$3.00 and up (depending on 30, 50 or 100 power hookups) per foot, per night
Type of dockage:
fixed, composite decked slips and face docks
Live Aboards Allowed:
no
Total number of slips/berths:
20
Dockside Power Connections:
30/50 amp power hookups available
Dock. Fresh Water Connections:
Available.
Showers:
Available. Climate Controlled
Laundromat:
Available.
Restaurant:
2 on-site and many others nearby
Restaurant Recommendations:
Millers Dockside and Eagle Grille (on-site, 941-964-8000), Gasparilla Inn (941-964-4500, dinner only, WONDERFUL, but expensive), Loose Caboose (941-964-0440, lunch and dinner), 3rd Street Cafe (all three meals of the day, excellent, 941-457-0090)
Provisioning Possibilities:
Rent golf cart or walk to Hudsons Grocery 1/2 mile away (excellent, local grocery store)
LPG (Propane) Availability:
Available. Walk into town to Barnichol Hardware (941-964-2570), where you can purchase small propane tanks
Claiborne, Your praise of Boca Grande Marina was well placed. We love it. However, Millers Dockside Grill is great. However, I don’t look at the old Miller’s Marina as the “bad old days”. It was just different. We loved it, too. It was a happening place with fishing boats coming and going. I have saved one of the “T” shirts from the 25th anniversary tarpon tournament for a souvenir. Don on Moonstruck
Stayed at Boca Grand Marina and as always it was great. Recommend you get a reservation in advance as there are not that many slips. The staff is great and the town is one of my favorites. RB
BG Marina is indeed a neat little marina. I was welcomed there in my modest 33 foot sloop. There was a seaplane executing touch and go’s in the mouth of the marina basin so there is plenty of room in there, but the shoaling at the very entrance is critical at MLW; hug the wall close to the houses on shore and all should go well. There are clean showers and other facilities. BTW, we suffered a terrible lightning strike while docked at this marina…very expensive stay indeed! Oscar Sage
This was the third night on our trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Gulf Coast and this was BY FAR our favorite. The marina is a wonderful little place and the staff are the best I’ve ever encountered. They went out of they’re way to help and had wonderful attitudes. There are two restraunts on site, we dined up stairs and had a wonderful meal. The town is a neat place, we rented a golf cart to explore a little and found several neat looking restraunts and a well stocked local grocery store. We didn’t have much time so we didn’t get to see a whole lot but this place is one I certainly want to return to. Cahoots
A great Marina. The staff was very friendly. We wanted to stay an extra few day, but they had a boat club arriving & moved us to the owners private dock. The restruant & bar is good. we stayed 5 days and enjoyed the town.
Subject: Boca Grand entrance Cruising News: Boca Grand is always a very nice place to visit, even during the very hot and humid summer season. Unfortunately many places are shut down for the summer, but there is still enough happening to make it it a good visit. Loose Caboose is always open and so is South Beach and the Pink Elephant. All excellent places with very nice folks (especially Loose Caboose with the owner/cook who advised us on open bars). Regarding the cruising news: the entrance is a bit tight. We had a + 0.7″ tide upon entrance (no wind) and had the depth gauge beeping at us for a while when encountering depths of <5'. It never went below 4.7', but still very scary. The worst part is beyond channel marker "7". I later found out that you have to stay very close to the concrete seawall. I ran the stretch a few times with a handheld depth gauge and found the deepest stretch about 9' from the seawall and pretty much straight down from channel marker "7". If you follow that course, you should not encounter less than 5.5' at MLLW. The anchorage is around 7' or better, but it is very crowded with derelict boats. You can still find a spot to anchor, but 2 lines to the mangroves and a stern anchor is required. Even though it is a bit of a challenge, it is still highly recommended! S/V Endeavor
This is a great marina, wonderful facility, food, and service. The golf carts for rent and plentiful. 5 foot low tide at least in channel. Warm regards, Richard
Boca Grande Marina was a hoppin’ place Easter weekend. The slips were full and many transients were turned away. Reservations are becoming a must during holiday weekends and for the upcoming tarpon fishing season. The marina welcomes boating groups and has great dockhands to help with docking. The main dock features side-to docking on the fuel dock side and finger piers on the remainder of the slips. One must lasso the outer pilings, but they are not too far out, so it is relatively easy. They have a chickee hut with picnic tables and grills for cooking out. The docks in front of this area do not have finger piers so docking becomes a little trickier. The dockhands have been known to come aboard your vessel if you desire help. Exiting your boat to the dock is via the swim platform, which can be interesting at low tide. They do have wooden steps that they will loan you, or you may want to consider carrying a small stepladder with you. The downtown area is within walking distance or you can rent one of the many golf carts they have. However, with two restaurants on site, you don’t really need to leave the premises. One the restaurants is very casual and the upstairs one is a bit more upscale. If you do go exploring, there are many shops and restaurants and even a small grocery and a hardware store. We feel that this is a must stop area when cruising the Southwest Coast. The atmosphere is very laid back but can be hectic during tarpon fishing season. Gary Riss M/V Far From Normal
floating and fixed wooden decked slips and face docks
Live Aboards Allowed:
no
Total number of slips/berths:
175
Dockside Power Connections:
30/50 amp power hookups available
Dock. Fresh Water Connections:
Available.
