Review of Charleston Maritime Center (Cooper River) and Charleston City Marina, AICW Statute Mile 469, Charleston, SC,
Having spent the last five years as a “full-time cruiser” at Charleston City Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, I am naturally biased in its favor. While the Charleston Maritime Center does have a great location, the current that Capt. Laudermilch mentions, as well as the wakes of passing boats, make the Maritime Center a poor choice for a long-term stay.
We spent the winter this year at the Charleston City Marina (Megadock) and were very pleased with it. I would not go in to the Maritime Center on the Cooper River or the City Marina on the Ashley side at other than slack tide if I didn’t have to. The current can be quite swift in either. Lots of folks love the Maritime Center for its proximity to the Harris Teeter, the hardware store, and the dog park. It is also a shorter walk to the main part of town. We like the City Marina much better for a variety of reasons – the docks and the bath facilities, the friendly and helpful staff, the van which takes people downtown every hour on the hour and to West Marine (and an adjacent Harris Teeter) every day at 11:30 AM. The pumpout boat come to your boat pretty much on demand for $5. The dockage prices aren’t
> that much higher than the Maritime Center, but the fuel prices aren’t cheap by any means. If you make a reservation ask to be on M dock near the bath house if possible. This shortens the walk to the parking lot. If you get at the end of the Megadock your shoes will get lots of wear during your stay. Good luck!
PS- If at all possible, time docking at Charleston Marine Center on or near slack. The current can make things exciting. Ask the guys there when it [slack tide] is when you call them for a slip, they’ll help you out.
Jim Laudermilch
48 Hatteras motoryacht “Snail’s Pace”
Have stayed at the Maritime Center marina 3 times, most recently June, 2012. It is my preferred marina in Charleston for the berthing rate and the great location for both groceries (H-T) and restaurants (many). The freighter and Navy traffic in the Cooper River can send a surge into the marina, but power boat wakes on the Ashley River can do the same for the marinas on that side of town.
The marina has recently upgraded the free laundromat to two machine sets, so it is possible to get a complete laundry done in a reasonable amount of time.
For me the only drawback to the marina is the limited number of slips, especially those for boats over 40′. The last two time I was at the marina I had to tie my 42′ sailboat to a 30′ floating dock. That’s not really a problem for me with a mid-ships lifeline gate. Boats with the gate further aft will want to back into one of these slips. If you are not comfortable tying to a 30′ dock, then make a reservation on one of the 40′ docks.
My recommendation is to stay at the Maritime Center if you are going to spend some time in Charleston. If you are just stopping for a night on a forced march up or down the ICW, then by all means use the Ashley River marinas as they are much more convenient.
John
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston Maritime Center
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Charleston City Marina
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