On 7/23/09, as part of a “North Carolina Wish List,” I posed the following question:

50. Near Statute Mile 280, southbound cruisers will pass under the restricted Wrightsville Beach Bridge, and a whole array of marinas will open out before you. I’m sure many of you have berthed at one or another of these area marinas recently. Please described your experiences, and give recommendations. Also, did you have any good dining spots in Wrightsville.

Responses follow:

We stayed at the Bridge Tender Marina last summer and were pleased with the service. It is immediately south of the bridge and we very easily cast off and made the first opening heading north the next morning. Great food at the restaurant at that marina.
Pat Cummins, s/v Kentris

Wrightsville Beach Marina (just south of the bridge) is a great quick and easy stop on the ICW. Again, it lies right along the channel so if you can, ask for a spot on the inside of the fuel dock. If not, it’s not too bad on the outside as other boaters tend to respect the No Wake Zone in this marina congested area. There is fuel there, good bath facilities, as well as a nice restaurant, and plenty of marine services nearby if you need them. Last year I had to have some AC work done while in route and was able to coordinate it so they were at the dock when I arrived. Dock Master and staff are very helpful and friendly.
Peter

We stayed at Wrightsville Beach Marina in May, and while a little pricey ($2.25/ft) it was a lot of fun and facilities are good. You are hard by the large and active Bluewater restaurant and bar, but all in all a festive atmosphere, especially with all the boats `cruising’ up and down the ICW on a beautiful late spring weekend. The highlight of the visit was dinner at the Buoy 32 restaurant about three blocks east towards the beach. This is truly a first class gourmet spot, and we have eaten at some very nice places in our time, all over the world. There is also an excellent beer and wine shop a block closer to the marina on the way to Buoy 32, especially if you are an aficionado of micro brewery labels. We had only passed through or anchored overnight in Wrightsville before this, little did we know what we’d been missing!
George Hechtman
Incentive, Hatteras 56MY

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