Clearwater Municipal Marina is definitely a well run city owned marina facility. Their marked entry channel cuts west, northwest off the Western Florida ICW, just south of the high-rise Clearwater Memorial Causeway bridge.

We visited Clearwater Municipal Marina in April 2010. The docks we experienced appeared to have been recently renovated and in solid condition.
The restrooms were inside the locking gates, in good working order, and the cleanest we have experienced. We were given a key for access upon arrival.
There are many great restaurants in the area within walking distance. Clear Sky Beachside Cafe is one of our favorites. It’s classy, upscale, and serves great seafood.
Scott and Jolene
Clearwater Beach, FL

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Clearwater Municipal Marina

It is always nice to get recommendations for marinas that are “off the beaten track”, especially in an area as large as Boca Ciega Bay with its many marinas. Glenn thinks you should add Pasadena Marina to your stop list.

I wanted to put a plug in for Pasadena Marina, which is around the back side of Pasadena Isle in Boca Ciega Bay. To get there, turn out of the ICW at FL R `38’³ just south of the Corey Causeway Bridge, and follow the marked channel around the I wanted to put a plug in for Pasadena Marina, which is around the back side of Pasadena Isle in Boca Ciega Bay. To get to the backside of Pasadena Isle, you will carry 11 ‘“ 15 ft all the way around the Island. When you get around the Island, the channel splits, with the right hand leg going to the east towards a Marine Max marina, and the left leg, to the north, going towards Pasadena Marina. Right where the channel splits, there is a hump with about 5 ft at MLLW, then the channel deepens to about 6 ft at MLLW. Some of the markers at the split are missing their panels. Treat them as Red and leave them to starboard when inbound. The channel after the split is narrow, but is well marked and easily negotiated. Once in the channel, you should see the marina office for Pasadena Marina in front of you. I recommand you call on your cell phone to get the dockmaster, Chuck, as he is often out on the docks and isn’t monitoring CH 16. There are plenty of slips, and they do take transients. The marina is very clean and quiet. There is a pool, clean air conditioned showers on both sides, and laundry facilities. Pump Out is available, and they have free WIFI and ice. I would consider it an excellent hurricane hole. Check out the web site or give them a call!
Captain Glenn Zeiders

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pasadena Isle

The channel cutting west to Mandalay Channel leaves the Western Florida ICW, north of the high-rise Clearwater Beach Bridge. As Captains Dave and Patty note, this passage is reasonably well marked, and it brought them to a secure anchorage just off the main channel. Note also the presence to two “city supported dinghy docks nearby.” I’ve asked for more info about where these facilities are located, and voila, Captains David and Patty have now provided that data in the second message posted below. Many thanks to this seagoing duo!.

Because of strong westerly winds, we decided to take advantage of the protection offered by the principal Mandalay Channel. The route off the ICW was easy to follow, was marked well, with sufficient depths for vessels with up to six foot drafts. We anchored off the western banks, near the fixed bridge, in 15 feet of water. There was a fair amount of current coming through the bridge. Because this channel is used by fishing vessels during the night, the Coast Guard did come by to make sure certain boats were not anchored in the marked channel from the bridge. The wind gusted to 25 to 30 knots from the west during the night. There was very little fetch and with 100 feet of chain/rode, there was no threat of dragging. In addition, there were two city supported dinghy docks nearby to give access to Clearwater Beach and to a grocery store. This was a great anchorage with excellent protection from every direction, except the north.
David & Patty Power
S/V Two If By Sea

In response to your inquiry, there are two city/dinghy docks off the Mandalay Channel. For the first one, as you approach the fixed bridge at the south end of the channel, head easterly, past the Island Yacht Club on the north, along the causeway to the south. Proceed past the Clearwater Marine Science Aquarium towards the end of the canal. The dock will be on the north shore. They, at first, appear to be the docks for a restaurant located there. However, there is a posted notice by Clearwater Beach authorizing free use during the day. No overnight dockage. The docks, which consist of numerous slips, appear to be brand new and are in excellent condition. From there, you have access to the free trolley system and a Publix is within one block.
The other city/dinghy dock is located just off the western shore of the Mandalay Channel, north of the fixed bridge. There are several commercial and residential/condo dock facilities. Then, there will be a city recreational/library facility that includes the new city/dinghy dock, also consisting of numerous slips. It will be obvious. Again, there is a posted notice authorizing free use during the day, but no overnight dockage. A security gate was being installed when we were there and I assume the dock is locked at night.
David & Patty
S/V Two If By Sea

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For The Mandalay Channel Anchorage

Good review of a superior municipal facility!

