Seven Sisters Anchorages (St. Johns River, south of Palatka)

On 7/17/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

20. South of Buffalo Bluff, a whole series of stream flow around a collection of islands along the river's easterly shoreline, known collectively as the Seven Sisters. There are many possibilities to anchor on these streams. Who has dropped the hook here, and what did you find?

Responses follow:

Seven Sisters Islands anchorage – Proceed NE from marker #31, favoring the SW side of the unnamed island to get the best depths as charted.  Six to eight feet is available at the SE tip of the island — muddy bottom and shoals up fairly quickly to 4 feet to the south (as shown on chart).
Randall & Susan Moring .

Florence Cove Anchorage (St. Johns River, near Green Cove Springs)

On 7/17/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

15. The Shands Bridge crosses the St. Johns River just southeast of Green Cove Springs. This fixed span's 45-foot vertical clearance sets the height limit for cruising the upper portion of the river. A short hop southeast of the Shands Bridge, Florence Cove indents the northeastern banks. We've always found this to be a good spot anchor. Anyone else dropped the hook here recently? What did you find?

Responses follow:

Florence Cove anchorage – We have anchored several times in Palmo Cove (just south of Florence Cove) with 6 – 8 feet, medium holding, mud bottom.  Six Mile Creek (off the SE corner of Palmo Cove) is reputed to carry 5 feet, but we have only taken the dinghy up.  The creek is a nice primitive dinghy ride (birds and gators) with a restaurant (burgers and beer) at the 12-foot clearance highway bridge shown on the chart.  They have a l-o-n-g floating dock.
Randall & Susan Moring .

Lambs Marina and Repair Yard on Ortega River (Jacksonville, St. Johns River)
On 7/17/08, as part of a “St. Johns River Wish List,” I posed the following question:

After passing under the second bridge on Orgtaga River, Lambs Marina and Repair Yard (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR), guards the northwestern shore. Who has stayed here or had repair work done lately? Please describe your experience.

Responses follow:

Lambs Marina – Several years ago we had extensive lighting damage repaired there, and on another occasion replaced two fuel tanks. Thorough, friendly and very expensive! — but worth the price.
Randall and Susan Moring .

Murphy Creek – Dunn Creek Anchorage (St. Johns River, south of Palatka)

On 7/17/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

19. East of charted Murphy Island, the combined mouths of Murphy Creek and Dunns Creek make into the St. John's southern banks. There are lots of anchorage opportunities here. Who has dropped the hook on either of these streams. Please give us a full report. Has anyone tried to follow Dunns Creek all the way to Crescent Lake?
20. South of Buffalo Bluff, a whole series of stream flow around a collection of islands along the river's easterly shoreline, known collectively as the Seven Sisters. There are many possibilities to anchor on these streams. Who has dropped the hook here, and what did you find?

Responses follow:

Have anchored in Murphy's Creek many times in 18 feet but never over night.  Lots of insects.  Have followed Dunn's Creek to Crescent Lake and ran aground twice, once each way, even staying to the outside of the turns.  Depths vary from 50 feet to two feet very rapidly.  Go slowly, Soft and easy to back off.
Les Rothman

Subject: Cresent Lake
Cruising News: 2 years ago, we ventured all the way to Cresent Lake. Not much on the lake except Bannanas pub on the southwest corner.
Caution, could not get even two anchors at once to set. Had to tie to a dock. Talked to a local and they claimed holding in cresent lake is Non exsistant, and from what I a seen that is true.
If your not going to a dock, be cautious!
Capt. Sterling

Dunns Creek and Murphys Creek – We have anchored in Murphys Creek behind Rat Island.  There is a little noise from the highway, but not too objectionable.  A dinghy ride through Polly Creek also offers birds and gators!
Randall & Susan Moring

Green Cove Springs City Dock (St. Johns River)

/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

14. I've heard that the town of Green Cove Springs offers a city dock, but I have never personally found this facility. Can anyone shed some light on this, and, if so, please give specific navigational directions to cruise from the river to this dock.

