On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:

18. Statute Mile 716.5 ‘“ Those of you who docked overnight, or longer, at Fernandina Harbor Marina, please give us your impressions of this marina. Is it still the case that adequate depths are only found along the outermost pier? Did you dine ashore? If so, please give us some dining recommendations for downtown Fernandina Beach.

Responses follow:

I spent a month at the city marina 2 years ago and really liked it. I Was on an inside slip with 5′ foot draft and no problems. The town of Fernandina has good restaurants, pubs a plenty, shops, and fresh shrimp off the boats.The only problem is the air get foul from the cardboard plants during inversions. Its very convienent to a class A inlet to the Ocean.
Bill Owens
S/v snow goose

They removed the inner docks [while they] were dredging when we were there last month. Should be finished by now. You may want to give them a call and get the details. Cheap fuel is still availabel next door at Consolidated. Just remember they close on weekends.
John Winter

We Spent two weeks at FHM for the MTOA Rendevous. We were at an inside dock (#34) and found 5ft at low tide. I believe that they did some dredging earlier this year to alleviate the depth problems. We ate at Le Clos, a French restaurant which was excellent. Also at Lulu’s at the Thompson House, also excellent. Had lunch at the 4th Street Deli & Dessert. Their sandwiches are simply great. Lots of excellent places to dine in this very friendly boaters town.
Werner Steuernagel;
“It’s About Time”
35ft PT Trawler

We stayed at Fernandina Harbor marina for one night in December 2012. Our experience this time wasn’t as good as last time because they asked us to dock on the inside of the face dock. We had a difficult time backing out of there since the current is very strong and we were pinned between 2 boats. I had asked if it was easy to get in and out of there and they said ‘sure’. NOT!!
The face dock had plenty of room and the weather wasn’t bad. I don’t know why they made us go inside but I made a big note to specifically ask for the outside if we ever go back.
We had dinner at Pablo’s. It wasn’t as good as the last time we were there (at their old location.) We would try someplace else next
time. The seafood place (Atlantic Seafood) right next to the marina is a great place to get fresh shrimp right off the boats!
Harriet Hardy
sv Moondance

Claiborne,
We were at Fernandina Harbor Marina starting on March 22, 2013 for a 5 night stay as we work our way from Marathon back to our VA base on our 37′ sailboat. This town is a good base to shuttle crew back and forth to Jacksonville airport. For this visit we took an inside slip rather than the inside of the face dock as we have done in the past. They have a reduced rate for the inside slips. I was not sure if we would be able to get an inside slip since dredging of the inside area was underway when I initially called and it was delayed due to high winds. They had finished the dredging just before we arrived. Our slip showed a depth of 6′ at low during our visit which is fine since we draw only 4.5′. As usual the dock help here was excellent, at the slip before we arrived and skilled in handling the lines. FYI – you do not want to be on the outside of the long face dock in unsettled weather with West wind, they generally save this space for the larger (>50′) vessels and on the inside you will sleep much better.
Fernandina is a great stop on the waterway, such a relieve from some of the congestion of FL. We once again visited our favorite upscale restaurant in town, Espana, with wonderful Spanish food. It is very popular with locals, so call or use Open Table for a reservation. We discovered a new Italian restaurant in town, Arte Pizza on 109 N 3rd St a few blocks off the main drag, where we had a great pie and wonderful salad. While there we met three generations of the Italian family who have moved here from New York to open this place. It is
currently on the small side and very busy, but nevertheless everyone was hustling and the good food kept coming out. They have an addition under construction.
We love to cook local seafood on board so this is the perfect place to stock up. There is a fresh fish market right at the marina where locals pull up and unload some of their catch to the owner. We left this time with snapper and shrimp, while on past visits have left with soft shell crabs and blue crab meat to make our own crab cakes. Another favorite spot is the book store a few blocks up the
main drag on the righthand side run by a very knowledgeable woman with respect to local lore, including historical fiction, fiction, and history of the area. We have read much now on Cumberland Island, Jekyll Island, American Beach on Amelia and more all from this store. Just up the block from the bookstore is a locally made fudge shop with ice cream as well. It was awarded 5 Stars by our 6 year old grandson.
Also of interest for readers of this site, we did stop here on our way south in 2012 to acquire our FL Sojourner’s permit at the courthouse. Only one woman on the staff was familiar with doing this. We had printed the form out in advance based on info found on this site. We have a US Coast Guard documented vessel without a state registration since VA does not require one. We had a copy of the
CG paperwork with us. She asked about the lack of state registration, but when we explained VA does not require it – “no problem” and issued us a sticker for $82.75 Reg. Tax and $2.75 County Fee.
Harry Burns
S/V Two for the Roads

Stayed dockside 25-26 March. Windy so staff placed us inside at the second dock back from the facing dock. We draw 4.5′ and had no difficulty. Marina staff very helpful. Arrived after 5PM and with foul weather we dined onboard. Shower and laundry facilites were very good and only a short walk away.
Tom Callan
o/b Great Escape
53 DeFever POC

Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina. WiFi weak but plans are underway for a significant improvement. Salty Pelican in located on the waterfront just north of Center St (main street) great place for sailors. Keep to green side of ICW north of Shave Bridge all the way up to the curve that takes you to the Rayonier Paper mill, just south of Fernandina. Shoaling to the west.
Joe Blanchard

Just spent a week there, great marina and the staff does an excellent job of making you feel welcome. We were on D dock back almost to the dinghy dock area and had depths of 4+ ft even at low tide.
A couple of great dinning recommendations:
1. The Happy Tomato, located just down the side street by the ice cream/fudge shop. They smoke their own ribs right on site and rank right up there with the best I’ve had anywhere.
2. Peppers Mexican just a little further up Center St has a wide variety of selections, all reasonably priced, on their menu. Good food and quick service.
There is also a fabulous bicycle shop there. At the top of Center St on the right behind a burger place. Bikes take a beating from the salt traveling the ICW and ours were no exception. We took advantage of his advertised “tune up special” and were very pleased. Full check up, lube the crank bearings, new pedals on one and new ft bearings on the other all for less than 70 bucks.
Fernandina Harbor Marina is always a happy stop for us when cruising.
David Doyle

Favorite! Best staff. Has been dredged – plenty of water inside face dock. Bretts Waterway, plenty downtown.
John Wild

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fernandina Harbor Marina

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