Showers:
Available. Climate Controlled
Laundromat:
Available.
Restaurant:
on-site (Waterside Grill) and one other within easy walking distance
Restaurant Recommendations:
Waterside Grill (on-site) and Fishery Restaurant (941-697-2451, very good seafood!)
Provisioning Possibilities:
Some convenience store type food items available in on-site ship’s store, or take taxi to Publix supermarket 5 miles away
Waste pump-out:
Available. $10.00 per pumpout
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Free WiFi Available
Fuel Availability:
Gas & Diesel Available
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Fuel Prices (All Taxes Included)
Reporting Date:
April 15, 2024
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Gasoline Price:
$5.40 (All Taxes Included)
Diesel Price:
$4.38 (All Taxes Included)
Any Quantity Discount:
Available. storage customers-10 cents off per gallon
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Reviews from Cruisers (8)
G White- October 24, 2019 - 2:32 pm
In July 2017 we stayed here for the night. We had a nice stay at Gasparilla Marina staff was very friendly and restaurant there was also nice. $2 per foot $5 electric
I forgot (nothing new at my age) to look at the fuel prices when we left Gasparilla Marina this morning after an overnight stay on our trip across the sandbar from Gulfport FL, to Jacksonville. But I have to give the folks at Gasparilla Marina two thumbs up for accommodating us as we arrived at 10pm last night and easily found our assigned reserved slip for our 28 foot Catalina “Synergy” right where they’d described it earlier over the phone. Their facilities are first rate (warm on a very cool night) and we enjoyed our short stop over and a cup of coffee before leaving this morning at 8AM for the next leg to Fort Myers. David Burnham
The final stop before heading back to Cape Coral was Gasparilla Marina. A final happy hour under a huge canopy by the docks gave the cruising members the opportunity to express their thanks to the cruise leaders for arranging a great itinerary, and or course assuring that the winds were calm and the weather outstanding. Cape Coral Cruising Club
Let me reiterate our recommendation of Gasparilla and the on site restaurant. Admiral Deb and I give Gasparilla Marina our highest recommendation! We called via cell phone 2 days prior to arriving and talked to the Manager, Jeff. Jeff is ‘a prince among men’! We talked with him for several minutes about details of the marina and the surrounding points of interest. Jeff offered us the use of his car (a brand new Crown Vic) to go shopping when we got there. We’d never met him before! On arrival the staff was always very helpful, interested in our welfare and the welfare of our vessel. Their restaurant The Waterside Grill had indoor and outdoor seating, lots of large wide screen TVs and the staff was friendly and efficient. We stayed 7 days, 2/20/10 – 2/26/10, and ate 2 meals each day. The food there was far superior to the food at the local well known restaurant half a mile away. The showers were private room sized and clean. Wi-fi was fast with no connectivity problems while we were there. Easy in and out, wide fairways right on the gulf ICW. Lou Spagna, s/v Wu-Hsin
We spent several days at Gasparilla Marina in May 2010. Jeff, Carol and Jennifer were wonderful hosts. They were very helpful. Jeff offered the use of his car if we needed to grocery shop. A Publix is about 2 miles away. Evening dinghy rides to the nearby islands is a sheltered trip. My wife struck it rich in her search for shells on the north end of Gasparilla Island. Now I have a boat full of sand dollars, etc, etc. Restrooms are large and clean. Wi-Fi, excellent. Lounge with TV. Nice sheltered area with tables for evening socializing if other transients are around. Huge service business associated with the marina if you need repairs. Good food (bar food) and music at the on site Watersides Restaurant. The Fishery Restaurant is a short walk. It is also excellent.
