After reading the interesting listing of pros and cons below, we think you will agree that the positives of SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Jekyll Harbor Marina, far outweigh the negatives!
This first-class facility flanks the AICW passage through Jekyll Creek, immediately south of the Jekyll Island high-rise bridge.

Cruising News:
What we like about being on our boat at Jekyll Harbor Marina:

The Hot tub is Hot! Thanks Terry!
The pool is always shaded by beautiful Live Oaks adorned with Spanish moss and is always Cold!
The showers are clean! Thanks V! The new renovations are nice. Thanks Randy!
The docks float and are concrete, the potable water is clean and each slip has a connection with a dock box.
The WiFi is strong enough for NetFlix! Thanks Doc!
The facedock is always full of interesting transients.
The Parking is close by and shaded by the beautiful Live Oaks!
The new bike trail is safe and goes over to the old mansions and “The Club” or the beach connecting to 25+ miles of bike trails.
The market, post office and other stores are a short bike ride away.
The fishing is great! Especially aboard the “FatBoy” Thanks Alex and Brian!
The dock hands are experienced and helpful. Thanks Wes!
The staff are respectful, professional and helpful. Thanks Megan!
Our neighbors are wonderful friends.
The Marina host potlucks and cookouts! Thanks Scott!
Angie makes the best BBQ Ribs ever!
The Jekyll Bubble actually exists! We have watched storms go around us. Last major storm was 1898.
Riding bikes through the Historic District early in the AM. Nice because there are almost no people. Riding on the beach early, nice because you see turtle tracks and the Sea Turtle Center marks the nests.
The marina is scheduled for dredging soon! Thanks Scott!
We have a onsite surveyor and delivery Captains! Thanks Frank and Lynn!
We have Boat US onsite! Thanks Rich!
Music and drinks on the dock for Sundowners.
Our boat insurance rates are lower here than 60 miles south in Florida.
We don’t smell the paper mills in Brunswick.
Shark tooth hunting. Shelling. Watching the Bald Eagles and seeing Deer, Alligators and Raccoons on the bike rides.
We have the most awesome sunsets over the marsh.
The State park is a gated, state trooper patrolled community.
The beautiful beaches are mostly deserted during the week days.
Drift Wood Beach is remarkable in it’s beauty.
Cumberland Island and other great anchorages are a short boat trip away.
We are safe and secure at our homeport.

What we don’t like about being at Jekyll Harbor Marina:
The no see ums that swarm when the wind dies down. The good side is they keep the “Disneyland” type tourists from visiting!
The water in the ICW is dark brown from the silt and tannin. The good side is If the water was clear and there were no bugs then the place would be developed worse than any tourist trap in Florida.
One of the Live Oaks fell and crushed a car we were fond of, but the insurance paid off so we could buy another. Thanks State Farm!
Idiots that speed on the island!
Idiots that speed on the water!
Idiots that don’t stop or slow down for people on bikes even in the crosswalks.
Fishing and catching stingrays.
We fear that developers will some how get control and their greed will destroy this Jewell of the Golden Isles.
It is 30 miles to downtown Woodbine Georgia the home of Capt. Stan’s Smokehouse. This restaurant needs to be onsite. We all have to die from something and I choose BBQ and fresh oysters! The onsite restaurant just does not get the message.
The new traffic gate seems to slow the trip back on to the island instead of making things more efficient.
Tourists that walk the dock looking into the boats and generally being annoying.
Tourists that throw their trash out on the roads, beach and the water.
There is no music on the docks since Andy and Diana have gone to the Chesapeake for the summer.
Captain Sonny

In regards to the note below from Jim Smiley, PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THE REPLY from Jekyll Harbor Marina dockmaster, Scott Todd! We think this clarifies the entire situation, and, may we add as an editorial comment, that the entire Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net team is very impressed with Captain Todd’s management of this fine facility!

I agree with most of the positives, but need to add a couple of negatives . . . several years ago we were at the dock when a tropical storm was approaching. At that time (and maybe now) the marina had a contract with a large river cruise liner. On the morning of the storm the cruise ship decided to return to the marina to ride out the storm. Three boats (included ours) were . . . told to leave. The result was that we were kicked off the dock in 30 kts of wind. No fun crossing GA sounds in that kind of wind. After a very trying day we anchored safely in Cattle Pen Creek. Since that incident we have not stayed at the marina unless the tides were unfavorable for doing Jeckyl Creek.
Jim Smiley

To All Boaters:
My name is Scott Todd, the new manager of Jekyll Harbor Marina. I want to thank Sonny Reeves for the very kind words about Jekyll Harbor. Jim, I would also like to comment on your concern however, I can’t speak for what happened prior to my arrival. Let me start off by saying we do NOT nor will we ever have a standing contract with any boat or company that would supersede any other vessel or owner. However, we do protect vessels that have reservations at our Marina. The cruising company that you are referring to makes their reservations in November each year for dockage during the Spring. When those ships arrive for their reservations we honor that reservation. Likewise, if we gave any transient boater their reservation, we view that as a contract. Unfortunately some times boaters decide to stay longer at our marina due to weather, when that happens I still have to honor reservations made prior to the bad weather. It really puts us in a delicate situation but rarely are we put into that position. Furthermore, we won’t ask boats that had reservations to leave, we would be forced to ask the vessels that stopped in due to weather first. Having said that, it is also our policy now to warn vessels when they check in during inclement weather if it appears there may be a potential issue similar to the above. Jim, I would love to talk to you further regarding this matter so if you would please call me at your convenience at (912) 635-3137 so that I could make this right in your eyes. Once again Thank You all for your positive feedback but thank you even further for the opportunity to answer your negative ones.
Scott Todd
Jekyll Harbor Marina

Hi Jim,
Sorry to hear that story. Please do come by and meet the new dock master Scott Todd. I will know you and others will be impressed with this young man. He is vast improvement over both of the other DMs we had here. I have been here off and on for the past six years and I would not stay if I had to put up the other dock master.
Thank you,
Sonny