Stuart Marina Advice

[Pete]

Been looking at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Marina as a long stop over going south. Facilities look nice, and the Admiral has pool access. My primary questions center around the lack of protection in the marina from the ICW traffic and the fetch for winds from the south and west. I would greatly appreciate comments and recommendations on this facility or alternatives in the area.

Thanks

Pete

 

[DeeRow]

Pirates Cove Marina in the Manatee Pocket (west and south of the Marriott) is a full service marina with pool. It is in Port Salerno near more restaurants and is more protected. Harborage Yacht Club has dockiminiums (sp?) that they can't sell and available for transients. Harborage is "up" the St. Lucie river and across the river from downtown Stuart which has a city dock for 3 hour dockage (no overnight, no power). Harborage is also a bit exposed with a long fetch to the east.

Neither Pirate's cove nor Harborage have access to the beach, golf, or tennis. If you want to go to the beach, you can go to Peck's lake on the ICW and anchor out like the locals do. Peck's lake beach is just over the dune and it is a state park that is basically only accessable by boat. Non-boater's have to long hike 2 miles from the Hobe Sound parking lot to get to Peck's lake beach.

Harborage has the cheapest fuel in the area. They did recently have a "grand openning" of the community, but I don't know if their pool is open yet or if it is available to transients. I think that Waymaker kept his boat there for a month last year.

Mark

 

[Bertramp]

I've been to Pirate's Cove .... very nice !!

 

[BUSTER]

I used to stay at Allied's marina,"named something else now" and the place next door,"Stuart Cay?'just north of the Roosevelt bridge. It was well protected,but I also have stayed at Pirate's Cove and liked it better because there is more activity. Tony

 

[Fat Boy]

I've been at the Harborage since Dec. 1st. Its very nice, the pool is open, Wahoos (restaurant) and tikibar is fun with live entertainment on weekends. Access to the yacht club with room service available on the boat. $19' on floating dock and $22 on fixed dock, closer to yacht club and restaurant. Very nice showers, also. The last few trips fuel has been 3.45. The have all gates locked and security at night.

 

[hyperfishing]

Edited .........Yes, on Pirates Cove and Yes on Peck's Lake. Boated to both places, really great. BUT, Pecks lake has some shallow areas, so be careful. See my link in the post below.

Saint Lucie Inlet Park was really great and closer, but even shallower. We polished the props with a draft of 2'.5". Do not go in there with a larger draft.

 

[DeeRow]

...Pecks lake is SUPER shallow, so it really is not suitable if you have big boat. Or, you don't mind sitting at the bottom at low tides, and waiting for high tide to get in or out. We had difficulties with a draft of 2.5".

Interesting. I go in there all the time. Go to marker 19 and turn east toward the tower. I believe that there is 10 feet all the way to the tower. There are some shallow areas south of marker 19.

Mark

 

[Mike36c]

Interesting. I go in there all the time. Go to marker 19 and turn east toward the tower. I believe that there is 10 feet all the way to the tower. There are some shallow areas south of marker 19.

Mark

Yep, I've rafted up there with my buddy's 70 footer several times. Just don't venture too far south of the marker and you'll be fine.

 

[hyperfishing]

Sorry, just checked. It was ST. LUCIE INLET PARK that I was thinking of. Hence, I edited my first post. Thanks.

"Miles Of Unspoiled Beach And Tram Service Make This An Unusual Discovery Near Stuart In Southeast Florida..."

It was about four years since we were there, but half the park docks (day only, no overnight) on the north side were virtually unusable due to silting up. Really neat, isolated area.

Lots of great pictures and info on Peck Lake, St. Lucie Park and more at this location:

http://www.geocities.com/palmbeachboating/peck_lake_photo_approach.html

 

[DeeRow]

Sorry, just checked. It was that I was thinking of. Hence, I edited my first post. Thanks.

"Miles Of Unspoiled Beach And Tram Service Make This An Unusual Discovery Near Stuart In Southeast Florida..."

It was about four years since we were there, but half the park docks (day only, no overnight) on the north side were virtually unusable due to silting up. Really neat, isolated area.

Lots of great pictures and info on Peck Lake, St. Lucie Park and more at this location:

http://www.geocities.com/palmbeachboating/peck_lake_photo_approach.html

Not only is it shallow at the ST. LUCIE INLET PARK, but the docks do not have cleats and the pilings are cut off flush with the deck boards. I took my previous boat in there and it was hard to get the lines tied to where I was comfortable leaving the boat. The tram only runs on weekends and we were only able to catch it one way. It is a long walk back from the beach! They also want $2 to us the dock. Needless to say, one stop there was enough.

Peck's Lake is the beach to go to by boat.

Mark

 

[Pete]

Thanks to all for the responses. Please let me update my question at this time. Since I have not been to Florida by boat, my thought is I should not be trying to pick towns/cities out of the cruise guide and ask for reviews, but taking advantage of the vast wealth of info available here about locations. So, my new request is the best marinas for extended stays, given the following set of priorities (listed in order of importance)

East coast north of West Palm Beach, good dock system, protected from ICW traffic wake, nice swimming pool, marina/resort versus boat yard/repair environment, security if required at the location, near retail shops especially a supermarket, and walking/bike ride to town.

Again I would appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[BUSTER]

Thanks to all for the responses. Please let me update my question at this time. Since I have not been to Florida by boat, my thought is I should not be trying to pick towns/cities out of the cruise guide and ask for reviews, but taking advantage of the vast wealth of info available here about locations. So, my new request is the best marinas for extended stays, given the following set of priorities (listed in order of importance)

East coast north of West Palm Beach, good dock system, protected from ICW traffic wake, nice swimming pool, marina/resort versus boat yard/repair environment, security if required at the location, near retail shops especially a supermarket, and walking/bike ride to town.

Again I would appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks,

Pete

I have stayed at the Loggerhead Club in Jupiter,very pricey and very nice.It is all you mentioned,plus close to anything you may need,including the airport.More convenient than the Bluffs or Admirals. Tony