Just about the best fuel prices on FL east coast are at Harbortown Marina, mm 894 on the ICW, just north of the Cocoa bridge. Turn east off the channel onto the Canaveral Barge Canal and run 2 1/2 miles to the marina on the south shore. $1.00/ft dockage with BoatUS. You may get a fuel discount (10 cents/gal) if you stay there.
Phil
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Harbortown Marina
The marina which is the subject of this posting sits in behind Dragon Point, on the southern foot of Bananna River. It features a very sheltered dockage basin, and a fuel dock fronting onto the river.
Subject: Telemar Bay Marina
Cruising News: We just stopped in at Telemar Bay Marina, Indian Harbour Beach, FL at MM 914.7. The dockage rate has dropped to $1.25/ft and $1.50 for Catamarans. Diesel fuel is $2.60 plus tax and Gasoline is $2.59 incl tax for 89 Octane and no ethenol. Very friendly staff and a great place to stay in bad weather.
Rick Wellman
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Telemar Bay Marina
Sounds like good cruising advice to me. River City Marina (downtown Jacksonville) has gone through a succession of management over the years.
[Cruisers] heading northward up the east coast of Florida might want to avoid the River City Brewing Co. & Marina in Jacksonville. It looks good in the write up in Dozier, etc, but the bathroom and showers were filthy….chipped paint in the shower off the block walls that had to be a half inch high. Had not been cleaned in days….maybe longer. We greatly enjoyed the trip up the St. John's River….so much different from the hustle and bustle of the coastal areas. Small, county like marinas, friendly and well kept, lots of wildlife….especially alligators. Quiet and peaceful….but do obey the no wake rules in the manatee zones. We are back in Jacksonville now…at Ortega Yacht Club Marina…a very nice facility. Moving northward in the next couple of days. Have a Great Day!!!
John
I, too, have always been impressed with Old Port Cove Marina, Yes, it’s pretty much a powercraft only facility, and a bit pricey, but, hey, these are the Palm Beach’s.
Not also Bill, Jane and Daisy’s recommendation about anchoring in North Lake Worth. That is also an excellent plan for those who don’t need or want marina amenities.
Old Port Cove is very nice, but somewhat pricey. They have brand new state of the art floating docks with pump-outs at each slip. It’s in the middle of all kinds of shopping but you really need a car.
Without a car, you can easily provision for groceries and enjoy several restaurants by anchoring in the north Lake Worth anchorage. The dinghy dock (shown in Skipper Bob’s Anchorage book) is about one block from a Mall with Publix, CVS, etc.
Bill, Jane and Daisy Stone
M/V Loose Stones
Sounds like this incarnation of Loggerhead Marina would be a good place to spend some time.
Just north of MM1010 is the Loggerhead Marina, might be still called Frenchman’s Marina on your chart. It is south and adjacent to the Donald Ross Bridge, North Palm Beach/Juno Beach area.
Great restaurants are a short walk over the bridge, and just to the north. West Marine is a mile or two south on US1, as is Publix.
The marina has all the facalities, clean rest rooms, laundry, pump out, modern docks,,,, a little pricey, but maybe not for the area,,,
A public park/ beach is just north in Juno Beach,,,really nice beach. We stayed at the marina for a month last year.
Prior to swapping our land yacht for the aquatic kind, we stayed in the Juno Beach area, at an RV park,, Loved the area,,,great food, and great beach. Everything is close. If West Marine does not have it, B.O.W. is just down the road in Riveria Beach, on US1.
Car recommended. The airport is south some 10 miles or so via I-95. Nice area to do some land side trips.
Bob & Yvette Doherty
Y’s INVESTMENT
This is the FIRST report we have had here on the Cruisers’ Net about a shoal buiding into the channel leading to the popular anchorage on Fort George River. This body of water intersects the AICW, north of the Waterway’s intersection with the St. Johns River, south of Nassau Sound and north of Sisters Creek.
IF ANYONE ELSE HAS VISITED FORT GEORGE RIVER LATELY, PLEASE E-MAIL US WITH THE SOUNDINGS YOU DISCOVERED. We currently rate this anchorage very highly in our “Eastern Florida Anchorage Directory (/eastern_florida_anchorages/anchorages_-__eastern_florida/), and if Captain Chris’ reported depths are confirmed, we will need to change our account of this anchorage ASAP. So, please e-mail me at CruisingWriter@CruisersNet.net, with any recent Fort George River observations!
Subject: Fort George Depths
Cruising News: Today, two hours before high tide we entered the Fort George River. In less than an eighth of a mile we were aground in the center of the channel. Exploratory moves north and south did not reveal water that would float our boat at low tide (we draw 5.5 ft). It looks to us as if there is a three foot +/- bar across the river mouth now.
