Florida Marinas

Florida marinas range from small fuel-and-bait stops to full-service facilities with slips, dry stack storage and boatyards. This page explains the services you will find, how to compare marinas for long-term storage or a cruising stop, and what to ask before you sign a contract.

What marinas offer

Wet slips

A wet slip keeps your boat in the water, ready to go. It is convenient, but saltwater boats in slips need regular bottom cleaning and closer attention to corrosion. Slip size, power service, water depth at low tide and protection from wind and wakes all affect whether a slip suits your boat.

Dry storage

Dry stack or rack storage keeps the boat out of the water on a rack, and staff launch it with a forklift when you call ahead. It cuts down on marine growth and is common in South Florida and other coastal areas. There are usually limits on boat length, weight and height, and launch hours. See boat storage for how dry storage compares to a slip, a lift or a trailer.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel docks are the most common marina service for boaters passing through. Check whether a marina sells gasoline, diesel or both, its fuel dock hours and depth at the dock before planning a fuel stop on a long route.

Transient dockage

Transient slips let cruisers stay overnight or for a few days. Expect policies on reservations, maximum length and check-in times. Winter is busy on both coasts and in the Keys, so book ahead.

Repair and service

Some marinas have a boatyard with a haul-out lift, mechanics and other trades; others work with outside contractors. If you want a full-service marina, ask what work is done on site and whether owners may hire their own technicians.

Pump-out

Pump-out stations let you empty holding tanks properly. Some marinas offer a stationary pump-out, others a mobile pump-out boat. Discharging untreated sewage in Florida's inland and nearshore waters is prohibited, and stricter no-discharge rules apply in some areas such as the Florida Keys; see environmental rules for what applies.

Comparing marinas by region

Region	What to expect
South Florida	Dense marina network, many dry stack facilities, high demand
Florida Keys	Marinas spread along the island chain, many serving offshore and reef boaters
Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast	Mix of bayfront, river and Gulf-access marinas
Southwest Florida	Marinas on rivers, harbors and barrier islands, with tidal depth limits
Central Florida	Lake and river marinas, often smaller, with fuel and rentals
Northeast Florida	St. Johns River and Atlantic Intracoastal marinas
Florida Panhandle	Bay and Gulf Intracoastal marinas serving cruisers and anglers

Use the destinations page to match a region to the kind of boating you do, then look for marinas close to that water.

How to find marinas

There is no single official statewide marina directory, so combine a few sources:

• Nautical charts. NOAA charts from nauticalcharts.noaa.gov (opens in a new tab) show harbors, channels and approach depths, which tell you whether your boat can reach a marina at low tide.
• Clean Marina listings. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Clean Marina Program (opens in a new tab) recognizes marinas that adopt environmental best practices.
• Local governments and port authorities. Many cities and counties operate municipal marinas and list rates and waitlists on their websites.
• Other boaters. Local clubs and experienced boaters know which marinas handle storms, service and customer issues well.

Using marinas on a cruise

If you are cruising the Intracoastal Waterway, crossing the state on the Okeechobee Waterway or island hopping in the Keys, marinas are your fuel, water and overnight stops. A few habits make the trip easier:

• Plan fuel stops with margin. Not every marina on the chart sells fuel, and fuel docks have set hours.
• Call ahead on the phone or VHF before arriving for a transient slip, and ask about depth at the entrance and at the slip.
• Arrive with lines and fenders ready on both sides, since slip assignments can change at the last minute.
• Use pump-out stations at marinas along the way instead of waiting until your holding tank is full.

Questions to ask before signing

Marinas and hurricane season

Marina contracts in Florida often include storm clauses. Some require boats to be removed or hauled when a hurricane threatens, and others limit what the marina will do. Read the contract and make your plan before June 1. The hurricane preparation page walks through the options.

If you trailer instead of keeping a boat at a marina, see Florida Boat Ramps for finding public launch sites.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a wet slip and dry storage?

A wet slip keeps your boat in the water at a dock. Dry storage, often a dry stack or rack, keeps it out of the water and the marina launches it when you call ahead. Dry storage reduces marine growth but limits boat size and access hours.

Can I stay overnight at a Florida marina while cruising?

Many marinas offer transient dockage by the night, but availability, size limits and policies vary. Call or book ahead, especially in winter and around holidays.

What is a Florida Clean Marina?

It is a designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Clean Marina Program for marinas that adopt environmental best practices. It can be a useful signal when comparing facilities.

Should I ask about hurricane plans when choosing a marina?

Yes. Ask what the marina requires of tenants when a storm threatens, whether boats must be moved or hauled, and what the contract says about responsibility and insurance.

Official sources

1. Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Clean Marina Program (opens in a new tab)
2. NOAA Office of Coast Survey — Nautical Charts (opens in a new tab)