Cruisers should note that Captain Shanley, author of the message below, works with Twin Dolphin Marina. HOWEVER, since this absolutely first-rate facility supports us by being a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, we are pleased to pass on Mike’s description of his marina. Trust us, you simply cannot find a better place to coil your lines off Tampa Bay!

Subject: Twin Dolphin Marina – Manatee River
Cruising News: Cruising the west coast of Florida we found premier resort marina nestled safely along the beautiful Manatee River in Bradenton, Fl. The marina is within walking distance of the historic downtown and is quaint Old Main Street. The historic Bradenton Pier, centrally located within the marina is host to the famed Mattison’s Riverside Restaurant where we enjoyed fine dining in a relaxed waterfront atmosphere . I recommend that all cruisers stop by there and enjoy the best of what the Gulf Coast has to offer. The amenities are as follows:
Beautiful Heated Pool and Spa
♦ Concierge Services
♦ Fuel Dock (Diesel/Gas)
♦ 225 Wet Slips to 100 feet
♦ New Modern Floating Docks and Fixed Docks
♦ Pump Out at your Slip
♦ Laundry and Private Shower Facilities
♦ Yacht Brokerage on-site
♦ Upscale and Casual Waterfront Dining at Mattison\’s Riverside Restaurant
♦ Full Time Harbormaster
♦ Annual, Transient and Overnight Slips
♦ Power 50/30 amp, Water, Cable TV and Phone at Each Slip
♦ Cable TV Package from Brighthouse Networks, Channels 2-99.
♦ Boat Clubs and Organized Groups Accommodated
♦ No Bridges to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
♦ Superior Business Center Services
♦ Fax and E-Mail Service Available
♦ High-speed Wireless Internet Service Available
♦ Rental Bikes Available
♦ Gas Grills Located at the Pool
♦ Poolside Parties
♦ Designated Clean Marina
And the staff is spot on incredible. Their website is www.twindolphinmarina.com
Mike Shanley

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Twin Dolphin Marina

The author of the note below is quite correct. I did not know that transient dockage was available in downtown Tampa. Some years ago, the marina there on Harbor Island was shut down. Apparently that situation has now changed. If anyone has more info on this facility, PLEASE click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

Currently cruising Tampa Bay and Cruising guide to W Fla 7th ed is a good resource. Guide says no longer any good dockage dntn Tampa but there is: Tampa convention ctr has excellent municipal boating facility: floating docks, all transient, deep water. Centrally located (cut D dead ends there). No elec or water, but conv ctr has bathrooms. $1 per foot, 72 hour limit. 1st come but we were only overnight boat there. Marjorie Park recommended it and we enjoyed our stay there.
drsull

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the downtown Tampa Dockage

LOTS of good info about where to drop the hook on the Manatee River, and points nearby!

Around the Bradenton/Palmetto area, try the north side of the Manatee river off Emerson Point to be off an unpopulated shore (nice mangroves). you’ll have some tidal current, but not bad, just prepare for the swing and wind versus current happenings. Opposite side of river is also a good anchorage, but it is more crowded and populated on shore. The anchorage off the Regatta Pointe Marina is real rolly from boat traffic, and holding is acceptable but soft.
Have not tried it because of the draft of my old sailboat (6′), but a great trawler anchorage would be in Terra Ceia Bay near Palmetto, on the East side of Bird Key. On weekends, usually a few boats, on the week days you may have it to yourself. Some friends anchored there and loved it. Isolated, but if that is what you like, you’ll love it. When we get a trawler, that’s one of the first places we will go.
Have fun.
Rudy

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For DeSoto Point Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Snead Island Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For McKay Point Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Hooker Point Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Palmetto Waterfront Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Bradenton Waterfront Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Terra Ceia Bay – Bird Key Anchorage

Twin Dolphin Marina is a superior marina in every way. You’ll quickly note this to be true when you see their state of the art showers, and really, really nice swimming pool, complete with BBQ area. Also, Captain Sharkey is quite right. All the downtown Bradenton attractions and dining possibilities are within easy walking distance.
And, let’s not forget, Twin Dolphin is a much valued SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Twin Dolphin is a great spot. I may be a live-aboard there by the end of the year. Great location and the near weekly street parties are lots of fun. The town hall and police department are right across the street making it pretty safe.
Sharkey

We stayed for a month at Twin Dolphins Marina in Bradenton and found it to be very pleasant and well equipped. They have floating docks, 30-50 amp electricity, 2 washers and 2 dryers, a great restaurant, courier and mail service, great boat repairs, live theatre, shopping, street parties and lets not forget HAPPY HOUR. Just up the main street is Robins Restaurant, for great breakfasts.
Bev and Roy on Splendido

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Twin Dolphin Marina

I’ve always said a good, reliable and fair marine mechanic is worth his or her weight in gold!

