As a real estate agent who is also a boater, I am often asked for recommendations on where to dock a boat in Charleston, SC. Personally, I prefer to have my boat storage as centrally located as possible because I know that I’m more likely to take it out if I’m only a few minutes from the Charleston Harbor, Morris Island, Shem Creek, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and the ocean. Many buyers assume that you have to buy a waterfront home in Charleston to enjoy the area’s boating. However, if you can find the right storage and facility, you can take advantage of deep water access anytime of the day. (Charleston homes for sale with good water access generally cost $400K plus – you can expect to pay around $600K plus for deep water homes.)
Ripley Light Marina is one of the best locations for boat storage in Charleston. Located at 56 Ashley Point Drive in West Ashley, it is directly across the Ashley River from the City Marina and downtown Charleston. By car, the marina is off Hwy 61 – adjacent to the California Dreaming restaurant and just off the James Island Connector.
After being in business for 25 years, Ripley Light Marina has recently undergone a complete renovation. The rebuild started at the beginning of February 2010 and ended in May 2010. The goal was to be able to accommodate current and future owners’ needs. The drystack is much larger now, with 220 new slips. The slips can accommodate boats up to 40 feet long and 14 feet tall. This will allow the slips to accommodate T-tops.
Ripley Light calls their service “Valet parking for your boat.” The customer only needs to call ahead and ask for his/her boat to be put in the water, washed down, fueled up, and have ice in the cooler. The staff is friendly and professional. When boaters are finished for the day, they can leave the boat on the dock. The staff will flush the engine, wash the boat down, and place it back on the drystack for the next visit. Ripley Light Marina offers 29 parking spaces, an office that includes new showers and restrooms, and a state-of-the-art Wiggins forklift which handles boats up to 20,000 lbs. The docks are all new (including the fuel dock) and all are constructed from Ipe wood.
If your goal is to find boat storage that’s convenient to everything in Charleston, Ripley Light Marina has been the best location for the money that I’ve found. They take the hassle out of boating and allow you to enjoy your boat more often. Learn about West Ashley homes for sale!