St. John Marina
Mar 7, 2017
The first step for any yacht visiting the Saint John River is to transit the famous “Reversing Falls”. With 20 plus foot tides in the harbor, the tidal flow over a ledge in the narrow gorge makes for dramatic viewing on the full ebb or flood. Boats usually wait for their chance on the floats at Market Slip on the east side of the harbour. Although located handy to the downtown shopping area, the float is rather exposed to wind and wakes. Some boats choose to overnight nearby in Dipper Harbour and time their arrival at the Falls for slack water. The exact time for slack water varies somewhat with conditions, so check the tide tables and pilot book for details. Local boaters will also be helpful.
Just above the narrows on the western shore is St. John Marina and full service facility, which is a convenient place to begin or end a cruise of the beautiful St. John River.
The St. John Marina is located on the site of an early 1900s sawmill. The building which is now the clubhouse was a popular dance venue in the 1930s and 40s know as the Riverview pavilion. Today the club is a full-service marina having reopened in 2016 after extensive renovations.
Services include a 70-ton crane, fuel and pump-out, dockage, marine supplies and repair facilities.