Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Apr 23, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
St. Augustine, FL Dining Recommendations (Statute Mile 778)
On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posted the following question:
Statute Mile 778 ‘“ Anyone got any good dining recommendations in downtown St. Augustine, within walking distance of the City Marina?
Responses follow:
Dining recommendations for St Augustine;
JP Henleys across from the marina has great selection of craft beers and yummy sandwiches. (112 ft from dock)
Bistro De Leon is a little french place in the plaza and one of my personal favorites. Great early bird dinner special as well. Closed on Weds. (0.1 mile from dock)
The Floridian is a short walk and one of the local’s favorites. Also small dog friendly patio in front. (0.4 mile from dock)
Meehan’s Irish Pub is a great place if you like oysters, try the Oyster Meehan. They also have an outdoor section called their Backyard which is dog friendly. (0.2 mile from dock)
Gas Full Service Restaurant is just across the bridge on Anastasia Island and serve up the best burgers. Closed Suns and Mons. (0.5 mile from dock)
I hope this info is helpful.
Best regards,
Michelle Bennett
s/v A La Mer
Don’t miss Columbia [Restaurant]. Great food, service and ambiance.
s/v Skye
OC Whites right across from City Marina. The marina is under major renovations, but still open (will then be better than ever). Especially on warm evenings outside.
Toni Vander Veer
Just a few steps away from the City Marina is O. C. Whites which has a great menu and reasonably priced menu with inside and outside dining serving the best clam chowder anywhere.
It overlooks the marina and the Bridge of Lions.
Happy dining.
Captain Dick Burkhard
Just up the street from the City Marina at 95 Cordova Street, is an exceptional, old world cuisine, fine dining experience. We never go through St. Augustine without stopping there for a special treat.
The Cordova Restaurant (904-810-6810) in the Casa Monica Hotel
Terry Bieker
We recently had a delightful dinner at the:
Raintree Restaurant
102 San Marco Ave
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-7211
It is about 3/4 of a mile north of the city marina on San Marco. Old Florida decor with good food at reasonable prices.
Tom Olson
I have lived here since 1972 and can tell you the top restaurants within easy walking distance of the city marina are: OC WHITES, A1A ALE WORKS, HARRY’S, O’STEEN’S, SEA FAIR, if you want to really stretch your legs then add: BARNACLE BILLS, GYPSY CAB, COLLAGE, 95 CORDOVA. Whatever you do DO NOT EAT at the SANTA MARIA RESTAURANT (they advertise you can feed the fish and the reason is the food is sooooooo terrible.
Perry McDonald
Claiborne,
St. Augustine is one of our two favorite Florida cities (Key West is the other) and we go there by both car and trawler.
Two great restaurants we highly recommend:
Habana Village Cafe. Located in the rear (south side) of the building just across the street from the city marina and at the city side of the Bridge of Lions. The food is Cuban and great! Dancing to live music most nights. Don’t miss this special treat.
Columbia Restaurant. Claims to be the oldest restaurant in Florida (their Tampa restaurant). Basically the cuisine is Andalusian Spanish
with Cuban favorites in the mix! We lived in Andalusia for three years (courtesy of the US Navy) and love the Columbia’s version of some of our favorite Andalusian tapas and main course dishes.
Bob McLeran and Judy Young
MV Sanderling
Easy walk from City Marina to Cordova Street is a really good and reasonably priced restaurant, The Floridian, that specializes in locally sourced ingredients, and great food made from scratch. Open for about 2 years, no reservations, lunch and dinner only, the restaurant has a few outdoor tables and a charming self serve bar at the back because the restaurant itself is within 300 ft of a church. Buy your beverage at the bar and carry it to your table and you are legal under the ordinance! The food is so good during a week in St
Augustine we ate at this restaurant every day for either lunch or dinner!
Jack and Jackie
S/V Serenity
The restaurant “95 Cordova” in the Casa Monica hotel is one of the finest along our route from South Florida each year. Excellent quality, service and ambiance. About 3/4 blocks from Marina. Hotel is a national landmark.
