Calling all Charleston SC sailors...

BigEasy · Jun 10, 2020

I purchase my boat from po who had the boat berthed in Mt Pleasant, just across the river from Charleston. Nice marina. Hauled out and prepped for shipment at Pierside boat yard in Charleston. Congrats on the new job.

HMT2 · Jun 10, 2020

Wish I could help. Let me know when you move to Texas. Congratulations on the new job. Fair winds and following seas, sir.

kjretlaw · Jun 11, 2020

Congrats with the new job.
Marina's in the local area
Copper River Marina, bare bones lowest price in town well protected. No Fuel. They're building a ship terminal right next door so I'm sure quite isn't going to last
Patriots Point, Mt Pleasant side. You can use all the amenities of the resort. strong currents, exposed to winds. Highest price in town.
Safe Harbor Marina, Downtown has the super dock, strong currents.
Ashley River Marina, Downtown next to Safe Harbor, strong currents
St Johns Yacht Harbor Marina, on the other side of the Wapoo Cut from the harbor, protected
There are others but these are the larger ones
I've used North Sales downtown for sail work
No real mooring fields here, or yards that store you stick up for normal use.
I use Safe Harbor boat works up the Wando River to haul the boat and do any work. Great people!
Wait time to get a slip can be months, this Covid 19 may have changed the wait somewhat.

Welcome to Charleston great place to live and to sail.

Spindrift NH · Jun 11, 2020

There are some moorings on the Ashley river, I have a friend that rents one out. From what I understand there is nothing that prevents you from installing one in the anchorage, I’d research that to be sure. You may purchase use of the dinghy at safe harbor(formerly city marina) and receive access to their amenities.
If you’re looking for a live aboard slip your options are few. Isle of Palms marina doesn’t really allow it but there are some live aboards there, I think if you’re not really seen it’s tolerated.
St Johns permits live aboards at limited numbers and they are at full capacity due to covid.
The Harborage at Ashley river allows live aboards if you own the slip. They recently doubled their association fees so slips are selling pretty cheap. You could get a 40’ x 13’ slip for about $45,000 right now. Don’t know the association fees. Pluses for you, the Citadel is in walking distance and a new Publix just opened nearby as well.
Cooper river is run by the county and allows 8 live aboard slips, there’s usually a waiting list. I have heard that that marina is getting shut down.
Welcome to Charleston!

Will Gilmore · Jun 12, 2020

Congratulations r,
I've always liked Charleston. Sorry I can't be any help about marinas or marine supplies. My father has sailed through there many times, but that was decades ago. Sounds like you are planning some exciting changes. Hope to hear more about them.

-Will (Dragonfly)

Spindrift NH · Jun 12, 2020

You do not need to go under rt 17 to get to the Harborage marina though the entrance to the fairway is about 200 feet from the bridge. There is a fixed bridge to get under but it’s at about 54’.

Spindrift NH · Jun 12, 2020

Tollers cove is mainly power boats, occasionally you’ll see a sailboat in there. No live aboards allowed at Tollers.

capta · Jun 12, 2020

I found Charleston City one of the best marinas anywhere. Well maintained with a great dock staff, no idiotic rules (no hanging out towels or laundry) and you get a parking place. WiFi must be better than it was back when I stayed there, and the place is within walking distance of the supermarket. Probably walking distance to citadel, but honestly, I don't remember.
Old town is full of bars, pubs & restaurants and things to do .
For someone working @ the citadel, it would be foolish to live in the Ashley River Marina and have to get caught in commuter traffic twice a day. Anyway, it's an exposed marina and not as well run as CCM.

smokey73 · Jun 12, 2020

Its about a 35 minute walk from the Charleston City Marina to the Citadel. I don't think there is anything much closer though. Traffic for driving wouldn't be too bad and its probably only a 10 to 15 minute drive.

Spindrift NH · Jun 12, 2020

The Harborage marina is right next door to City Marina, now called Fair Harbor, it’s on the closer side to the Citadel. City marina does not allow live aboards, you could do transient but I’m sure there’s a limit to number of months.
The traffic to and from both pretty much sucks anytime after 4 pm.

Will Gilmore · Jun 12, 2020

smokey73 said:
Its about a 35 minute walk from the Charleston City Marina to the Citadel

Good exercise and many car commutes are 45 min to an hour and a half. There are much uglier cities to walk through, as well. Actually, sounds nice to me.

Great location to sail out of. North to the Outer Banks, South to Savanna and all that nature preserve along the Georgia coast. Maybe even take a few weeks to sail to Bermuda and back. Mid eighties all year round, Bermuda, not SC.

-Will (Dragonfly)

sesmith · Jun 12, 2020

Congrats on the job and move. I can't add much but am following this. We moved down to our new house in Summerville (outside of Charleston) last fall. We brought our Seaward 25 with us and it has spent all its time in our driveway, as we spent the winter working on our house instead of sailing. We're currently back up north and will be sailing our other boat up in the Great Lakes, but next fall and winter hope to get the Seaward back in the water.

We previously checked out several of the marinas in the area, and found Cooper River marina to be about the most reasonable price wise, but it's a way up the river from downtown, and the future of Cooper River marina is up in the air. Nice marina, though, but far from everything.

The only other thing I'd have to come to grips with if we ever brought our larger boat down there is the personal property tax issue on boats. Not used to that concept from living in the northeast for so long, but it is what it is. The yearly tax that keeps on giving...I mean taking

BTW, you'll love Charleston. Great area.

smokey73 · Jun 12, 2020

Don't forget to visit Beaufort SC. Its a jewel on the ICW. Great place to stop and visit for a few days or stay for a longer sojourn. Its half way between Charleston and Savannah. 'Easy place to visit with 3 marinas. One right down town, another an easy walk and a thrid an easy Uber. All three allow live aboard but you'll be too far from Charleston for a commute. You can sail north from Charleston to Georgetown, another place to dock right downtown and enjoy the local flavor. You won't be able to do these on a day sail but a long weekend is easily within reach. Enjoy your transfer to the area and the year round sailing. We have some annual races here in Beaufort you might want to join like the Rebault Cup and the Mendendez Cup but I'm not sure they will be held this year. They may be back. There is some serious racing in Charleston I think. Welcome to year round sailing but a hot summer!