Responses follow:

Green Cove Springs.  The City Dock is way in to shore W. from the channel and is basically for small boats.  Just a bit up river you can find Reynolds Park Marina as well as Holland Marine Boat Yard.  This Marina is fine for an over night or longer but you can't get to town unless you call a cab or someone offers you a ride.  Holland marine is an excellent service facility with very reasonable prices.  I have used them for the past ten years in two different locations and have never been disappointed.  Both are reached by cell phone.  They don't monitor VHF.
Les Rothman

Green Cove Springs city docks….very very shallow. Too shallow for us to even attempt to tie up. We went a bit further up and anchored in a small cove right next to a public boat landing and across from a nice little shopping center with a grocery store, drug store and little bar and grill.  Took a dink ride around and got close enough to see that the docks were in disrepair. From what we saw we wouldn't have felt comfortable tieing up even if we could of gotten in.  Of course, that was several months ago so hopefully things have changed.
Lee Ann Carter
"Oh dolce far niente!"

Subject: Green Cove Springs
Cruising News: St John's River….Green Cove Springs City Docks.  I beg to disagree with the postings about this facility having used it twice in the past 3 years, most recently in April of 2008.  There is plenty of water (6-7 ft) at the dock and all the way in to it.  We have a 40 ft trawler, draw 4 ft and have never touched bottom.  The first time in we took our time, read the chart carefully and felt our way in.  There IS a large spot of shallows but with careful navigation it is easily avoided. (Hint: Stay closer to the long docks of Green Cove Springs Marina and do not try to drive in at a ninety degree angle to the town docks.  If one has a chart plotter (as we did this Spring), it is even easier to get there.  The docks have room for a least 3 trawler size boats.  When we were there this year a 50 footer was on the t-head.  These docks are actually more user friendly than those in Elizabeth City, NC!!!!  They still have water, but have not repaired the electric even though the posts are there.  Maybe by this writing they have been fixed.
Bobbie Blowers

Doctors Lake Anchorages (St. Johns River, south of Jacksonville)

On 7/17/08, as part of a “St. Johns River Wish List,” I posed the following question:

11. Doctors Inlet, crossed by a fixed 37 foot bridge, makes into the St. Johns western shores south of Orange Point. Before passing under the Doctors Inlet bridge, Whitney’s Marine will be visible just to the south. Anyone stayed at Whiteneys lately? What did you find? For those that can clear the 37-foot bridge, the body of water body beyond, known as Doctors Lake, offers some wonderful anchorage. Who has dropped the hook here? Did you visit the fish camp style restaurant on Swimming Pen Creek? How was the food?

Responses follow:

For my taste, Mill Cove in Doctors Lake is the best anchorage on the Lake. Have not tried to tie up at Whitey’s Restaurant in years. Last stopped via car. This the once enjoyable restaurant has turned in to a heavy drinking noisy crowd from its former self.
Les Rothman .

Plummers Cove Anchorage (St. Johns River – south of Jacksonville)

On 7/17/08, as part of a “St. Johns River Wish List,” I posed the following question:

10. At Jacksonville, the St. Johns turns south (making it one of the few northward flowing rivers in America). The river remains a mighty stream for many miles south to Palatka. Along the way, there are several opportunities to anchor. One lies in the large body of water charted as Plummers Cove, immediately north and east of the I-295 bridge. Anyone anchored here lately? Did you find this a good spot to swing on the hook overnight?

Responses follow:

Plummers Cove. Have anchored there many times. Wind protected from the N.E. through the S. Holding and depths fine. Lots of traffic noise 24/7 from I-295 and from Jax Naval Air station flights over head.
Les Rothman .