Admiral Deb and I give Gasparilla Marina our highest recommendation! We called via cell phone 2 days prior to arriving and talked to the Manager, Jeff. Jeff is ‘a prince among men’! We talked with him for several minutes about details of the marina and the surrounding points of interest. Jeff offered us the use of his car (a brand new Crown Vic) to go shopping when we got there. We’d never met him before! On arrival the staff was always very helpful, interested in our welfare and the welfare of our vessel. Their restaurant The Waterside Grill had indoor and outdoor seating, lots of large wide screen TVs and the staff was friendly and efficient. We stayed 7 days, 2/20/10 – 2/26/10, and ate 2 meals each day. The food there was far superior to the food at the local well known restaurant half a mile away. The showers were private room sized and clean. Wi-fi was fast with no connectivity problems while we were there. Easy in and out, wide fairways right on the gulf ICW. Lou Spagna, s/v Wu-Hsin
found at the terminus of the long, southward-flowing channel that cuts off from the ICW between the old railway span and the Gasparilla Island causeway bridge
$1.95 per foot per night (May 1st-October 31st), $2.50 (November 1st-April 30th)
Type of dockage:
fixed wooden slips and face docks in eastern basin, and floating concrete decked slips in western basin
Live Aboards Allowed:
no
Total number of slips/berths:
58
Dockside Power Connections:
30/50 amp power hookups available
Dock. Fresh Water Connections:
Available.
Showers:
Available. Climate Controlled
Laundromat:
Available.
Restaurant:
2 within a 3 minute walk
Restaurant Recommendations:
Patrick’s Thai-American
Provisioning Possibilities:
Well stocked Kappy's grocery store on-site
LPG (Propane) Availability:
Available. On-site Kappy's grocery store has LPG tank exchange
Waste pump-out:
Available. $15.00 per pumpout (portable unit)
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Free WiFi Available
Fuel Availability:
Gas & Diesel Available
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Fuel Prices (All Taxes Included)
Reporting Date:
October 11, 2021
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Gasoline Price:
$4.59 (All Taxes Included)
Diesel Price:
$3.21 (All Taxes Included)
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Reviews from Cruisers (1)
Jim Merritt- January 19, 2015 - 2:39 pm
Arrived with a boat club and 11 boats of various types and sizes. Friendly staff, excellent restrooms and showers. Nearby restaurant (Patricks Thai ) was excellent as well. Convenience store within walking, however if you want to do more shopping a golf cart will be necessary. Beaches within dinghy ride distance with good shelling. We will be back.
Trading Post: on-site ship’s store/deli has some convenience store type provisions, tel:941-677-3137
Waste pump-out:
Available.
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Free WiFi Available, Beacon
Fuel Availability:
Gas & Diesel Available
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Fuel Prices (All Taxes Included)
Reporting Date:
April 15, 2024
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Gasoline Price:
$5.50 (All Taxes Included)
Diesel Price:
$4.25 (All Taxes Included)
Other Discount:
Available. members 15 cent/gallon
ValvTect Dealer:
Yes
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Reviews from Cruisers (4)
Albert Howes- May 4, 2013 - 4:26 pm
We spent two nights at BSM recently. Very friendly staff and great fuel and dock prices. Unfortunately, the ship’s store was closed. I understand they are awaiting a new concessionaire or manager. Given the location of BSM, having no store is a great inconvenience. We paid $50 in round-trip cap fare to get to the “local” publix. BSM has a great water location, but they are in the middle of no where on land. A ship’s store or convenience store is critical at BSM in my opinion.
