Marinas in the Wilmington area

[smoothmove]

I have some friends that are new to boating trying to find a marina. They are looking in the Wilmington to Carolina Beach/Cape Fear River area or the Inner Coastal waters in the same area. I think they are a little frightened by the prices in some of the marinas. Any suggestions I can make to them on where to look? I am not very familiar with the marina scene down there, but I feel a certain amount of responsibility toward them since I helped them in their search for a boat.
Eric

 

[motoryacht lover]

When I was leaving my boat in Wilmington, I always stayed at Wilmington marine center. It is a great hurricane hole but it is a working yard and not very scenic. There are other moderate money choices on the upper cape fear. Slips on the inter coastal especially near Wrightsville are expensive.

 

[mrdeepseafisher]

Eric,

We started looking for a slip back in 2007 and were taken aback by the slip prices around the Wrightsville beach/Wilmington area. We saw slips in the 50-60 foot size that were over $500,000.00.
The Carolina Beach area was not much better with 50-70 ft slips still in the 300-500K range. We even looked at renting slips but with our 53ft needed a 60 ft slip minimum and rents were going any where from 1300-1800/month.

After the 2008-2009 economy debacle prices dropped but were still really high. We did come across a fairly good deal in the Carolina Beach inlet. Several marinas were foreclosed on and we picked up a 70 ft slip (previously selling for 250K) for 60K. There are still several slips in the area for sell or rent that are bank owned.

Carolina Beach inlet is a really nice place. We are very close to the Intracoastal water way, got a fuel dock at inlet mouth (Joyner Marina), we are able ot watch activity in the inlet, fireworks every thursday night from May to September and is very family oriented.

If you would like more info give me a PM and I can forward details.

Lee

 

[GJH]

What size/model boatWhat do they plan to do with the boat? Fish? Cruise? Just hang out? Where do they live?
We can probably provide better answers if we knew this, at least I could.

 

[carolinacoast]

Monthly rates are 7 to $12/ft from Wilmington, southport to Wrightsville. During the summer season, cape fear marina at bennett brothers is at the lower end-closer to downtown than Wilmington marine. Seapath in Wrightsville is very fun, friendly but not cheap. It depends on goals.

You may find a deal on vrbo for a condo slip for lease.

As you head north or south prices go down.

 

[magnawake]

The Southport area is lot cheaper. Deep Point is where i was for 3 years. Its not a bad marina if you can put up with the ferry rocking you every hour. Southport Marina is good too but may be too far ffrom the Wilmington area. I would suggest Active captain to price all marinas and get reviews. I dont like the Wilmington area but really like Carolina beach where mrdeepseafisher is located.

 

[smoothmove]

Thank-you very much for the answers, observations, and the questions. It is very much appreciated. I'll see if I can pin them down a bit on some of the parameters that have been discussed. I know they are under 35 feet of boat length, and not serious fishers.
Eric

 

[Rickysa]

We just moved to Southport Marina from the Morehead area and are very happy with it....great facility...great little town, right on the ICW, super nice folks also.