Restaurant Recommendations Convenient to Ortega River Facilities (Jacksonville, St. Johns River)

On 7/17/08, as part of a “St. Johns River Wish List,” I posed the following question:

9. Can someone make some restaurant recommendations for places to eat within walking distance of the Ortega River facilities?

Responses follow:

Walk five minutes to the Roosevelt Mall and choose from a dozen places to eat, simple like a Subway, C.C.s Pizza, Panera’s Bread Company and Starbucks, through Tom and Betty’s, Longhorn Steaks, Harry’s Seafood Bar, a Japanese Restaurant and a Sushi Bar. You can also pick up ready to eat at Publix Market.
Les Rothman

In the Roosevelt Shopping Center which is with-in walking distance of several of the Ortega/St. John’s marinas there is a Starbucks, KFC/Taco Bell, chinese restaurant, Panera Sandwiches, Tom and Bettys (casual food and bar), Harry’s (like a New Orlean’s style Red Lobster) Long Horn Steak House, Cee Cee’s Pizza, Chik-fil-A, a Japanese restaurant, and a guy with a hot dog cart that has killer dogs!
Lee Ann
“Oh, dolce far niente!”

Good Repair Facilities on Ortega River (Jacksonville, St. Johns River)

Here are some repair yard recommendations on Jacksonville’s Ortega River, from Captain Les, a long time correspondent here on the Cruisers’ Net.

Huckins does top draw work as does Saddler Point Marina and boat yard. Each of these straddle the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge, Huckins inside and Saddler point out. Huckins is pricey but performance is reported to be excellent.
Les Rothman .

Ortega River Yacht Club (Jacksonville – St. Johns River)

On 7/17/08, as part of a “St. Johns River Wish List,” I posed the following question:

7. Also, on Ortega River, Ortega Yacht Club (really more of a commercial marina than a yacht club) lines the northwestern banks, just short of the second bridge. I’ve always found this to be a transient friendly marina. Anyone stayed here lately? What did you discover?

Responses follow:

OYCM is fine if you can get in. They are always full. They no longer sell fuel.
Les Rothman

We were at the Ortega Yacht Club for several months last summer and fall. We left in November for the Florida Keys. VERY transient friendly if you can get a slip. They only have one or two slips available. But after being there a couple of weeks we decided to stay a bit longer and getting a long-term slip wasn’t a real problem. It is a gated marina with nice showers, a small but clean laundry room and very friendly dockmaster who is a fellow boater. Can walk to Pier 17 right next door, if they don’t have it, as a boater, you don’t need it. Also within walking distance is a West Marine, a huge Publix, CVS drug store and over a dozen restaurants. Right around the corner is the Chamblin’s Book Mine…one of the largest used bookstores on the east coast.
Lee Ann
“Oh, dolce far niente!”

Exchange Island Anchorage (St. Johns River – short hop east of downtown Jacksonville)

On 7/17/08, as part of a “St. Johns River Wish List,” I posed the following quesiton:

3. The only really good anchorage near downtown Jacksonville is found on the waters east of Exchange Island, near the charted location of “Arlington.” Anyone dropped the hook here recently? What did you find, and what depths did you observe?

Responses follow:

A large group of boaters anchored behind Exchange Island in the spring of 2007. They reported all was well. I did not stop as I was headed only a few more miles to my home port.
Les Rothman .

Mill Cove Anchorage (St. Johns River – east of Jacksonville)

On 7/17/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

2. Has anyone tried to anchor on the northern portion of Mill Cove, south of flashing buoy #43? What depths did you find, and did you find this spot to be a comfortable overnight haven?

