It appears that I, my captain, and my beloved Catalina 380 will be moving to the Houston area soon. Of course, shipping the boat will probably happen after the first of the year, but I'm looking for a little advice about marinas, etc around the Clear Lake area. What marinas are deep enough for year round access, where is it most $$$, what can I expect as far as sailing Galveston Bay, etc?
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tough question
Only one marina is COMPLETE year round access from Clear Lake and that's mine (Kemah Boardwalk). When a northern comes in during the winter, it blows out a lot of water and the lake gets too shallow for most boats. Most though don't want to sail those days because that's the coldest days of the year. The Boardwalk Marina is also the closest to the bay which I like. It's also owned by the same guy who owns the boardwalk so we get a VIP pass to everything
Now...the bad side... Lots of traffic getting to it and not quiet until about 11 pm on the weekend. There are many many many other marinas that should not be a problem for the times most people want to sail. Prices...well...I think it's about $7 a foot here. All marinas are well protected and most have floating docks. Since there is so much to pick from, don't worry too much about it until you get here and then just spend a day driving around and checking the places out. Each person will have different interests. Welcome to the neighborhood and look me up if you would like to go out sometime while your waiting on your boat.
Only one marina is COMPLETE year round access from Clear Lake and that's mine (Kemah Boardwalk). When a northern comes in during the winter, it blows out a lot of water and the lake gets too shallow for most boats. Most though don't want to sail those days because that's the coldest days of the year. The Boardwalk Marina is also the closest to the bay which I like. It's also owned by the same guy who owns the boardwalk so we get a VIP pass to everything
Now...the bad side... Lots of traffic getting to it and not quiet until about 11 pm on the weekend. There are many many many other marinas that should not be a problem for the times most people want to sail. Prices...well...I think it's about $7 a foot here. All marinas are well protected and most have floating docks. Since there is so much to pick from, don't worry too much about it until you get here and then just spend a day driving around and checking the places out. Each person will have different interests. Welcome to the neighborhood and look me up if you would like to go out sometime while your waiting on your boat.TAKE a look at this too...
You can pull up the WATERGATE MARINA...and check it out including other MARINAs here. By the way...Most Marinas here have TRANSIENT OPTIONS...stay at one, then another, and get the feel of this area. GREAT AREA for sailing...gets CROWDED occasionally...but GREAT FUN !! SLIP SITE selections are good with many choices. Lots of "live aboards" around here too.
You can pull up the WATERGATE MARINA...and check it out including other MARINAs here. By the way...Most Marinas here have TRANSIENT OPTIONS...stay at one, then another, and get the feel of this area. GREAT AREA for sailing...gets CROWDED occasionally...but GREAT FUN !! SLIP SITE selections are good with many choices. Lots of "live aboards" around here too.
We are going to miss him and Stella
You guys take good care of Steve. We are sure going to miss him.
You guys take good care of Steve. We are sure going to miss him.
my opinion....