Bob Scalia
MV Dall’Azzuro
There is a Greek oriented restaurant about 3/4 mile west of the downtown area on the main street after you leave the city marina. I can’t recall it’s name but it is on the left just before US 1. It had some of the best fried shrimp I’ve ever tasted. I’m sorry I can’t give more accurate details but I haven’t been there for 2 years.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
Bistro De Leon, right on the north side of the historic square opposite the Bridge of Lions. Pricey but elegant. We were there New Years Eve on the recommendation of a friend. Be prepared to pay $100 per person or more, but it was well worth it.
Many great places for dinner, but here’s one for lunch that we really like and it’s right across the street from the marina. J.P. Henley’s has great food and many different choices of beer and wine.
Don mv Fortuitous
The best place to eat in town is the A1A Ale House…right across street from city marina.
Mike Dickens
Bistro de Leon is one of my absolute favorites. One doesn’t have to spend a lot of money ‘” you can go there for lunch. Wonderfully fresh French bread! We, too, went there one New Year’s Eve and became a fan.
Connie Sage aboard Epilogue
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Apr 23, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor (Statute Mile 775.5)
On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 775.5 ‘“ Who has spent a night or two (or more) at Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor, just north of St. Augustine Inlet. Did you find it to be as first class as we remember it to be?
Responses follow:
We stayed at Commanchee Cove in very early January (Southbound) and again in early April (Northbound). It is still a very well managed facility with two courtesy cars available for use for 1 hour at a time, a very good bar/restaurant with traditional seafood plus very good sushi, and excellent repair services on site provided by both Commanchee Yacht Yard for haul and First Mate Yacht Services for in water repairs/service. Dock and office personnel are friendly, courteous and professional. The physical facilities are still very good but not
as pristine as they were several years ago.
Howard Rockness
Sequel
Camachee Cove has the best weather protection and also a very good marina. There is a new Publix grocery store just over the bridge in Vilano, making provisioning a snap if you’re staying here. Also, check out Fish Tales for good burgers, salads and sandwiches. They’re located in the same cove.
Best regards,
Michelle Bennett
s/v A La Mer
Camachee Cove Marina is definitely a first class marina. Friendly staff, very attentive, great mechanic service on site ,use of a courtesy vehicle and a great restaurant on site.
Paul Hutchinson
Spent 4/8/13 to 4/12/13 there. Have made it a regular stop. Nice docks, great people, good facilities, courtesy cars. Use First Mate to take care of any boat problems I can’t solve. Will be spending more time there in the future.
s/v/Skye
We stayed 3 nights at Cammachee Cove marina in December 2012 and found it to be just as first class as our previous stays. They are always very responsive on the radio with docking instructions and their dock hands are very helpful. They have 2 courtesy cars and are flexible with their use if you need to use a car longer than a few hours and no one else requested it.
Harriet Hardy
sv Moondance
Great Marina, excellent facilities, just too far from town.
Tracy Hellman
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Apr 23, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Marineland Marina, Statute Mile 796
On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia wish list, we posed the following question:
3. Statute Mile 796- I know that many of you have visited with, and had a good experience at Marineland Marina, north of maker #89. Please let us hear what you found so special about this facility.
Responses follow:
Our boat is presently at Marineland. We were there a few days before having to come home for a month and enjoyed it so much will stay another 4 days or so before we head north. If you love walks on the beach or on trails, kayaking and nature you will love Marineland. The staff are wonderful!
Tom and Jan Hines on Laughter
We love Marineland Marina. Everyone there is most helpful and makes sure you have everything you need. They will lend you a car to provision at Publix and get supplies at the hardware store. The bathrooms are kept clean and tidy, laundry is free, and you even get discounts on Marineland tours and kayaking ecotours with Ripple Effect. You can walk in the maritime forest, cross the street to a beautiful deserted beach, and hear the ocean from your boat. Dolphins come and feed each evening in the marina basin. We were treated like family and plan to make a trip to Marineland part of our journey each year. Bravo to Chris Kelley for providing cruisers with a wonderful haven.
