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Recommendations in the Jacksonville FL area

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by DetroitCoho, Aug 23, 2014.

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  1. DetroitCoho

    DetroitCoho Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    33
    Location:
    Detroit
    Hello, a possible job relocation to Jacksonville is in the works. Can anyone recommend marinas/yacht clubs? How about nice places to live? The offices is near I-95 and Baymeadows Road
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    You will find Jacksonville the most strange south Georgia town in Florida. Never witnessed a town so hell bent on a feetball team to give away the house but yet turn it's back on the great resource of the St Johns river and AICW.

    Sorry to hear about Baymeadows. Used to be a nice area.

    On that side of the St Johns river is not much. Goodbys lake had a small boat dealer and a Hooters restaurant. Head east on hy90 (Beach Blvd) and the ICW is Beach Marine. Rebuilt again, it has reemerged as a very large marina and service basin. The ole Isle of Palms (Palm Cove now) across the ICW from Beach Marine offers Hi/Dry storage also but may get shallow in their basin.

    On the left side of JAX in the Ortega area are a few of the last standing Marina and service facilities for miles. Huckins yacht, Lambs yacht, Ortega Club, Ortega Landings, LakeShore dry storage and a couple of small rental docks scattered around.

    If you're thinking of coming to Jax for a long term, Rent a place first. Study the traffic flows (or lack of), Political antics of the communities (Comic relief in ammonia form), Stable home values (taxes going up again), Crime (come armed) and schools (see crime). If your into the money (New job), you're going to take advantage of a few nice private (expensive) schools.

    Somehow, someway, it's may still be the cheapest large town in south Georgia & Florida.

    Good Luck.
  3. DetroitCoho

    DetroitCoho Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    33
    Location:
    Detroit
    Thanks for the reply! No kids so not too worried about schools. The Florida Yacht Club looks nice and their dockage/dues seem unusually affordable. Is there a catch? Is the property next door to a refinery or something?
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Look into Beach Marina it is in a nice area
  5. DetroitCoho

    DetroitCoho Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    33
    Location:
    Detroit
    It's official

    We are moving to Jacksonville. I think we are zeroing in on NW St John's County. It looks like the closest marina big enough for our boat is Mandarin Holiday Marina. I called them and had a nice conversation with the office girl, but from Google Earth the marina looks a little dated. Does not appear to be much parking and no clubhouse-type amenities. If the locale is great, and the docks are in good shape, I guess that's all I can ask. The price is nice. Does anyone keep their boat their or have info I should know?

    Another option is to suck it up and have a 30 minute drive to the marina and keep her at Epping Forest or at one of the marinas in St. Augustine.
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    What water activities do you prefer? What water do you want your ship in?

    Mandarrin and south is fresh (dark) water. North of Epping is brackish till the Heart bridge (big green bridge downtown Jax). All else is salt and more salt water.

    Green Cove Springs has some old docks also.

    This is the most strange place that has such poor support for boaters.
  7. DetroitCoho

    DetroitCoho Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2013
    Messages:
    33
    Location:
    Detroit
    We enjoy going to dinner, short cruises and using the boat as a floating vacation home. Now that our boating season is year round, I expect we'll use it more. Perhaps weekend trips to other marinas. What is really important is being close to the boat (short drive time) but we don't want to keep her at a ****** marina, if that makes sense. We also like the camaraderie of other boaters, as long as its not too much of a late night party crowd.