One word of warning – I know from personal experience that it can get surprisingly right at the Jacksonville Lnading dock, so keep an eye on the weather and wind!
Ortega Landing Marina – Click for Chartview
Ortega Landing, the first facility you will encounter upon entering the Ortega River from the St. Johns, only a mile or so upstream from downtown Jacksonville, is indeed a fine facility.
We highly recommend Ortega Landing Marina. We have been there 4 years, all floating docks. Good hurricane hole and excellent staff. Located 16 miles up the St Johns River from the ICW, in the Ortega River, Jacksonville.
Gary Whiting
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Stopped for the day at the free dock in Welaka at mile 95. This is a deluxe floating concrete dock with space for maybe a half dozen boats (no power or water) and there are a couple of restaurants within walking distance – one at the top of the hill adjacent to the dock. We tried both of them and were pleased. The best surprise is the athletic and playground complex / tennis courts at the top of the hill have hot showers and all of this is free. Just be sure to bring a roll of toilet paper with you. Sadly, the maritime museum has closed and is now just a storage building. In short, we liked Welaka.
Elaine & Russ Sturm
Twelve Stones
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Sixmile Creek – Click for Chartview
Six Mile Creek stretches out from the southeastern corner of Palmo Cove, itself a short hop southeast of the infamous Shands Bridge at Green Cove Springs. Be advised that you may have to cruise through some 4 1/2 foot soundings to reach the stream’s mouth, and again as you approach the Crab Shack’s docks. If you can navigate in these depths, the effort is well worthwhile!
The previous night, we stayed on the free dock at Outback Crab Shack on Six Mile Creek (Mile 47) and it is a bit shallow getting in there with 5 foot draft boats needing high tide.
Elaine and Russ Sturm
Twelve Stones
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We have a 37′ trawler 3′ draft, 16′ beam. Murphy Creek is one of our favorite anchorages. We have traveled the entire Creek entering both the north & south and exiting both as well. The North entrance is shallower at times but stick to the chart.
I have some amazing pictures from our times on anchor. Its a quiet peaceful anchor spot.
We spent several months last year traveling the entire St. Johns after purchasing our boat. Its a great river.
Elaine & Russ Sturm
Twelve Stones
We were there in November 2013. It is fine as an anchorage with no depth problems as long as you stay in the marked channel. We cruised the entire length of it and never saw less than 7 feet at any time. We did not stop here, but had it planned as an alternate if the weather turned bad. You will see wildlife here, but nothing like what you will see further south.
If you are interested in our trip down the St. Johns, our blog is at http://www.wacithree.blogspot.com. The wildlife gets better and better the further south you go and reaches its peak in the Blue Springs area near DeLand and Hontoon Island State Park. Be sure your dinghy is ready to explore areas your boat will not be able to navigate and you will see a part of Florida that few cruisers have a chance to see. The St. Johns has been the highlight of our Loop so far. Check our blog for details.
Dave & Nan Ellen Fuller
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Murphy Creek Eastern Anchorage
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Main Street Bridge – Click for Chartview
Despite being charted at 40ft MHW vertical clearance, and prompted by IBTS’s query below, two of the Main Street bridge tenders have verified that the distance from the span to the water at Mean High Water is 38ft. Correct your charts! Also, please note the restrictions currently in place that require advanced notice for an opening, /?p=134950
Is MHW 38feet ??
IBTS
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Boathouse Marina - Click for Chartview
Boathouse Marina overlooks the shores of the St. Johns River west-southwest of Palatka City Marina and marker #1. Cruisers docking here are within walking easy distance of the shops and restaurants in downtown Palatka
Hi everybody. We, “Carol Anne”, have been at The Boathouse marina for about 2 weeks and are planning on spending a couple of months here just relaxing. This place is very nice (heated pool) and quiet. While it is a $5 cab ride
from Publix, there is a Walgreens and fish market nearby. This place used to have more Looper boats in the past and I know of only 1 more coming in. The docks are in great shape and there are still some slips available.
