Reviews: Green Cove Springs Marina

Reviewed by: Joe on Mar 20, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 41'
Draft: 5.3'

Rating: 1

Let me start with the only thing good I can say about this place, Jodi and Bree in the office are two of the nicest and most accommodating people I have ever met. Other than that Green Cove Springs Marina has been by far the worst experience I have ever had relating to the marine industry. My wife and I are full time cruisers and arrived here by boat. We had never seen the place before. Had we have had the opportunity to look around before being hauled out we probably would have left immediately and gone ANYWHERE else.
Our first problem was after our haul out we were asked to go fill out the paperwork in the office. While we were in the office the yard crew blocked our boat incorrectly, not enough blocks for it's size and crooked, placing more weight on one side of the keel. The yard manager told us he would fix it the next day. After getting into the cabin we noticed a gap in the floorboards that measured about a quarter of an inch and a gap where the floor had pulled away from a hanging locker. We went and found John the yard manager, he took pictures of the gaps and put us on the hydraulic lift trailer for the night. We were re-blocked with two more blocks and level the next day. We still have a gap going down the cabin sole and a hatch that does not close correctly, as if our boat had somehow been twisted. (See attached pictures)
My wife does not feel safe here as there are seemingly homeless people sleeping in vehicles lining the road that enters here and also right in front of the bath house. So if she has to use the bathroom in the middle of the night I have to get up and escort her there. The facilities are absolutely disgusting. There is black mold in the restrooms and showers. If you need to sit on the toilet make sure you bring something to clean it because the people here somehow manage to defecate on the seats regularly. There was once footprints in feces leading from the door to the restroom that was there for over 2 days before anybody cleaned it up. (See attached pictures) Of course the cleanliness of the restrooms only matters when you can get into them. Every couple of weeks the septic system starts to back up and they have to close the restrooms and showers for an undetermined amount of time until the professionals can come out and deal with it.
Chris one of the owners is absolutely not at all interested in improving a thing. There was a guest blocked near us that would tether his dog to one of his boats stands and ignore it all day. The dog barked incessantly all day long. I asked the owner of the dog if there was something we could do to quiet it and he called me a dick. I tried to take it up with Chris the owner who's reply was "what do you want me to do about it? Dogs bark". Most recently there was a swarm of dry wood termites from behind my boat. Dozens
of them landed on my boat and shed wings. I went to the office and Chris was the only one there. I told him about the termites and also that I would be ready for my blocks and stands to be moved to apply the next coat of paint in a few days. I asked him if at that time I could be moved away from where the termites were. He told me he couldn't guarantee it. I don't own a boat yard but if I did and a customer came and told me that there were wood destroying insects getting on his boat and asked to be moved I would certainly make it happen. I believe anybody who cared about their yards reputation or customer service in general would also do the same.
At this point all I can do is as quickly as possible finish what is necessary to get my boat put back in the water and put this horrible experience behind me and also hope that if the gap in my floor does not go away once re-launched and that my boat's hull does not return to its normal untweaked shape that having the marina take care of it won't prove to be an impossible task.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Nancy on May 19, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 5

Based on all the negative comments, I want to jump in and balance some of the opinions. We've been using this yard for years and know all about the good old days and the slide into disrepair. However, I will vouch heartedly for the new owners and faces at the marina. They are working hard to clean up the place and derelict boats. New moorings, fresh paint, and much better organization. Jodi, office manager, is an absolute delight. Very helpful and full of support for boaters. There's a kindness in the office unlike before. Jonathan, the yard manager, is on top of things and keeps the yard working smoothly. Security has been beefed up. Can't beat the rates so I'm hopeful the marina keeps on improving.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Ronald Simmons , Social Distance , on Mar 31, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 1

there is no 50 amp service available

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Ronald Simmons , Social Distance , on Jan 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 1

Place is in need of repairs, dirty and not very well maintained. Lori is not there anymore and it shows. The marina is regressing at a rapid rate.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Robert Russo on Aug 26, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 52'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 1

Went to try and get either a slip or mooring. Noticed the marina was filthy and run down. Many boats on the hard not really being worked on. Very limited capabilities at the marina

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Brandon Keepers , Ada, on Mar 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 1

I typically love DIY yards, but I will not be coming back to this one.

We've stopped by twice to check on our boat in storage, and both times found it in completely unacceptable circumstances. The first time, it was listing 5-10° with the port jack stands not even touching the hull. When I talked to Chris the owner about it, his response was "yeah, sometimes the lot settles in the rain". It was along the road in plain view where the staff would see it every day and they did nothing to fix it until I complained. So frustrating.

Today we stopped by and found our boat in the middle of the road with downed power lines laying on it. Somehow they managed to run it into power lines while moving it. The workers from the power company said this isn't the first time they've been out to fix these lines either.

We have our bill on autopay and still get late fees because their billing system is messed up. We have never received an apology for any of the issues we've had with them.

I wish I could find something nice to say about this place, but they need to get their act together.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Gibson MacElhannon on Apr 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.4'

Rating: 3

Years ago GCS was a well kept secret. Inexpensive DIY marina in a protect spot up the St Johns River. Over time it got pretty run down, looked a run down trailer park, bathrooms were only slightly better than a cheap gas station on a dirt road and staff wasn't very helpful. Very few slips or dock space available as the end of the long pier deteriorated and was condemned and the moorings are questionable at best. New manager is cleaning up the place and work is planned on the dock and moorings. Hope it comes together.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Heath Phillips , Philyria , on Apr 19, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 2

I have taken my boat here a couple times for work. There is not much to say about it. Cheap rates but you get what you pay for.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Pete on Feb 3, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 7.6'

Rating: 1

The storage yard has one of the cheapest rates for long term storage I have ever encountered in Florida, however, boats are constantly getting broken into in the boatyard and in the storage yard, with equipment stolen and the boats often trashed. The work yard is more expensive (about .50/ft/day), but about the same rate as other major marinas. I would not recommend any of the resident contractors. I have been victim to one of them personally. The irony is the 3% environmental charge on the bill, which does not appear to go into the cleaning of the marina or maintaining the area. Chemicals are often poured directly onto the ground, no tarps are utilized (they gave us a dropcloth, which wasn't waterproof), people sand toxic bottom paint with no vacuums, and the list goes on. It all ends up in the St. John's River. In terms of management, there is a serious lack of customer service. The boatyard is not maintained well, and neither are the docks or mooring field, as there are sunken boats everywhere with masts sticking out of the water. It is unfortunate that this marina is so decrepit as it is in a wonderful location and is a good hurricane hideout, and they have plenty of room in the storage yard with very cheap rates.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Reviewed by: Lewie on Nov 6, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 44'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 2

Green Cove Springs is dirty and unhealthy, with sub par bathrooms, 1 each. There are few, if any, open slips.
What Green Cove Springs marina is, is a do it your self work yard. In that sense it is the best in north florida.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer