Reviews: Safe Harbor Burnt Store

Reviewed by: Kevin Williams , m/v Blue Tortuga, on Mar 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Spent 3 nights here as a transient. Staff is knowledgeable and first class. Jordan was very helpful with several items. We had a mechanical repair to make and the Marina provided a recommendation who did a fantastic job. Good restaurants and a nice store. Only criticism would be the restrooms . They're clean, just need updating. Fixed docks but in great condition.

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Reviewed by: John Newman on Jan 30, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

We were on the T on F dock, which is the transient dock. We came in in the rain and the Dockhand was waiting to help us dock. There are several people available at the marina office during working hours.
These are fixed docks in great condition. There are trash cans at the end of the dock. They were emptied daily.
There is no security onto the dock but there was never a problem because the restaurant overlooked the dock.
There is one washer/dryer at $2.25 a load. Credit card which is nice but the dryer is $2.25 for an hour and you can't change it. You really only need 30 minutes.
The restroom near F dock had 2 toilets and 2 showers. It was open and used by the general public. We were given a key to the other building near the swimming pool, which is quite a walk. There are 4 washers and dryers. The bathroom has 2 toilets and 4 showers.
The key also opens the gate to the pool. Nice pool with chairs.
There is a 2 week maximum stay, which is unfortunate.
We rented a car because there is nothing around the marina. $25 Uber to Enterprise. There's nothing around but the restaurant and snack bar. Cas Cay restaurant has nightly entertainment and trivia and bingo.

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Reviewed by: Lawrence Wolfenden on Nov 20, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Nicely-sized size, well-kept marina. We stayed for a couple nights as transients. They put us in a dock near the central point for the marina store, the restaurant/bars, and other facilities (laundry, head, marina office, etc). The live music we was just loud enough to enjoy without being overwhelming and shut down at a reasonable hour.

We could have--but didn't--take advantage of a very nice swimming pool. There was a pop-up farmers/craft market in a vacant lot just south of the marina offices where we purchased some really good guacamole and could have bought fresh fish.

Unfortunately, there's nothing nearby (within walking distance) for provisions. However, we were able to have a real treat in the on-site cafe: a sausage and biscuit gravy pizza. We'd go back just for that.

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Reviewed by: Brian Sims , Whatever Bytes, on Jul 7, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 55'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Very nice Marina that was purchased by Safe Harbor. They have put a lot of work and money into the marina including dockage, sea wall, new floating fuel dock and more. It is my home base and is easy to navigate just 10miles into Charlotte Harbor through Boca Grande Pass. The trading post has good pizza and sandwich's for a quick bite or Cas Cay Restaurant.

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Reviewed by: Bill Mcmahon on Jan 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Burnt Store has a lot to offer, which is good because it is not near anything else. Good restaurant, quaint general store that has a bit of everything and also serves food.

They are in the process of upgrading the docks, the new ones are floating and very nice. Unfortunately for us, we got an old fixed dock with a short fixed finger pier which made getting on and off the boat a bit of a challenge for our style of boat. (I put a note in our Dockwa request explaining that our boat has a side gate amidships, It was ignored. Other marnias have contacted me when I have explained our situation. Burnt Store accepted our reservation request without comment, so I thought we would be OK) Tom, the dockhand, was very helpful in getting us situated the best we could given the slip we were assigned.

Clean and functional showers and restrooms.

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Reviewed by: Ruth Ridenhour , King George V, on Jan 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

They had us tie up along side the Cass Cay restaraunt. We were steps away from the laundry, showers and cafe. Not much in the way of privacy but very convenient and lots of activity to watch. They have live music several nights per week, a karaoke and a free “bar bingo” night. Music at the bar ends early and we were never bothered by it. The pool is heated and very nice. It is quite a distance from the marina but the staff has been more than happy to give us a golf cart ride there. It isn’t cheap to get into town (Uber was $20 one way) and the route to the closest store was not safe for a bike ride. Instacart is available here and the marina sells most necessities on site. We are 10 days into our two week stay and have enjoyed every minute of it.

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Reviewed by: Jennie Happe on Mar 30, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This harbor is now our home port. I could not ask for a better place to stay. After sailing over 2000 miles to get here, I have not found another marina that compares.

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Reviewed by: brian richard , Windchaser, on Mar 25, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 31'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This is the third year we have been using Burnt Store for transient dockage while cruising Charlotte Harbor. It is under new ownership (Safe Harbor Marinas) and continues to be a first class marina. WiFi connectivity has improved with antennas on the docks. The inlet channel was dredged recently and ongoing maintenance is evident. The harbormaster and dock crew are efficient, friendly and skilled. Fuel and holding tank pump out services are great. The marina is well protected from wind and waves...an excellent place to wait out bad weather. A recent addition for provisioning is a Dollar General store just south of the main entrance on Burnt Store road. Slip rental prices continue to be very reasonable for the area.

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Reviewed by: Eddy Johnsen , Spiritus, on Feb 15, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This is not just a "marina" in the traditional sense. On first visit, you get a sense that you've stumbled upon some sort of little utopia. This is a community! It's more than dockage, or fuel, or a restaurant. It is a respite for the weary cruiser, a chance to get off the boat and take long walks along the water or admire the greenery of beautiful, well-manicured lawns. It's where friends gather to sing karaoke unabashedly, drink beer, and drive golf carts into the night without fear of being put to the test of a breathalyzer. This is a place where many a boater has visited, only to return permanently.

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Reviewed by: Smackdaddy on Aug 16, 2016
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

This is a fantastic marina. One of the most beautiful, full-featured, and reasonably priced we've stayed in. Really nice restaurant and bar, convenience store/deli, 2 pool/rec-areas with laundry, etc. The WiFi was indeed spotty, but that was one of the few downsides.

We highly recommend this one.

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Reviewed by: Brian McMahon on Jun 1, 2016

We stayed in Burnt Store Marina 20 nights over the last two months (Feb-Mar 2016). In our travels from Tennessee to Florida it ranks No. 1 with us. The facilities are clean, pleasant and well-maintained. The Harbormaster and Dock crew are very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Slip fees are very competitive for the area. The associated store and restaurant are nice as well. The wifi is poor, apparently because of the service provider.
Beware if you need repair services. Burnt Store Services, which is onsite but not associated with the marina, does not return calls, does not work on diesel engines, and doesn't seem to care. Several other independent engine repair companies who frequent the marina also don't answer their phone or return calls. A local boater told us they are busy enough to not have to return calls to stay in business. Although not associated with the marina the lack of local service-oriented repair services is a clear downside to an otherwise first class marina.

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