Bob & Loretta McKane. “Carol Anne”
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Boathouse Marina
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SSECN’s Bridge Directory lists the charted vertical clearance at mean high water. During periods of wider tidal range and higher winds the actual height of the water can vary, as Captain Chuck relates below. The prudent tall-masted cruiser will keep an eye on tides and winds, to say nothing of the clearance boards.
This information is wrong, there is more space if you are careful. December 3 2013 I ran 73′ under it, with about 12’³ to spare. This was 1 hour before mean high tide. HOWEVER, this will also hit the range lights in the middle, so be sure to go to one side or the other of them.
Chuck
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Huckins Boat Yard - Click for Chartview
Huckins Boat Yard is located on the northern shores of the Ortega River off the St. Johns River, just upstream of the Roosevelt Boulevard Bridge with a 45ft vertical clearance.
If you are going to be in the Jacksonville area on the Ortega River and need boat yard services, give Huckins Yacht Corporation a good look. We just finished a week of annual underwater hull maintenance and would have to proclaim this was the best boat yard experience we have had in over 15 years of boating. The yard hauled us out on the day scheduled, and then splashed us on the day promised, with everything on the original list completed plus adding another large amount of work that was unseen so not anticipated. The quoted costs on those things we could estimate were honored and the additional work was quoted as we went and that was honored. Then, to top it off, the yard spent 3 hours washing our boat before casting us off. This is a job I always hate to do when first leaving a yard with the usual dirty decks and Huckins included it in the packaged bottom job. As not having any incentive from Huckins except a very happy customer, I do highly recommend them. Call Deb Grant, one of the service managers, and tell her that we sent you.
Stay safe,
Tom
Huckins builds one of the best boats on the water too. Timeless classics with incredible quality.
Brad Hines
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Ditto this positive review of the Huckins Yard. They are a longtime custom boat builder with extensive facilities and equipment. They have weathered the down market in custom new-builds by cultivating their service operation. The workers are high-skill and conscientious, and management is on-site and responsive. Huckins has a reputation for being pricey, but their hourly rates are in-line with many yards, they go the extra mile to serve a customer, and their quality is such that you get full value for every dollar. They have worked on my boat several times, and I always leave satisfied.
A phone call to Quality Inn and Suites Riverfront on the St. Johns River in Palatka, FL, confirmed Captain Siff’s information that the slips at this Quality Inn are for the use hotel guests only and are free when you rent a room. But should you wish to tie-up your boat and have a night in a bed that doesn’t rock, here is their webpage for location and phone: http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-palatka-florida-FL783
I visited this marina owned by the Quality Inn Hotel by land to check it out this past weekend on a car trip from Tampa to Jacksonvville. I asked about the rate per foot per night for transient dockage and was told by the front desk clerk that the docks are not rented out for transients but that dockage is free if you book a hotel room. There was not a boat at the marina dockage. I did not check out the Palatka City Dock but it may be an option. A call to the Quality Inn Hotel management may further clarify what I was told on my brief visit.
William Siff
Quality Inn and Suites Riverfront, Palatka, FL
River City Marina - Click for Chartview
River City Marina lies on the southerly banks of the St. Johns River between the Main Street lift bridge and the fixed, high-rise Acosta Bridge. This report comes from our friends of the AGLCA Forum.
When I last visited this facility, about two years ago, it had a definite “down on its luck” atmosphere, but at least Captain Kuemmel’s report below indicates the adjacent restaurant and micro-brewery are well worth your gastronomical attention!
We stumbled upon another Jacksonville craft brewery. Directly across the river from Jacksonville Landing, between the Acosta Bridge and the Main St Bridge, is the River City Marina and the adjacent River City Brewing Company. The marina floating docks show quite a bit of wear & tear, and you have to deal with the 2-4 kt river current, but the dockmaster Lee is extremely helpful. The slips have 40-50′ boats staying as liveaboards. We topped off fuel before heading up the St Johns River, so we stayed on the T-face while we ate lunch. Their restaurant has been around 20 years, serves excellent food, and is popular with the business crowd. The brewery is only a couple years old, and their current license allows them to sell their beers only at their restaurant/bar. They are now trying to expand both brewery capacity and distribution. Overall, a very good lunch stop.
