We stayed at nearby Caspers Marina and had the same thing [heavy wake]. Center consoles flying about and even the park service boat was speeding with wakes. Not good! That said, Swansboro is worth a visit and they are finishing the new town docks this summer? Any updates as of mid July? Are they open? Ben Matthews
We spent a night here on the way up the ICW. This marina is right in town and very close to all the restaurants. There is not a lot of dock space here and you’re right on the ICW so it’s a bit rocky during the day from wakes, but it calms down at dusk. The staff is very friendly and helpful and there is a nice marine store. Larry Freedman
Located in Swansboro this marina is at the east end of Bogue Sound near the Bogue Inlet and the White Oak River. It is easily accessed but is fairly exposed in windy conditions. It has fixed docks with slips and one T-head. Fuel is available and there are several restaurants nearby. NOTE: This stop is a convenient spot just before the ICW stretch going south that has five bridges with the names, heights and opening schedules shown below. Because the two that open only hourly are 22 miles apart, at trawler & sailboat speeds (with frequent no-wake areas for all boats) transiting this area often makes for a long day. Any boaters that can fold down their mast and antennas to go under a 20 ft bridge are well advised to do so. Ray Kurlak
On Saturday 19th May 2012 we spent an overnight at Caspers on our Beneteau 50′. The proximity to the local town makes this an ideal stopping place. The marina staff go out of their way to be helpful from the dock hands on arrival to the ride to Piggly Wiggly for groceries. The docks are fixed and in good condition and as the tidal range seemed small no extra tie up measures were necessary. The Ebb tide brings a strong current but it is in line with the docks and therefore isn’t a problem. The one both possitive and negative is Caspers lies more or less directly on the ICW and unfortunately not everyone slows to a no wake speed!
Casper’s Marina went out out of their way to make us feel welcome. After hours, they drove us to Piggly Wiggly and back, brought out the manual pump out because we desperately needed one, and even gave crew a thermal undershirt to keep warm. Very friendly and accommodating. Skipper David Clark
Stayed at Caspers Marina on 3/15 while relocating my Hunter 30 up to New Bern. The people at the Marina were extremely helpful and nice. Shortly after the marina store closed I realized that my beer supply was low. I got directions from Mrs.Casper to the local Pig and started the 1/2 mile walk. Shortly after I made it up the hill the bottom fell out of the sky. She looped around and gave me a ride to the store and back to the boat. I’ll be sure to stop by here the next trip down the ICW. Mark
We have stayed at Caspers a number of times on both our Endeavour 42 Sloop and our current Eagle 40 Pilothouse, and we cannot say enough about the marina and the town. Admittedly the marina is a bit exposed, but the docks and skill of the owner have always made us feel safe and secure. We were “stuck” at Caspers with our sailing club for two days of gale force winds, gusting to 60, and everyone had a great time and never felt threatened. The owner is a real professional! Capt Durl and Debbie aboard m/v Season Ticket
I think Swansboro is one of the most overlooked little towns along the ICW. They have a number of small and simple restaurants with great food, some cute little shops and very friendly people. If you stay at Casper’s Marina, it is an easy walk into town. Speaking of Casper’s, this marina is exposed to the ICW right at the place where the channel speed drops from 25 to No Wake. Needless to say, there are plenty of recreational day boaters who don’t respect that go zooming by (or very close) to the marina. If you stay there, insist that you stay on the inside of the fuel dock which acts as a breakwater. I spent a very uncomfortable night on the outside and was “banged” pretty good. In all fairness, I stayed there on a Saturday so the number of fast boats and jet skis was disproportional. They do have fuel, nice shower and heads and a small but ample provision store all on site. Peter
We docked a Casper’s Marina overnight, the staff is very friendly and accommodating, although the one unisex non-climate controlled shower and restrooms are just adequate. The face dock can be very rough from wakes on the White River and Intracoastal and is wide open from the southwest, but with good fenders it is okay. The water normally quiets down in the evening, but the band plays on until late from a shrimper’s bar near the southeast side of the bridge. The music was good, though Chuck Tontsch
We arrived in Swansboro just before the winds started whipping late Saturday afternoon. Caspers was closed and everyone had already gone home except for one of the owners, I think his name is Rick, who happened to have stayed behind to work on something. “Rick” either saw us or heard our hail. He stayed on the radio and guided us away from a shoal near marker 2 (not an ICW marker) into a nice secure slip inside the bulkhead. We were wowed by his courtesy and sense of humor. The marina is extremely well maintained and clean, too. Can’t ask for more than that. The marina is also, by the way, oriented well in relation to the current. Jane S/V Lady Jane Hunter 420
Swansboro, Caspar’s Marina. It is very open from the south with big wakes from the harbor and Intracoastal. Use plenty of fenders on the face dock; only room inside for two cruising size boats. One single non-climate contolled shower was adequate. Good choice of restaurants within easy walking distance; nice, friendly small town; Best regards, Chuck Tontsch s/v Memories Oriental, NC .
