Looking for a marina on Florida’s west coast? Just as when you bought your boat, there are many factors to consider and some tradeoffs that you may need to navigate. While a marina might provide sufficient storage or slips for keeping your boat, the amenities may be lacking. When you need to service or maintain the boat, is it close enough to nearby mechanics or can the marina facilitate such services internally? If you’re only looking to go fishing every now and then, do you really need to be paying for a variety of amenities such as swimming pool and clubhouse activities?
No matter how big or small your boat may be, Florida has a marina to accommodate. According to online directories, there are upwards of 1100 marina options to consider around the state of Florida, but for this article we will focus on Florida’s west coast. This list is meant to simply assist you in your search process as it is not exhaustive of all the marina options available to Florida boaters. Or perhaps, this list can be useful for planning a “marina hopping” excursion as many Florida boaters love to do.
The Best Marinas on Florida’s West Coast
Here are ten of the best marinas on Florida’s west coast (in no particular order):
South Seas Island Resort – Captiva, FL
South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island is a top destination in Southwest Florida. The resort offers excellent lodging, dining and activity options for guests of all ages. Thankfully for the boating community, South Seas has two marina facilities at two different locations.
Yacht Harbour & Marina is a full-service marina located at South Seas on Captiva Island. The marina has a full staff and can handle boats up to 120 feet. Electricity, cable television and freshwater hookups are available. Showers and laundry facilities are also nearby.
Bayside Marina is geared more towards smaller boats and owners looking to take care of their own vessel. Dockage is for boats of 25 feet and under. Trailer boat launches are possible at Bayside Marina, but be sure to contact the marina ahead of time. Wireless internet and freshwater are available.
Contact the South Seas Marina staff by calling 888-777-3625.
Pink Shell Resort – Ft. Myers, FL
Voted as one of the top places to tie up in North America, the Pink Shell Marina offers dockage for boats up to 100 feet and a variety of excellent amenities. The resort & marina include three pools, two restaurants, full-service spa and a gorgeous white sand beach. 41 slips with floating docks include electrical service, water hookup, pump-out services and more. Fuel discounts are available for marina customers.
You can reach the Pink Shell Resort & Marina by calling 888-222-7465.
The Vinoy Renaissance Resort Marina – St. Petersburg, FL
The Vinoy Renaissance Resort in St. Petersburg is a waterfront hotel in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. The marina includes 74 concrete slips that can handle boats ranging from 35 to 120 feet. Amenities for boaters include room service direct to the boat, key access to the docks, dry cleaning services, self-service laundry as well as the other resort amenities available to Vinoy guests. While daily transient rates range from $2.75-$3.50 per foot per day, discounts are available with room reservations.
Contact the Vinoy Marina by calling 727-824-8022.
Longboat Key Club Moorings – Longboat Key, FL
The full-service marina at Longboat Key Club offers 291 slips that can handle yachts up to 150 feet. The Longboat Key Club Moorings has a full staff with a number of excellent amenities such as swimming pool, tennis court, complimentary bicycles, laundry options, showers and more. The facility is adjacent to The Resort at Longboat Key Club, so a number of resort amenities are available as well for resort guests. Complimentary shuttle service is available to nearby St. Armands Circle for shopping and dining. Fuel dock and maintenance and repair services are also available.
Contact the Longboat Key Club Moorings at 941-383-8383
Galleon Marina – Key West, FL
Located a short walk to famous Duval Street in Key West, Florida, the Galleon Marina has 91 slips that can accommodate boats and yachts up to 150 feet. Freshwater, electricity and cable TV hookups are available at each slip. Laundry, bathroom and shower and WiFi services are are also available. Galleon has a popular tiki bar as well as a swimming pool available for use.
Contact Galleon Marina at 305-292-1292.
Marina Jack – Sarasota, FL
Located in downtown Sarasota, Marina Jack has 316 slips capable of accommodating vessels up to 228 feet. Power, freshwater, cable, WiFi is available at each slip. Fuel dock and Ship’s store are also nearby. Waterfront dining, entertaining piano bars and shuttles to downtown Sarasota are available for guests. Yacht maintenance and repair services are available at Marina Jack.
Contact Marina Jack at 941-955-9488.
Marker 1 Marina Clearwater/Dunedin
Marker 1 Marina recently underwent a major expansion and now services boaters in the Tampa Bay, Clearwater and Dunedin area with over 150 wet slips and 350 high and dry racks. The wet slips can accommodate boats up to 65 feet in length while the high and dry can handle large center consoles up to 50 feet. Amenities include fuel dock, swimming pool, showers, restaurant and a ship’s store. You can read more about Marker 1 Marina’s expansion here.
Contact Marker 1 Marina at 727-733-9324.
Lands End Marina – Apollo Beach, FL
On the southern shore of Tampa Bay, Lands End Marina is a premier marina for boaters of all types. The facility boasts over 100 wet slips that can handle boats of up to 100 feet and high and dry storage for boats up to 32 feet. Technicians are available onsite for repair and maintenance services. Restaurant and tiki bar complete the experience.
Call Lands End Marina at 813-645-5594.
Regatta Pointe Marina – Palmetto, FL
Regatta Pointe is well known for its live-aboard community. It is located in Palmetto, FL with easy access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The facility offers 350 slips with capacity for boats up to 120 feet. The marina boasts electricity, cable TV and dock boxes at each slip. Resort-quality live-aboard facilities on-site include showers, laundry, pool and hot tub and more. Fuel dock is also available.
Call Regatta Pointe Marina at 941-729-6021.
Burnt Store Marina – Punta Gorda, FL
Located in Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda, Florida, Burnt Store Marina has an impressive 525 wet slips making it one of the largest marinas in the state. Vessels up to 100 feet in length can be accommodated. Additional dry storage is available for vessels up to 16,000 pounds. Waterfront dining is available as well as pool, showers, laundry and more. Repair and maintenance services are available onsite.
Call Burnt Store Marina at 941-637-0083.
Tips for Choosing the Best Marina
When looking at the marinas on Florida’s west coast, be sure to consider the following questions: Do you have a deep draft or an extra wide beam? If so, make sure to inquire that your vessel is appropriate for both the channel leading up to the marina and the slips. How well lit and marked is the channel? Would you be comfortable returning to the marina in the dark? How far is the marina located from your home? While one particular marina may have impressive amenities, if it’s a two-hour drive from your home, you might find it difficult to travel such a distance every weekend.
If you plan to keep your boat year-round at the marina, consider how protected the facility is in the case of a storm or hurricane. Inquire about storm procedures before signing any contract.
While tiki bars and waterfront dining are exciting, don’t forget about the less exciting aspects of using a marina such as head pump-out services. Does the facility provide the fuel that you need for your boat?
Additionally, what are the rules of the marina? Every marina is different and each can have unique restrictions. Make sure to read through the rules and ask the appropriate questions to ensure that the rules line up with your expectations and desired boating lifestyle.
Lastly, consider visiting the marina by boat during a busy weekend. What are the other guests and tenants like? Does your boat fit well with the other boats that are utilizing the marina? Analyze the difficulty of the approach channel and how easy it is to get to your slip. Attempt docking your boat several times so you get a good feel for what it would be like. How noisy is it at night? Does the marina feel secure and safe? Spending time at the marina in practical situations is the best way to determine if the marina is the best fit for you and your family.
Tom George Yacht Group not only can ensure you find the perfect boat for your needs, our team is available to answer any questions about the Florida boating lifestyle that you may have. If you’re looking for a great marina to utilize on Florida’s west coast, feel free to contact us.