Just wanted to post a note to let you know that we are still here and waiting for you to come by for a visit. Our marina still has the lowest fuel prices in the area and can accommodate boats up to 100ft. We have WiFi available for transient boaters as well as laundry facilities, pump outs, fuel and ice. For those who love basking in the sun we have a heated pool and hot tub available at no extra charge and also a fitness center with tennis courts. We also have beautiful grounds to walk and welcome pets. Golf is also available and we will transport you to and from the golf course. We have two restaurants on site at the marina and one at the golf course, all of which are open to the public. Feel free to visit our website at http://www.burntstoremarina.com and call us at 941-637-0083 for any questions or additional information. We wish you a safe and healthy [cruising] season and hope to see you at Burnt Store Marina. Peggy Wark
We stayed at Burnt Store for 2 months last year while doing the loop and liked it so much that we came back to spend a few months this past winter. We stayed in the north basin as it’s more residential for an extended period, although a short walk to the main basin which has the restaurant and boater’s pool and laundry facilities. It’s a nice stop! Barbara and Jim Benjamin and Golden Retriever, LIly Golden Lily – Nordic Tug 42
Not much has changed in the past year or so. It has a great fuel dock and pump-out station with excellent employees. We dine at the restaurant by boat and car and find the food generally good, but not superb. It offers a pretty environment for viewing the many docked boats. Regards, Duane Ising s/v Diva Di 36 Catalina
My name is Robbie Cannon and I live a few canals away from Barry’s yard, the Riviera Boatyard. I am very familiar with the boat yard business as I had one for 24 years in Charleston SC. I disagree with the people that talk about wrecked boats and oil etc. Barry has nothing like that going on there at all. The commercial guys that fish out of there are the nicest people that you would ever want to meet. The truth is that when guys like Barry are not able to stay in business anymore then these comments will all be about- I SURE WISH HE WAS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Robbie Cannon, Deauville St, Punta Gorda
Currently there are no half sunken boats clogging the canal system…or leaking oil. Each vessel in the basin is in no way blocking the creek or canals. We have been renting a slip there for almost 2 years and have seen the manager of the place improve the site substantially. I am pleased with the location and the commercial fishermen docked there that I have met. They have been helpful and courteous. I have enjoyed the quiet and beauty at this location. I have docked in large marinas with a grid of concrete docks and am glad I have shade of a tree with birds nesting and ospreys raising their young. An occasional otter pops his head up as do dolphins and rays or a manatee. Sunsets are gorgeous. I have had the opportunity to do a number of watercolor paintings at this location. View at my website http://www.facebook.com/CRobinsonART Catherine Robinson
Barry has continued to work on cleaning up after Charlie. Most all of the old boats are gone.Environmental problems have been taken care of. The biggest complaints come from cultural differences. Those of us that want a old Florida style DIY marina and those that have moved in recently and want a modern yachty marine. It is still a good usable marina that takes care of the locals here. Part of the problem has been people bringing in old boats to work on and then abandoning them. It would also help if people would stop dropping off their unwanted cats there, knowing that Barry will take care of them. I have been a twenty year year resident in the neighborhood and not afraid to post my name. Ted Broom
5 on-site, also 34 other shops in marina shopping complex
Restaurant Recommendations:
Harpoon Harry’s, Captain’s Table, Village Fish Market (941-639-7959)
Provisioning Possibilities:
Take loaner bikes or taxi to convenience store 3/4 mile away or Publix supermarket about 1 mile away
LPG (Propane) Availability:
Available. Take taxi or free loaner bikes from marina to Punta Gorda Coin Laundry & LP Gas Inc. (941) 639-2915 for LPG tank refill 1.4 miles away
Waste pump-out:
Available.
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Free WiFi Available, paid
Fuel Availability:
Gas & Diesel Available
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Fuel Prices (All Taxes Included)
Reporting Date:
April 15, 2024
Fuel Notes:
ethanol free
Gasoline Price:
$5.40 (All Taxes Included)
Diesel Price:
$4.75 (All Taxes Included)
ValvTect Dealer:
Yes
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Reviews from Cruisers (5)
Kelly- July 25, 2017 - 2:46 pm
My experience with Fisherman’s Village Marina has been excellent. Ron Schebil and his staff have made our extended stay in Punta Gorda a memorable one. They have been helpful as well as just a joy to be around. I highly recommend a scheduled stay when you are passing through. The marina has everything a cruiser needs from a clean hot shower to a free bike rental! Not to mention the fabulous restaurants and specialty shopping available. Thank you to Ron and his staff for the great service!
We were just at Fisherman’s Village for a weekend. The previous reviews of the facility are all from 2009. The concrete docks are in need of repairs. Lots of cracks and missing chunks everywhere. The people in the dock masters office were very nice and polite. The shower and crew facilities are very basic and old but were very clean. There was an issue with hot water in the shower. There was none. Several of the marina tenants told us it was a common problem during the heavy usage periods of the day. I don’t mean to make these items seem larger than they were. They were inconvenient but not major turn offs at all. There were two problems however that were issues to my wife and myself. The first was parking. We had brought a car down so we would have transportation once we got to Punta Gorda. There is no marina parking at all. You have to park in the general parking lot for Fisherman’s Village. We left during the day to go grocery shopping. Upon our return we had to park three parking lots away and carry our groceries back to the marina area. Our only saving grace was that it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t 90 deg. The other issue is the marina’s open dock policy. During the day the docks are open so anyone can come wandering onto the docks. This may not sound like a big deal but it is and really was to my wife. I asked a couple of the locals that kept their boat there full time why the gate on the dock was left open during the day and only closed at night. I was told that the shopping center general manager required the gate to be open. All in all the marina is ok at best. My wife and I were pretty disappointed.