Jim Kuemmel
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For River City Marina
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Fleming Island Marina - Click for Chartview
Fleming Island Marina lies on the southern shore of Doctors Inlet, southwest of St. Johns River marker #11, upstream (south) of Jacksonville.
I have stayed at this marina since 2009 and offer the following updated review:
Marina has a swimming pool, ice machine, pump out, floating and fixed docks, haul out, very reasonable rates. etc. Friendly and knowledgeable staff (Jeff). Outstanding full service marine center (Hal). Approach can have shallow water at times.
Captain Perry
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Trout River Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Trout River Anchorage lies west of the St. Johns on the mid-width of Trout River between Seafarers Marina and Pier 68 Marina.
Stayed on anchor here March-September of 2011. If you google `trout river bridge’ and `death’ `murder’ `drowning’ or any other bad thing there are a lot. This is not a nice neighborhood. beware the tides push through the bridge at 4-7 knots and I have seen several boats get sideways on the pilings. Park your boat far enough out to be beyond swim range (100 yds. +), or the locals will get drunk or high and board your boat. The marina docks have liveaboards that keep an eye out, make friends. There are multiple derelict, sinking vessels and shipwrecks. Now the good: it’s right infront of the zoo and vessels that arrive to the docks get free access to the zoo, and it is my favorite hurricane hole for st johns river, just watch out when the hurricanes come every boat on the river not in protected waters will try to anchor there and usually 1-2 of them end up on the beach due to insufficient bottom gear so `know your surroundings’.
Chris Burnham
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AICW/St. Johns Intersection - Click for Chartview
The Waterway intersects the St. Johns River at Statute Mile 741, east of Jacksonville.
I found that the St. Johns River all the way down to Sanford is a great way to spend the winter. It is 300 river miles with plenty of depth and NO locks. When you are in Sanford at the docks in town, it is a 2 city block walk to downtown Main St. When we were there over a year ago, the town store fronts were full and very vibrant with activities every week. You will need a car to get to the malls and grocery but Enterprise has some outstanding weekend rates. You are also very close to Orlando and Disney World.
John Sagel
SEAS 2 DAY
Just so there is no misunderstanding here, the navigable portion of the St. Johns River from the intersection of the AICW to Sanford is 180 miles.
It is a great cruise with a number of interesting places to stop along the way. Sanford is about 30 miles from Disney, and a little closer to some of the other tourist attractions in Orlando. Orlando International Airport is about 20 miles. Those distances are off the top of my head.
Judy Young & Bob McLeran
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Is there a southern route from Sanford to the intracoastal waterway?
Boathouse Marina - Click for Chartview
Palatka is the first major port of call on the beautiful St. Johns River, south of Jacksonville, Florida. You can anchor off the city waterfront, and dinghy into the city dock, or pick up a wet slip at Boathouse Marina.
Boathouse overlooks the St. Johns River’s shoreline, west-southwest of Palatka City Dock and marker #1. Cruisers berthing here will find themselves within easy walking distance of the shops and restaurants in downtown Palatka
The City Cafe has closed, but Angel’s Diner and the Subway sandwich shop are within an easy walk of the Marina. Beef’O’Brady’s has opened in the Quality Inn just north of the bridge on the west side of the river. Exercise extreme care crossing Highway 17 or use the long boardwalk beneath the bridge. Arrive on the 3rd Friday or 4th Saturday of the month for maximum activities provided by the City of Palatka. http://www.palatkadowntown.com/event-calender.html
David Burnham
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Boathouse Marina
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Derelicts (abandoned vessels) and “live aboard hulks” (so-called “vessels” on which people “live” that will never move again, unless it’s straight down to the bottom) are indeed a very real problem, not only in Florida, but throughout the Southeastern coastal regions. We agree wholeheartedly with Captain Burnham’s thoughts that many of these situations could be solved simply by enforcing MSD regulations and marine salvage laws ALREADY ON THE BOOKS!
