Johns Island Sports & Outdoors Tips by grandmaR

MM 472.5 Buzzard's Roost Marina

We came to Buzzards Point Marina from Beaufort SC - a long day - almost 64 miles. They didn't have a lot of short term transients, and they said the dock boys left at 4:30, although someone was in the office until 6. The office lady said just to tie up wherever we wanted to if everyone had left.

We had a nasty headwind all day (ripped the staysail), and the current seemed to be against us most of the day too, so I was worried about making it the whole way, but we made the 4:30 Limehouse Bridge opening, and the office lady saw us coming around the point and rounded up someone to help us dock. Both the current and the wind slammed us against the dock, but Bob judged the approach well and we came in without hitting the boat behind us. That boat left the next morning - they had been here all winter.

They are redoing the rest rooms and putting in new showers. People at the marina are very nice. I don't know what we were charged, since it wasn't itemized. Something like 90 cents/ft and $3/ for 30 amp electric. They gave us the combinations to the various facilities labeled M, W, L, and I thought that meant men, wash, ladies, and it was actually men, women, laundry. They have cable TV.

Equipment: The marina is very isolated if you don't have a car. There is a bridge right next to the marina, but the roads around there are unsafe to walk or bike on. One of the bridge tenders was killed walking back to his car after his shift, so now the bridge is closed to auto traffic when they change bridge tenders. The lady in the office gave Bob a lift to the store because she didn't want him to walk or bike along the road.

There is a nice restaurant, and they let me do email in the main office.

Address: 2408 Maybank Ave, John's Island

Directions: SM 472.5 off the ICW on the Stono River just south of Elliot Cut

Phone: 843-559-5516

Theme: Boating/Sailing

MM 476.1 Ross Marine

Ross Marine is a working marina with space for a few transients. It is a very isolated marina, but within a day's travel from Beaufort SC, and with cheap docks.

75 cents a foot, no extra charges. They have water at some slips, and electricity at some slips if your cord will reach. There is considerable current - we were traveling almost 2 knots while tied in the slip.

Equipment: When the office is open, you can bring a laptop up to do email.

The marina has a 24 hour guard and he has to open the gate for you.

There is not even a bathroom available except maybe a portapot. The marina is VERY isolated and there is not even a pizza delivery place nearby.

Picture shows where Bob scrubbed black marks off the side and also removed protective polymer

Address: 2676 Swygert Blvd. Johns Island

Directions: SM 476.1 right on the ICW just north of the Limehouse Bridge

Phone: 843-559-0379

Theme: Boating/Sailing