Fishermen’s Village Response:
“We are sorry your recent visit did not meet your expectations and hopefully we will see you again in the future. We are a full time resort with a marina with 111 slips, 33 independently owned shops and 3 restaurants.
We offer charter fishing and boat tours of the harbor as well as boat rentals. We do not charge for parking. Due to the resorts’ popularity we are very busy during season at midday, however, we do provide continuous shuttle service to and from the parking lots for our customers convenience including the marina.
We now have new owners who have committed to making a significant investment in Fishermen’s Village, including the marina, which will address some of the issues in your post. Since you have left we have posted the finger piers as private which should eliminate the privacy issue you mentioned.
We appreciate your comments and hope to see you again soon.
Ron Schebil Harbormaster Fishermen’s Village Marina
Charlotte Harbor is now a great cruising destination, especially Punta Gorda. Laishley (City) Marina has great new floating docks and all the facilities for visiting boaters. A new restaurant is under construction, along with an interactive fountain and other attractions. Downtown Punta Gorda has recently undergone a major rebirth with much to see. Some of the town’s best restaurants are an easy walk, along with a West Marine and grocery. Fishermen’s Village is completely renovated. It has a new fuel dock, pump-out facility and other transient facilities. The mall has many shops to browse. This is one of the best marinas I have visited. Let me know if know of a better Dockmaster crew! You can anchor on the north or south side of the river and dingy into Fishermen’s Village or Laishley Marina. This is a great place to bring bikes because you can ride along the entire length of the Punta Gorda Waterfront and easily get around town on a bike. You won’t find a more boater-friendly environment! Jake Dye
Fishermen’s Village Yacht Basin in Punta Gorda has won the prestigious Marina of the Year Award for 2008. This award is given out by the trade magazine Marina Dock Age. There are two awards given out each year in a competition of over 17,000 marinas in the nation. The two Marina of the Year awards are for marinas with over 250 slips and for those under 250 slips. Fishermen’s Village Yacht Basin qualified for the latter award. Jim Branch, Harbormaster, stated that the award is based on a number of criteria including facility improvements, marketing, environmental responsibility and customer satisfaction. The marina was severely damaged by Hurricane Charley and rebuilt and improved. He felt that their emphasis on customer satisfaction and service was a significant factor in winning the award. The marina caters to visiting boat clubs. They even offer a discount based on the number of boats in the group. I can tell you first hand that they go out of their way to make your visit special. They will try to solve even the smallest of problems. Adjacent to the marina is the resort which includes many specialty shops and numerous restaurants. The City of Punta Gorda is improving the entire waterfront with parks. The downtown area has many new shops and restaurants also. Be sure to put this on your cruising schedule. The Harbormaster can be reached at 941-575-3056 for reservations. Gary Riss
floating composite and fixed concrete decked slips and face docks
Total number of slips/berths:
85
Dockside Power Connections:
30/50 amp power hookups available
30/50 Amp Notes:
$5.00/per night - 30-50 amp hookup
Dock. Fresh Water Connections:
Available.
Showers:
Available. Climate Controlled
Laundromat:
Available.
Restaurant:
one on-site
Restaurant Recommendations:
Laishleys Crab House (941-205-5566), Jack's on Marion (941-637-8800)
Provisioning Possibilities:
Take loaner bikes or taxi to Publix supermarket 2 miles away
LPG (Propane) Availability:
Available. Take taxi or free loaner bikes from marina to Punta Gorda Coin Laundry & LP Gas Inc. (941-639-2915) for LPG tank refill .3 miles away or Gator Petroleum for tank refills 1 mile away
CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Availability:
Available. Take loaner bikes to Gator Petroleum for tank refills 1 mile away
Waste pump-out:
Available.