Dick and Sue Schneider
The staff is professional and though they do not have all the frills (fuel, captains lounge) they do have free pump-out and the beach is across the street. If you’re looking for a restful stop-over, this is the place to be and the price is right.
Robert & Carolyn Wilson
MY Sea Island Girl
We spent a week at this facility on our way south and are spending a month here on our way north. Chris, the dockmaster, and his staff are friendly, helpful and go out of their way to make cruisers feel welcome. It’s the kind of place where cruisers may stop intending to stay for a day or two and end up staying much longer. There are beautiful beaches, walking trails and mangroves to explore by dinghy. This is a marina for nature-lovers — there are no restaurants within walking distance and nothing to “do” other than enjoy the natural surroundings. Dockage rates are a steal — $1.00/foot per night and tempting rates for weekly or monthly stays. If you draw more than five feet, however, getting into and out of the marina would be difficult.
Captain Mary
S/V Intermezzo
We were one of the first boats to stay there when they reopened. The two staff guys are amazingly great. We have been there several times now and at $1/ft, given the location, it is tone of the best deals going. Just across the street is the beach, Marineland itself where you can see dolphins and a snack bar. Provisions are difficult to obtain but sometimes Eric’s car is available, even though it is not the marina’s courtesy car (it is his personal car) he often is seen loaning it out. If you borrow it,please fill it up for him. Also, dink across the waterway to see one of the largest protected lands in all of the USA where you can see all kind of critters. Also, at Marineland, they have a group that will take you over on kayaks. This is an example of if marinas do not overcharge, they will always have business. As we have traveled FLA these past two years (from our home port in NC), we see many empty marinas that are charging $2 or more and have few boats in them.
John Winter
Stayed here 4 20 13 Well received and clean, easy to get in and out. Would stay here again.
Greg and Donna on
Lady in Red
The dockmaster and assistants are excellent, very friendly and there is nothing that they would not do for you. At $1/ft with free laundry and excellent, clean restrooms you simply cannot go wrong. Stay three nights and the dockmaster will lend you his personal car to go grocery shopping.
Werner & Kathie Steuernagel
Claiborne,
We spent some time in Marineland Marina recently and found them to be exceptional people. If they didn’t know your name by the time your dock lines were secured, you probably stayed inside for that docking. This is a small marina but lots of helpful people. It is well protected in winds and storms. When we experienced a medical emergency, the staff did everything possible to make a bad situation as good as anyone could expect. We feel they are now part of our boating family and we won’t miss an opportunity to stop to say hello whether by land or sea.
Tom Conrad
m/v True North
We are here now…stopped in to wait out the winds..rates are great…power and water. Chris and all the marina crew are terrific..great help coming in, free pumpout, nice laundry and showers..like new..marina is very clean and dolphins play in the harbor.
Visited the Matanzas fort, had a great lunch at the Matanzas inlet restaurant, spent earth day at Washington Oaks Park, beautiful beach across the street you can walk with your dog, Marineland Dolphin Center and took a sunset eco kayak tour with Brandon..like a mini holiday..bikes help but you can use a loaner car to get to Publix or further out
Slomocean..Karen and Gary Holtze
We stayed two nights at this little marina after leaving St. Augustine in January. Although w have had lots of helpful folks at many marinas, these guys win the prize for the most helpful. As rookies we needed all the help we could get, especially getting into tight places. It is a pretty spot to walk around, and they took folks into town once a day to get groceries. We got a free pass to the marineland center as well. The marina and the surrounding environment was very clean, and they sponsored kayak nature excursions. The beautiful beach was right across the road from the marina.
Tim and Lisa Keith-Lucas
Santa Catalina de Guale
Bad weather forced us in to Daytona and up ICW as we were heading north after wintering in the Keys. Stayed at Marineland as we are familiar with it. Eric and other staff are super, from tying up to helping us visit Publix which is about 5 miles away. We had to stay 3 nights due to storm but there is no better deal on the ICW. The secret seems to be out about how good everything here is as it was packed. The price and `laidback atmosphere’ are hard to beat.
