| For as many years as history has been recorded, | | | | they need at these marinas, as these marinas |
| mariners have been going to sea for one purpose | | | | have adapted to support the local market. Listed |
| or the other. Some of the earliest Biblical | | | | below are the marinas that we rely on for |
| recordings talk of fishermen working their nets in | | | | facilitating our access to the sea and some of the |
| search of food for consumption and for sale. We | | | | services they provide: |
| read of Egyptians plying the Nile River fishing and | | | | Carrabelle |
| transporting goods. Then international trade begins | | | | Carrabelle, quiet little fishing village that doesn't |
| to emerge, and as over land trade routes started | | | | know the meaning of crowds. It claims to be |
| proving too dangerous and time consuming, | | | | "The Gateway to the World's Most Beautiful |
| mariners put their fears aside and began to | | | | Beaches", and is just a short hop up the |
| explore the oceans in search of faster trade | | | | Carrabelle River from St. George Sound. Just far |
| routes. As ocean trade routes became more | | | | enough inland from the Sound to protect boats |
| prevalent and proved financially rewarding, ports | | | | from stormy seas, Carrabelle provides a nice, |
| around the world began to develop facilities and | | | | safe harbor for all its occupants. It has been said |
| equipment which would accommodate the | | | | "fish literally jump into your boat" in Carrabelle. |
| transfer of goods from ship to shore and vice | | | | Well, whether this is true or not remains to be |
| versa. These facilities and their equipment rapidly | | | | seen, but the town is home to four nice marinas |
| began to replace beach landings and rowboats, | | | | where it is entirely possible to rent the boat that |
| and so the concept of maritime port facilities | | | | they will jump into. |
| began to take shape. Piers were built, harbors | | | | Moorings at Carrabelle, Marina is the largest marina |
| were dredged, and all manner of mechanical | | | | in Carrabelle with 124 wet slips. In marina lingo, it |
| transfer equipment began to appear as efforts to | | | | is termed a "full service marina", which means it |
| streamline the transfer process modernized. | | | | provides all the basic needs that vessels utilizing it |
| Historically, ports were used for commercial | | | | would require. It is equipped with a fuel dock and |
| purposes only, but it wasn't long before boats | | | | a waste pump out station. In addition to marina |
| began to be used for recreational purposes as | | | | facilities, Moorings operates a dockside rental |
| well. As this transformation began to take hold, it | | | | complex adjacent to the marina that is rated by |
| became apparent that additional facilities would be | | | | Yahoo Travel as the #1 Motel in Carrabelle. |
| needed to support recreational boating, just as | | | | C-Quarters Marina, the second largest, is a full |
| they did for commercial Maritime vessels. | | | | service marina with 67 wet slips, a marine store, |
| Commercial port facilities initially provided the | | | | shore-side rental units, a fuel dock, and a seafood |
| accommodations for a small number of | | | | shoppe. In addition to the basics, they also have |
| recreational vessels, and in some parts of the | | | | showers, a laundry mat, and a waste pump out |
| world today still do. However, as the number of | | | | station. |
| recreational boats began to swell, it was obvious | | | | Carrabelle Marina is a smaller marina with wet |
| that additional facilities would have to be built to | | | | slips, a haul-out facility with a quality marine repair |
| keep up with the demand for space, and the | | | | and mechanical shop. Carrabelle Marina is a new |
| early predecessors for what we now call marinas | | | | boat dealer for Grady-White boats and Yamaha |
| were born. | | | | engines. |
| Over the years, the concept of what a marina | | | | Dockside Marina & Boatworks facility has |
| should be has changed drastically. In smaller | | | | wet slips for sail and powerboats, gated boat and |
| harbors that support an equal number of working | | | | RV storage, a haul-out facility, a boat yard with |
| and pleasure vessels, it is not unusual to find that | | | | welding and mechanical repair capabilities. In |
| the marinas remain pretty basic, providing the | | | | addition to these services, fishing charters and the |
| minimum facilities to support the type of vessels | | | | Dog Island Taxi Service operate out of the |
| that ply it's waters. In these cases, it is not | | | | marina |
| unusual see older fishing vessels tied right | | | | Apalachicola |
| alongside modern megayachts. In some | | | | Historic Apalachicola, located on the bank of the |
| communities or harbors that support a larger | | | | Apalachicola River, where it flows into the Gulf of |
| population of recreational vessels, marinas | | | | Mexico, is known throughout the country for it's |
| continue to push the limits of what facilities they | | | | wonderful seafood and historic charm. Apalachicola |
| provide. In some larger coastal cities, it is not | | | | has a deep-seated maritime history, and attracts |
| uncommon to find marinas that have in essence, | | | | thousands of tourists that come each year to |
| become resort communities within themselves, | | | | take in the serenity and partake of the sea's |
| providing pools, club houses, tennis courts, condos, | | | | many delicacies. In addition to all of the history |
| and whatever else they feel the public will support. | | | | and seafood, Apalachicola is home to three |
| The panhandle of Florida has many natural | | | | marinas. |
| harbors, some large and some small, but they all | | | | Scipio Creek Marina is the largest in Apalachicola, |
| serve the same primary function, and that is | | | | and it is a full service marina with a store that |
| providing a safe refuge for mariners plying the | | | | carries a full line of marine supplies. It has wet |
| sea for whatever reason. The Forgotten Coast | | | | slips as well as a dry-dock boat storage building, a |
| has its share of natural harbors too, and these | | | | fuel dock, a waste pump out station, showers, |
| are extremely valuable to our local economies as | | | | and bait store. |
| they support recreational boaters and commercial | | | | Deepwater Marina lays claim to being "Franklin |
| fishing fleets. Here along the Forgotten Coast, just | | | | Counties Major Working Boat Yard", and is a full |
| like other areas in Florida, the marinas which dot | | | | service marina. It is a pet friendly, and live-aboard |
| the shores of our harbors, come in all shapes and | | | | friendly marina. Its facilities include floating docks, a |
| flavors. Recreational boaters, as well as | | | | boatyard with a large boat storage area, security, |
| commercial fishing fleet crews find everything | | | | a laundry, rest rooms, and showers. |