St. Johns Yacht Harbor

A Waterway Guide User on September 18th, 2024:

This is a top notch Marina. We intended to stay for a night but ended up staying for a month due to a family matter. The bathhouse is large, air conditioned, and cleaner than 95% of those found in other marinas. They offer a coutesy car at no charge. The pool is large, clean, and available to slip renters. St. John's hosts a popular boat club. Consequently, there is a plethora of energetic dock hands cleaning up and tieing up club boats and are available to help with any task required for slip renters as well. All employees are helpful, cheerful, and a pleasure to be around. The ship store sells snacks, freezes (adult and virgin), hats and other typical ship store items on a non-cash basis. I asked management for a recommendation for a diver to clean my hull and I received an excellent one who went above and beyond to do a great job. Charleston is not far from St John's Yacht Harbor, reachable by dinghy. The floating docks are in great shape with no missing boards or screws. Each slip has a power pole which is lit for safety. Definitely stay with St. John's Yacht Harbor when in the area. You will not be sorry!

A Waterway Guide User on October 25th, 2023:

We had a wonderful one night stay at St. John's. Adam was very helpful when we called to see if they had a slip available. He gave us clear instructions as to where to dock and was there to catch our lines. He checked us in quickly and gave us a tour of the facilities. We borrowed the courtesy car to do a provision run. The bathrooms are the best we've seen so far (great showers) and a laundry room complete with 2 ironing board & irons. The pool area is just lovely with a bbq AB's fire pit. We loved our stay here. Highly recommend it.

A Waterway Guide User on May 20th, 2023:

I just spent 10 days at St. John's Yacht Harbor while my husband flew home for business obligations. When we were researching available marinas (based on boater's reviews) near the Charleston airport which were safe, clean and convenient, SJYH was an easy choice. It is hands down one of the best marina we have stayed in out of the hundreds we have visited over the years.

The marina facilities are top notch. There are wide stable floating docks which are well lit after dark. The restrooms are professionally maintained with five private toilets and five private spacious showers with great water pressure in the ladies room. The laundry has four washers, four dryers, two irons and ironing boards and a long table to fold your clothes. The ship's store is well stocked with ready made sandwiches, snacks, drinks including, wine, beer, slushies, and cold brew on tap. The pool area is lovely and the water is the perfect temperature. There is a pump out boat that comes quickly to your slip. The marina is very dog friendly with E's two gentle goldens greeting you when they are there. And while the marina is not within walking distance of much, the is a loner car available which had only four thousand miles on it and was available often during my stay.

The community of boaters were wonderful! Offers to drive me for provisioning or to join them for a cocktail were plentiful.

Yet, it is the staff, led by the very capable Dockmaster, E, that are the best part. They are all professional, personable and helpful in every way. They are always walking the docks and available for any task, large or small. They also have a staff member overseeing the marina at night. We had a major storm come through one night and Steve, the night time staff member, came to check on me before it got really fierce (with rain, hail, thunder, lightening, 60+ winds) and offered me his cell phone number with the promise that I would call him, no matter the time, if I needed anything. E was also always readily available by phone and text for instant communication.

Thank you E, Daniel, Steve and the rest of the fabulous crew at SJYH! You've set the bar high as a world class marina.

A Waterway Guide User on May 16th, 2023:

This place isn't cheap but wow what a facility and staff. (By not cheap, I mean I bought 2 ice cream sandwiches and was surprised when it came to $12!) Somehow the Snag a Slip reservation wasn't conveyed to the dock staff (manager was out for the day). Luckily I phoned when we were 45 minutes out. The staff bent over backwards to get us on a dock (the fuel dock).

The bathrooms belong in a yacht club! Laundry superb but $6 a load. There is a pool, grill, and outdoor picnic area. There is also a courtesy car. All top notch. Beware the tide but we thought St John was great.

