At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.

 

October 2020   It’s official! Historic Downtown Stuart won the 2020 “Great Places in Florida Award” presented by the American Planning Association. Thank you to everyone who voted. We couldn’t have secured the title without your support!  See the Official Announcement Here

Martin County is teeming with bike paths and cycling trails just waiting to be explored — more than 80 miles of them, to be precise. From rustic routes surrounded by nature to scenic straightaways with panoramic waterfront views, our latest video highlights some of our favorite cycling spots worth checking out during your next visit! Here’s How to Cycle Your Way Through Martin County

Still looking for Halloween plans? We’ve got you covered! In our latest blog post, we collected some of the spookiest events happening throughout Martin County, from ghost tours and haunted cruises to drive-thru trick-or-treat festivities!  Here’s How to Celebrate Halloween in Martin County this Year

Landscape photographer Paul Cook (@pc3photos) recently snapped this stunning long-exposure at the House of Refuge — how dreamy are those cotton candy skies?  Follow Us on Instagram for More Phenomenal Photos!

Interested in winning a FREE trip to Martin County? We recently partnered with Visit Florida and The New York Daily News to launch a 5-night trip giveaway. Per the program rules, it’s only open to residents of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Click the button below to see more and enter (and feel free to share this promotion with any of your friends or family in NY, NJ, or CT)! Enter For Your Chance to Win!

Want to share a little sunshine with someone special? Then send them a FREE digital postcard, right from Martin County. You can select your favorite design and even add a personalized message. Check them out below!  Send a Postcard From Paradise!

With its unique architecture and prime waterfront location in Downtown Stuart, it’s not hard to see why Old Colorado Inn’s Owl House was named one of the “Best Places to Rent a Beach House During Winter” By Travel Awaits Magazine.  Read the Full Article Here

Things we’re looking forward to: The 2020 Stuart Air Show! This award-winning event is taking place Veterans Day weekend (November 7 and 8). Get your tickets today! Purchase Your Tickets Here

Looking for some authentic Old Florida charm? Consider booking a relaxing retreat at River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp in Jensen Beach. Only In Your State recommends it as one of the best fish camps in the Sunshine State  See the Full List Here

Whether you’re 8 or 108, we want to see your art skills! We’ve partnered with Atlanta Magazine on a Coloring Page Contest. Think you have what it takes to win the grand prize? Check out the rules and submission guidelines below.

Enter Your Masterpiece Here   Looking for a quick and convenient escape with lots of room to spread out?  Make sure you check out our Special Offers page — it’s updated regularly and features lots of fall-themed packages and special rates. See Our Special Offers

At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.

How are you feeling about attending events in the coming months?

 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! How are you feeling about attending events in the coming months?    Survey Link We’ve teamed up with several of Martin County’s most loved events and attractions to ask you to share your thoughts with us. It’s a short and simple 8 question survey, so please take a moment to tell us how you are feeling. Your candor and participation are greatly appreciated. Your response is requested before midnight on Sunday, September 28th. Stay well…and thank you in advance for participating.

MIATC | PO Box 1639, Stuart, FL 34997

At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is home to Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and a hub of boating activity and events of interest to boaters.

 

 

