Georgetown SC Marinas

[iraywest]

Headed to Georgetown SC June 12th and would like recommendations on the best marina to stay overnight as we have not stopped there before. We would like to walk to a local restaurant/bar and see anything of special interest along the way.

Thanks in advance.
Ray & Patty

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Was just there 10 days ago. First choice is Harborwalk Marina; second choice is Hazzard Marine. Good water is close aboard the docks. Harborwalk is in the middle of everything. Having not been to Georgetown since the fire, I was very impressed with the town. You can walk and walk in the adjacent neighborhoods, and there are lots of dining options. Grocery stores are not close. Shrimp boats are right there. Also found marina and locals very pet friendly.


Aslan at Harborwalk Marina, Georgetown, SC

 

[trogers]

Not quite Georgetown SC, but last time through there the Admiral and I stopped at Leland Oil Co. It's a bit further south. Folks were nice, walk through town was perfect, assuming you like VERY quiet and LOTS of laid back.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

McClellanville is a must fuel stop. But what little is there opens Thursdays.

 

[iraywest]

Thanks Robert & Timothy. Appreciate the advice as always.

 

[Freeebird]

I just came up from Palmetto, FL to Myrtle Beach with a 51’ Ocean Alexander and stayed at Harborwalk. It’s a great spot that’s within walking distance of pretty much anything you want. Had a great meal at a little restaurant just a short walk from the marina in town, but the name escapes me at the moment. Just walk towards town and go left.

As for fuel, Osprey Marina usually has great fuel prices, but Grand Dunes in Myrtle was cheaper. We got fuel for around $2.80 with a volume discount with only around 300 gallons as I recall. I didn’t check prices in McClellanville but I did find the bottom with a 4’ draft. Just a little bump, but don’t go through there at low tide. We were about half on a falling tide.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I just came up from Palmetto, FL to Myrtle Beach with a 51’ Ocean Alexander and stayed at Harborwalk. It’s a great spot that’s within walking distance of pretty much anything you want. Had a great meal at a little restaurant just a short walk from the marina in town, but the name escapes me at the moment. Just walk towards town and go left. As for fuel, Osprey Marina usually has great fuel prices, but Grand Dunes in Myrtle was cheaper. We got fuel for around $2.80 with a volume discount with only around 300 gallons as I recall. I didn’t check prices in McClellanville but I did find the bottom with a 4’ draft. Just a little bump, but don’t go through there at low tide. We were about half on a falling tide.

Ill have to disagree based on cruise earlier this month. Follows is text to friend who was a week behind me and avoided the area on trip south: “I took a few notes on the McClellanville approach, but that's a waste of time. Skinniest I saw from R38 to turn in was 5.6' below keel. This was 2 hrs before high tide. Worst water was behind Sullivan's island up past the Ben Sawyer Bridge. About 2' under just past low tide. Nice ride.” I used the ACOE survey. Fuel at Leland was $2.40 over 100 G with check; otherwise $2.65.

 

[Freeebird]

Ill have to disagree based on cruise earlier this month. Follows is text to friend who was a week behind me and avoided the area on trip south: “I took a few notes on the McClellanville approach, but that's a waste of time. Skinniest I saw from R38 to turn in was 5.6' below keel. This was 2 hrs before high tide. Worst water was behind Sullivan's island up past the Ben Sawyer Bridge. About 2' under just past low tide. Nice ride.” I used the ACOE survey. Fuel at Leland was $2.40 over 100 G with check; otherwise $2.65.

Disagree with what?

I came through there three days ago. It was a falling tide about three hours before low tide. I can assure you we bumped with a 4’ draft.

As for fuel prices, those seem to be changing daily. I’m only sharing what we paid two days ago.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Disagree with what?

I came through there three days ago. It was a falling tide about three hours before low tide. I can assure you we bumped with a 4’ draft.

As for fuel prices, those seem to be changing daily. I’m only sharing what we paid two days ago.

No, sir. I don't disagree you grounded your client's boat. That was the second time in the same general area, was it not?

 

[Freeebird]

No, sir. I don't disagree you grounded your client's boat. That was the second time in the same general area, was it not?

Uh, that was the second time in the past couple of months I came through there (first was with a 53MY), but I'm still trying to understand your point and with what you are disagreeing. There is a big difference between bumping the bottom and grounding. The owner didn't want to run outside, nor did he want to leave Charleston earlier to avoid the potential of polishing the props.