Wi-Fi Internet Access:
Not Available
Fuel Availability:
No Fuel Available
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Reviews from Cruisers (7)
Angie Costello- January 25, 2018 - 8:54 am
This was our first slip after three years of cruising. We arrived exhausted and as beat up as our boat. Rusty and the entire staff bent over backwards to make our stay a great one. We were assigned a nice slip, with floating docks. It’s just a touch cheaper than Fisherman’s Village, with better entertainment options. They are close to all the big downtown events…we walked to concerts and festivals regularly. The showers and bathrooms were spotless, air conditioned, and always available.
Don’t miss the Celtic Ray, an authentic Irish Public House. The place is surrounded by great live entertainment, and lovely walks abound.
I would also check out Lashley marina in Punta Gorda. We were there in 2011 for 3 months and had a great stay. Located in the center of town with easy walk to lots of amenities. They are now a legal live a board marina. They also have great floating docks, and in the winter the fixed docks in Fisherman’s Village can be a challenge. Ray&Linda on SUMMERTIME
You should go a little further to Laishley Park Municipal Marina in Punta Gorda…. It is close to many town facilities and among the best value in marinas….. $8.00/ft/month!! Just past the Hwy 41 twin bridge in Charlotte harbour. Michael & Mundy aboard Done Dreamin’
We stayed at Laishley Park Municipal Marina in Punta Gorda and were very impressed with the facility and the dockmaster Rusty, and asst John, were very happy to help you in anyway they can. The facility is new, with floating docks, free pumpout and only $8/ft per week + a small charge for electricity. It is located right in front of the Crab House restaurant which has great food. For example, we loved the Ahi Tuna Salad!! The downtown area is in walking distance, only 2 blocks away, it was perfect to celebrate New Years with friends. There are free bicycles to use. There is a great 2 mile harborfront walk for you to stretch those legs! We highly recommend this marina! Todd & Paula Sue Russell “Ocean Breeze”
Subject: Laishley Park Marina Cruising News: We are staying at the Laishley Park Marina in Punta Gorda, FL for about 4 weeks. This is an outstanding new marina with floating dock. Very friendly people and really great showers & Laundry. Other than being off the path it is a great place. Larry Hemmerich
Laisley’s has a nice store for some boat repairs. They also help with “The Crab Shack” a new fairly good restaurant that is a good addition to Punta Gorda. Joe
Charlotte Harbor is now a great cruising destination, especially Punta Gorda. Laishley (City) Marina has great new floating docks and all the facilities for visiting boaters. A new restaurant is under construction, along with an interactive fountain and other attractions. Downtown Punta Gorda has recently undergone a major rebirth with much to see. Some of the town’s best restaurants are an easy walk, along with a West Marine and grocery. Fishermen’s Village is completely renovated. It has a new fuel dock, pump-out facility and other transient facilities. The mall has many shops to browse. This is one of the best marinas I have visited. Let me know if know of a better Dockmaster crew! You can anchor on the north or south side of the river and dingy into Fishermen’s Village or Laishley Marina. This is a great place to bring bikes because you can ride along the entire length of the Punta Gorda Waterfront and easily get around town on a bike. You won’t find a more boater-friendly environment! Jake Dye
Palm Island Marina [now Aquamarina Palm Harbour] is one of our favorite stops. Great facility and a great and welcoming staff. Pool is top notch and on-site restaurant offers good fare. Whit Sibley
The two week 2015 long cruise began April 13 with fourteen member boats departing Cape Coral, bound for Palm Island Marina [now Aquamarina Palm Harbour] in Cape Haze, Florida. After all boats were secured in the slips, several club members enjoyed the marina’s pool, and on-site restaurant. Other members opted for the complimentary water taxi to the marina’s Gulf front beach. Four other members ventured off in a dinghy looking for the channel to Rum Bay on the beach. A minor incident occurred when the captain, wanting to get the dinghy up on plane, encountered the large wake from a passing boat that caused a wall of water to wash over the bow. The dinghy captain’s quick action, plus an efficient bilge pump, prevented almost certain swamping of the small boat. The only casualties were two wet women, and a cell phone that ended up under several inches of water on the bottom of the boat. On the second day of our stay at Palm Island, the cruise leaders prepared breakfast, and later, with help from other cruisers, grilled sumptuous herb-crusted beef tenderloin for dinner. Cape Coral Cruising Club
Very helpful dock master and assistants. Well protected docks. Showers are some of the best we have seen between Venice and Marco Island. Nice swimming pool, and a fantastic restaurant right in the marina. laundry is complimentary. Definitely a place to come back to in the future.
excellent overnight stop! Very clean facility and modern, clean bath house. great pool and Leverock’s restaurant is wonderful. Capt Tim Lynch (general mgr) and his crew are fantastic!
