Deep Point Marina lies just north of Southport, NC, on the main body of the Cape Fear River. The marina’s marked entry channel cuts to the northwest near Cape Fear River/AICW marker #20

We had a great experience in this new marina. They are just finishing up on these new facilities. Docks are great, Rob the manager was just great. I would recommend this to all boats looking for a place to stay in the Southport area. They have a can do attitude!
Capt Doug Patton

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Deep Point Marina

Wilmington Marine Center lies just off the Cape Fear River south of Wilmington, NC, east and a bit south of flashing daybeacon #59. The Cape Fear River departs the AICW at Statute Mile 297 at the south end of Snows Cut.

We have stored our boat on at least three occasions at Wilmington Marine Center on the Cape Fear River. It is a surge free hurricane hole at Buoy 59 about 12 miles off the ICW and a couple miles before Wilmington. Chris, the dockmaster, walks the dock every morning checking on lines. The marina has a secure fence that is locked at sunset. There is nothing within walking distance of the marina and there is no courtesy car but taxis and rental cars are available. Should you need service, Gregory Poole is on site.
Alan Lloyd, Great Circle Navigation Notes, www.NavigationNotes.com

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Wilmington Marine Center

Location and facilities certainly make a difference in remembering a marina stay, but so often it is the personal effort of the staff that makes us want to return, as David attests. This new facility is located just off the Cape Fear River portion of the AICW, north of the Waterway’s sharp turn to the west at Southport.

Deep Point Marina was one of our best stops on our south bound trip from Stoney Point, New York to Fernandina, Florida! They were still under construction at the time we were there, but the hospitality we received was unmatched. These people really care about their customers. The dockmaster (Rob Gandy) even loaned us his personal vehicle to go to the local grocery store. We will always make Deep Pointe Marina one of our stops when traveling up and down the east coast.
Captain David Johnson

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Deep Point Marina

Located on the eastern side of the Cape Fear Entrance Channel, south/southeast of flashing buoy #13, Bald Head Island Marina offers excellent accommodations in a protected harbor. Being a unique ecological entity, Bald Head Island is one of the most tropical regions in North Carolina and, despite development, much of its natural beauty has been preserved. Please see Claiborne’s excellent description of the island and of Bald Head Island Marina in Cruising Guide to Coastal North Carolina.

In the Cape Fear/Southport NC area you are just 3 miles from Southport to the harbor on Bald Head Island. It is well worth a visit if you have time. Good restaurants, historic village, beautiful homes, and wide open beaches. You can stay overnight at the marina there.
Captain Bob Duthie aboard Katy Leigh, a 36 GB Classic 1981

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Bald Head Island Marina

Like Captains Beth and Stephen, we have always found the good people at Bennett Brothers Yachts to be totally first class in every respect. whether you use them for a marina or a full service repair yard. And, Bennett Brothers Yachts is one of our oldest and staunchest SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS!

Claiborne:
The “Salty Southeast Cruisers” may find this useful.
Beth & I on Nightingale were headed north a couple of weeks ago, but instead of stopping in Wrightsville Beach with all the transients, we asked for a slip we could hold for 6 – 7 weeks…we have grandchildren here and were going to stay for a while.
None of the marinas in the cruising guides wanted any part of us. We guess there are a limited number of transient slips here and everyone we called wanted to save theirs for the transients…and get the $2 per foot, the electricity $ and sell diesel fuel. I guess we can’t blame them, but it didn’t help us any.
We were referred to Bennett Brothers Yachts in Wilmington, and couldn’t be happier. This is a clean marina, adjunct to a full service boatyard. Everyone we have met on staff could not have been more service oriented. And while we’re here we will use the yard. BBY is just north of downtown Wilmington on the Cape Fear River. It is about an hour north of the AICW cutoff (Snow’s Cut) at our sailboat speed at slack water.
Downsides? No fuel dock. River current…but you always have to account for that particularly upstream. It is a bit isolated. BBY has a discount arrangement with Enterprise for anyone staying longer term. Since we will be here for some time we did rent a small car. Pumpout is at every slip and security is excellent with a combination locked gate at night.
If it is appropriate for our fellow cruisers, we strongly recommend Bennett Brothers.
Beth & Stephen Deitch

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern North Carolina Directory Listing For Bennett Brothers Yachts

You must leave the AICW’s run down the Cape Fear River at Snows Cut, and track your way upstream to Wilmington Marine Center. This facility is located in the heart of the industrial area south (downstream) of the Wilmington historic/business district. There are no restaurants or other amenities with walking distance, but you could always take a cab into town.

Wilmington Marine Center, about 1/2 way to downtown up the Cape Fear is extremely safe both weatherwise and security, good prices, and it is a very good boat yard if you need any repairs/maintenance.
Just Relax

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Wilmington Marine Center

The only problem I’ve ever see with the Wilmington Marine Center is that it’s located in the heart of an industrial maritime business park, and it’s a long way to the downtown Wilmington historic/business district, with its many good restaurants and historical attractions. If you don’t have ready automobile transportation, it’s a long taxi ride into town.

We stayed at Wilmington Marine Center on the Cape Fear River. It is a surge free hurricane hole at Buoy 59 about 12 miles from the ICW and a couple miles before Wilmington. (A cruise from the marina to downtown Wilmington for lunch is delightful especially when guests visit.) The facility is secure and remote. Are you planning to stay with the boat? There is nothing within walking distance.
Last year I paid $400/month plus metered electric. Call Chris (dockmaster) at 910 395 5055.
Alan Lloyd
Author, Great Loop Navigation Notes
http://www.NavigationNotes.com

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Wilmington Marine Center

Here’s a quick, but informative comments concerning Bald Head Island Marina. This facility’s entrance is found hard by the seaward mouth of the Cape Fear River, a short hop downstream of Southport, NC

We always stop here if going by. The marina is easy to enter, excellent staff and Bald Head Island is beautiful.
James Lea

We stayed at the Bald Head Island Marina last December. We hadn’t planned to, but we were chased in by 12ft-18ft seas (bigger as we entered the Cape Fear River due to an opposing ebb) and 35kt+ winds after rounding Cape Fear. After entering the river at dark and just puttering around until daylight, we kissed the ground quickly at the marina. The pros: Nice docks, decent showers/facilities, nice employees, two restaurants attached to the marina, protected basin, beautiful beaches and scenery within walking distance. The cons: Expensive, grocery and all other stores require expensive golf cart rental, everything is pretty expensive since it’s an `exclusive’ island, wireless was NOT free. One other note – before we entered the entrance channel (somewhat narrow, and when there is a flood tide you’ll get SEVERAL knots of current through the channel) we called the marina to check depths (we draw 6′). They told us we would be fine. We got there, made our turn towards our slip and immediately grounded in soft mud with 5′ showing on the sounder. We pushed through the mud and were able to almost make it to a T-head, where we waited for high tide to tie up to it. Apparently, spring tides have a major effect on depth at the marina. The island IS beautiful and it was nice to visit there. By the way, they just built (are building?) the Deep Point Marina just up the river and were very excited about it. It’s supposed to be a lot less expensive with nicer facilities, and one of the former mayors of Southport will be the dockmaster (and he’s a VERY nice guy and proud of his town).
Chris
S/V Pelican

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bald Head Island Marina