Sooooo many MArinas. As was said Kemah is convenient, but it is a tourist trap with almost ZERO parking available 4-5 days a week and 200db noise all the time. Porto Fino is an overpriced wind hole. However for easy access, almost equal to Kemah, go across the channel to Seabrook Shipyards. BUT, for the absolute BEST protected Hurrican hole, it's Legend Point, next to Watergate(which btw was layed out by the same guys who do the rat mazes at universities). LP has clubhouses, suana, showers, cable, lots of parking, gated, but no floating docks, only piers. But are cheaper than even Watergate, about the same as Seabrook. Around the $5-6/ft range I believe. Sailing is good almost year around, although the oldtimers become woosses and refuse to go out if the temp is over 85 or under 65 and the winds under 5 or over 12.5 or if it's Tues, a waxing moon, they saw a bird.... heheh Keep in touch, I go out 2-3 times a week. g'luk
Sooooo many MArinas. As was said Kemah is convenient, but it is a tourist trap with almost ZERO parking available 4-5 days a week and 200db noise all the time. Porto Fino is an overpriced wind hole. However for easy access, almost equal to Kemah, go across the channel to Seabrook Shipyards. BUT, for the absolute BEST protected Hurrican hole, it's Legend Point, next to Watergate(which btw was layed out by the same guys who do the rat mazes at universities). LP has clubhouses, suana, showers, cable, lots of parking, gated, but no floating docks, only piers. But are cheaper than even Watergate, about the same as Seabrook. Around the $5-6/ft range I believe. Sailing is good almost year around, although the oldtimers become woosses and refuse to go out if the temp is over 85 or under 65 and the winds under 5 or over 12.5 or if it's Tues, a waxing moon, they saw a bird.... heheh Keep in touch, I go out 2-3 times a week. g'luk
Lots of parking
At the boardwalk Marina because it's fensed off...you need a gate key to get in and they tow now too if you don't have a sticker. I love how lots of resturants and bars are within walking distance of the marina. I go sailing saturday, walk over to eat on the boardwalk (with no waiting because of my VIP pass), then walk over to a bar and get stinking drunk and then stumble back to the boat to sleep it off. Sunday morning, time to head home for FOOTBALL Ok...the drink is exaggerated a little but you get the idea...no limit for fear of DWI. Wait...what am I doing...I raising demand and my slip price will go up. Kemah boardwalk is no good Cleats fall off....boats float away...water is lighter so it can't hold big heavy boats....always rains on the marina...all kinds of bad stuff. Watergate is much better
At the boardwalk Marina because it's fensed off...you need a gate key to get in and they tow now too if you don't have a sticker. I love how lots of resturants and bars are within walking distance of the marina. I go sailing saturday, walk over to eat on the boardwalk (with no waiting because of my VIP pass), then walk over to a bar and get stinking drunk and then stumble back to the boat to sleep it off. Sunday morning, time to head home for FOOTBALL
Ok...the drink is exaggerated a little but you get the idea...no limit for fear of DWI. Wait...what am I doing...I raising demand and my slip price will go up. Kemah boardwalk is no good Cleats fall off....boats float away...water is lighter so it can't hold big heavy boats....always rains on the marina...all kinds of bad stuff. Watergate is much better Thanks
Thanks for all your responses. We've been down a couple times and have looked, but just looking for a little local knowledge. Franklin, you've almost sold me on the Kemah Boardwalk - if it's as you described with cleats falling off, etc. then I'll feel right at home there. I know Rick would agree with me. As for Rick and the rest of the gang at Pickwick - I'm not sure how it will feel not hearing someone yelling at the top of their lungs "STELLA". Of course it never has mattered that my wife's name isn't Stella, but everyone knew who Rick was yelling for. I guess you'll just have to come to Kemah and scream Stella very soon! I'm posting a pic of "Stella" (after a swim) and our pride and joy.
Thanks for all your responses. We've been down a couple times and have looked, but just looking for a little local knowledge. Franklin, you've almost sold me on the Kemah Boardwalk - if it's as you described with cleats falling off, etc. then I'll feel right at home there. I know Rick would agree with me. As for Rick and the rest of the gang at Pickwick - I'm not sure how it will feel not hearing someone yelling at the top of their lungs "STELLA". Of course it never has mattered that my wife's name isn't Stella, but everyone knew who Rick was yelling for. I guess you'll just have to come to Kemah and scream Stella very soon! I'm posting a pic of "Stella" (after a swim) and our pride and joy.
legend point is a dump !!!
legend point is a dump and they dont keep anything up ! go to west pier right now and neither of the urinals work or the air for that matter if you say anything to the office they dont care you call the main office they care even less !! btw they also have air conditioning hours for the common area ! i will be moving my boat very very soon as well as many other people that keep boats here !!
legend point is a dump and they dont keep anything up ! go to west pier right now and neither of the urinals work or the air for that matter if you say anything to the office they dont care you call the main office they care even less !! btw they also have air conditioning hours for the common area ! i will be moving my boat very very soon as well as many other people that keep boats here !!