Calendar of Events   September 1st & 2nd, 2020 Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative Meeting   September 3, 2020 UF and DEP Coral Reef Program Stakeholder Engagement Project Public Meeting   ABYC Online Certiication Courses~ Click Here for Class Calendar   Chapman School of Marine ~ See their website for the latest on their events   Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative Virtual Meeting     September 1st & 2nd, 2020 12:30-5 pm   DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program is holding an annual Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Team meeting to update and facilitate discussions with Team members regarding the following:   SEFCRI History and Local Action Strategy (LAS) Project Planning Current projects for Southeast Florida Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Response Effort Management of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area Opportunities for SEFCRI Team Member Engagement   Register Here     Derecktor Shipyard Update   Since taking over operations at the Port of Fort Pierce on November 1, 2019, Derecktor Ft. Pierce has invested in numerous facility and infrastructure upgrades as it converts the aging Indian River Terminal building into a shipyard capable of rivaling any in the world. Full Article   Enlargement of Kiplinger Nature Preserve The Kiplinger Nature Preserve on Kanner Highway, a popular destination for nature hikers and “bridge walkers” on the Veterans Memorial Bridge, will soon become larger and more useful.   The Kiplinger family, of Washington, D.C., and Sewall’s Point announced today its intention to donate to Martin County a 7-acre tract between the bridge and the existing Kiplinger Nature Preserve, at the southwest corner of Kanner Highway and Indian Street. It consists of more than two acres of dry upland, with mature slash pines and saw palmetto, sloping down to five acres of wetlands and mangroves on the St. Lucie River. It includes a small, unnamed creek that flows into the river.   The newly donated land creates a number of recreational possibilities, including additional parking, a place for picnicking, a boardwalk to the river, etc. Click here to read article   Is there anything you’d like to share with the membership?   Send us a picture and short summary of an event or article and we will include it in Boatlines!   MIATC Board of Directors   President:  John Yudin of Guy Yudin & Foster  Vice President: Tom Whittington of Manatee Pocket Yacht Sales Secretary:  Artie Olson of Vero Marine Center Director: Sean Collins of Vero Beach City Marina Director: Chris Dempsey of Sailfish Point Marina Director:  Dan Dietz of Dietz Enterprises Director: Don Green of Don Green Electric Director:  Bruce Grout of Sovereign Yacht Sales Director:  Gary Guertin of Coastal Angler – Treasure Coast/Bahamas Director: Rob Mac Keen of Derecktor Ft. Pierce Director: Jill Marasa of St. Lucie County EDC Director:  Thomas O’Brien of Chapman Marine Supply Director:  Butch Olsen  of Pt. Salerno Commercial Fishing Dock Authority Director: Mark Palazzo of METCo Director:  Jim Truslow of Boat Owners Warehouse Director: Scott Watson of Indiantown Marina     Michele Miller Director of Operations mmiller.miatc@gmail.com   Amber Novy Communications Coordinator anovy.miatc@gmail.com  ‌  ‌

MIATC | PO Box 1639, Stuart, FL 34997

Fort Pierce City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a public facility, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188. See FOCUS ON for more on this excellent facility.

Click here for Video Report from Fort Pierce City Marina

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Fort Pierce City Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina

At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is home to Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and a hub of boating activity and events of interest to boaters.

 

TO ALL MARINE INDUSTRY BUSINESSES!   The University of Florida / IFAS / Florida Sea Grant, is seeking your help to identify the effects of COVID-19 on our industry. They have reached out and asked that we encourage you to participate. Please take a moment to complete the survey(s) that most closely represents your business activities. If you have business interests corresponding to multiple surveys, you are asked to respond to all appropriate surveys.   The information you provide will help UF/IFAS assess the impacts of COVID-19 to the agricultural and marine industries. This information could be vital to informing decisions made by policymakers and establishing a roadmap for moving forward.   The UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics department designed the five surveys to encompass agriculture, aquaculture, and selected marine industry operations. Click here (link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3sYZE3NF19Ik949) for the survey on agriculture and aquaculture production, processing and transportation. This includes areas such as crop production, forestry/timber, nursery and greenhouse operations, agritourism, beekeeping, etc. Click here (link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0SrtQ85OwrZBfCJ) for the survey on commercial fishing Click here (link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3O7uvt3RHZdBdTn) for the survey on charter/for-hire operations. This includes for-hire fishing operators (charter, head boat, and guide), dive charter operators, and sightseeing charter operators. Click here (link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0P3r31Br6gJCAvP) for the survey on seafood wholesale dealers Click here (link: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Oja5J2OUUT9upT) for the survey on marine recreation support businesses. This includes businesses involved in boat rentals, boat repairs, wet and dry boat storage, and bait and tackle retailing.

MIATC | PO Box 1639, Stuart, FL 34997

Cruisers Net is always grateful for Greg Allard’s observations and willingness to share his vast experience with our readers. Be sure to read and view his several  Letters and photo journals from the Bahamas. Harborage Yacht Club Marina is in Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, and a major hub of boating activities.

