There is currently an ongoing discussion on both the AGLCA mailing list and MTOA List-Serve, about marinas in Charleston, South Carolina. Both strings were begun by a question posed by Captain George Grafter (see below). As you will see, this ended up being a string mostly about the Charleston Maritime Center, which is located on the western shores of Cooper River, near the heart of downtown Charleston.

I’M PLANNING ON SPENDING A FEW DAYS IN CHARLESTON SC IN MID SEPT. I’M FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY MARINA. DOE’S ANYONE HAVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AT A REASONABLE COST & CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN?
THANKS FOR THE HELP,
GEORGE GRAFER
TIME OUT

Last time we were in Charleston we stayed at the maritime center on the north side of the city across from patriots point and loved it. Closer to the city and $1.40 FT in April 09. GREAT grocery store nearby within walking distance, (Harris Tweeters). Close to bus line and much closer to walk to the city than the city marina.
The docks are susceptible to waking but not bad most of the time. We will go back.
Summering in Old Saybrook CT
Ray and Linda

We stayed at the city marina in Charleston when we were there this spring, but other loopers stayed at the Maritime Center which is on the other side of the city right downtown and a few blocks from the Market. I believe it was much more reasonable and close to everything.
Barbara Benjamin
Golden Lily – Nordic Tug 42

We were in Charleston last month and the Maritime Center is the best deal downtown. The tall ships were in town and so the Maritime Center was unavailable to us at the time. Still, it’s right downtown and reasonable, as mentioned in another post, any of the other reasonable marinas require a car. Golden Lily is right on, and it’s good to hear from Golden Lily again (Joe Wheeler the last time).
Don & Rebecca,
m/v Andante, Monk36

We second the comment regarding the Maritime Center, which we stayed at last Nov. Very convenient to the downtown market, restaurants, etc. (means walking distance for senior citizens) with a grocery mid-way between the market and the MC. It was a pleasant stay. A tour boat docks there and the working port is nearby – those are the only distractions we can recall.
Bob Baker

We just spent a week at the Charleston Maritime Center, had planned to stay a day or two. Fantastic location and service, even free laundry.

The location is so good that we were still discovering great places within a couple of blocks until the day we left. Everything from Blockbuster to bike rental to decent tours is right at your dockstep. The breakwater dosn’t stop many of the rollers from the bay, but it is worth it for the location and price.
Hal and Cheryl Baker

We just spent a week at the Maritine Center, the rate is great by day and for a week you get two days free. Fantastic location, we were still finding great places within a two block walk the day we left.
Try the East Bay Deli and the Bakery right across the street.
Hal and Cheryl Baker, onboard Mas Bueno in N. Myrtle Beach

Click Here For More Information Concerning the Charleston Maritime Center

Captain Bob, author of the posting below, used to be the MTOA Port Captain for Charleston. I don’t think anyone knows more about Charlestonian waters than Captain Bob.
This message was extracted from an ongoing discussion on the MTOA List-Serve, about whether it’s best to cruise south (or north) via the AICW, or go outside in the briney blue, or some combination of the two. Bob’s review of the Charleston inlet situation is one of the best I’ve seen on these waters, so I have take the liberty of reproducing it here.

Charleston is a real bear – at high tide the jetties are just below the surface.
John Is correct: The rock jetties are underwater at High Tide and has snagged a few Sailboats and Recently a MainShip Cruiser. These folks try cutting the channel or just are not paying attention.
With all the Commercial traffic Charleston Harbor has to be one of the best Marked Harbors Going. Especially at night the multitude of Range Lights are superb.
Daylight approaches keep a watch over your shoulder for a tanker or container ship for inbounds and keep an eye out for the outboard traffic At all times Stay in the Channel and pay attention.
The last guy on the jetties called Towboat U.S. for an escort in at night but got impatient and before Towboat U.S. got there the owner put his nice Mainship on the jetties.
Save Cruising and Ya’ll come to Charleston.
Capt Bob
M/Y ALLEZ! MT50 WB

I just thought I’d post my concurrence on how well marked Charleston is and also how accurate the charts are. I find it hard to believe that anyone who has taken the time to review a chart could end up on the jetties. We’ve entered Charleston twice and exited Charleston twice thus far. The first entry was in dense fog and the harbor was closed down to commercial shipping traffic. We couldn’t see any of the buoys and we were within 50 feet of them. If I could post pictures, I would. Our radar overlay on the charts of the area was so accurate I was actually able to perfect our calibration and alignment. The jetty returns and the buoy returns exactly lined up with the chart. I was amazed! We were able to get all the way to the anchorage off of the Megadock without any issue. The other entrance, and both exits, were done in the dark, and the number of lights and marks was excellent – not too many to make it impossible to figure out where you are, and enough that you could line up your course without having to worry. I can’t think of any other inlets we’ve entered or exited on the US East Coast that have been so well marked, and we’ve been through many since we mostly run on the outside.
Chris
S/V Pelican