Chris Wain
I e-mailed Captain Chris and asked for more details, and whether he could have mistakenly left the channel. He was kind enough to immediately reply:
Claiborne,
Anything is possible, but we stuck at 30:26.876 -81:26.720 . It may be that the channel was south of that but we didn’t find it. We have a policy of not ancoring upstream of anything we can’t cross at low tide, so we moved on to the open spot off Harrison Creek. Given the slick calm last night and E’ly this morning it was fine. The only traffic was dolphins.
Chris
Comments on Fort George River from other fellow cruisers:
We spent the night at Kingsley Plantation February 15 this year on our way to the Bahamas. We went in with the tide under us with no problems anchoring in front of the plantation house near where the chart says ‘ruins’. Then next day (quoting from my February 16 log) “Got up both anchors and left the river at dead low tide with no problems.” Our boat is a Crealock 34 and draws 5 ft.
Bill Murdoch
Irish Eyes
Lambs Yacht Center (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) is located on Ortega River (off the St. Johns River), just upstream from downtown Jacksonville, FL. Below, we see one of many reports we’ve had here on the Cruisers’ Net praising the repair arm of this facility!
I have been in Lambs on the Ortega River (just off St Johns). They are located near downtown and offer dockage as well as a boatyard. Their work and pricing have been very fair. Workman ship has been above average. They are about 20 minutes from airport and we use this marina/boatyard as a pick up location when cruising the ST John. Downing Nighingale is contact person.
Joe Hart
“Jubilee”
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Lambs Yacht Center
Any report of a good mechanic is an excellent report. All cruisers need to know about exceptionally good service people, and it looks like we've found on in Cocoa!
A heads up for anyone needing a reliable and experienced mechanic in the area between Fort Pierce and Daytona.David Hicks who owns Atlantic Marine Diesel in Melbourne 321-302-5176 has really bailed us out quickly and efficiently here in Cocoa.He worked at Caterpillar for 10 years (he is Caterpillar certified) and went out on his own and does all types of work on most engines.
This is an unsolicited testimonial!! Smooth sailing.
Dave Weinstein
Another good report from Admiral Laura! I spent more than a few days during my early years hanging around the downtown Fort Lauderdale New River docks. But, then again, Fort Lauderdale was a pleasant “village” in those days. Oh, how times have changed!
The Las Olas mooring field in Ft. Lauderdale offers no free nights but the showers, laundry room, etc., is available with your mooring fee for $30. We were there one night then went to the wall on the New River for 3 weeks! The guys are wonderful and so accommodating~~Matt, the harbormaster, Kevin, and Joe, in particular. It was a cocophany of sounds and sights with a constant parade of people on one side and boats on the other. We were across the river from the jail—right in the middle of downtown and a couple miles to the beach. Everything we needed’”Sailorman, West Marine, Boat Owner’s Warehouse, was within bike riding distance. We were also walking distance to the Broward Performing Arts Center (which we took advantage of one evening) and museum and discovery center. For your next guide’”a tiny little convenience store, My Market, has the most incredible subs we’ve ever tasted!!! It’s on 17th, just a block or two across the tracks. They also have salads, etc., for take-out.
Thanks for all your help.
Laura Bender
Kindred Spirit III
Here are some GREAT cruising destinations on and just off the Indian River portion of the Easter Florida AICW, near the charming community of Cocoa. I could not agree more with Captains Robert and Kay's recommendations, plus Harbortown Canveral Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR!
a.. Anchor at Dragon Point, a great anchorage at mm 914.2, where we watched space shuttle Discovery lift-off on March 15!
b.. There is a great stop at the town of Cocoa at mm 897.6 with a free dock for the day (no overnight) as described in Skipper Bob. Do not miss Travis Hardware Store for a real treat. When is the last time you were in a hardware store that had new wooden wagon wheels or potbelly stoves? After a tour of the hardware store then have lunch at Ryan's Pizza, sandwich, and salad Pub just one block up the street. This was a GREAT stop!
c.. Then diesel for $1.75/gal, tax included, and dockage for $1.00/ft with Boat US, at Harbortown Canaveral Marina, just 3.7 miles up the Canaveral Barge Canal at mm 893.7
Robert & Kay Creech
C-Life
Below is a nice discussion, copied from the Net's "Ask Your Nieghbor" page (/ask_your_neighbor/ask_your_neighbor/), about an anchorage, hard by old Fort Mantanzas, south of St. Augustine, and near where the AICW splits off from Mantanzas River. Take care – bottom strata can shift here quickly due to the swiftly moving waters.
Does anyone have local knowledge of the depts for the anchorage at Fort Matanzas [south] of St. Augustine at mile 792. We draw 5 feet. Will we have a problem entering this anchorage? Can you visit the fort from here?
