Florida Dockage calling florida people!

Hayden Sias

Member
Jul 17, 2019
47
Boat Info
2000 Sea Ray 270SDA. No tow...permanent dock, lowrance HD5
Engines
Single 7.4 mercruiser and a bravo3
hey y'all......i am incredibly discouraged with the dockage here in the Jacksonville/St.Johns river area. Maybe I expect too much? Idk.... the Marinas around here look like they're run by crackheads and your boat will be robbed every day or they're so,nice they're out of my price range.
Hardly any have kids. Its all old people that own boats around here....well, livable boats
None of them are what I am used to. I realize,if I am looking to move that will happen but,I thought these places would average,.....nicer.
Tomorrow I am heading to Cape Coral. I am hoping I have better luck there?
Disappointed.
 
Tremendous difference between Jacksonville, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, and Cape Coral/Ft Meyers area.

What's your preferred location?
 
Hi Hayden, no experience with Cape Coral. But the Bradenton/Palmetto area has two nice marinas that I am familiar with. One is Twin Dolphin on the south side of the river. The other is Riviera Dunes on the north side. Both have nice restaurants right there. The Riviera Dunes allows live-aboards, has a good fuel dock, and is very protected & no current. I spent an enjoyable month there a while back. Very friendly folks in the office and on the boats. Our 360 Sundancer was one of the smaller boats.
 
I have connections here in Jax/Green Cove. It's nice.....typical southern style....strip malls and developments....It's easily adaptable. The Marinas are awful.
I am off to Cap Coral tomorrow for a few days. I am hoping that area is way better for Marinas and my family.
I have an 8 year old who needs to thrive too. He's number one for importance.
 
Hi Hayden, no experience with Cape Coral. But the Bradenton/Palmetto area has two nice marinas that I am familiar with. One is Twin Dolphin on the south side of the river. The other is Riviera Dunes on the north side. Both have nice restaurants right there. The Riviera Dunes allows live-aboards, has a good fuel dock, and is very protected & no current. I spent an enjoyable month there a while back. Very friendly folks in the office and on the boats. Our 360 Sundancer was one of the smaller boats.

Sweet!! Thank you. I will look them up. .
 
St Pete Municipal Marina has posted rates on their website, as does Gulfport Municipal Marina. I would think these are the marinas in-between the super nice places, and wherever you are at now. Harborage Marina Dry Stack, in St Pete is where I store my boat, I can stay in a wet slip if they have any available, and they always do, except once, and it was a super busy holiday type weekend. The wet slips are more expensive than the dry stack, which seemed unusual when compared to other marinas. We stayed at MarinaJacks, great marina, no live-aboards, and the boats were super nice, so I’m guessing really expensive? Loggerhead/SunTek(?) marina in st Pete is also nice, pricey, but your boat can’t be too tall...
 
I am off to Cap Coral tomorrow for a few days. I am hoping that area is way better for Marinas and my family.
I have an 8 year old who needs to thrive too. He's number one for importance.
You will love Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral.
 
What might help for people to make suggestions if you defined your top 3 or 4 criteria.
 
Last edited:
1)I have an 8 year old. He needs kids to hang out with.
2)I need to live on it for 3-4months
3)clean.....just clean.....pools,tennis, that kind of stuff are nice but,nit necessary.
The marinas Ibsaw were a bloody mess.
4) decent proximity to stores and stuff.

Around 500.00 a month with water. Electric would be nice included but,I totally get it.
 
If there was a negative about Tarpon Point, you need a car to go the two/three miles to Publix, WestMarine, etc. There are 3 marinas in downtown Ft. Myers - Edison/Ford, Legacy and City. All within walking distance of everything downtown has to offer. Easy Uber from any of them (including Tarpon Point) to RSW airport if you will need that...
 
You might also consider St Augustine. I really like it there and a number of very good marinas.
 
Im close to it. Right now.
 
The trick with the downtown marinas (city and Marker 8 - nice hotel and pool) in St. Augustine is to come in at slack tide. There's often a strong wind, and with a strong tide docking can be a challenge. Around to the east into Salt Run is another marina that has little to no current. Conch House marina. Nice restaurants and a pool, too.
 
You do realize boating is expensive and Florida is a retirement state
So that being said all Marina’s will be dominated by older mature adults
And for the most part are all great people

I live in north ft Myers that borders the Cape Coral area
My guess is this area is going to be older and more mature for you as well

some marinas unfortunately have rude employees that’s life but the majority have great helpful and respectful folks
I’m not sure where you are coming from but I wish you the best for you and your family safe travels
 
1)I have an 8 year old. He needs kids to hang out with.
2)I need to live on it for 3-4months
3)clean.....just clean.....pools,tennis, that kind of stuff are nice but,nit necessary.
The marinas Ibsaw were a bloody mess.
4) decent proximity to stores and stuff.

Around 500.00 a month with water. Electric would be nice included but,I totally get it.

Man, if you find all that in a $500 marina I'd bet it will be full with a waiting list as well.
 
Best way to find marinas is to go on google earth, scroll to the areas you want. Click for marinas, they will all pop up. I spend half my life looking at other marinas. Sad, I know:):)
 

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