Looking for south Florida marinas? Just as when you bought your boat, there are numerous things to consider and sacrifices to make. While a marina may provide enough storage or spaces for your boat, the facilities may be inadequate. Is it close enough to neighboring mechanics to service or maintain the boat, or can the marina handle such things internally? Do you need to pay for luxuries like a swimming pool and clubhouse activities if you simply want to go fishing once in a while?
The Best Marinas in South Florida
Regardless of the size of your yacht, Florida has a marina to fit it. According to web directories, there are over 1100 marinas to choose from across the state of Florida, but for the sake of this essay, we will concentrate on the west coast. This list is intended to aid you in your search since it does not include every marina option accessible to Florida sailors. Or, this list may help arrange a “marina hopping” trip, a popular activity among Florida boaters.
Here are the best south Florida marinas
South Seas Island Resort – Captiva, FL
On Captiva Island, the South Seas Island Resort is a popular tourist site. For visitors of all ages, the resort has a superb hotel, eating, and recreational choices. South Seas offers two marina facilities in two separate sites, which is fortunate for the boating community.
Yacht Harbour & Marina is a full-service marina on Captiva Island’s South Seas. The marina employs a complete crew and can accommodate vessels up to 120 feet in length. There has electricity, cable television, and freshwater connections. There are also showers and laundry facilities nearby.
Bayside Marina caters to smaller boats and boat owners that want to maintain their vessels. Boats under 25 feet are allowed to dock. Bayside Marina allows trailer boat launches, but be sure to inform the marina ahead of time. Freshwater and wireless internet are accessible.
Pink Shell Resort – Ft. Myers, FL
The Pink Shell Marina, voted one of the best locations to dock in North America, provides dockage for yachts up to 100 feet long as well as a range of exceptional facilities. Three pools, two restaurants, a full-service spa, and a beautiful white sand beach are all part of the resort and marina. Electrical connection, water hookup, pump-out services, and other amenities are included in the 41 spaces with floating docks. Marina customers may get fuel reductions.
The Vinoy Renaissance Resort Marina – St. Petersburg, FL
The Vinoy Renaissance Resort in St. Petersburg is a waterfront hotel located in the center of the city. The marina has 74 concrete slips that can accommodate yachts ranging in length from 35 to 120 feet. Room service to the boat, key access to the docks, dry cleaning services, self-service laundry, and all other resort facilities are accessible to Vinoy visitors. While daily transitory prices vary from $2.75 to $3.50 per foot per day, lodging bookings qualify for reductions.
Longboat Key Club Moorings – Longboat Key, FL
Longboat Key Club’s full-service marina has 291 spots for boats up to 150 feet long. The Longboat Key Club Moorings provides a complete staff and a variety of good amenities including a swimming pool, tennis court, free bicycles, laundry facilities, bathrooms, and more. Because the property is close to The Resort at Longboat Key Club, resort guests have access to a variety of resort facilities. There is a complimentary shuttle service to adjacent St. Armands Circle for shopping and eating. There is also a fuel dock and maintenance and repair services.
Galleon Marina – Key West, FL
The Galleon Marina in Key West, Florida, is a short walk from famed Duval Street and has 91 spots that can accommodate boats and yachts up to 150 feet long. Each slip has freshwater, power, and cable TV connections. Laundry, restroom and shower facilities, and WiFi are also provided. Galleon has a renowned tiki bar as well as a swimming pool.
Marina Jack – Sarasota, FL
Marina Jack, located in downtown Sarasota, offers 316 slips that can accommodate yachts up to 228 feet long. Each slip has power, freshwater, cable, and WiFi. There is also a fuel dock and a chip shop nearby. Guests may enjoy waterfront restaurants, lively piano bars, and buses to downtown Sarasota. Marina Jack offers yacht maintenance and repair services.
Marker 1 Marina Clearwater/Dunedin
Marker 1 Marina just completed a significant expansion and now offers over 150 wet spaces and 350 high and dry racks to boats in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, and Dunedin. The wet slips can accommodate boats up to 65 feet long, while the high and dry slips can accommodate huge center consoles up to 50 feet long. Fuel dock, swimming pool, bathrooms, restaurant, and ship’s shop are among the amenities.
Lands End Marina – Apollo Beach, FL
Lands End Marina, located on the southern side of Tampa Bay, is a prime marina for boaters of all sorts. The marina has approximately 100 wet slips that can accommodate yachts up to 100 feet long, as well as high and dry storage for vessels up to 32 feet long. Technicians are on-site to provide repair and maintenance services. The experience is completed with a restaurant and tiki bar.
Regatta Pointe Marina – Palmetto, FL
The live-aboard community at Regatta Pointe is well-known. It lies near Palmetto, Florida, and has close access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The marina has 350 berths that can accommodate vessels up to 120 feet long. At each slip, there is power, cable TV, and dock boxes. On-site resort-quality live-aboard facilities include baths, laundry, a pool and hot tub, and other amenities. There is also a fuel dock.
Tips for Choosing the Best Marina
When searching for marinas on Florida’s west coast, keep the following questions in mind: Do you have a deep draught or a very broad beam? If this is the case, be certain that your yacht is suitable for both the waterway coming up to the marina and the docks. How well is the canal illuminated and marked? Would you feel safe returning to the marina after dark? How far is the marina from your house? While one marina may offer excellent facilities, if it’s a two-hour trip from your house, you may find it impossible to go that far every weekend.
If you want to leave your boat at the marina all year, evaluate how safe the facility is in the event of a storm or hurricane. Before signing any contract, inquire about storm protocols.
Tiki Bars
While tiki bars and waterfront restaurants are appealing, don’t overlook the less appealing parts of utilizing a marina, such as head pump-out services. Is the gasoline for your boat available at the facility?
Furthermore, what are the marina’s rules? Every marina is unique, and each may have its own set of regulations. Make careful to read the regulations thoroughly and ask pertinent questions to verify that the restrictions align with your expectations and desired boating lifestyle.
Finally, during a busy weekend, try visiting the marina by boat. What about the other visitors and tenants? Is your yacht compatible with the other vessels in the marina? Examine the complexity of the approach channel and the ease with which you may reach your slip. Attempt docking your boat multiple times to get a sense of what it’s like. What is the noise level at night? Is the marina secure and safe? Spending time at the marina in realistic scenarios is the greatest method to decide whether or not the marina is a good match for you and your family.
Tom George Yacht Group can not only help you choose the best boat for your requirements, but our crew is also accessible to answer any questions you may have about the Florida boating lifestyle. Please contact us if you are seeking a wonderful marina to use on Florida’s west coast.
