Reviews: Clearwater Municipal Marinas (Clearwater Beach Marina)

Reviewed by: D. Jenkins on May 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Stayed here after our last Gulf crossing run from Crystal River. Quite windy as we arrived but Staff were all excellent help, moving our Ranger Tug to a more suitable fixed dock slip and assisting with finger pier piling ties. Could not be happier with the dock team. The only reason for the 4 stars is the 2 1/2 ft tide made it "interesting" boarding from the fixed finger pier. Great beach access and the Bait House Tackle and Tavern is adjacent to the shower facility and is highly recommended - excellent seafood. One of the Tour Ship Captains snapped our photo as we entered the inlet and posted on the Great Loop Facebook site. He suggested the Bait House for dinner and was dead-on. Great area - we will be back.... especially since floating docks will be added this year !

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Reviewed by: Gary Harkins , Nauti-Dog, on Jan 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 35'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

Slip was tight 13' for our 10' beam. Our 31' ranger tug freeboard was a few inches above the dock at highest high tide and a step up not ramp from the finger dock to main dock. 2 Commercial front load washers and 2 dryers $3 each, used app pay, were outside. Only place to fold clothes was dirty washer tops. It is being renovated to floating docks in sections summer of 2024.

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Reviewed by: LindaWilkes , Redeemed, on Mar 16, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Good people in the anchorage. We enjoyed watching the tourist boats , the dolphins, helpful Marina staff at the pump out and fuel docks. Excellent pizza at Roundabout Pizza next to the marina.

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Reviewed by: Jeff French on Jan 24, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 4

Great location and good facilities. Beach, shops and restaurants all close.

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Reviewed by: Patricia And Steven Stanley , Calypso, on Dec 9, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina is very popular with Loopers. It has friendly, efficient staff, fuel and pumpout. The staff helped us back into the fixed, wooden dock. There are 2 bathrooms (one with shower) per gender. The marina is close to many great restaurants and within walking distance to a Publix market. They also have hair and nail salons nearby and a beautiful beach.

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Reviewed by: Nancy Taylor , Puffin, on Jul 17, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 2.9'

Rating: 4

Great location on Clearwater Beach. Price was fair for what you get ($66). Bathrooms and shower are fair. Bathrooms do have AC.
Docks are fixed not floating. We arrived after 5 and did not get assistance with docking however and we could have used it as a front was coming through. Staff was very friendly.

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Reviewed by: Nick Paglia , Dolce ‘Talia, on May 2, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We docked directly behind the dockmaster after being assigned to a spot too narrow for a 14' beam. Our swim platform was wedged between pylons on entry. Not a big deal, but when I asked how that happened, the Dock Master told me the marina measures from outside post to outside post. Just be aware. The spot we ended up in was plenty wide for us. It was a windy day/night and without any breakers, the wind and waves hit you direct making for a bumpy night. The docks seem to be accessible well into the evening, at least till 9p when the commercial traffic gets back in. Nothing great about the bathrooms or shower either. Both are outside the "secure" area. This marina works for some, just not for me.

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Reviewed by: Lisa Vidor on Feb 22, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Close to town. Nice Marina.

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Reviewed by: Bill Mcmahon on Dec 17, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 3

No answer on the radio, so went to the fuel dock. "They were busy." Gave me directions to my slip, no help getting in. The dockmasters were helpful in letting us stay an extra day.
Great location, 5 minute walk to beach. Walgreens across the street and many good restaurants nearby.
WiFi worked well. Shower access was via a cell phone app, which wasn't available for Android at the time, so I showered on the boat. Average marina in a great location.

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Reviewed by: Green Turtle Bay Marina- Ford - Buena on Nov 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

We were excited to try this marina after our great experience at the sister City dock on the Harbor side. Unfortunately it wasn't as great as we had hoped. Mike, the Harbormaster was the highlight for sure. Super helpful in resolving a Dockwa reservation mishap. As far as the stay: The good: we were close the beach and to tons of shops and dining. The not-so-good: Consistant with what others have said....walkways for the transient slips only come out about 15 ft and they are not floating docks. Our aft cabin boat has side entries and the walkway did not come out far enough so we had to climb over our railings. In addition, the extremely large tourist boats are coming/going all day and they don't adhere to any "no/low wake" rules that you would expect in a marina area so you are rocking most of the day/early evening. I wouldn't avoid this marina by any means but you may want to limit your stay to just a couple of nights to enjoy all of Clearwater Beach and then spend the rest of your time at the City's Harbor Marina.

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Reviewed by: David Mann , Now or Never, on Nov 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 4

Very active area with access to all of the beach front activities. Docks are aged and pretty short but doable for most boats. Some wave action but acceptable most of the time. Many of the commercial fishing and dinner cruise boats show little regard for docked boats as they have a schedule to keep. Fun location.

