With major ports, oil terminals and a strong naval presence here the waters around the Bold New City of the South are busy with traffic, and you will often see private boats, motor-yachts and fishing craft jostling for prominence as they explore the rivers, inlets and coves that line the area.
The best marina for combining Downtown exploration with your boating trip is the Plaza Marina based in the heart of the city with an enviable position on the St Johns River. This 52-slip facility sits right next to the floating USS Orlock Naval Museum, a must-visit for Navy buffs, and is steps away from a range of prominent hotels. A brand-new marina option set to open not far from here is the Four Seasons Hotel on Northbank Riverwalk, which is slated to include its own 78-slip marina right on the water when it opens in 2026. Follow the river downstream to find a quieter option at the Seafarer’s Marina, a 75-slip destination that is perfectly positioned for fishers who wish to head out into the Atlantic to angle for this area’s finest gamefish.
Inshore boating, meanwhile, is best began at a sequence of docking facilities found on the Ortega River Inlet, a peaceful and placid watercourse south of Downtown that is lined with riverside mansions and private jetties. Down here you can find Port 32 Jacksonville, Sadler Point Marina, Lamb’s Yacht Center and the Cedar Point Marina, which bundled together offer 588 wet-slips. For something a little different head to the Marina Pavilion, a 78-slip facility in a park setting that sits just south of the large Jacksonville Naval Air Station, where you will often find yourself sharing space with keen sailors, naval recruits and experienced pilots.
Major boating events held in this city include the Jacksonville Light Boat Parade, a fun and laid-back regatta that has taken place every November since 1984, attracting thousands of visitors. Another important mark in the calendar is the Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, a fishing competition open to fishers from all skill-levels with a $500,000 prize pool and over 1,000 participating boats that has been running for almost half a century.
Jacksonville has one of the most vibrant maritime sectors in Florida and is home to a diverse range of recreational boating brands, from dock-builders and repair yards to luxury yacht builders like Fincantieri, who operate a construction yard in the city. One of the most famous names based here is Huckins Yachts, builders of high-end custom yachts since 1928, while Crockett Boatworks are well-known for their entry-level center-consoles. If you are looking for something faster, then check out Full Throttle Racing, builders of high-speed powerboats with an aggressive edge, or Front Runner Boatworks to the south of the city, a firm known for their semi-custom offshore fishing craft primed for the competitive scene.
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Since 1964, SI Yachts has been helping our clients through the processes of buying and selling boats, many times it's their 10th or more boat sale with us. We take service very seriously and we are able to retain some of the best service talent in the industry giving us an incredible advantage when it comes making sure our customers enjoy their boating lifestyle. When you buy a yacht from us, our Florida-based mobile service team is just a phone call away.
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