Bill Charleston,
S/V Frolic
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Apr 23, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Pine Island Loop Anchorage (Statute Mile 765)
On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:
10. Statute Mile 765 ‘“ Anyone anchored on the Pine Island Loop this spring season, north of marker #26? Did you enter by way of the stream’s southern entrance? What depths did you find? Please give us an overall impression of this anchorage.
Responses follow:
I anchored at pine island loop on April 17 [2013] coming in from the south. Found 8 ft at low water and anchored to watch the birds. We use this anchorage routinely on our annual pilgrimage to the keys from Brunswick Landing Marina.
Dean and Clare Bensley
A good stopover but make sure your hook is set – I dragged in February but had a soft landing next to the marsh and simply backed out. There is NO access except the south arm of the inlet – there is no water in the north part of the loop. Just go near the green marker and head east until you find a spot you like.
Peter TenHaagen
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Apr 19, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 30.3226,-80.66559999
Issue with Unannounced Bridge Closures, FEC RR Bridge, St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL

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FEC RR Bridge - Click for Chartview
With a closed vertical clearance of 5ft, the Florida East Coast Railway Bridge crosses the St. Johns immediately west of the Acosta Bridge in downtown Jacksonville.
Have had 3 different experiences where the bridge has started to lower without signaling. 2 days ago was the third time in a powerboat. With max current with us only solution was to add power for 15 feet to get thru the bridge. Florida Wildlife was on the other side of the bridge to give me a summons for excess speed. Said they had no control over what the bridge tender did. TRY Title 33CFR117.325. Further discussion with the Jacksonville Florida Wildlife Office resulted in their comment that they don’t enforce all the laws. ??????
Rich Klimas
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Apr 19, 2013by: Claiborne Young 1 Comment
Latest Update on St. Augustine Inlet Aids to Navigation (Statute Mile 776)
Back in 2011, successful navigation of St. Augustine Inlet had become problematical at best, due to some serious shoaling. A welcome dredging project in 2012 solved most of these problems, but our good friend, Captain Jay Bliss, member of the St. Augustine Port Commission, keeps us up to date from time to time on the very latest inlet navigational conditions.
The account below is taken from a recent Port Commissioners meeting. Note particularly the red colored text. Here we learn about the refurbishment of inlet aids to navigation, and the removal of marker #5A.
Greetings Port Observers,
These notes are one person’s unofficial summary of the many interesting items brought before the StAugustine Port commission on April 16 2013. Our website is not yet up to date; http://www.staugustineport.com will soon be fully operational.
The SummerHaven River restoration still has a formidable adversary: the least tern. A few nests from that species are homesteaded on the filled-in river. Alternate sites nearby are being sought for the tern.
Port is evaluating/pondering/tweaking the text of DEP’s Inlet Management Plan. Florida DEP, County, USArmy Corps of Engineers and FIND will be involved; the goals of restored beaches and a safe inlet are essential; the IMP will be the blueprint.
City Management and Police, County Sheriff, and StJCo Fire &Marine Rescue departments, FWC, and USCG Jacksonville all provided updates. USCG LCdr Butts presented board with a chart of new buoy locations in the St. Augustine inlet. From the outermost safe water buoy, the “STA”, in to marker “8”, we have refurbished buoys and anchors. With the recent dredging, buoy “5A” became superfluous; it’s gone. There’s still a dog-leg out there. Residents of this area enjoy a proficient cadre of on-the-water experts who conscientiously keep our waters under safe surveillance.
Commissioner Barry Benjamin was elected to Chair the Port, Herb Rippe will serve as Vicechair.
CitizenAdvocate Ed Slavin presented us with the concept of a StAugustine Historical Park and Seashore.
Meeting was adjourned at about 5:15; next meeting May 14, 2013
Jay Bliss, Port Commissioner seat 5
Came thru here late April dead low tide and heavy fog . no problem and markers are accurate.
greg and donna on lady in red.