Seems I recall you sending PM's and asking me for depth reports in that area during January of last year when I moved a 46C from Hilton Head to just below Annapolis. It's known for shoaling, and trying to go through there with a 67 at low tide would NOT be a good idea.

My only other point had to do with what I paid for fuel, so is that what you're disagreeing with?

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

No, just wondering why you’d tell people to not go that route. That’s all.

 

[Freeebird]

No, just wondering why you’d tell people to not go that route. That’s all.

LOL! Where did I tell him not to go that route?

I just told him not to try it at low tide. I guess I'm trying to figure out why we chased this particular rabbit if his final destination is Georgetown as he won't be passing McClellanville. I thought maybe you knew something I didn't about his route when you mentioned it as a must stop for fuel.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

LOL! Where did I tell him not to go that route?

I just told him not to try it at low tide. I guess I'm trying to figure out why we chased this particular rabbit if his final destination is Georgetown as he won't be passing McClellanville. I thought maybe you knew something I didn't about his route when you mentioned it as a must stop for fuel.

Someone else brought up Mc'ville, I believe. No worries, was just wondering about your McClellanville experiences since you referenced the bump. Couldn't understand why you'd bump in a 4-1/2' boat and try it again at about the same tide state given what you advised on 3/15:

You won't be able to run the ICW from MB to Charleston unless you hit it at high tide. We bumped pretty good just south of McClellanville with a 4.5' draft, and it wasn't yet low tide. Had to run outside to Georgetown.

I ran it at just better than half tide rising on the 5th and half tide falling on the 9th. Never saw less than 10-1/2' meaning better than 7' depth at MLLW. Recalled a few other similar or larger boats along the way.

You're exactly right. I did ask you about the water back in Jan., and I recall you reported it was solid. But since your pretty good bump and warning, I spoke with a couple of loopers drawing 5' or more and got their notes. So, the route is far from the worst on the SC ICW and appears completely doable subject to an abnormal tide or conditions.


Keel depths--The least I saw was 5.2' below the bottom. Didn't bother taking note of return depths.

 

[Freeebird]

It's all good. That March bump came later in the day than did the one this week, but I don't know how much the times from low to high tide are affected from one month to the next. We left out a good bit earlier in the day with that 46C than we did with the 53MY or even the OA, so that could have been the difference.

Then comes the fact that not all depth finders are calibrated the same. We ran with zeros on the depth for a good stretch below Edisto after doing a little prop polishing though there too. Even found a spot just south of Longboat Key Pass on the first day out, even though we were dead center in the channel. The owner was driving the boat when that happened (wouldn't have mattered) and was quite upset he had done a bit of plowing, but I told him he may as well get used to that if he's planning on doing a lot of running in the ICW. We were only running 9 knots then, and I had slowed well below that approaching McLellanville as I saw the bottom coming up when it was my turn to plow.

Had to laugh out loud at a guy who was obviously wreaking havoc going by Fernandina Beach as he was being yelled at by a number of folks. When he came around us at 20+ knots, I told the owner, "Hey, that must be cheese dick", as per the trawler guy who was giving him hell and called him that on the radio. A few minutes later, I heard him talking to another geographically-challenged guy in a sportfish who had waked everyone earlier including us. Seems they were both headed to Long Island as "cheese dick" asked if he could follow as he had no charts and didn't know the water! I fully expected to see one or both sitting on the ground, but we never saw them again.

 

[Freeebird]

Headed to Georgetown SC June 12th and would like recommendations on the best marina to stay overnight as we have not stopped there before. We would like to walk to a local restaurant/bar and see anything of special interest along the way.

Thanks in advance.
Ray & Patty

Getting back on topic, the restaurant we ate at was SoCo Grille on Front Street just a few hundred yards from Harborwalk Marina. I had to look it up. They had a good menu with a little of everything. I had a seafood platter and the guys both had meatloaf.

Great little ice cream shop just before you get to the restaurant who makes their own ice cream and various other treats. Try the salted caramel. It was awesome! Guy who owned the place recommended SoCo when I asked about fresh seafood.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

That place is very good. Try Tuscany Bistro for very good local seafood Italian style. A great little bakery is under the clock tower. Best thing, everything is all within sight of the other. The folks in Georgetown are very customer oriented with none of the above-it-all Charleston attitude. Really like that place.

 

[iraywest]

Appreciate the advice gentlemen. We are booked at Harborwalk tomorrow night. Seem like really nice people. Will top off fuel at Grand Dunes before departing in the morning.