Stayed at Caspers Marina ($1.25 a foot) tonight, April 11, 2009. Dock hands were quick and knew how to tie a line. Docks exposed to fetch from west or WSW. Fixeed wood docks in good repair. As with Dudleys this marina is also exposed to passing boat traffic but seems to die off after dark. I personally would not stay at either marina for severe weather if it could be helped. Fairly new power pedestals with cable that works. Wifi worked right off the bat with no issues, fast and stable. New building for bathrooms and shower, one shower and one mens/one ladies restroom. Small shipstore on site. Town is 5 minutes walk, around 3 blocks. 6 or 7 restaurants serving deli stuffs to cooked Prime Cow and seafoods. Also, Ice cream and snacks. Downtown is a small revitalized 5 block section with some gift, antique, and knick knack shops. They have a courtesy car which you can use to drive about 3 miles north to a Lowes grocery store which has a very good selection. Pat Banyas s/v Marguerite
Reviews from Cruisers (14)
We stayed at nearby Caspers Marina and had the same thing [heavy wake]. Center consoles flying about and even the park service boat was speeding with wakes. Not good!
That said, Swansboro is worth a visit and they are finishing the new town docks this summer? Any updates as of mid July? Are they open?
Ben Matthews
Spent one night here two weeks ago. Nice docks, clean, basic. Shower(one)good. Owners on site. Food nearby. Fuel reasonable
Windward
We spent a night here on the way up the ICW. This marina is right in town and very close to all the restaurants. There is not a lot of dock space here and you’re right on the ICW so it’s a bit rocky during the day from wakes, but it calms down at dusk. The staff is very friendly and helpful and there is a nice marine store.
Larry Freedman
Located in Swansboro this marina is at the east end of Bogue Sound near the Bogue Inlet and the White Oak River. It is easily accessed but is fairly exposed in windy conditions. It has fixed docks with slips and one T-head. Fuel is available and there are several restaurants nearby.
NOTE: This stop is a convenient spot just before the ICW stretch going south that has five bridges with the names, heights and opening schedules shown below. Because the two that open only hourly are 22 miles apart, at trawler & sailboat speeds (with frequent no-wake areas for all boats) transiting this area often makes for a long day. Any boaters that can fold down their mast and antennas to go under a 20 ft bridge are well advised to do so.
Ray Kurlak
On Saturday 19th May 2012 we spent an overnight at Caspers on our Beneteau 50′. The proximity to the local town makes this an ideal stopping place. The marina staff go out of their way to be helpful from the dock hands on arrival to the ride to Piggly Wiggly for groceries. The docks are fixed and in good condition and as the tidal range seemed small no extra tie up measures were necessary. The Ebb tide brings a strong current but it is in line with the docks and therefore isn’t a problem. The one both possitive and negative is Caspers lies more or less directly on the ICW and unfortunately not everyone slows to a no wake speed!
This is a good facility for transient dockage. Easy fuel and pump out. Staff helpful. Mr. and Mrs. Casper run the place. recommended marina
Casper’s Marina went out out of their way to make us feel welcome. After hours, they drove us to Piggly Wiggly and back, brought out the manual pump out because we desperately needed one, and even gave crew a thermal undershirt to keep warm. Very friendly and accommodating.