Welcome to Texas, Steve
We keep our boat at Portofino Harbour which is across the Hwy 146 bridge from where Kranklin is. The Kemah Boradwalk is pretty noisy as Franklin said. We can hear the bands and crowds while on deck or in the pool area but not inside the boat. Portofino has a great pool right on the Clear Creek Channel leading out to Galveston Bay so you can go sailing then come back and sit in the pool sipping a cold one while you watch the parade of boats go by. We like to grade each boat as to lines, crew and color. Love all the old guys with go fast boats and young girls in bikinis(where do they get those girls?)It's fun. I'm not sure what Didereaux means about Potofino being a "windy hole" so can't comment on that. It is a little more for a slip than WaterGate, Legend Point(dump is correct) or Seabrook but not any more than the Broadwalk Marina. Be careful as some marinas are not diligent about dredging their channels. Also I hope you have the shoal draft on your boat as Galveston Bay is not that deep, about 10 ft mean depth. As Franklin said the north wind will blow water out of the bay as well as the marinas. I think every boat in our marina was sitting in the mud after Rita passed as we got the west side of the storm which was a north wind for awhile. Good luck and let me know if you want more information on Portofino. Tom s/v At Last
We keep our boat at Portofino Harbour which is across the Hwy 146 bridge from where Kranklin is. The Kemah Boradwalk is pretty noisy as Franklin said. We can hear the bands and crowds while on deck or in the pool area but not inside the boat. Portofino has a great pool right on the Clear Creek Channel leading out to Galveston Bay so you can go sailing then come back and sit in the pool sipping a cold one while you watch the parade of boats go by. We like to grade each boat as to lines, crew and color. Love all the old guys with go fast boats and young girls in bikinis(where do they get those girls?)It's fun. I'm not sure what Didereaux means about Potofino being a "windy hole" so can't comment on that. It is a little more for a slip than WaterGate, Legend Point(dump is correct) or Seabrook but not any more than the Broadwalk Marina. Be careful as some marinas are not diligent about dredging their channels. Also I hope you have the shoal draft on your boat as Galveston Bay is not that deep, about 10 ft mean depth. As Franklin said the north wind will blow water out of the bay as well as the marinas. I think every boat in our marina was sitting in the mud after Rita passed as we got the west side of the storm which was a north wind for awhile. Good luck and let me know if you want more information on Portofino. Tom s/v At Last
Shoal Draft
Texastorm, yes we do have the shoal draft thankfully. I bought some fishing charts on my last trip down there and it's going to take some getting used to. I currently have my depth sounder alarm set to 8 feet - below the bottom of the keel. We'll be nervous sailors for a while only seeing a max of 4 feet under the keel. I have also upgraded my Boat US membership to get the best towing package.
Texastorm, yes we do have the shoal draft thankfully. I bought some fishing charts on my last trip down there and it's going to take some getting used to. I currently have my depth sounder alarm set to 8 feet - below the bottom of the keel. We'll be nervous sailors for a while only seeing a max of 4 feet under the keel. I have also upgraded my Boat US membership to get the best towing package.
waterford harbor marina
waterford harbor is actually the best hurricane hole. 6 foot concrete wall and on top of that a 10 foot dirt embankment. floating docks with fingers on both sides of the boat with pylons to withstand a 15 foot surge. finger piers are wide enough to roll a dock cart down. split level pool, hot tub, steam room, restaurant, weight room, dinghy docks. a very nice facility but $7.70 per foot of slip length. the staff is not friendly and could care less about what anyone thinks (often, they are just plain rude). you can not bring drinks to the pool area because you have to buy them there. also the hot tub closes at midnight every night. the fun stuff is going away....there are even surveilance cameras in the pool / hot tub area now. i would love to find another marina, but waterford is still the safest and nicest in my opinion.
waterford harbor is actually the best hurricane hole. 6 foot concrete wall and on top of that a 10 foot dirt embankment. floating docks with fingers on both sides of the boat with pylons to withstand a 15 foot surge. finger piers are wide enough to roll a dock cart down. split level pool, hot tub, steam room, restaurant, weight room, dinghy docks. a very nice facility but $7.70 per foot of slip length. the staff is not friendly and could care less about what anyone thinks (often, they are just plain rude). you can not bring drinks to the pool area because you have to buy them there. also the hot tub closes at midnight every night. the fun stuff is going away....there are even surveilance cameras in the pool / hot tub area now. i would love to find another marina, but waterford is still the safest and nicest in my opinion.