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James Newsome - February 16, 2015 - 8:48 am

The link below to a power point presentation title STA Inlet Buoy Assessment 01-Jun-2013 seems to correlate to the April 16, 2013 meeting notes and provides a good visual and reference to the buoy positions and inlet in general.
http://www.staugustineport.com/projects/04JUN2013_InletAssessment.pdf
Reply to James
Apr 18, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Good Words for Beach Marine, AICW Statute Mile 748, Jacksonville Beach, FL

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Beach Marine guards the Waterway’s eastern banks, immediately north of the new B. B. McCormick high-rise bridge.
We stopped at [Beach Marine] en route to Jacksonville and found the dock master, Bryan Reid, to be exceptionally helpful. He went out of his way to provide useful information regarding local boating conditions as well as for the St. John’s River.
Maureen Mezei
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Apr 15, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Great Pizza in Fernandina Beach (Statute Mile 716.5)
Mmmmmm! Fernandina Beach has never been short of good dining possibilities, but this is one I have not heretofore tried. Will make up for that oversight ASAP, as should all cruisers!
Arte’s Pizza [109 N 3rd St, 904-277-1515]. A block or so north of the main street. Not your normal pizza place, but much more. Food was good.
Moonstruck
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Apr 4, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
High Praise for AC Power Plus, Deerfield Beach, FL, near AICW Statute Mile 1050

AC Power Plus Location
AC Power Plus is located on E. Hillsboro Blvd in Deerfield Beach, just west of the Waterway between Boca Raton and Hillsboro Beach.
Claiborne: I hope this finds you personally well. I had occasion to receive exceptional service from a contractor, and wanted to pass it on. Nightingale is equipped with a Mastervolt Whisper 3.5 genset. Two weeks ago, the “eel grass” in Biscayne Bay plugged the cooling system. We shut down the genset diesel, but have apparently “fried” the oil temp sensor — it will start, then shut down in 10 seconds showing an oil temp failure. In the last 6 months, Mastervolt and Whisper have parted company. A good company (AER/Seabrook) has formed Whisper US but it is early days and their parts supply is still a bit spotty. Whisper US recommended us to AC Power Plus in Deerfield Beach. Our service rep, Ron Betts 954 421-2500 x344 called back in 4 hours — his parts guys found the part we needed. They will have them to us within 2 days. I will install (aka screw in) the new sensor. If the genset still malfunctions, we will go to AC Power Plus for professional service. These people jumped though the hoop. They worried about customer service. I was hoping to pass on the compliment. Their full portfolio can be seen at http://www.acpowerplus.com. Please pass this on to the net. Thanks very much,
Stephen Deitch S/V Nightingale
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Apr 1, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Dining Recommendation in Sanford, FL (St. Johns River)
Those who cruise the full length of the St. Johns River, or at least the portion that has depths and widths appropriate for cruising size craft, will eventually end up at the city of Sanford, Florida, perched on the shores of Lake Monroe. Many cruisers who visit here berth at Monroe Harbour Marina, and, if you do, the downtown business district lies within easy walking distance. Below, Captain Mike Rizzo gives us a good recommendation on where to satisfy a healthy appetite here.
While staying at Sanford you may want to try the Willow Tree restaurant, a great German place and on some evenings it can get a bit festive with a band.
Enjoy,
Mike Rizzo
I concur! I live in Jax and anytime I find myself down that way, I got to The Willow Tree. Great food, live German music and a great place for a stroll afterwards.
Jim DeVine
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Apr 1, 2013by: Claiborne Young 1 Comment
Good Dining in Waleka, Florida (St. Johns River)
The SSECN published a recent article about the free city dock at the charming St. Johns River village of Welaka, Florida, south of Palatka (see /?p=108289). Now, in the note below, Captain Mike Rizzo seconds the recommendation for dining at Cafe Bleu, apparently within easy walking distance of the town berths.
Welaka has a town dock that you can tie to and there is a great little cafe for lunch and dinner called Cafe Blue. Everything is freshly made even the bread.
