Charleston Marinas

Charleston Area Marinas For every hobby, it seems there is a private language reserved for those with a passion for said hobby. Boat owners toss around words like, sloop, fore and aft, mains'l and yare, for which most of us have no understanding beyond what we read in classic literature or see in the movies. But for those who live in port towns and cities, there's almost an innate understanding of watercraft phrases. Almost everyone knows someone who owns or has use of some type of boat. So terms like deep slip, wet slip, dry slip, dry dock, floating dock, finger pier, breakwaters and T-heads are commonly known to be various types of boat docking real estate.

Some Charleston marinas offer the whole enchilada in terms of size and type of craft they can house Many of the larger type marinas have docking space for larger crafts and yachts and they offer resort style amenities such as concierge service, swimming pools, fine dining, shopping or cocktail lounges right at the marina as well as slip features such as 30/50/100 amp dockside power, wireless internet, cable television complimentary waste pumping and potable water and convenient fueling docks.

Other marina establishments that can accommodate only so many vessels or are limited to a maximum footage are less likely to offer the luxury services in-house. Many of these concerns consequently offer trolley or shuttle service to all these amenities in the downtown Charleston or Mount Pleasant. No longer are marinas just a place to dock your boat or book a tour, of course you can still do both but boating in the Charleston area has become a vacation get-away type industry for its loyal participants. Dock and slip fees can be contracted by the week, month, season or year. Even if it's just for a day or an afternoon, you can house your craft at one of the more modest marinas and still have the royal treatment at the high falutin' marinas by reserving or booking what's called "transient" slip. It's like paying for parking at the swankiest hotel in town and enjoying cocktails, dancing and a meal but not staying the night. One can enjoy all the service and benefits but for a fraction of the price.

What's unique about Charleston is the network of waterways from three main rivers, each emptying into the Atlantic Ocean resulting in an extraordinary amount of shoreline that offers ample choices for boat landings and marinas both large and small. Also, because of this exceptional feature, Charleston and surrounding areas offer both fresh and salt water marinas located in some tucked away, low-key areas as well as the high-traffic, tony hotspots close to the city, nightlife and amenities. With all the marina options available, one will likely be able to search for and find exactly the location and amenities to suit his or her boat size, wallet and personal needs.