Ortega Yacht Club Marina - Click for Chartview

Located on the Ortega River just above the Roosevelt Blvd. Bridge and just below the intersection of the Ortega and St. Johns Rivers, Ortega Yacht Club Marina is especially convenient to the Riverside section of Jacksonville.

Thank you Cruisers Net. We are above the bridge at Ortega Yacht Club Marina and planning to exit Monday. A great marina by the way,laid back, friendly, about 1/3 livaboard and walking distance to anything you need.
Brian Walter

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St. Johns Marina is just a short hop north of the DeLand/Whitehair Bridge, along the St. Johns’ northeasterly banks.

The `Boat Show Marina’ Burned in a 5 hour fire on July 25th 2003. The fire destroyed almost all of the covered slips and a lot of boats too. A new owner from south Florida bought the place and changed the name to St. John’s Marina. The restaurant is still closed. Shady Oaks [nearby restaurant] is right on the river just on the other side of the Whitehair bridge. They serve a good fish sandwich and cold beer. Some outdoor tables in a screen room right on the waters edge are available. Great little spot on the water.
Rick

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Fleming Island Marina lies on the southern shore of Doctors Inlet, southwest of St. Johns River marker #11, upstream (south) of Jacksonville.

I’ve been in this marina several times and found pleasant helpful people that deliver honest caring service. The facilities are well maintained, new in appearance, a nice swimming pool and bath house with a common covered public area. The marina maintenance provider has year of experience as does the dockmaster and can be trusted.
Alan Schaaf

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Huckins Boat Yard lies along the northern shores of the mouth of the Ortega River, just upstream of the Roosevelt Boulevard Bridge. Sadler Point Marine Center flanks the northwestern shores of the Ortega River, immediately southwest of the combo Ortega River Highway 17, railroad bridge. Oretega River intersects the St. Johns River, upstream (southwest) of downtown Jacksonville.

I live locally [Jacksonville, FL] ‘“ and Huckins has a great reputation.
The only issue is the 45’ clearance bridge to get under. That may pose a problem for larger boats.
There is another boatyard just before the bridge with no clearance issues called Sadler Point. It is also highly respected, and offers similar services and decent prices. You can walk to WM, Publix, bookstores etc.
Geoff Cooke

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Lambs Yacht Center is the most upstream facility on the Ortega River, which itself lies upstream on the St. Johns River, a short hop from the downtown Jacksonville, FL waterfront. Over the years, we have consistently received excellent reports from fellow cruisers concerning this facility!

We kept our boat at Lambs Marina on the Ortega river (just off the St. Johns river, south of Jacksonville). It is definitely a hurricane hole with covered concrete docks. It is a little pricey, but our insurance rate stayed the same. Call William, he took very good care of us, 904-705-8199.
Dave & Joyce Johnson – Joysea

We are at Lambs Yacht Center in Jacksonville and in my opinion it is about as safe as it gets. Cement fixed piers, cement roof, excellent staff and great mechanics. Hear the airport and approved by our insurance company who said we had to be north of the Florida Georgia boarder during the hurricane season. Because they are 25-30 miles inland on the Ortega river and because they have a published hurricane plan, our insurance company approved us being in the Lambs Yacht Center without any up charge. William is the dock master and he is outstanding, his personal cell number is (904) 705-8199.
David & Marla Russo

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We continue to hear good things about Crystal Cove Resort Marina under its new ownership. The marina lies along the western shores of the St. Johns River, north of Palatka. The marked entry channel cuts west from the main river passage between markers #42A and #43.

We had been by this marina a few years back and did not plan on stopping, but wanted some gas.
The place was so nice and we stayed for a night, a great stop over between Lake Monroe and Jacksonville.
The complex is clean, the staff is very helpful, and they have redone the hotel, with conference room, laundry, and large, well furnished and reasonably priced hotel rooms with microwaves and fridges. In some of their rooms they even accept pets. Soon the restaurant will open in addition to the store.
We had an excellent view of the river in room 102! This place is great ‘“ thanks so much, Kelly. Spacious rooms, great views, very friendly and helpful marina with gas and coffee ‘“ what more could we ask for?!
If you stop by, be sure to meet Kelly, the new owner, a great guy!
Neil and Sue Archer

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Located on the Ortega River just above the Roosevelt Blvd. Bridge and just below the intersection of the Ortega and St. Johns Rivers, Ortega Yacht Club Marina is especially convenient to the Riverside section of Jacksonville.

Location, location, location! Within walking distance of anything a boater could want. Secure marina with floating docks in NE Florida’s best hurricane hole.
I definitely recommend this place!
C. J. Hodson

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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 pleasurecraft, as described below.

