St. Johns Yacht Harbor (Stono River, near Statute Mile 472.5))
St. Johns Yacht Harbor ( a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) is found at the sites fo the former Buzzards Roose and Stono marinas, hard by the Highway 701 Bridge as it crosses the Stono River. This is only a hop, skip and a jump south of the AICW’s westerly exodus from Elliot Cut, which connects the Waterway to the Ashley River and Charleston.
I have always been VERY impressed with the plans for the facility at St. Johns. All this is coming to fruition now, and from Captain Pat’s account below, looks as if the restaurant and new shower building will be open soon!
The “strong currents’ reported below by Captain Pat are part and parcel of EVERY marina on this portion of the South Carolina coastline. You will need to watch out for swiftly moving waters when apporach docks from Georgetown to the Savannah River (are really beyond).
St John’s (old Buzzards Roost) ($1.75 a foot) Stono river just before Elliot Cut.
Undergoing reconstruction of the Restaurant and soon the Shower building. Not sure when the shower building will be done but the Restaurant looks as if it still needs a month or more until completion. Current showers are clean and nice. Small store with minimal snacks in the office. Face docks are good condition with cable and wifi. The strong current that runs through the marina slips helps put you on face dock when docking. If no wind is expected this is a great place to wait until morning to go through Elliot cut. Leave dock at 0810 and hit the Wappoo Creek bridge
for it’s 0900 opening. If the weather is windy just be advised that the strong current also amplifies swells in a southerly blow over 15 knots. Long fetch up Stono river combined with an outgoing tide will result in very uncomfortable bouncing and hobby horsing at the dock. Phil (Dock Master) lives in Marina and is a great guy. He usually offers to drive you to closest store if you want. Just remember that gas costs money if you ask him to drive you somewhere. They also advertise a shuttle to downtown but I forgot to ask about that.
Pat Banyas
Marguerite
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