Jeff and Susie Parker
M/V Idyll Time
Jeff
Fort Matanza is south of St Augustine. We stayed there last spring and had no problem our draft is 4. 6" The current is strong but not a problem. You have to dingy over to the beach near the ranger dock and take the free ferry over to the fort they would not let us tie up the the dock. The fort was a very nice stop we stayed two days take a dingy ride out to the inlet if you have time.
Larry & Margie Ross
Wanderin L&M
We went in there last year. We followed instructions in Skipper Bob. There is a fair amount of current coming and going through the pass to the ocean. Dingy into the visitors center, they will take you to the fort. A great stop, and adds to the understanding of the early history of St. Augustine.
Chuck Gorgen
ODYSSEE
We have been in there and anchored with 4'8" draft and never had any trouble. be sure to set your anchor well as the current is very strong through there.. I have visited the fort waling the dog but never officially visited it. the tour boat that takes people there is on the opposite shore just east of the fort..
Jay and Susan Wigginton
M/V SAILS
Ft. Matanzas is south of St. Augustine, not north. It is a nice day anchorage but I wouldn't trust it at night since the currents can be swift. We are having a raft-up there tomorrow with 4 trawlers and 2 smaller boats. We draw 4'11". We'll get there about an hour after low tide and leave before the tide changes.
Barry Kipnis
The note below was in response to a reference Captain Todd made in another note about cruising to Cocoa "to get some great American food." I e-mailed Todd and asked "where in Cocoa?"
El Charro. We anchor out, dinghy to the public docks, and then walk about 6 blks to the south & west. Downtown Coco is a neat little town with lots of shops & bars. As we motor past it looks like they also have a carnival going on this week, complete with a ferris wheel!
Best thing we ever did was buy a Garmin Nuvi, it talks you right to where you want to go. Also helps us find all sorts of things (Gro. stores, hardware stores, auto parts, ect.).
Don't leave the boat without it!
Todd
Always good to near about free, municipal sponsored pump-out. Metropolitan Park is located downriver from River City Marina and Jacksonville Landing.
Morning All,
As we headed through JAX this past week we were told, and saw, the free pump out at Metropolitan Park……Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium area. The pump out is located at the west end of the finger dock, which is just west of the free slips that are there. Dropped the hook yesterday @ Daytona Beach for the final day of Bike Week, what a crazy time that was.
Todd & Brenda Lanning
Life's2Short
Anchoring on the northern end of Lake Worth has long been popular with cruisers.
We stayed in the Lake Worth anchorage area which is North of the City Marina, which is about about 4 miles North of the Lake Worth Inlet. If you go in to the the Lake Worth Inlet you can clear immigration at the cruise ship terminal by staying at a marina across from the Inlet Channel.
Patty and Robert Mitchell with Maggi
ORINOCO
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For North Lake Worth
Cooleys Landing is one of three marinas run by the city of Fort Lauderdale, It is located well upstream on New River, near the heart of the downtown section. From my own observations, it is a superior marina in every way!
We stayed at Cooley¹s Landing on the New River in Ft Lauderdale. It¹s clean, secure, has a nice laundry room and it is relatively close to a large Publix for stocking up. The price is $1.25 per foot so reasonable in Ft Lauderdale. If you come, fuel up before you leave the Keys as fuel is more expensive here. We paid $3.06 for diesel at Lauderdale Marina.
Jim & Lisa Favors – Kismet
We’re headed south at the moment but wanted to plug the Fort Pierce City Marina, complete with Boat US discounts on both fuel and dockage. On Saturday mornings they have one of the best farmers’ markets you’ll see: baked goods, fruits, vegetables, fresh seafood, unbelievable guacamole, jams, crafts, etc. They also have lots of free festivals with live music, and the marina staff, town folk and permanent dock dwellers (including two former Loopers) are all exceptionally friendly. Put it on your list.
Barbara
M/V Toba
Glad to hear that Don and Stacy had such a good time at Palm Cove Marina. Then again, that’s only to be expected as these good people are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Good Afternoon Claiborne!
As a new member of Cruiser’s Net, we want you to know we have docked by boat at Palm Cove Marina for a one month lay-over and the staff and facilities there are outstanding!!…
Thank for your help to make our north-bound maiden journey safe and pleasurable!
Don and Stacy
`Heavenly Daze’
Defever 53 POC
Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Palm Cove Marina
The anchorage discussed by Captain Hank below actually lies directly off the AICW, short of (NORTH of) the Waterway’s entrance into Lake Worth, and is found on a squared cove, making into the western banks of what the chart refers to as the “North Palm Beach Waterway.” I’ve never had trouble with the holding ground on these waters, but, then again, it’s been years since we tried to drop the hook here. I’ve always believed in listening to locals in this sort of situation, so let’s all take a word from the wise!