We are enchanted with our short 3-day stay at the Landing. We would have liked a place to take a shower, and we felt a little bit like celebrities on display as many passersby asked us questions about the cruising life, but they were kind and harmless. The docks are over 1000 feet long, floating, and have the capacity for more than 50 boats. The sign says boats must be willing to be rafted 5 deep along the docks!! Oh my!! The current is strong here (tidal) but the docks are in sections and the balustrades stick out far enough that the docked boats are somewhat in the lee’¦.still need stout bow, stern, and spring lines and large fenders as boats are side-tied. Exposure to the wind from the ESE and SW; the fetch to the ESE is about a mile downstream in the river, so a ESE wind will start a chop at the docks sometimes. In the springtime there is an afternoon easterly sea breeze. The library is 5 blocks away, the Winn Dixie supermarket is 7 blocks away. The MegaBUS stop is within easy walking distance for out of town guests arriving or departing. The Jax Airport is a long cab/van/bus ride away north of town. The MegaBUS stop is also the central terminal for the city buses, which are reliable and generally run on time, although the frequency of buses on many routes is not very often.

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Ortega Landing, the first facility you will encounter upon entering the Ortega River from the St. Johns, is indeed a fine facility, as is nearby Lambs Marine Center.

I could not resist throwing in a strong recommendation for Ortega Landing Marina just inside the Ortega River south of JAX. Great rates, free laundry, pool and jacuzzi. One block from Publix and all sorts of stores.
Rusty Carlisle

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Crystal Cove Resort Marina lies along the western shores of the St. Johns River, north of Palatka. The marked entry channel cuts west from the main river passage between markers #42A and #43.

Crystal Cove Resort on St. John’s River has New Owners. The place is great. Check out Blog Site @ http://crystalcoveresort.blogspot.com
Stephen Jeffrey Cull

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Green Cove Springs Marina lies on the St. Johns River’s southwestern shores, in the heart of the old Navy Base, upstream of the Green Cove Springs City Dock, between Jacksonville and Palatka. This place has always had a “down on its luck” atmosphere every time we have visited here over the years. However, as evidenced by Captain Good’s comments below, do-it-yourselfers love this place, and it sounds like some improvement may be coming in the future. On the other hand, we’ve heard that story before, and then nothing has seemed to happen.

We looked high and low for a boat yard which would allow do-it-yourself work and also had reasonably priced long term storage. We finally chose Green Cove Springs Marina. It is a good old fashioned boatyard with friendly helpful staff. So far we have been delighted. Rumor has it they will be adding soon to the bathroom and shower facilities which is a modest weak point at present. Also I hear more vehicle parking is coming. And, at a time when other marinas are raising prices to uncomfortable amounts, GSM is not only reasonably priced, but they have room for lots of bo462Yats!
Reggie Good

We found our boat in the long term storage lot at Green Cove Springs Marina. We moved it in to the work lot which was reasonbly priced and found the staff to be very accomodating and helpful. The store in the office had everything we needed at better prices than anywhere else we looked. The other folks working on their boats in the work yard were equally as helpful and friendly and most were hard at work.
While the bathrooms and showers are certainly on the dingy side and my husband was pretty grossed out by the men’s shower, we found the facility to be just fine for our needs. We weren’t there to live in luxury, we were there to work.
We’ve since moved in to the moorings. The staff was incredibly wonderful when we launched. They were fun, patient with us (we’re new to big boats) and so helpful.
I wouldn’t swim in the river anywhere near the boatyard and I would never eat anything that came out of there as it was an old Navy yard and the amount of lead and copper and other heavy metals in that water must be very high.
We’ll be moving out soon but while we are using Green Cove Springs Marina’s mooring balls and facilities, we are very happy with them. We’ll look forward to seeing the staff and using their work lot any time we have repairs to make on the dry or require long term storage.
DeVaich

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Lambs Yacht Center, a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, lies just off the St. Johns River, upstream from downtown Jacksonville, on the Ortega River. Few would argue that this is the premiere repair facility on the entire 100+ nautical miles of the St. Johns!

We used Lambs marina for our seasonal break. They have a concrete roof so very secure (reportedly was going to be a floor for a condo complex)
Jim and Vaughn on TWINS

We have “Joysea” our 39′ Mainship stored at Lamb’s Yacht Center, Jacksonville, FL. It appears to be a great hurricane hole, including covered concrete wet slips. We plan to leave Joysea there during the summer (or until she is sold). Our insurance premiums did not go up because of the protection provided by the marina. A shopping center is within walking distance (grocery store, restaurants, etc.). No courtesy car, but Mr. Nightengale, owner, drove us to the car rental store. If you plan to stay there ask for the go-to guy, William. He is knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

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South of Palatka, FL, what was once supposed to be the “Cross Florida Barge Canal” intersects the St. Johns River’s western shoreline, south of the “Seven Sisters.” This always environmentally controversial project was abandoned back in the 1960’s, but a dam was constructed on the Okalwaha River, and one lock was put in place on the canal connecting the St. Johns River to the lake created by the dam. We journeyed through these debris strewn waters back in the 1990’s, and emerged with shaft and prop damage due to semi-sunken obstructions.
The canal leads to an eerie lake, with dead trees all around, due to the flooded lands, and an almost palatable silence. We couldn’t wait to leave.
Since those times, there has been serious talk about removing the dam across the Oklawaha River, and allowing this stream to return to its natural course. As far as I know, that idea has died on the vine, probably due to lack of funding.
Below, Captains Chuck and Claria present far more updated info about cruising through the Buckman Lock to Lake Oklawaha (a. k. a. Rodman Reservoir), from the St. Johns River. For my money, even with the below described improvements, this is still a very off the beaten path cruising destination, fit only for the most adventurous among us!