Harborage Yacht Club and Marina

Stuart, Florida

772-692-4000

https://harborageyachtclub.com

In February of 2020 we spent two weeks at the Harborage, which is just northeast of the three bridges in the center of Stuart.

In past years we had docked there a couple of times, and had found it to be just ok, but not great. During that period it was a Loggerhead marina and between deferred maintenance and a hurricane, it had suffered. All of that has changed, and I’m pleased to report that the marina has been virtually redone and is now a solid choice for boaters and cruisers.

The northerly set of fixed docks are like new, with composite decking and new electrical and water supplies. From what we observed, most transient boats are assigned to the fixed docks, where you are permitted to stay aboard for any length of time. The southern section of the marina consists of floating docks which can also be rented for transient or longer term; staying aboard there is limited to four consecutive days, and nine total days, per month. The southern section is a much further walk to reach the pool and clubhouse area. The marina has a total of 300 slips, 150 are fixed and the rest are floating.

One of the issues with this marina, in the past, has been the depth of water in the basins and slips. When we were there almost two months ago, dredging was underway full time. The dockmaster now reports that the dredging has been completed (except for a couple of slips which had boats in them), resulting in 7.5’ depth at MLW in both the slips and the fairways. While some marinas in the area have issues with current, we observed none of any significance here.

The shore side facilities are excellent – pool and spa, outdoor fire-pit lounging area, free OnSpot wi-fi, a laundry,

Captain’s lounge with TV, new bathrooms and showers, fitness center, boatside (golf-cart) pumpout, poolside bar and grill, and good security. They offer golf-cart rides from your boat to landside. There is an easy-approach fuel dock, with competitive prices and pump out.

On site is the TideHouse restaurant, not operated by the marina. We had a very good bar-menu meal on the outside deck, with live music. There is a full dinner menu for inside.

Across the street from the marina, in a shopping center, is a casual Italian restaurant, Uncle Giuseppe’s, which is easy to recommend – a comfortable place, reasonably priced, with good Italian dishes and pizza.

While the marina facility is now first-rate, this is also now a well-managed marina. The Dock Master, Scott Fletcher, is a true professional, and has his hand on the pulse of the place. The dock staff he has assembled are exceptional and understand customer service. They could just not do enough for you. We had the most contact with excellent dockhands Nick and Jim. The general manger of the facility, Allison Ackell, gave us a warm welcome as we checked in and provided a detailed tour of the facility.

The long term dock rates are 17-$18 a foot, per month, with metered electricity. Daily rate is $2.95 a foot, plus flat fee electric. The long term rates makes sense for a stay of more than about two weeks. A full list of rates is on their website, listed above.

There is a Sam’s Club, a West Marine and a Publix market a couple of miles north on Federal Highway, along with any other stores you might ever need. Enterprise delivered a rental car to the marina for us. On Saturday mornings, in the neat historic section of Stuart, there is a small but quality farmer’s market.

From the GIWW, to enter the marina you leave the main channel at marker 23, (which is northeast of the high, fixed New Roosevelt bridge) and steer for the green buoy which is just outside the entrance to the marina, between the breakwaters; that heading is approximately 310M. From 23 to the green buoy the depth was around seven feet at MLW. If you are uncertain of your track, the dock staff will “talk you in” to the marina on VHF.

Is everything perfect? They need to add more dock carts – there always seemed to be a shortage. Additionally, since parking spaces are really tough to find, it would be a welcome service if the marina provided a van type shuttle to Sam’s, West Marine and Publix a few days a week.

A couple of people have commented about the noise from the nearby railroad. Yes, there is some noise, but every marina in the area, including the nearby Sunset Bay, is subject to the same thing.

The Stuart area is a hub for boaters on the east coast of Florida, and dock space is invariably hard to find. The rebirth of this marina makes for a great new facility in the area.

The Harborage Marina is open and running during these difficult times, with a number of boats having arrived from the Keys and from the Bahamas.

Greg Allard

M/V Meander

Click Here To View the VA to NC Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For Harborage Yacht Club Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Harborage Yacht Club Marina

Fort Pierce City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a public facility, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188. See FOCUS ON for more on this excellent facility.