Responses follow:

Mill Cove on the chart opposite Blount Island is used often by cruising friends of mine.  They say both the holding and depths are fine.  I suspect that wakes would roll in from the river traffic.
Les Rothman

Mill Cove anchorage – We didn't find the charted depths but did find 6 to 8 feet with good holding.  Interesting to listen to the docking pilots and tugs bringing ships into Blount Island directly opposite.  Last year they were working VHF Channels 1 and 2, I think.
Randall and Susan Moring

Palatka, FL Facilities (St. Johns River)

On 7/17/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

17. The city of Palatka marks the point where the St. Johns finishes its evolution from a brackish to a fresh water river. There are three possibilities for pleasure craft dockage in Palatka. North of the high-rise bridge, a hotel, which used to be a Holiday Inn, but is now something else, I think, has a dock. South of the span, also on the western banks is the Palatka city dock, followed by Boathouse Marine. PLEASE comment on any or all these facilities. Also, any dining recommendations in Palatka would be welcome. Does anyone know if Angel's Diner is still open?

Responses follow:

The motel north of the bridge is now a Quality Inn. I can't comment on depths there.
The Palatka city dock seems adequate for up to 6' draft, at least at the outer end. Last winter, the dock was occasionally used for fishing derbies, mostly on weekends, and was completely dominated by outboards and 2-cycle smoke when it was. The majority of the time, it would be suitable for short stays by cruisers, but has no facilities except for public bathrooms and an adjacent parking lot.
Longer stops in Palatka would be better spent at the Boathouse Marina next to the city dock. I kept my sailboat there for most of the '07-'08 winter. The new owners welcome cruisers and have been trying to improve a marina that had been run down under previous ownership. Most of their slips seemed to be rented year-round to locals or winter residents like me, but some shorter-term cruisers came and went while I was there.
Access to the dock was by entry code at a gate. There was a soda machine, ice available, on-site laundry and clean bathrooms.
Angel's Diner was still open when we left in June, We ate breakfast there a few times. There is a Subway right next door to Angel's, which is on Reid Street, the roadway that comes acxross the bridge. In my opinion, a much better choice for breakfast or lunch is the City Cafe, a few minutes walking distance of the river, located on St John's Ave., the main street of the old downtown area.
Neil Woodside
Swans Island, ME
SV "Undine"

Palatka.  Carmen Cove on the north west shore just before reaching the SR 100 bridge is a very good anchorage.  Find 7 feet in good holding.  Wind Protected N.E &S. but I've been there in blows from other directions and had no problems.  The docks across from Carmen Cove by the Hotel are in very poor shape but the price may be right for some and the restaurant is tolerable.  Boathouse Marina is being upgraded by new owners and an easy and safe stop if they have room for you.  If you arrive after they close, they work the tie-up on the honor system.  Easy walk to town.  Angles Restaurant appears to be still open.
Les Rothman

Crystal Cove Marina (St. Johns River, north of Palatka, FL)

On 7/17/08, as part of a "St. Johns River Wish List," I posed the following question:

16. Crystal Cove Marina guards the St. Johns western banks, south of Rice Creek. This is one of the few places that Diesel Fuel can be purchased on the St. Johns south of Jacksonville. SOME OF YOU PLEASE COMMENT ON WHERE DIESEL FUEL CAN BE PURCHASED BETWEEN JACKSONVILLE AND SANFORD!!! Have you tried to purchase fuel at Crystal Cove? What depths did you find, and how difficult was their entrance channel?

Responses follow:

Crystal Cove Marina; I haven't bought fuel there but did motor a 4' draft sailboat in and out of there a few times last winter. The private markers were adequate to keep us in their dredged channel, which, at that time, had 6 ft. near high tide, with a few slightly shallower spots.
Neil Woodside
Swans Island, ME
SV "Undine"

Crystal Cove Marina has a long and shallow channel to enter and shallow by the fuel dock.  I would not recommend it with a draft over 5 feet.  Georgetown Marina on the north side of Lake George sells diesel fuel too.
Les Rothman

Crystal Cove Marina – The channel is straightforward and easily carries our 4 feet, perhaps more.  The fueling dock is south of the main docks and actually extends out from a concrete boat ramp.  Surprisingly good water off the ramp!
Randall & Susan Moring