Mike Rizzo
Couldn’t agree more! We stay overnight at the (FREE!) town dock every year, and CafÃ© Bleu is right there next door. Their parmesan encrusted grouper was some of the best fish I have ever had. I believe they are only open Thursday through Monday though
Jonathan Graham
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Pete baleyko - August 6, 2015 - 2:42 pm

If you visit Welaka make sure u got too Hog Wash for THE Best smoke hog in the STaTe U will not be disappointed. I promise uuuuuuu
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Mar 28, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Good Words for Harbortown Marina (Fort Pierce, FL, near Statute Mile 965)
The Fort Pierce iteration of Harbortown Marina sits at the entrance to Taylor Creek, north of the Fort Pierce City Marina.
We have been at Harbortown since early December and have loved it. The staff is always friendly, helpful and accomodating. The facilities are nice, clean and are being constantly maintained. The new bathrooms and laundry facilities are very nice. The work area at the pavillion has been very helpful.
The monthly potlucks encourage socializing and gatherings on the dock are common. Harbortown is a great community.
Jeff and Brenda
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Mar 26, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Economic Woes for Gibson Dry Dock and All Boatyards
Captain Burnham refers to his earlier posting on Gibson Dry Dock, /?p=68591, and provides insight into the financial state of boat repair/storage yards during this time of economic downturn.
Thank you for allowing me to post on your excellent web service site.
I kept my comments about Gibson Dry Dock brief in order to keep from posting an advertisement. Tom Kight is a good friend I often crew with but the depression is hitting his boat storage yard especially hard this year with fewer Canadians coming down to store their boats for the summer in his Dry Dock. The Florida residents are also feeling the economic pinch and too often are giving up their boat titles for the storage fees they owe. This does not benefit the Dry Dock as these boats are often neglected and bring very little money at auction. The sad effect is that now the Dry Dock has to be selective as to the condition of the boats that are hauled out of the water lest they become the property of the Dry Dock. It is becoming common that an owner will have their boat hauled out, strip it of its engine and valuable parts and abandons the hulk. I have no doubt that this happens at other boat storage facilities also.
Gibson Dry Dock also has the problem of being south of the ill conceived 45 foot high clearance of the Shands Bridge at Green Cove Springs which limits the size of sailboats cruising south on the St Johns River. The boats that can make it under the Shands Bridge barrier are enthuiastic about finding Gibson’s and spead the word about what a great place this is to keep your boat and get it ready to sail again.
David Burnham
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Mar 20, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Good Dining in Titusville, Florida (Statute Mile 879)
Many AICW cruising veterans stop year after year in Titusville, just to sample the bill of fare at Dixie Crossroads Restaurant. It doesn’t hurt to mention them anew, however. So, if you have never satisfied a healthy appetite here, do you and your taste buds a BIG favor, and remedy that oversight SOON!
Many will find this dining attraction to be an easy walk from SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Westland Marina, or the city docks.
Dixie Crossroads, Titusville, FL – Excellent seafood; about a mile from the Titusville Municipal Marina on US-1; taxi, or arrange a ride locally.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Westland Marina
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Mar 20, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Two Recommendation for A1A Ale House (St. Augustine, Fl, near St. M. 778)
A1A Ale House is located directly across the street from the St. Augustine City Marina. I’ve not dined (or imbibed) here in several years, but after reading the reviews below, that has clearly been a gross oversight on my part. May you be wiser and more fortunate!
Give the A1A ale house a try they have very good food and some fantastic home brews. It’s located directly across the street from the St Augustine marinia.
SweetPea
A1A Ale House, St. Augustine, FL – Across the street from the Municipal Marina; excellent Brew Pub fare.
Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
And the Strange Stout is yummy!
Donovan
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Mar 16, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
A Good Experience at North Palm Beach Marina, AICW Statute Mile 1014

North Palm Beach Marina - Click for Chartview
North Palm Beach Marina – A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! – lies on the southwestern banks of the ICW shortly after you pass under the restricted North Palm Beach/Parker bridge.
Last weekend, we received a report from Captain Young that she had been overcharged for overnight dockage at North Palm Beach Marina. We passed these comments along to the management here, and within 24 hours, they were in touch with Captain Claudia, and a refund had been issued. Now, that’s what I call GOOD customer service.
