Reviews: Lake Park Harbor Marina

Reviewed by: John Newman on Apr 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

We have a 50 foot trawler with 15 beam.
$4 / foot plus $11/day for electric

We were on G dock, which are floating docks with a locked gate. The bathrooms and showers are at the marina office, which is a 15 minute walk. There are unlocked bathrooms outside the gate that are closer. The gate doesn't have a dropbox on the inside, so when you leave, you have to walk the 15 minutes to the drop box at the marina office to return the key, or dock at the fuel dock on your way out, to return the key. Having a drop box at the gate seems like an easy solution.

We then had to move to C dock, because the owner of the G dock slip was returning.
The dockhands were great in helping us get tied up.
We were now on a fixed concrete dock with a 2 foot tidal change, which was managable. Better access to the bathroom/shower facilities.
There are diveboats and Freedom Boat Club boats at this marina. FYI - the wake from the boats and from the ICW is constant, hitting us on the beam. It did calm down at night. There are a couple of restaurants within walking distance.

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Reviewed by: John Highsmith , CAT O' MINE, on May 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

Steep and deep dual boat ramps with rig parking ($33/night) with Lake Worth Inlet 2 miles away. Great launch point for a 62 mile jaunt to Bimini on a trailer boat with a good weather window and NO northerly wind component. Mix of old fixed wood and floating docks. Clean card secured bath house. Giant condo construction project just behind marina, very loud even on Sat until quitting time. With the rooftop AC going and cabin door closed we don't hear a thing but YMMV.

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Reviewed by: LindaWilkes , Redeemed, on May 3, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Tim and Tom are professional and kind. Tim, thank you for service at the fuel/pump out/ water dock.

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Reviewed by: Craig , Chapter Four , on May 27, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

We've recently stayed at numerous "resort" marinas, some charging more than $6 per foot. None of them is as well maintained as Lake Park Harbor. With no broken/missing bathroom tiles, clean and fully functional bathrooms and showers. Concrete (alas not floating) docks and excellent restaurants nearby, this marina is one of my favorites. Be sure and eat dinner at the Pelican Cafe up the street.

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Reviewed by: Celeste and Jeeves on Oct 31, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.2'

Rating: 5

We keep out boat at this marina and the management consistently impress us by their caring and level of service. We are very thankful that they are looking out for our little boat The facilities are modern and well kept.

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Reviewed by: Albert on Sep 29, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 1

The manager himself doesn't follow their own rules. The lines for the boat ramps are made by the trailers not the boats. When I pointed that rule out to the manager he said "You're going to tell me the rules. I make the rules". Then he said not to use the ramp after I paid. I told him that it was a public ramp and he said that it was private. It is owned by the town of Lake Park. That makes it public.

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Reviewed by: Elena&Meg on Jun 2, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 46'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

Marina: 5 stars.
Waterside utilities: 5 stars.
Marina shore amenities: 4 stars.
Marina staff: 5 stars.
Ambiance: 4 stars.
Shopping: 1 star.
WiFi: 1 star. (See proviso)
Maritime location: 5 stars.
Civic location: 1 star.
Security/safety: 5 stars.
Price competitiveness: 5 stars.

One of the best managed, maintained, and well run, marina's we've visited, or stored our boat at. As a southern intra-coastal waterway/Atlantic-access-point marina, Lake Park Harbor Marina is the best, in our rather-experienced (google "Elena and Meg") opinion.

WATERWAY/OCEAN ACCESS -- The marina's proximity to LAKE WORTH INLET: a deep-water ocean/waterway access point is perfect for vessels (under 65 feet in height) transitioning from the waterway to the ocean and vice-versa. It makes it an excellent provisioning and departure point for Bahamas or the gulf stream (no drawbridges between the marina and ocean inlet).

GROUNDS -- The marina property and grounds are meticulously well kept with a park-like ambiance. The setting is waterfront, mid-density residential and unbelievably quiet. Although situated in a notoriously "bad neighborhood" the property isn't defined by caged-in gating, and offensively blatant security measures. In fact, it is wide open. There are million dollar boats, and dock gates wide open. Kids play on lawns, people walk dogs, play tennis, say hello. Nobody is afraid. Although it feels like magic, it's a community effort, along with unobtrusive, 24/7 human security. We had absolutely no qualms about leaving our boat, or even enjoying the area, the local city park, and tennis courts. The municipality of Lake Park has done an amazing job of rejuvenating and revitalizing, not just the marina but its entire waterfront.

SHOPPING/PROVISIONING -- That said, shopping/provisioning is only possible with wheels, or serious walking in the Florida heat. There is one Publix grocery store within about 2 miles. For anything else there's Uber. Trader Joe's on PGA blvd (5 miles north) will run you about $12 one way. West Marine is a similar ride to the north. An Enterprise Rent-a-car is a good 30 minute walk (although they do pick up... but don't count on it!).

MARINE SERVICES -- Services at the marina are top notch. Divers, mechanics, detailers, trades are right there, competitive and competent. If you can't find someone right there, marina staff will have you hooked up to the right technician or trade for the job in a flash.

INTERNET -- WiFi is very subject to your proximity to the marina office. We were unable to hook up to the marina's network on the south side, no more than 500 feet from the antennae. This is a problem of interference. There are simply zillions of stations competing for a handful of frequencies in a very small space. Signals from homes on the south side completely disrupt the signal from the office. Of course, if you are a WiFi hacker with a Pringle's can, you can get around this... otherwise, abandon all WiFi hope, ye who enter the south side.

MARINA -- 100% functional. 3-4 foot tides. Extensive, strong, wide, floating, concrete docs on the south side with water and power. No brown outs or power failures, or water pressure loss during our stay. North side includes a mix of quay, piling and floating ties. Assuming a competent utility supply there, based on experience on the floating docks. Docks, foreshore, walkways are clean (pressure washed), and perfectly maintained. Docks have big, strong cleats (three per finger, two on the dock) and pilings (with mooring lines) between slips and in front of the finger to further secure the vessel. We were informed that this marina stays open during named wind-storms.

WAKES -- The Intracoastal Waterway is not speed restricted in front of this marina. Although well off the marina, and the marina has breakwaters, large wakes from the waterway are an unfortunate detractor, and a serious consideration! Dock lines will chafe, even snap, when less than considerate large-powerboat owners let-er-rip. After watching a Hemingway wannabe gun his 70 foot tuna-tower up to 45 knots on his way to North Palm Beach, don't leave your martinis on a polished cockpit table. Same thing goes for tying up and leaving the boat to surf the friendly wakes on its own. Best advice, make it look like the vessel was attacked by Spiderman, and give it lots of room between expensive surfaces and the dock.

MARINA TENANTS -- there are both commercial and (shush, furtive glance over the shoulder) residential tenants. They are all, quite literally, in it together. And they, in combination with the staff, make the place fantastic. If you haven't skimmed my wordy review, and you recall my alluding to magic (under the heading, grounds, above) this is where the magic comes from. It also mitigates the wakes. If you aren't there, watching out for your boat, others will. And NO, this is definitely NOT a live-aboard marina (ie: floating shanty-town/trailer-park/scary place -- hey, someone has to say it). It is a very well kept, polite, professional, respectful, and vetted community. If that's important to you, and how you treat your vessel, then this is your marina. If we're ever by Southeast Florida with the boat again, let's hope there's still room for us.

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Reviewed by: Bill McNamara on Apr 4, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This marina has consistently been the best run marina I have been to on the eastern seaboard. If there was an award for the best marina in all categories this place deserves it. Great location, service amenities and competitive prices.

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