Charleston, SC or Other Recommended Christmas Vacation Spot?

[PeteC]

I am contemplating taking my Mac (by trailer) to Charleston, SC after Christmas for ~5 days vacation. Has anyone stayed on their boat in Charleston? Marina recommendation?

Or are there any other east coast winter recommendation spots besides south Florida (don't want to drive that far)?

Thanks,

PeteC in Hampton, VA

[c130king]

Pete,

Drive on down to Jacksonville, FL and go sailing with me and JCasale on the St. John's River. Also hope to pop out on the Atlantic for a bit.

Jim

T minus 13 days and counting

P.S. I am up for an assignment this coming Summer. Hope to be notified in February. Praying for Langley over the Pentagon...hopefully we can meet out on your bay again.

[James V]

St Mary's, Ga. Very nice and protected and able to get to open water if weather permits and a forum member lives there.

[TonyHouk]

Pete and Others,
When I lived on my boat I stayed at Buzzards Roost Marina. I is located on Johns Island on the Folly River. It is about a twenty minute ride to the bay. If you want to be down in the bay the city marina is not bad. Ashley Marina is located right next to it but it is a lot more expensive. Both are a little walking distance to the sights downtown but still local. There are a few marinas in Mount Pleasant that are not bad but they are expensive. One of them is located right next to the carrier Yorktown. I hoped that little info helped. Have fun, Tony

[PeteC]

Pete,

Drive on down to Jacksonville, FL and go sailing with me and JCasale on the St. John's River. Also hope to pop out on the Atlantic for a bit.

Jim

.

Jim,
Now you have me thinking about heading further south. What recommendations do you have for places to dock the boat. I would like to live on the boat if possible.
Pete

[c130king]

Pete,

I will gen up a list for you. JCasale will probably kick in some ideas as well.

Jim

EDIT: check your PM's

[JMW]

Drive to Florida.....Key Largo.
About 5 years ago,I drove from Ohio to Charleston in late December. (Also didn't want to drive all the way to Florida)
We ended up staying at a hotel the whole time and never putting the boat in the water....45 degrees all week.
A few years later I took the boat to Key Largo and enjoyed one of my most memorable trips.

[James V]

I am in Marathon, Fl Harbor. Lots of room to anchor for our draft. Dinghy dock $ 50 per week, includes shower. Going to be a lot of boats here this winter. 4 Mac's here now.

It is 56 this morning and warming to the 70's. In the 80's during the week.

Key Largo is very nice as well.

[Chinook]

Regarding Charleston harbor, we stayed a couple nights at the Charleston City Marina in November 2003. Nice facilities. The air conditioned showers were nice, given the hot, humid weather we had while there. They provided free shuttle bus service from the marina to anywhere in the downtown core, which made sightseeing and provisioning handy. A cell phone call was all that was needed for a pickup. One caution, though. The tidal current running through the marina can be wicked. As I recall, it hits 3 to 4 knots, which can create havoc trying to make right angle turns into tight slips. Arriving or departing at times other than slack are to be avoided.

[bubba]

I lived near Charleston in 1979 on the 'Isle if Palms' an out island with a bridge to it, that goes across the Inside Water way. It can get cool in the winter but the water is warm because of the gulf stream so check your off shore currents. When I lived there I surfed a big board and had a Hobie 16 to sail off the beach. A lot of big sharks at the inlet but most are nurse sharks, there fun to slap there fin when there sunning and asleep sailing a Hobie 16 and sneaking up on them. Have a great time.

[PeteC]

I pulled this from the Charleston Harbor website: $12.00 per foot per week (35 ft minimum)
So a Mac 26X would cost $70/night ($2 x 35).

Also, what is the nearest boat ramp?

[TonyHouk]

Pete,
There a few launches. If you are staying at the City Marina there is a landing right there. Also there is one at Wappoo cut underneath the Folly Rd bridge. It is a fairly big launch that I use all the time. I know of one X that uses the landing at the City Marina. He keeps his boat on the trailer right there. For a little tour of the harbor there is a landing in Mount Pleasant called Remley's Point. It is just past the new bridge on the Wando river. You could put in there and tour the harbor on the way to your slip. If you have any more questions pm me and I will help. I am doing finals so I am busy right now. Have fun, Tony