Mistakes can and do happen to all of us (I made a mistake just last year). The real mark of a quality operation is how well and how swiftly oversights are handled when they do happen. North Palm Beach Marina has passed that test with proverbial flying colors in our book!
Spent the night on 3/13/13. Good place to stop for transients. They had some computer issues and the final bill turned out to be wrong. We were slightly overcharged. Chris, the marina manager got in touch with us the day after and refunded the difference. We will be back.
Claudia Young
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Mar 13, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Dining Recommendations from Mariner’s Cay Marina/Manatee Pocket, Near Stuart, Florida and AICW Statute Mile 988

Mariner's Cay Marina - Click for Chartview
Mariner’s Cay Marina is located on the western shores of Manatee Pocket, near its northerly entrance. The recently dredged entrance to the pocket itself lies just west of the AICW/Okeechobee Waterway/St. Lucie River/St. Lucie Inlet intersection, known locally as “the crossroads.”
In addition to Mariner’s Cay (see below), there are a host of of other marinas and repair facilities along the shores of Manatee Pocket. Captain DeFoor gives some GOOD ideas below about shoreside dining attractions, within walking distance of all the pocket marinas.
Unfortunately, Finz Restaurant has closed. We miss their great pear salad with the home made vanilla bean dressing. There is a new restaurant there now (can’t remember the name). Also about a block away is the [King] Neptune (772-287-9630) which has great food but small (a local hangout for sure). Try their grouper Rubin. Across the street from there on the Pocket inlet is Manatee Island [Bar and Grill (772-872-7176). Have had good food there also. Down the street (A1A) to the left is the Whistle Stop (772-220-1020). Very good food. I personally suggest the Philly CheeseSteak.
Fred DeFoor
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Mariner’s Cay Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Mariner’s Cay Marina
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Mar 13, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Miami Marine Mechanic Recommended
I’ve often said, but it’s worth repeating, recommendations by fellow cruisers of good service personnel, are worth their weight in GOLD. Here is a good one for the greater Miami region.
Early on we crossed paths with Ivy and Bob Neubauer on Karma. They are just about done and on the last leg to crossing their wake in Cocoanut Grove, Miami, FL. Very nice and friendly people. Bob has come to our assistance a number of times with mechanical issues that were scary puzzlements to we rusty boaters and novice loopers. Bob is an expert boat mechanic with a very wide range of talents – engine,
transmission, electrical, electronic, water, leaks, unidentifiable things, etc. Also, he is neat and leaves behind a clean boat. He runs a marine service and salvage company in Miami called Odd Job Marine (305 331 1670).
One of his specialties is refitting large boats but he works for we small boat types also. We recommend him highly and will be getting a list of work done by him in Miami when we get there in a couple of weeks or whenever – depending on the weather.
Marcia and Russ Barron
Paper Moon
Grand Banks 42 MY
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Mar 11, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Quick Word about New Smyrna Beach City Marina (Statute Mile 846)
Here’s a very quick look at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, New Smyrna Beach City Marina. Brief as they are, Captain Peter’s words are right on the mark!
New Smyrna Beach municipal marina is very reasonable. Great town to visit.
Peter
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For New Smyrna Beach City Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of New Smyrna Beach City Marina
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Mar 11, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Good Words For Halifax Harbor Marina (Daytona Beach, FL, Statute Mile 831)
Huge Halifax Harbor is certainly “the” place to coil your lines in Daytona Beach. Its two dockage basins are well sheltered, and the staff’s performance, in our experience, has always been exemplary.
If you want something a little quieter, with superb on-site dining, you might also consider SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Adventure Yacht Harbor, a touch farther to the south at Statute Mile 837.
Daytona Beach Municipal, Halifax Harbor, is a great place to stay. Fixed piers are more inexpensive, floating piers very nice. A well maintained facility it has 24 hr security, it is one block from Downtown with about 4 or 5 blocks of businesses, restaurants, city library, post office, 1 mi walk from the beach, easy access to the bus, and airport (2.5 mi). It’s a well protected harbor.
Roman Donald
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Halifax Harbor Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Halifax Harbor Marina
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Adventure Yacht Harbor
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Adventure Yacht Harbor
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