4/18/2020

Just wanted to update you. We are fully open for fuel and pump outs. We are also taking boats for 1-6 nights (basically those that are waiting for a weather window. We will take new monthlies; but only as a “drop and go”. They can stay for a day or two to get there boat secured and then they will have to leave. We are not letting anyone besides our regular tenants use the facilities, in an attempt to try and contain any germs.

_____________________________________________________________

Anne Bowen | Marina Concierge | City of Fort Pierce

City Marina

Phone: 772.464.1245 | Fax: 772.464.2589 |1 Avenue A Fort Pierce 34950

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Fort Pierce City Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina

Fort Pierce City Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR and a public facility, is located west of the Waterway, just south of the Fort Pierce high-rise bridge and well north of unlighted daybeacon #188. See FOCUS ON for more on this excellent facility.

4/9/2020

BIG NEWS!!  Our fuel dock will be open on Saturday 4/11!! Fuel prices are as follows:  Diesel 2.269 discounts applied with BOAT US and quantity amounts.  Gas price is 2.769 all taxes are included and the same discounts apply.

We are also allowing overnight transients, but they will need to use the facilities on their boat.  We are trying to help those boaters that are on the go, but also trying to protect our own tenants.

Also, we are allowing what we call a “Drop and Go”.  If a boater needs to leave their boat for a month or more they can bring it in and stay one night and then they must depart the Marina. 

Our pump outs are also up and running.

Thank you for sharing our update with your readers and stay safe and HEALTHY!!!

_____________________________________________________________

Anne Bowen | Marina Concierge | City of Fort Pierce

City Marina

Phone: 772.464.1245 | Fax: 772.464.2589 |1 Avenue A Fort Pierce 34950

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Fort Pierce City Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Pierce City Marina

At the intersection of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Okeechobee Waterway, Martin County, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a hub of boating activity and of events of interest to boaters.

April 2020   There’s no denying that the world has entered uncharted territory since the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading across the globe. In this period of uncertainty, the Discover Martin team has been working around the clock to share relevant updates while leveraging our social media platforms to deliver a little sunshine to our followers both near and far.  To stay in-the-loop with all of the rapid developments here in Martin County, we encourage you to visit the Protect Our Paradise website. It’s full of helpful links, valuable resources, and other critical information. But it’s also a place where we want to inspire people to “dream now, visit later.” Here’s some of the content we’ve put together for your entertainment. We hope it brings a smile to your face during these trying times.    Just because your vacation to Martin County has been postponed doesn’t mean you can’t recreate the magic at home! This fun little itinerary is packed with cheeky tips and tricks. How to Recreate a Classic Martin County Vacation at Home     Watch Our Latest Video, “Discover Martin, From Home”

While a few of these activities are only applicable if you’re currently in Martin County, anybody can adapt these ideas at home. Plus, we included some additional goodies (like a virtual vacation to our Martin County beaches)! Your Guide to Self-Isolation and Social Distancing in Martin County

Everyone knows jigsaw puzzles are a great way to pass the time, so we created a (free!) collection of digital puzzles featuring a few of our favorite local landmarks and activities. Check Them Out Here!

Is there a young Picasso in your life? If so, we’ve also designed a series of educational coloring book pages! Just download them from our site, print them off, and break out the crayons. Create Your Own Martin County Masterpiece

Germs are contagious, but luckily, so is kindness. In our latest blog post, we share 10 easy ways to spread kindness, no matter where in the world you are. 10 Easy Ways to Spread Kindness (Not Germs)

Stuart recently sported a stunning creamsicle-colored sunset captured by Instagram user @seafoamandgreens! See the original post here.

While we all continue to self-isolate and attempt to #FlattenTheCurve, our hotel partners have put together special rates and packages for a future visit. Plan now, travel later.  Martin County Special Offers

For even more inspirational content, follow us across our social media platforms and be sure to share your favorite Martin County memories using #DiscoverMartin. Remember, we’re all in this together and there are brighter days ahead.

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Intersection of AICW/Okeechobee Waterway