I talked to Bill Root last night, lives in Yalaha, FL on Lake Harris and keeps BUFFALO GAL, his 54′ Hatteras, at Sanford Boatworks and Marina, south of Lake Monroe. Because of the draught, Lake Harris at the head waters of Oklawaha River which flows into the St. John’s River near Welaka, is 2′ lower than normal and he has concern on being able to get BUFFALO GAL into Lake Monroe with this low water level. Expect to see water levels lower than normal as you get close to the head waters. We were considering coming south with thoughts of going up into the Oklawaha River through Buckman Lock, the first lock in the Cross Florida Barge Canal. The Corps of
Engineers spend 85 days in early 2011 removing trees, limbs, and other vegetative debris from the navigation channel. This would imply you could be able to at least get into Rodman Reservoir. Buckman Lock operates 4 days per week, Thursday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Phone number for lock is 386-329-3575. Eureka Lock and Dam, the second lock planned for the Canal, was never completed so water depth up river towards Silver River is probably marginal. Buckman Lockmaster may be able to tell you how far up the river you could go. You could take a day trip in your dingy a ways up the river if you’re interested, and if somebody has a fast dingy could possibly get
all the way to Silver Springs. As the crow flies, it’s about 22 miles from Rodman Reservoir to the Silver River, but I expect it’s about 40 miles as the river flows. Nothing up there but lots of wilderness.
Chuck and Claria Gorgen

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It’s a fascinating cruise of some 140 nautical miles from the St. Johns River’s inlet at Mayport, to the city of Sanford on Lake Monroe. And here, cruisers will discover Monroe Harbour Marina, a long-time, cruiser friendly spot!
Below, we have copied a discussion reprinted from the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association forum, concerning this facility. This is valuable reading for any captain bound for Monroe Harbour!

We’re planning to stay Monroe Harbor Marina which has a great rate for BoatUS members and should keep us in deep enough water in Sanford.
Jeanie & Wes on
M.V. Miss Ruby

Be very careful going into Monroe Harbor. There is very skinny water even in good times. We drew 4 feet and churned a good bit of mud entering last April.
Paul Brannon
SEASEA

When I sent my previous message about Lake Monroe and the approach to Monroe Harbor Marina I did not have my chart book in front of me. I was out on Lake Monroe yesterday and realized the directions I gave in my previous post were not as clear as they should be. Let me clear it up:
After you pass under the railroad bridge and enter Lake Monroe, you will encounter a well-marked channel that leads to a turning basin about two miles out at G7. At that basin you want to take the channel that heads SW straight to the marina. This channel is well maintained. About three quarters of the way down the channel at R7 you will see another channel that heads to the right toward the shore. DO NOT take that channel. It is not maintained and is quite shallow in spots. Continue heading straight toward the marina.
Monroe Harbor has two basins, east and west. The entrances to both can get skinny in spots so be careful and watch your depth sounder carefully going in. If you are directed to the east basin, be sure to favor the red side of the entrance where the buildings are. The side with the wall is shallow.
Bill & Kathleen Root

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Moving south from Jacksonville on the St. Johns River, (yes, believe it or else, that’s “upstream”), one of the best anchorages along the entire run from Jax to Palatka, comes up along the western banks south of Orange Park. Of course, your vessel must be able to get under a 37-foot bridge to access the waters beyond, known as Doctors Lake. Mill Cove is one of several possible anchor down spots here, but do watch out for the correctly charted pilings if you stray too near the rear of the cove.

We are in Mill Cove on Doctors Lake tonight. Lovely spot.
Jeanie & Wes on
M.V. Miss Ruby

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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. This sprawling center features its own dock for visiting pleasurecraft, as described below.

Jacksonville Landing is a wonderful place to tie up. No charge and you can stay for 72 hrs. NO power or water. Water taxi to cross the river, free bus service all over the city for 60?/65+, skyway to look over the city. The Museum of Science and History is worth a stop. We haven’t been to the library yet, but hear it’s special. The stadium and the theater are walking distance. Free wifi. AND if you tie up in the right spot, you can watch the flat screen TVs at Chicago Pizza and American Grill from your boat, or walk a few feet, buy a beer, and watch them a bit closer.
Jeanie and Wes Quigley

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