Subject: North Palm Beach Waterway Anchorage at mile 1013
Cruising News: You may want to adjust your description of this anchorage. I live right nearby. My guests have attempted to anchor here and have found the holding to be poor. These are experienced cruisers with all chain and big anchors. In the hurricanes of a couple of years ago, EVERY boat that anchored here dragged and ended up aground or against a dock. I have logged over 1000 nights on the hook in 37,000 miles of cruising. I can’t recommend this for conditions other than light to moderate winds. This is not a heavy weather hole.
Hank Haeseker
And, a follow-up note from Captain Hank:
Subject: Anchorage at Mile 1013
Cruising News: A short time back I sent information about poor holding in an anchorage near my home in North Palm Beach. I may have incorrectly referred to the “North Palm Beach Anchorage.” I intended to comment on the anchorage you refer to as “Mile 1013.” This anchorage is in a residential neighborhood in North Palm Beach, just off the ICW. The problem I noted is that the holding is poor and only suitable for fair weather. It is not a good storm anchorage. In the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, ALL vessels that anchored here dragged anchor and ended up aground or up against docks at homes nearby. My experienced friends who have attempted to anchor their cruising boats in this spot using heavy plow anchors and lots of chain report difficulty getting a good set, or even a satisfactory set.
The anchorage you refer to as “North Palm Beach” is at the north end of Lake Worth. Sometimes referred to as “Little Lake Worth.” Boats seem to anchor successfully there, however, I have no personal experience to report on that spot.
Sorry if I made an error in reporting previously.
Hank Haeseker
The discussion below was copied from the AGLCA mailing list. Sounds like a good place to take your pet ashore, albeit on a leash for sure!
Has anyone with a dog anchored in Miami around the Venetian Causeway islands? Skipper Bob shows a doggy icon but we can't figure out where or how far away the dog suitable dinghy landing(s) are. Any help would be appreciated.
Also has anyone run into dog-walking restrictions in the Ft. Lauderdale beach area?
Thanks,
Bill, Jane and Daisy Stone
aboard M/V Loose Stones
We anchored between Star and Palm Islands — funny feeling of being in the back yards of celebrities (about N 25 46.6 W 80 08.6). We dinghied to Collins Canal, as described in Skipper Bob's book (about a mile from the anchorage at N 25 47.48 W 80 08.69). About 1/3 mile into the canal is a Publix on the north side of Dade Blvd. You can pull the dinghy to the north bank of the canal and get off (N 25 47.628 W 80 08.413). There is a grassy area Daisy could use. Lots of traffic, but safe with a leash. Very fun trip on the canal to Indian Creek and "the strip" of Miami Beach. We also bought gas for the dinghy by walking 150 feet from the dinghy to a filling station on 23rd Street (tied to bank west of bridge, climbed up bank — memory says there were a couple grassy spots there as well — N 25
47.945 W 80 07.810).
Most of the shoreline in the area is very private, so pickings are slim. Active Captain maps several boat ramps in the area, but we didn't try to find any of them.
I should probably mention we did not have a dog on board, so are not expert.
The anchorage is worth trying. Quite unusual.
Bill
When we went from Miami to Aventura, there were dozens of pretty little islands just off the ICW that were mostly parks. Small boats were frequently there and it you could dinghy to those islands if you
were anchored near them. We didn't because we were just passing through. We stayed in Aventura and there are no dog walking restrictions, but you can't really get to the beach easily there because it's all private access. Then we went up to DelRay Beach, which is a very nice little city with a great beach. Nodogs on the beach but no restrictions on walking them in town.
Doug & Kathy
Florence Cove lies along the easterly banks of the St. Johns River just upstream (south) from Green Cove Springs and the Shands Bridge.
Subject: Florence Cove Anchorage (St. Johns River, South of Green Cove Springs)
Cruising News: We live in Florence Cove and welcome cruisers to our area of the river!!
We monitor Ch 16 in the house for river traffic , and often go out to the boats anchored to welcome them. Anchorage N29 59.075 W81 35.232 (7Ft/Hard Sand), N29 59.105 W81 35.084 (6Ft/Mud) In the bottom of the cove are two mooring anchors we use for hurricans for our boats. Anyone wanting to use them for a nght or two is welcome. 5ft min depth normally(125ft+ swing).. soft mud bottom.. ve ry protected on three sides (open to the West)
But if you want to go off the hook, Outback Crab Shack (Six Mile Creek) next cove South, has a great 1,500ft floating dock! They had a 100ft+ in there last summer! To get in.. stay South of Jackwright Island Point Sand Bar. then North of Palmo Point Shoal, large cove, lots of room. The shallowest part is just in front of last three docks to the South as you enter Six Mile Creek (5-6 Ft Soft Mud).
N29 58.167/W81 33.708, N29 58.167/W81 33.634, N29 58.172/W81 33.606
Rex & Jimmie
42 Carver Mariner
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Florence Cove
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