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Reviewed by: JEFF WHITNEY on May 15, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

One nite stay on our way north. Lots of dinner cruise boats, floating tiki bars, fishing day trip boats, etc.. Majority of vessels are commercial.
Dockhands were very pleasant and helpful, but didn’t monitor 16 or their phones when on the dock. Very active with several restaurants and souvenir shopping. Not too confident in their security but we had no issues. Didn’t use showers. VOLTAGE WAS LOW at our pedestal, 106. Our Booster took it to 119, but most boats don’t have one. Might have been our T dock end placement but make sure you double check before running electric motors.
Overall we enjoyed it a lot...for one night.

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Reviewed by: Tina Pickell on May 5, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 62'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

The location of this marina is great-- close to the beach and fantastic restaurants. The fixed docks are showing their age, but in reasonable shape. The dock staff seem to try to keep the docks clean from the pelican poop-- but it's a daily task. Pulling into some of the slips in the tidal current can be tricky, so timing the tides could be something to watch. The docks are securely locked at night-- but the fence at the gate isn't quite waist high to deter a determined mischief maker. Groceries are a sturdy walk across the causeway, but there are delivery services that make this chore much easier.

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Reviewed by: Eike on Apr 10, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 3

We came in at night from the Gulf. Difficult to tie up in the assigned slip. The tourist boats waked us quite a bit. Bathrooms and laundry are not in good order. But the marina is where the action is! Another issue is parking. You have to buy parking stickers day by day. If you don't by 6 am in the morning you will have a ticket on your car. So you better do not sleep in. Marina mentioned that this is another department at the city and they can't do anything. Not a good place to stay for long.

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Reviewed by: Laura Stein , Have Another Day , on Jan 10, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 57'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

We had a great time during our two nights here. I was worried about the docks after a lot of not great reviews but we were docked by the fuel dock and the docks were in great shape and clean. Bathrooms were at the end of our dock. We definitely had some rocking as the dinner boat went out and in but nothing terrible. The beach was fabulous and sunsets amazing. Enjoyed the street performers at sunset. We had a car with us and purchasing a daily parking permit from marina was simple. $10 per day. All in all a great stop topped off with dolphins in our slip this morning.

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Reviewed by: Michael Joplin , Innisfree, on Aug 17, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great marina. Outstanding facility, staff ready to help and do everything possible to make your stay pleasant, tons of shops & restaurants nearby and great beaches! Will definitely find a time to go back!

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Reviewed by: Michael Joplin , Innisfree, on Aug 17, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great marina. Outstanding facility, staff ready to help and do everything possible to make your stay pleasant, tons of shops & restaurants nearby and great beaches! Will definitely find a time to go back!

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Reviewed by: Chris Himmelheber on Jan 18, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 4

On paper this is a very nice marina, and in fact it really IS very nice, but there are a few asterisks. First, the bad stuff:

They offer free mobile pump-out to anyone in the marina on Wednesdays. However, you have to get on the list early because they can only accommodate a limited number of boats. On the other hand, the big caveat is that their pump out boat is out of action, and there is no resolution to that in sight. They have pump-out at the fuel dock, but that goes of the fritz, too. You just have to ask, and hope it’s working.

They have two separate sets of restrooms and showers for a total of 5 toilets and 2 showers each for men and women. However, the set that are nearer the docks are pretty ragged, and have no heat or A/C. The set that are further away are much nicer, and have heat/A/C, but they are almost 1/4 mile from the dock. A long walk.

A number of tourist and fishing charter boats go past in the day and cause pretty sizeable wake-action, but nothing late at night.

Now the good news:

The marina has good depths on approach and in the marina, but do be careful how you approach. They are all finger docks with piers, and are in good repair. The marina is also right next to Clearwater Beach, and walking to the beach and great restaurants is a snap. The Tampa area has an excellent transit system that can get you anywhere in Clearwater within 1 hr, and all the way to St. Pete in 2 hrs. You can buy 1-, 3-, and 7-day bus passes cheaply on the buses and at the central terminal. Also, get the app called Transit by Transit App, Inc. REALLY useful.

They have 2 washers and 2 dryers ($1.50 per load) on site, though they are just in a covered area. The staff are also very eager to help with any problems you may have.

By far, the biggest surprise was EXCELLENT WiFi at my boat, and that was pretty far from the office. Good reception and fast - the best I’ve run across at marinas, by far.

Aside from the few “yeah, buts,” this is a very nice marina in a great location.

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Reviewed by: Chris Caldwell , AskCaptainChris, on Jul 3, 2016
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

This is where the action is. Walk across street to Gulf beaches. Beware, ask for local knowledge if you are deep draft and enter the shortcut channel. Deeper water head to ICW then left back to Marina. Water Taxi can take you across bay to downtown Marina.

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