Sunken Buccaneer Sailcraft, Palatka Waterfront - Photo Courtesy of Captain David Burnham
The Palatka riverfront is becoming a graveyard for boats whose irresponsible owners neglect their anchored vessels. A third vessel is now a navigational hazard between the Palatka city dock and the Highway 17 Memorial Bridge. This unlit hazard has only its bowpulpit showing above the water surface. This 27′ Bucanneer sailboat does not have a mast so it can be hard to spot. Unlike Kevin’s sloop that was allowed to sink south of the Boathouse Marina with only its mast above water and west of the sunken Houseboat that only has the top two feet of the roof exposed at high tide.
If you plan to anchor at Palatka it is currently hazardous to do so except with a full moon or in daylight.
The mastless 27′ Bucaneer [see attached photos – editor] was a hazardous sinking vessel on the 5th of July. It sank on the 13th and there was plenty of time to prevent it from sinking…The Houseboat has been underwater for months…Kevin’s sloop sank two weeks ago and it was obvious that it was in hazard of sinking yet no action was taken. Is the owner the only person responsible when authorities refuse to act to correct an obviously hazardous situation?
David Burnham
I am a property owner, a sailor and have at one time had my 32′ sloop in the Palatka Marina for 3 years. I beg to differ with the good captain! The vessels and the places he describes are accurate; however, NONE are in the channel, they are in places where when the winter winds occur, they are in relatively SAFE positions. If the good captain wants to wander around exploring the area, excellent. Do so at your own risk, . Anytime its not daylight, anywhere you do so at your own peril. A real seaman would not chance a night anchorage in a strange place.
Gene Koblick
Sunken Houseboat (in the middle of the photo, beyond the two sailcraft), Palatka Waterfront - Photo Courtesy of Captain David Burnham
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Ortega Landing Marina - Click for Chartview
Ortega Landing, the first facility you will encounter upon entering the Ortega River from the St. Johns, only a mile or so upstream from downtown Jacksonville, is indeed a fine facility, as is nearby Lambs Marine Center.
We are currently at the Marina and it is fantastic. Over 5.5ft. of water on the approach (call for directions) and plenty at the dock. friendly people, great pool and club house, even a dog park next door. Free washer and dryer, great showers and good internet, and concrete floating docks. We had always blown past the St. John’s River on the ICW or outside. I am really glad we stopped at the pretty convenient luxury marina.
William Lawrenson
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Jacksonville Landing - Click for Chartview
It’s a 13 mile cruise up the St. Johns River from the AICW to the Jacksonville waterfront, where mariners will discover Jacksonville Landing, on the north side of the St. Johns, midway between the Main Street Bridge and the Acosta Bridge. This complex is a downtown shopping mall/food court with a stage area for special events and concerts, featuring its own dock for visiting pleasure craft.
We stayed at Jacksonville Landing, FREE! just a few months ago. No power or water, but FREE. We loved it. I think the maximum stay is 3 nights.
Betsy Johnson
Rick ‘n Roll
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This question came in from a fellow cruiser and I am happy to confirm that Gibson Dry Dock is still in business and their contact information and directions are listed at their website:
http://www.gibsondrydock.com
The facility is located on the St. Johns River east of marker #12 in San Mateo.
I would want to contact by e-mail for a quotation for drydocking my boat. Is there an e-mail address?
Raynald C
March 21, 2013
This is a good place to dry store your boat during the hurricane season and a great yard for cruisers who want to do their own maintenance.
David Burnham
May 13, 2013
15years on the Fl coast, 10 at Gibson. Would not consider any place else. Dry stored all these years during hurricane season with no damage.
Harley
Click Here To View An Earlier Article on Gibson Dry Dock
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When we last visited with the Jacksonville Municipal Marina in 2012, we found this facility virtually locked down behind multiple gates and fences, and the wet slips were all but empty. There was nothing except the football stadium anywhere close by, and it would be a healthy taxi ride back into town, as this facility is located well downstream of the principal Jacksonville waterfront.
The question and answer below are copied from the Great Loop mailing list.
Has anyone stayed at the Jacksonville municipal recently ? How does it compare to others ? We will be in a 56 Motor yacht.
Olivia and Bob
We stayed at the Municipal Marina last April on Palm Sunday. There was power and water but you are a long way from anything except the stadium. We prefer the Jacksonville Landing right on the waterfront downtown, however there is no power there but so much more to do.
Marty and Jerry
onboard M/V Monarch
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