Tony on May 8th, 2023:

It appeared on our arrival. They had no idea who we were. No paperwork filled out, completely overlooked the fact that we had a reservation and had no real plans on where to put us, ended up putting us on the slip that was too small for our boat. Even when I went to check in the young lady, working up at the office, still had no idea who I was or why I was there. The location of this Marina, along with his other businesses, such as small boat rental make this one of the worst waked marinas we have ever been in..I even had to ask two staff members to slow down in the fair ways… so leave this place to the boat renter types and look elsewhere for a peaceful night.

A Note from the Marina:

Snag-A-Slip reached out to the marina manager for further comment but did not hear back regarding this review.

Anonymous on April 20th, 2023:

Very nice clean marina amenities and pool was just what my grandson needed after a long stint on the boat!

A Waterway Guide User on April 14th, 2023:

I mirror the sentiments of the previous poster regarding the professionalism and friendliness of the staff. They were extremely helpful with docking and leaving and I would be remiss to not inform you there is a pretty significant current which will make docking and leaving a bit of a challenge. The facility is maintained well and the courtesy car can get you to area grocery stores for an re-provisioning needed. There isn't anything walking distance from the marina so if you're looking for a quiet place for the night with helpful staff, this is your place but again be advised about the current.

Sonja on April 2nd, 2023:

Beautiful location. Staff are friendly and very helpful. Great place to see sea life.

Devin on March 27th, 2023:

A Waterway Guide User on December 6th, 2022:

Absolutely top notch marina and staff. We had an extended stay to tend to some maintenance and upgrades and we were actually a little sad to leave when the time came! The docks are in great shape, and were getting redecked during our stay. The heads and showers were clean and well kept. Probably one of the better showers I've had anywhere on the ICW, plenty of hot water and pressure. The laundry room is spacious, with a folding counter and ironing boards. The dockmaster's office/ships store is small, but has a great selection of drinks and snacks. Even has a coffee bar with cold brew on tap!

And the staff? You couldn't put together a better crew if you tried. E, Stan, Bailey, Austin, Mitch, Bobby and the rest of the crew made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and they went well above and beyond to help us. Their generous hospitality was remarkable. I won't stay anywhere else when I'm in the area.

A Waterway Guide User on December 3rd, 2022:

We stayed 2 nights and did a pump out. The staff were exceptional and the courtesy car was clean, fairly new, and convenient. Great location and beautiful.

A Waterway Guide User on October 25th, 2022:

We stay overnight 10/24-25. We have no complaints! The marina is very nice, restrooms and laundry are top shelf. The staff is extremely helpful and courteous. We will make St John's Yacht Harbor a stop on our route.

A Waterway Guide User on August 31st, 2022:

Sad customer service . Tried to book a slip. 3 phone calls, said they would have to call back. Never returned call. Even called again and left message. No return call. Tried to book online. No response . That's what you call service.

Teresa on May 12th, 2022:

Excellent Marina to stay at, the dock hands take very good care of you and help in any way they can. The facilities are very well maintained. Bathroom, showers, laundry facilities are one of the best we have experienced. Highly recommend.

A Waterway Guide User on May 7th, 2022:

The staff is top notch, they have sound advice while docking, and responsive to our needs during our extended stay. The courtesy car is new. The Bath house is immaculate and large cleanest I have ever been in. Laundry has large folding area and iron. The pool area is complete with a grill fire pit and tables beside a creek. The store has been recently updated.The staff always made us feel welcome and were responsive to our needs. Steve has great dining suggestions. This will always be our place to stay when in Charleston. The staff made it like home.

A Waterway Guide User on April 22nd, 2022:

This marina is great! We had spoken to Steve and Stan prior to arrival, as we were concerned about current. We had great help with docking. All of the staff was fantastic. The bathroom and shower facilities are the nicest we have seen. They have a new courtesy car, also best we had ever used. To top it of they have a beautiful pool area.

Thomas on April 21st, 2022:

The young man who helped us tie up during a strong current and wind did a great job managing the situation. A loaner car was made available to us and we put it to good use. The bathrooms and showers were first rate. A very pleasant stay.

A Waterway Guide User on April 1st, 2022:

We had a wonderful stop at St. John's Marina and highly recommend it. The new owners purchased it in December 2021 and retained the former staff. As stated in other reviews, