Swansboro Sports & Outdoors Tips by grandmaR

MM 228.4 Dudley's Marina

We've been to Dudley's 4 times and really like it. It has some amenities that we like (courtesy truck to go to the grocery store, and free lift to local restaurants) and the deficiencies don't really matter to us (rest rooms are minimalist). They have a phone we can hook a laptop up to. The owner has an old scarlet macaw who sometimes sits out front. You can also walk across the bridge (now that they've finished with the re-construction) up into town to the gift shops.

Equipment: Dudley's Marina is also a BP station (the station is open 24 hours) and boatyard with fixed docks. There are floating finger docks off the north side of B dock, but the water there is too skinny for us. Between the long dock that goes out to B face dock and the long dock that goes out to C face dock is a marine railway. Summer hours are from sunrise to sunset daily and winter hours are from 7AM to 7PM daily. The marina building houses the dock offices, ship's store and tiled HOT showers (although they don't look particularly luxurious). $.75/ft for a slip with no extra charges, and the fuel is also a good price.

Address: Highway 24 East, Swansboro/Cedar Pt.

Directions: ICW St. Mile #228 (closest access to Bogue Inlet.) Call at daymark 46A on the VHF to get docking instructions. The magenta #27 on the chart points to the marina

Other Contact: GPS 34.40,17' x 077.05.75'

Phone: 252-393-2204

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.dudleysmarina.com/

MM 229.0 Anchor by the town

There is a good anchorage off the town of Swansboro. Depths run 8 feet or better, and there is good cover from northern and southern winds. Strong blows from the east or west are another matter.

The small Swansboro city pier overlooks the village waterfront northwest of unlighted daybeacon #4.

Our friends anchored here and came in to town by dinghy. There is a general store with fresh fudge, homemade bread, fancy foods and wine as well as a PO. There is also access to various restaurants.

The picture has the chart with an inset photo of our friends in the anchorage which was taken in 2001 at 6 am. The photo also shows the bridge construction barges, which are no longer there as the construction has been finished.

Equipment: Very strong tidal currents in and out of the White Oak River run through this anchorage and also a lot of fishing boats. Tide is 2.6 feet . Be sure your anchor is holding before you head below.

Directions: Southbound, turn north at G47 and enter the White Oak River. Proceed past R4 and anchor between R4 and fixed 12' bridge, out of the channel

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM 229.0 Casper's in Swansboro

We have not stayed here because Dudley's is cheaper

Claiborne Young says:
"Be on guard against the incredibly strong tidal currents that sweep out of the White Oak River to the east-northeast as they approach Casper's docks. I suggest you employ your largest fenders.

"Limited mechanical repairs are available for gasoline engines. The marina has a 20-ton travel-lift; according to the owners, however, haul-outs are becoming a less and less important part of their business. "

Equipment: This is what their website says:

Currently we are charging $1.25 a foot with a charge of $3.00 for power (either 30 or 50 amp). Included in this price is cable and water. The bathhouse was rebuilt in 1997. It offers a male head, female head and shower (one of each). There is also a pay phone just off the dock. We are working on getting a phone jack hooked up so those of you "on-line" can check your e-mail as you travel. Until that happens, we have a phone upstairs that you can hook up to during office hours. Please bear with us.

As you may or may not know, we are one block from "Downtown" Swansboro with its quaint shops and restaurants. Transportation can be arranged. We do not have a courtesy car.

We encourage reservations, either by phone or e-mail. We also monitor VHF channel 16.
Mailing Address

Casper's Marine Service
P.O. Box 749
Swansboro, NC 28584

Fax Number
(910)-326-4628

Address: 301 Water Street, Swansboro

Directions: directly on the ICW at channel marker 46-C and mile marker 229

Other Contact: caspersmarina@bizec.rr.com

Phone: (910)-326-4462

Theme: Boating/Sailing

Website: http://www.caspersmarina.com/