Reviews from Cruisers (8)
Claiborne,
Your praise of Boca Grande Marina was well placed. We love it. However, Millers Dockside Grill is great. However, I don’t look at the old Miller’s Marina as the “bad old days”. It was just different. We loved it, too. It was a happening place with fishing boats coming and going. I have saved one of the “T” shirts from the 25th anniversary tarpon tournament for a souvenir.
Don on Moonstruck
Stayed at Boca Grand Marina and as always it was great. Recommend you get a reservation in advance as there are not that many slips. The staff is great and the town is one of my favorites.
RB
BG Marina is indeed a neat little marina. I was welcomed there in my modest 33 foot sloop. There was a seaplane executing touch and go’s in the mouth of the marina basin so there is plenty of room in there, but the shoaling at the very entrance is critical at MLW; hug the wall close to the houses on shore and all should go well. There are clean showers and other facilities. BTW, we suffered a terrible lightning strike while docked at this marina…very expensive stay indeed!
Oscar Sage
This was the third night on our trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Gulf Coast and this was BY FAR our favorite. The marina is a wonderful little place and the staff are the best I’ve ever encountered. They went out of they’re way to help and had wonderful attitudes. There are two restraunts on site, we dined up stairs and had a wonderful meal. The town is a neat place, we rented a golf cart to explore a little and found several neat looking restraunts and a well stocked local grocery store. We didn’t have much time so we didn’t get to see a whole lot but this place is one I certainly want to return to.
Cahoots
A great Marina. The staff was very friendly. We wanted to stay an extra few day, but they had a boat club arriving & moved us to the owners private dock. The restruant & bar is good. we stayed 5 days and enjoyed the town.
Subject: Boca Grand entrance
Cruising News: Boca Grand is always a very nice place to visit, even during the very hot and humid summer season. Unfortunately many places are shut down for the summer, but there is still enough happening to make it it a good visit. Loose Caboose is always open and so is South Beach and the Pink Elephant. All excellent places with very nice folks (especially Loose Caboose with the owner/cook who advised us on open bars).
Regarding the cruising news: the entrance is a bit tight. We had a + 0.7″ tide upon entrance (no wind) and had the depth gauge beeping at us for a while when encountering depths of <5'. It never went below 4.7', but still very scary. The worst part is beyond channel marker "7". I later found out that you have to stay very close to the concrete seawall. I ran the stretch a few times with a handheld depth gauge and found the deepest stretch about 9' from the seawall and pretty much straight down from channel marker "7". If you follow that course, you should not encounter less than 5.5' at MLLW. The anchorage is around 7' or better, but it is very crowded with derelict boats. You can still find a spot to anchor, but 2 lines to the mangroves and a stern anchor is required.
Even though it is a bit of a challenge, it is still highly recommended!
S/V Endeavor
This is a great marina, wonderful facility, food, and service. The golf carts for rent and plentiful. 5 foot low tide at least in channel.
Warm regards,
Richard
Boca Grande Marina was a hoppin’ place Easter weekend. The slips were full and many transients were turned away. Reservations are becoming a must during holiday weekends and for the upcoming tarpon fishing season.
The marina welcomes boating groups and has great dockhands to help with docking. The main dock features side-to docking on the fuel dock side and finger piers on the remainder of the slips. One must lasso the outer pilings, but they are not too far out, so it is relatively easy.
They have a chickee hut with picnic tables and grills for cooking out. The docks in front of this area do not have finger piers so docking becomes a little trickier. The dockhands have been known to come aboard your vessel if you desire help. Exiting your boat to the dock is via the swim platform, which can be interesting at low tide. They do have wooden steps that they will loan you, or you may want to consider carrying a small stepladder with you.
The downtown area is within walking distance or you can rent one of the many golf carts they have. However, with two restaurants on site, you don’t really need to leave the premises. One the restaurants is very casual and the upstairs one is a bit more upscale. If you do go exploring, there are many shops and restaurants and even a small grocery and a hardware store.
We feel that this is a must stop area when cruising the Southwest Coast. The atmosphere is very laid back but can be hectic during tarpon fishing season.
Gary Riss
M/V Far From Normal