Explore: Stuart (St. Lucie River)
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General Info
This is a popular fishing and sailing resort area approximately 30 miles north of West Palm Beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast. It is a large inlet and navigation is relatively straightforward.
Many cruisers prefer this inlet to Jupiter Inlet. Even so, all inlets on the Atlantic coast of Florida should be respected as potentially dangerous and care should be taken in order to transmit them safely.
Tidal currents in the St. Lucie Inlet are occasionally extreme: 4-6 knots is not uncommon at peak flow. Currents continue to flow 2 hours after high and low tides. Entrance to the St. Lucie Inlet is best at the flood side of the slack water.
The St. Lucie River and the greater Stuart/St. Lucie area is an important access point for the Okeechobee Waterway. The Okeechobee Waterway cuts directly across Florida from Stuart to Ft. Myers, significantly shortening passage times to the Gulf of Mexico as long as the mast height does not exceed 54ft. The inland waterway also bypasses the busiest areas (Miami or Ft. Lauderdale) and the navigationally complex Florida Keys.
Hurricane Matthew (Oct. 2016) damaged some floating buoys and channel markers in this area. Seek local knowledge in advance of approach or read the US Coast Guard “Notice to Mariners” for the most recent buoy positions and shoaling alerts
Position: 27° 09.90’N, 80° 09.00’W (inlet entrance)
Clearance
This is NOT a recognized Port of Entry by the US Customs and Border Protection.
See USA Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of the USA.
If you are arriving from abroad, customs clearance and immigration procedures must be conducted elsewhere before proceeding to this port. The nearest CBP Reporting Station is 30nm south at West Palm Beach.
Docking
There are dozens of marinas here to choose from.
When approaching from seaward (St. Lucie Inlet), the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) runs north to south. Immediately past the ICW is a turn to the south called Manatee Pocket: this small bay is lined with marinas and many yachts anchor here.
Beyond the first bridge (Evans Crary Bridge: 65ft vertical clearance), the St. Lucie River widens and many anchorages or marinas can be found here. Proceed past the second and third bridges (65ft vertical clearance or bascule/drawbridge) and more major marinas are available. The South Fork of the St. Lucie River turns into the St. Lucie Canal (Okeechobee Waterway).
There are public docks owned by the City of Stuart in the downtown area at approximately: 27º12’07″N, 080º15’12″W.
Last updated: October 2016.
Related Businesses
Anclote Isles Marina
Address: 331 Anclote Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA, FL 34689
Located in a bay just north of Red Marker #50 at the historic Sponge Docks on the Anclote River.
All facilities and dockage for 70 yachts... Read More
Hinckley Yacht Services – Stuart
Address: 4550 SE Boatyard Drive, Stuart, Florida, USA, FL 34997
Marina with dockage for 80 yachts. 30/50/100amp power. Showers, toilets, laundry nearby, grocery nearby, Wifi. Boatyard and storage facility with space for 150 yachts. 150-ton travel... Read More
Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina
Address: 555 NE Ocean Boulevard, Hutchinson Island, Stuart, Florida, USA, FL
Dockage for 77 yachts. Showers, toilets, laundry and dry-cleaning, Wifi. Full-service fuel dock, pump-out. Marine repair available locally.... Read More
Indiantown Marina
Address: 16300 SW Famel Avenue, Indiantown, Florida, USA, FL 349556
Located on the St. Lucie Canal approximately 20nm up St.Lucie Canal. Primarily a hurricane season storage facility, but marina welcomes yachts. Dockage for 34 yachts,... Read More
Loggerhead Marina – Stuart
Address: 955 NW Flagler Avenue, Stuart, Florida, USA, FL 34994
Dockage for 300 vessels up to 120ft. Transient yachts welcome. Fuel dock, wifi, marine supplies store, pump-out. 30/50/100amp electrical, clubhouse, toilets, showers. Restaurant on-site. Easy... Read More
Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina
Address: 4307 SE Bayview St, Stuart, Florida, USA, FL 34997
Located in Manatee Pocket off of the ICW. Dockage for 50 yachts up to 100ft, dry rack boat storage for smaller boats up to 34ft.... Read More
Sunset Bay Marina & Anchorage
Address: 615 S.W. Anchorage Way, Stuart, Florida, USA, FL 34994
Deepwater approach off the St. Lucie River. Dockage for 198 yachts up to 150ft. Fuel dock, 30/50amp power, water, pump-out, showers, toilets, laundry, Wifi. Complimentary... Read More
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