Feature: Marinas & Channels - Florida's East Coast

Marinas & Channels: Florida's East Coast​

by Capt. David Reams​

*Disclaimer – the following list is not a complete guide. It contains marinas and ports visited by the author. Comments are subjective and are based on experience only. If a marina or port is omitted, it is only because the author has not visited the same.

We will start south and work our way north along the Atlantic coast of the Florida, a coast line with more large yachts than anywhere else in the country.

Florida Keys...

Key West: (24 27.7 N, 81 48.0W), This is the sea buoy for long, ship channel leading to Whitehead Spit. Continue passed the cruise ship basin to Key West Bight. You will see hotels from the channel as you round the breakwater. On the starboard side is a Texaco fuel dock; to port is a government pier with a post WW2 diesel submarine.

Conch Harbor Marina: (305-294-2933) is our preferred stop. Mark and Tom the dock masters are easy to work with and will accommodate large yachts. Fuel is more expensive than in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami but much less so than the Bahamas or Isla Mujeres.

Galleon Resort and Marina: (305-292-1292) is our second choice, however, they have only a couple of slips available to yachts over 70 feet in length.

Little Palm Island: (24 37.1 N, 81 24.5 W). This is a private island with a tropical, South Seas feel. The resort (800-343-8567) is expensive but really a treat for owners and guests. There are only two docks for boats over 65 feet so call and make reservations early for the busy winter months. The island is shown on the charts as Little Munsun Island and is only 28 miles north of Key West. Contact the dock master via radio ch. 16 for directions to enter the channel and dock. The channel has 6-½ feet depth at low tide so be careful. A late note, if you are a member of Ocean Reef Club or Boat US there is a 20 percent discount off the dockage rate.

Marathon: (24 41.8 N, 81 07.4 W) is a small town on the “Overseas Highway” from Miami to Key West; a nice stop on the way towards Key West if it’s not possible to make a daylight landfall at Key West. On the charts, Marathon is located just NW of “Boot Key”. Enter the channel at the waypoint above from the Hawk Channel. The entrance is shallow, not recommended for drafts greater than 6.5 feet; call on the radio for advice as to which side of the channel is favored.

Marathon Marina: (305-743-6575) is our normal stop, just because it is closest to the entrance of the channel. There is only one dock for a 112-foot boat, and it was a tight fit.

Faro Blanco Marina: (305-743-9018) is a nice marina; look for the red and white-stripped lighthouse. Exercise caution entering this channel, it is shallow and there is coral on either side of the main channel.

Florida Mainland...

Miami: (sea buoy 25 46.08N, 89 05.0W) is easy to enter due to the ship channel, Government Cut. Miami is an interesting place to visit but you wouldn’t want to keep your boat there full time. Lots of activity, shipping and people watching, the South Beach area is a medium walking distance from the marina.

Miami Beach Marina: (305-673-6000) this is a nice marina with lots of slips and a fuel dock. As soon as you enter the harbor from Government Cut the marina is on the north side of the channel.

Fort Lauderdale: (Port Everglades on the charts 26 05.5N, 80 04.7 W), yachting Mecca of the US, probably the largest concentration of large yachts in the world. Every service you could need or want for boats and yachts is available in the Lauderdale area. From seaward the telltale landmark are the four power station smokestacks. Upon entering from sea go north under the 17th Street Causeway Bridge to get to most of the marinas and the New River. Most of the boatyards are located along the New River; this includes Bradford’s, Marina Mile Shipyard, Roscoili’s, Lauderdale Marine Center and many more. If taking a yacht up the New River for the first time I strongly suggest getting a local captain or boater to ride along with you. There are several bridges, tight turns and generally small spaces to navigate and it is helpful to have someone aboard who knows what to expect around the next bend.

Heading south from Port Everglades there are several yards as well. Go west on the Dania Cut-Off Canal to find Broward Marine and others.

Hall of Fame Marina: (954-764-3875) Located at the Swimming Hall of Fame, this is one of our favorite marinas in Ft. Lauderdale. It is located near the beach and has better parking (auto) than we have found at most others.

Bahia Mar: (954-764-2233) a very nice marina next to the Hall of Fame marina. We have found excellent fuel prices here in the past. A helpful staff and nice small store for cleaning supplies and minor (snack type) food needs make for a nice stay here.

Palm Beach: (Lake Worth Inlet 26 46.3N, 80 00.6W) A nice easy entrance (the last going north until Cape Canaveral) marked by three power company smokestacks. Turning south after entering the turning basin will take you to West Palm Beach with Palm Beach City Dock, Rybovich Spencer boatyard, Australian Docks, etc. A turn around Peanut Island and to the north will take you to Lake Worth and Old Port Cove marina.

Old Port Cove: (561-626-1760) a nice quiet marina with fixed concrete docks. Some transient slips are available year ‘round. Call in advance during winter months for reservations. Anchoring out is permitted in the cove north of the marina.

Fort Pierce: is a short day’s run (about 40 miles on the ICW) north of Lake Worth. The Ft. Pierce City Marina (772-464-1245) is located within walking distance of shops and downtown and the city has done major upgrades to the marina in the last couple of years. Try to time your arrival for slack water, as there is a strong current through marina, which can make docking “interesting”.

Cape Canaveral: is an interesting stop if you wish to spend a day in the Space Program. Tours are available of the facility with chances to see Astronauts, Boosters, Rockets and possibly the Space Shuttle. Getting to the marinas from the ICW involves an hour and a half detour through the Cape Canaveral Barge Canal complete with bridges and a set of locks. The bridges are closed from approx. 0600 to 0830 hrs and 1530 to 1800 hrs (check exact times depending on season) each day. Time your arrival so that you don’t have to wait hours for a bridge opening.

Cape Marina: (321-783-8410) is the only marina we have visited in this area. It has transient spaces available along with fuel and a restaurant. It is a fairly long taxi ride to shopping or attractions. There is easy access from sea via the Cape Canaveral ship channel.

Daytona Beach: motor sports central for Florida. If you are interested in NASCAR, auto history or Harley Davidson’s this is the place to be. The beach on the Atlantic is still open to auto traffic (although with a 10 mph speed limit now) as well as bathers.

Caribbean Jack’s Marina: (386-253-5647) has nice floating docks, a small ships store and several restaurants in walking distance. There are several other marinas in the area but we have had the best success with transient spaces here.

St. Augustine: (29 54.9N, 81 15.3W): This is one of our favorite Florida stops on the route north. St. Augustine is America’s oldest city. This is a great little town to walk around in with many interesting buildings and restaurants. Here is located mile marker “0” on the Spanish trail leading to the California missions. Across the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island is the Gypsy Cab Co. restaurant, a very fine menu at reasonable prices.

*A word of caution, the entrance has a shallow bar near the sea buoy. The harbor is deep but the entrance bar should only be crossed at high tide. We have taken both Happy Doc and TAS into the harbor but only at high tide (not recommended for drafts greater than 6 feet).

St. Augustine Municipal Marina: (904-825-1026): A great marina, right down town with a fuel dock and friendly people. Turn south from the entrance and pass under the Bridge of Lions, the marina is the long dock on the west side of the channel.

Comanche Island Marina: (904-829-5676): We have never stayed at the marina but have used the fuel dock. The marina channel to the fuel dock is a tight fit for boats over 80 feet but they do have room at the fuel dock if needed.

Conch House Marina: (904) 829-5415: When entering from seaward, turn south at the small channel before Anastasia Island. The channel is narrow and shallow but adequate for vessels with up to 6.5-foot draft. The marina has nice floating docks, restaurant and ship’s store; however there is a lot of motion from passing vessels in the channel.