A terrific Yanmar authorized seasoned and experienced Yanmar mechanic out of Bradenton, FL who works from Sarasota to Bonita Springs, FL is is Kevin McGary….tel: 941-713-3936. He can do it all regarding Yanmars and more.
Regards,
Tom Jones
m/v Marbles

We contacted Mr McGary for help with a starter and he was booked up but sent us to the shop he works with when something needs to be rebuilt. AWESOME, what a gentleman, and Bill at B and E Auto Electric is lightning fast ‘” thanks so much for pointing us at Kevin McGary!
Heather and Derek
S/V Parallax

Kevin come to my boat in Whitfield Estates and found that my bilge leak was diesel fuel, not antifreeze that I had expected. He found that the leaking fuel filter was for Gasoline and not Diesel. The bowl at the bottom was a screw on type and had expanded enough over its 5 year life to slip lose. He replaced it with a raycore diesel filter with a bowl you can see without having to crawl down into the bilge of the Albin 28TE. He also diagnosed the problems with my live well and let me fix it myself. He did remove the old frozen pump and cleaned out the threads in the thru hull with a 3/4’³ tap. Thanks Kevin!!!
Dudley Fort

The city of St. Petersburg, located on the western shores of Tampa Bay, has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to marina facilities. Not only is it home to the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina (a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) but, just to the south of Salty Creek, you will also find the Harbourage at Bayboro. This facility is the subject of Captain Gary Riss’ (the “Gar”) report below!

When cruising in the St. Petersburg/ Tampa Bay area, The Harborage Marina at Bayboro Harbor is a great stop. The marina is owned by Marinas International and is maintained to their demanding standards.
Dock master Michael Dudzik is one of the friendliest around. Radio him on VHF channel 16 for docking instructions. This is one of the few marinas that are protected by a breakwater pier to keep the waters calm. The transient dock is a long floating dock for side to docking.
The entrance channel is well marked and adjacent to the Coast Guard Station. You can’t miss it.
Facilities at the marina include a boater’s lounge, restrooms with showers, laundry facilities and a pool and picnic area. Fuel and pump-out facilities are also available to transients. There is long term storage available for those who wish to leave their boat in the area.
The marina is located on St. Petersburg’s waterfront with convenient access to the Salvador Dali museum and the 25 cent bus that will transport you around the city. You are within walking distance to shopping areas restaurants and grocery stores.
Gary Riss

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For The Harbourage at Bayboro Marina

If you follow the magenta line while running the ICW across the mouth of Tampa Bay, to Boca Ciega Bay, the indicated route would take you under the center section of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, and then back under the Misner Bridge, the northernmost part of the Skyway. Talk about going around your thumb to get to your little finger. I don’t know of anyone who actually does this.
Rather, the vast majority of cruisers use the “Skyway Channel,” which parallels the Skyway’s western face. The only trouble is that there is a bit of shoaling along the southermost part of this passage. The posting below is the latest on this page to indicate this skinny water.

Hi Claiborne,
I just got back from a week long trip from Clearwater Florida across the Lake to Stuart.
Items of note:
The Sunshine Channel just south of St. Petersburg and west of Sunshine Skyway Bridge had a low water depth of 6′ at southern marker “5”, otherwise plenty of water.
Mike Dickens

Embree Marine, the subject of the posting below, is located on Salty Creek, immediately south of the superb St. Petersburg Municipal Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR)! Embree sounds like a good place to store a boat long term!

For the last three years I kept my boat (now sold) on the hard at Embree Marine in St. Petersburg, FL during hurricane season (May – Nov).  It worked great for my peace of mind, though it made no difference with my insurer as far as premium was concerned.  It was particularly nice for me as we spent a good part of the summer away from FL.
I had electricity available but I used it only for batteries and did not run the A/C.  Humidity did not prove to be a problem.  I had someone clean the deck every two weeks.
Dan Stone
St. Petersburg, FL

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

44. Moving up into Tampa Bay, cruisers will discover the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) north of charted Albert Whitted Airport. This has always been one of the best city run marinas that I have researched in the last 28 years. Recently, this already fine facility went through an extensive rebuilding process. Can someone who has stayed here since the project has been completed please comment on this facility? Some nearby dining recommendations would also be most welcome.

Responses follow:

We just spent three days at St. Pete. It was our first time there, so I cannot make any comparisons to previous facilities. The quality of the docks and services was fine. The restrooms and showers were in good condition. Friendly staff and easy access. Highly recommended.
Best regards,
Gene and Sue Fuller
Punta Gorda, Florida

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For St. Petersburg Municipal Marina

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

45. Just north of the St. Pete Marina, the Vinoy Resort Marina guards the northern banks of the `North Yacht Basin.’ This facility has also been completely rebuilt. Can someone please give us a report on the new incarnation of this marina?

Responses follow:

Hello
My name is Rick Medina. I am the Fleet Captain for Pasadena Yacht Club. I took our club to the New Vinoy Marina a year ago. We will return in April of this year during the art festival. The docks are massive concrete structures. They are very high. The Vinoy has installed ladders so small boats can get on and off. The dock help is helpful and very nice. The same amenities are still available such as their pool and health club which are a very short walk from the marina. Transient rates are approx. $2.50 a foot. There is plenty of water for those who draw 6 feet. It is also a gated marina for safety. The one draw back is [that] any Easterly winds will turn the basin into a roller coaster.
I hope this helps.
Rick Medina

The rebuilding appears to be complete, but the facility is nearly empty. The docks are concrete and quite massive. It seems that the majority of the facility is designated to be some sort of club. Not sure if a dockominium or not. Only about a dozen slips were occupied.
Best regards,
Gene and Sue Fuller
Punta Gorda, Florida

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Renaissance Vinoy Resort Marina