Boating Ramps
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
Boating Ramps
Anyone know some good paved boating ramps around St Marks?
In St. Marks, the Fort or Sheilds "launching fee at Sheilds" or you can go to the Lighthouse and save around 5 miles of travel down the river 
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
There two nice ones at Shields Marina on Riverbreeze, but cost 5$ to launch, and a free one at the end of Old Fort road at the Fort where the St. Marks and Wakulla rivers merge. There is another one at the Shell Island fish camp also, but I don't know the launch fee, the first two I mentioned are closer to the Gulf.... Last but not least in the Lighthouse ramp down in the Wildlife Refuge, $4 entrance fee, free boat launch, but it's a drive and you be putting in saltwater...
Go to mapquest search for St. Marks, FL and inclrease the magnification to locate the street names...
Go to mapquest search for St. Marks, FL and inclrease the magnification to locate the street names...
mjsigns wrote:
EDIT... one more thing, depending on your draft... the light house pool can get real skinny in the winter on a negative tide. That's when Shields or the Fort is a much better choice.
What mjsigns said is true enough. However, if you use the facility (lighthouse pool) very much there is a yearly permit you can buy (I think its $25) and that covers everything. Four or five launches and you've broke even. As far as the drive...unless your a real speed merchant on the water, you may make better time with the drive. He's correct regarding the salt water...at least you do get a bit of a rinse coming back into the river.Last but not least in the Lighthouse ramp down in the Wildlife Refuge, $4 entrance fee, free boat launch, but it's a drive and you be putting in saltwater...
EDIT... one more thing, depending on your draft... the light house pool can get real skinny in the winter on a negative tide. That's when Shields or the Fort is a much better choice.
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
The annual pass at the St. Marks Refuge is $12. If you launch there 3 times a year, it's worth buying. You can purchase the permit at the refuge visitors center, or at the gate, if it's manned.
What Sir reel said. If your boat draws 12" or more, you'll have a difficult time getting out, or in, at the lighthouse ramp, diring the winter. The negative tides render the canal nearly empty.
What Sir reel said. If your boat draws 12" or more, you'll have a difficult time getting out, or in, at the lighthouse ramp, diring the winter. The negative tides render the canal nearly empty.
What was I supposed to do today?