This was night five in our trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Gulf Coast. We had intended to run from Sarasota to Tarpon Springs but got a late start and this was as far as we got before the sundown, and it was a lucky break. We didn’t stay long as we finished cleaning the boat after dark and were off the next morning at first light to cross to Apalachicola but the marina appeared nice and the dock master was very accomodating staying a little late to find us a slip as we were unscheduled to stay here. If we return the west coast we will plan to stay here again as our destination crossing from Apalachicola. There is easy walking access to several restraunts and the beach.
Cahoots

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Clearwater Municipal Marina

I have always been impressed with the friendly, can-do attitude at Gulfport Municipal Marina. You must leave the Waterway, and cruise up a marked channel to Boca Ciega Bay to access this facility, but many will find the trip worthwhile!

Stored by boat here a few times while cruising. Secure fenced facility, floating transient docks. not really close to shopping. One of the cheaper marina’s around.
Captain Sterling

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Gulfport Municipal Marina

Gulfport Municipal Marina overlooks the northeastern corner of Boca Ciega Bay, just north of the Western Florida ICW’s crossing of Tampa Bay. You will note Captain LuAnne’s mention of it not being a “long” walk to downtown Gulfport. She is referring to a comment in our “Western Florida Marina Directory.” Well, I would call it a long walk, but some might indeed refer to it as “moderate.”

It’s not what I would call `a long walk’ from the Gulfport Marina to downtown Gulfport. Only moderate, about 8 blocks or so. Definitely under a mile. Well worth the walk. There’s plenty of restaurants and lots of artsy shops. I often say, if I didn’t already live here, it would be a wonderful place to cruise to. Fuel is easy to get to in the marina, as long as your vessel is under 50′. Otherwise, it can be tricky turning around to leave. We have about 55′ overall, but we do it all the time.
LuAnne
s/v Dulces Suenos

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Gulfport Municipal Marina

To reach the Mandalay anchorage from the Western Florida ICW, you must traverse a marked, but sometimes tricky (for strangers anyway) channel that passes Moonshine Island.

Were were in the Mandalay channel today on 01/23/10. Tide was over 1 1/2 foot. As we came abeam of `12’³ we found perhaps 5 feet. Anyone know if were should have stayed closer to `12’³? We may have been a 100 feet or so southwest of it.
Thanks,
Scott and Jolene
Clearwater Beach, FL

The shallowest water in the Mandalay Channel is close to marker 12. According to some locals we talked to, the best depth is found closer to the developed shore, inside the no-wake markers. In other words, stay farther from `12’³, not closer.
Gene Fuller

And, here’s an earlier Net posting, commenting on this same anchorage:

You did not ask, but I will comment on the anchorages in the Mandalay Channel just north of the Clearwater Causeway Bridge. This is a really nice anchorage location. The entrance channel was well marked, easy to follow, and mostly quite deep. We saw one spot that was just under 7 feet on the way in (Tide was over 1 foot.) The one interesting difference from your guidebook and from the charts is that we did not find any shallow water near marker 14. We followed the official channel on the way in, but came back out well north of marker 14, with plenty of depth. I explored around marker 14 with a sounder and did not find much evidence of the purported central obstruction.
In any case this location was very nice. Almost unlimited room, reasonably well protected from directions other than southeast, quiet, and scenic.
I hope this information is of some interest and use to you.
Best regards,
Gene and Sue Fuller
Punta Gorda, Florida

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Anchorage Listing For The Mandalay Channel Anchroage

The discussion below is copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mailing list. I thought it might be a good thing for all Western Florida visitors here on the Cruisers’ Net to also find out where the recommended boat surveryors are located in or near Clearwater.

