North Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

52. Along Motts Channel, between markers #23 and #21, transient friendly Seapath Yacht Club guards the northerly banks. Who has berthed here? Please describe your experience. Any good eating places within walking distance

Responses follow:

Seapath Yacht Club was great (about $2/foot/day on the face dock in a no wake zone, with a beautiful marsh view). Friendly staff and boaters at the docks, with a nice courtesy van that you can use for an unlimited amount of time to shop or travel to a restaurant, provided there is no one else waiting for it. We were there for three weekdays so it was not an issue. There is a very nice (large) public park just across the street from the marina. Breakfast at the Causeway Café was very good, dinner at the Oceanic was great with a wonderful view of the Beach The Fish House Grill was also good, near the Intracoastal bridge. Nothing is what I would call within easy walking distance, though.
Chuck Tontsch

Click Here for More Information on Seapath Yacht Club

The following discussion concerning Masonboro Inlet is copied from the Net’s “Ask Your Neighbor” page and the AGLCA mailing list.
Note that the term “direct route” below refers to the Shinn Creek passage from the AICW to Masonboro Inlet. Alternately, you can follow Motts Channel east from the AICW, past Seapath Yacht Club, and then turn south on the Banks Channel, thereby eventually reaching the inlet.

Is there good water between the ICW in Wrightville Beach and on out Masonboro Inlet? How is Masonboro Inlet? We draw 5′ on a 55ft boat.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.

The Masonboro inlet is a fine inlet. We are local. Just be careful to follow bouys, etc.
Miss Liberty

You can safely take the direct route out the inlet if headed north or go through the Wrightsville town area On the direct route be careful at the ICW intersection especially on point at the north side
Everywhere there Low tide is a problem
Greg and Susan Han

On the trip north, we traveled outside from Masonboro to Beaufort inlet. Other than massive traffic, it was the 4th of July, we didn’t experience any problems with either inlet. We followed Motts – Banks channel route to Masonboro with no problems, following the charted channel. One thing most may already know is to keep an eye out for smaller, 20 ft or less, stationary boats fishing in the inlet channel.
Perry & Kathy Sellars
M/V Marsh Mellow

The last info I had on Harbour Village was that transients were being accomodated at their fuel dock. Wone if they’ve expanded their transient space?

Claiborne:
Anyway I left and tonight am in Harbour Village Marina in Hampstead NC. I normally stay in Beach House Marina but what with the Easter weekend Beach house was full.
Harbour Village Marina also is a nice protected marina with good cable and wifi. The only issue with them is that you normally need to contact them by phone and VHF will not get them a lot of the time. The only food delivery places are Dominos pizza and a Chinese place. The entrance channel is well marked and was dredged (12 feet mid tide) and new docks since last I was here in 2005.
Pat Banyas
s/v Marguerite

Click Here For More Information On Harbour Village Marina

Interesting review of Seapath Yacht Club Marina. I especially like that they have a courtesy car.
This facility is located just off the AICW, by way of Motts Channel, which cuts east from the Waterway, south of Wrightsville Beach Marina.

Hi Claiborne
I am indeed headed north. I spent last night at Seapath in WrightsvilleBeach and although I like their docks and the ease of getting in and out I can attest that their not really transient oriented. Their bathroom/shower is one single room. The dock hands are great and regardless the current or wind the face dock is easy to mate to and never rocks too much. Their wifi is very poor though if you are not right up close to their dock office. Last night the Waterway Guide people spent the night there and seem like nice people but of course they were right up next to the office! Seapath also has a nice courtesy car that always works.
Pat Banyas
s/v Marguerite

Click Here For More Information On Seapath Yacht Club

As Captains Jackie and Lynn note below, Joyner marina has risen from the one-time location of Oceanic Marina. This location is found almost due east of the AICW's easterly entrance into Snows Cut.

For those who are planning on coming up the ICW through NC, the old Oceanic Marina has been totally rebuilt and very modern with new floating docks, fuel, pump out, marine supplies, free Wi-Fi, cable, etc. The marina is now named Joyner Marina and the phone number is 910-458-5053. Their web site is www.joynermarina.com . If you dock there, I would recommend that you not dock on the fuel dock as considerable boat traffic goes by but they have good access to well protected docks inside the bulkhead and rock jetty.
I have no association with the marina but with the Carolina Beach State Park Marina not operational this year, Joyner marina and Federal Point Yacht Club would be good choices.
Hope the info is helpful.
May you have fair skies and calm seas,
Capt. Jackie and Capt. Lynn Millikin
Nauti Dreams

At one time, the facility discussed below was not accepting any transient vessels. Now, I’m told, they will take a few at their fuel dock.

HAMPSTEAD (9/8). Harbour Village Marina has gone condo, OK for slip owners, not so for transients. We remembered cable TV, courtesy car, etc., but all are gone now. We stayed there because the Onslow Beach swing bridge had a hydraulic malfunction just as it was to open for us. We enjoyed a three hour lunch break rafted up on the hook with another southbound cruiser by the shores of the beautiful Camp Lejeune artillery range.
Regards, Nita and Rick George aboard MV Hale Kai

Click Here For More Information On Harbour Village Marina