Waked early and hard

[Moonstruck]

Google maps shows that it a lousy place for a marina. Look at that bridge opening!

That's like "camping" next to a highway.

Jekyll Harbor Marina has much going for it. It is a convenient stop, swimming pool, decent restaurant, loaner bikes, and close to village. There is not a great amount of auto traffic over the bridge, and hardly any large trucks. For the inside slips (especially the ones in the corners of the main walk) can be problematic. (been there) There really have not been many wake problems on my visits. We have probably stopped there 8 or 10 times. Two of those were for 2 night stays. It is a good, friendly marina. During spring and fall get there early if you want a place to tie up.

Jekyll Harbor Marina

There is a similar situation at Isle of Hope Marina. I also consider it a good stop.

Isle Of Hope Marina in Savannah, Georgia, United States - Home

 

[rwidman]

......"you are responsible for all damage caused by your wake" .........

And if you take a trip up or down the AICW, you will see hundreds of homemade signs with that same warning nailed on private docks.

Some are even replicas of "official" signs with fake DNR emblems.

 

[rwidman]

In some parts of the ICW, you take the marinas where you find them. Jekyll Harbor Marina is one such marina and yes, it's a pretty decent place. Same for Isle of Hope Marina.

 

[Northern Spy]

I agree it looks like a nice facility and do not mean anything against it. But to tie up parallel to a channel that close to a bridge opening and not expect a bad wake on occasion would be unrealistic. An inside tie perpendicular to the channel looks just fine.

 

[Moonstruck]

Google maps shows that it a lousy place for a marina. Look at that bridge opening!

That's like "camping" next to a highway.

The Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways are affectionately or sometimes not so affectionately called the "DITCH". It is made up of many narrow cuts and dredged portions connecting bays and rivers. Wide areas for anchoring are few and far between. You just have to sometimes squeeze into a narrow area with reversing currents. Even the flagship Charleston City Marina is right on the Ashley River near a major turn on the ICW.

Jekyll Harbor is on Jekyll Creek which is fairly narrow with a dredged channel. I think Isle of Hope Marina is on the Skidaway River that is wider, deeper, but has a faster current sometimes. You will not find marinas on the open bays for obvious reasons. They are usually on the narrower sections. All the marinas at Thunderbolt, GA are that way. Beaufort SC City Marina is that way. Barefoot Landing at Myrtle Beach is that way. Many more are in that situation.

Really the ICW works because most boaters understand the situation, and are courteous. There are always a few that aren't. On the whole it is pretty nice.

The ICW is our highway between cruising grounds. The Chesapeake Bay and gateway to the North is on one end. The Florida Keys and the gateway to the Bahamas on the other. Thank goodness for the ICW. It is a treasure.

 

[rwidman]

The ICW is everything Don says it is, but it's not just the highway for cruisers, many parts are also the playground for the local boaters, many of whom know little other than how to start the engine and put the boat in gear. It's best to just be prepared for these people.