Greetings list.
I am in need of a very competent surveyor to look at a partially completedtrawler style boat in the Clearwater Fl, area.
Any references for a surveyor who is truly objective will be greatly appreciated.
Brian

Excellent experience with Peter A. Muir, AMS Accredited Marine Surveyor with two boat surveys.
(http://www.AlliedMarineSurveyors.com)
E-Mail: _Pete@AlliedMarineSurveyors.com_
(mailto:Pete@AlliedMarineSurveyors.com)
Main Office: (561) 799-3478
Mobile: (561) 445-1666
Jim

Hello Brian…
I highly recommend this surveyor…actually two of them who work as husband and wife or a pair at least. Davis Maritime: Capt Al Davis and Capt Cindy Goebel. They are in the Tampa Bay area. Phone 727.403.0389 (cell) and 727.323.9788. Also…cgoebel1@tampabay.rr.com. They surveyed my Nordhavn 40 (First Forty) for the man who bought her from me. He was happy. Later when bringing my Linssen, Cinderella, down to Punta Gorda, FL, we tied up at Indiantown (Lake Okachobee) and a couple came over to look at the lovely Cinderella. We got to talking and it was THEY who had surveyed FF! They were happy to meet me since they said they rarely get to learn the results of a survey!
I was very impressed with the pair and they are happy to ‘travel’ for a survey though should be near you.
Margery

Brian:
I agree with Dan, contact Adrian Volney at ajvolney@aol.com. If Adrian isn’t available, try Mike Davenport at mike@safeguardmarine.com.
Good luck!
Curtis

Guflport is a charming community that resides on the shores of Boca Ciega Bay, just north of Tampa Bay (near Statute Mile 114). The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has also supported the creation of a mooring field to serve these waters, and we are very pleased to report that the good people at Boat/US have seen fit to award Gulfort a Boat/US Boating Access Award! Cheers for Boat/US, and, let me not fail to mention, this orgainization’s Tow/Boat/US division is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Subject: Gulfport Mooring Field Project Wins Boat US Boating Access Award
Cruising News: BOAT US CHOOSES the CITY OF GULFPORT recipient of their annual BOATING ACCESS AWARD for the GULFPORT MUNICIPAL MOORING FIELD PROJECT

Please Join Us at the Award Ceremony
FRIDAY November 14
10 AM
GULFPORT CASINO

Boat U.S. Vice President of Public Affairs, Margaret Podlich and Assistant Vice President, Public Relations, Scott Croft will bestow a 2008 Boat U.S. Recreational Boating Access Award to the City of Gulfport Mayor, Michael Yates, on behalf of the city, this Friday, November 14th in front of the Gulfport Casino (5500 Shore Blvd., Gulfport) at 10 a.m.
Gulfport will receive international as well as national attention. Local businesses as well as every citizen will benefit in some way by this well publicized, prestigious award.
The nation’s largest association of recreational boaters (approx 670,000) will be honoring the City of Gulfport, FL, for its efforts with improving local waterway access and the development of the Gulfport Municipal Mooring Field.
Boat Owners Association of The United States (Boat U.S.) created the award program in 2007 to highlight successes in protecting water access in a time when boaters were losing marina slips, service yards and launching areas in many parts of the country. The Gulfport Mooring Field is one of six community projects across the U.S. that earned a 2008 Access Award.
The award is based on four criteria: First, the challenges faced in retaining or increasing access in an area; Second, the direct impact or measurable results of the solution; Third, the level of success in increasing awareness of the issue in a community and; Fourth, `repeatability,’ the ability to take the successful approach and adopt it in other areas.
Communities which have promoted the preservation and use of their historic waterfronts and heritage have been able, in many cases, to generate sufficient income from tourism to stave off vertical development and loss of character. Wouldn’t it be nice if Gulfport could grow with grace, prosper and remain the only green spot along the shore of Boca Ciega Bay?
Please Join City Officials and Your Neighbors This Friday at 10:00 AM at the Casino for the Award Presentation.
Best Wishes,
Cindy Davis

On 11/6/08, as part of a “Western Florida Wish List,” I posed the following question:

51. The access channel to Clearwater Municipal Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) cuts west at marker #1, just south of the high-rise Clearwater Beach Bridge. This is another excellent municipal marina. Could someone who has stayed here please give us a late breaking report on this impressive facility? Some nearby dining recommendations would also be most welcome.

Responses follow:

As I mentioned above, we are currently docked at Clearwater Municipal Marina. As you note, this is a fine facility. My only complaint is that some of the upright posts on the finger piers are literally falling down. We need to be very careful getting on and off our boat, since the obvious post to grab is swinging on a single bolt and completely unstable. It appears that others in this area are in a similar state of disrepair.
Best regards,
Gene and Sue Fuller
Punta Gorda, Florida

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Clearwater Municipal Marina