Seabrook Shipyard
Now called Seabrook Marina, I personally like Shipyard better, is on the channel going out to the bay. Boardwalk and Portafino are closest. I have a 40' slip for my C30 at $205 ($5.25/foot of slip). Seabrook Marina has two or three areas that open to the channel, we are in the smaller one next to the resturant/club. As mentioned there is Watergate, Waterfor Harbour, Lakewood Yacht Club and on and on. These are the marinas closest to the bay, say within 15 minutes. There are many others with some, like South Shore Harbour, that could take up to an hour to get to the bay. In Clear Lake, stay within the channels an you will be ok most of the time, get out of them and your in trouble. When in the bay, don't get out of the channel until the second mark, crab traps galore.
Now called Seabrook Marina, I personally like Shipyard better, is on the channel going out to the bay. Boardwalk and Portafino are closest. I have a 40' slip for my C30 at $205 ($5.25/foot of slip). Seabrook Marina has two or three areas that open to the channel, we are in the smaller one next to the resturant/club. As mentioned there is Watergate, Waterfor Harbour, Lakewood Yacht Club and on and on. These are the marinas closest to the bay, say within 15 minutes. There are many others with some, like South Shore Harbour, that could take up to an hour to get to the bay. In Clear Lake, stay within the channels an you will be ok most of the time, get out of them and your in trouble. When in the bay, don't get out of the channel until the second mark, crab traps galore.
Try the transient plan first.
Take a look at Baytown and Galveston marinas also. Not that there are not great marinas in Kemah, but being the highest concentration of boats in the U.S. has one small problem. The cut that takes you to the bay is about 150 feet wide at the boardwalk area. On a nice weekend afternoon you may see 30 boats or more in a 200 yard strip, with probably less than half of them with a clue what they are doing behind the wheel. If you can sail during the week it's not too bad, but the problem on the weekend is the people that just cruise back and fourth thru the cut past the bars to show off their boats. It would be bad enough if it was just the powerboats, but a good number of the "sailors" that go in and out have never even hoisted a sail in their life. Seems like they spend a lot of money just too have a floating picnic table. Coming out of Bawtown you have to run the ship channel for a while, but at least the commercial captians know the rules of the water. Galveston is great for quick access to the gulf, but kind of pricey and no place to be if a storm comes in. If money is no object there is always the Houston Yacht Club, LOL. Good luck with the haul down and hope to see you on the bay.
Take a look at Baytown and Galveston marinas also. Not that there are not great marinas in Kemah, but being the highest concentration of boats in the U.S. has one small problem. The cut that takes you to the bay is about 150 feet wide at the boardwalk area. On a nice weekend afternoon you may see 30 boats or more in a 200 yard strip, with probably less than half of them with a clue what they are doing behind the wheel. If you can sail during the week it's not too bad, but the problem on the weekend is the people that just cruise back and fourth thru the cut past the bars to show off their boats. It would be bad enough if it was just the powerboats, but a good number of the "sailors" that go in and out have never even hoisted a sail in their life. Seems like they spend a lot of money just too have a floating picnic table. Coming out of Bawtown you have to run the ship channel for a while, but at least the commercial captians know the rules of the water. Galveston is great for quick access to the gulf, but kind of pricey and no place to be if a storm comes in. If money is no object there is always the Houston Yacht Club, LOL. Good luck with the haul down and hope to see you on the bay.
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