Skipper David Clark
Stayed at Caspers Marina on 3/15 while relocating my Hunter 30 up to New Bern. The people at the Marina were extremely helpful and nice. Shortly after the marina store closed I realized that my beer supply was low. I got directions from Mrs.Casper to the local Pig and started the 1/2 mile walk. Shortly after I made it up the hill the bottom fell out of the sky. She looped around and gave me a ride to the store and back to the boat. I’ll be sure to stop by here the next trip down the ICW.
Mark
We have stayed at Caspers a number of times on both our Endeavour 42 Sloop and our current Eagle 40 Pilothouse, and we cannot say enough about the marina and the town. Admittedly the marina is a bit exposed, but the docks and skill of the owner have always made us feel safe and secure. We were “stuck” at Caspers with our sailing club for two days of gale force winds, gusting to 60, and everyone had a great time and never felt threatened. The owner is a real professional!
Capt Durl and Debbie aboard m/v Season Ticket
I think Swansboro is one of the most overlooked little towns along the ICW. They have a number of small and simple restaurants with great food, some cute little shops and very friendly people. If you stay at Casper’s Marina, it is an easy walk into town. Speaking of Casper’s, this marina is exposed to the ICW right at the place where the channel speed drops from 25 to No Wake. Needless to say, there are plenty of recreational day boaters who don’t respect that go zooming by (or very close) to the marina. If you stay there, insist that you stay on the inside of the fuel dock which acts as a breakwater. I spent a very uncomfortable night on the outside and was “banged” pretty good. In all fairness, I stayed there on a Saturday so the number of fast boats and jet skis was disproportional. They do have fuel, nice shower and heads and a small but ample provision store all on site.
Peter
We docked a Casper’s Marina overnight, the staff is very friendly and accommodating, although the one unisex non-climate controlled shower and restrooms are just adequate. The face dock can be very rough from wakes on the White River and Intracoastal and is wide open from the southwest, but with good fenders it is okay. The water normally quiets down in the evening, but the band plays on until late from a shrimper’s bar near the southeast side of the bridge. The music was good, though
Chuck Tontsch
We arrived in Swansboro just before the winds started whipping late Saturday afternoon. Caspers was closed and everyone had already gone home except for one of the owners, I think his name is Rick, who happened to have stayed behind to work on something. “Rick” either saw us or heard our hail. He stayed on the radio and guided us away from a shoal near marker 2 (not an ICW marker) into a nice secure slip inside the bulkhead.
We were wowed by his courtesy and sense of humor. The marina is extremely well maintained and clean, too. Can’t ask for more than that. The marina is also, by the way, oriented well in relation to the current.
Jane
S/V Lady Jane
Hunter 420
Swansboro, Caspar’s Marina. It is very open from the south with big wakes from the harbor and Intracoastal. Use plenty of fenders on the face dock; only room inside for two cruising size boats. One single non-climate contolled shower was adequate. Good choice of restaurants within easy walking distance; nice, friendly small town;
Best regards,
Chuck Tontsch
s/v Memories
Oriental, NC .
Stayed at Caspers Marina ($1.25 a foot) tonight, April 11, 2009. Dock hands were quick and knew how to tie a line. Docks exposed to fetch from west or WSW. Fixeed wood docks in good repair. As with Dudleys this marina is also exposed to passing boat traffic but seems to die off after dark. I personally would not stay at either marina for severe weather if it could be helped. Fairly new power pedestals with cable that works. Wifi worked right off the bat with no issues, fast and stable. New building
for bathrooms and shower, one shower and one mens/one ladies restroom. Small shipstore on site.
Town is 5 minutes walk, around 3 blocks. 6 or 7 restaurants serving deli stuffs to cooked Prime Cow and seafoods. Also, Ice cream and snacks. Downtown is a small revitalized 5 block section with some gift, antique, and knick knack shops. They have a courtesy car which you can use to drive about 3 miles north to a Lowes grocery store which has a very good selection.
Pat Banyas
s/v Marguerite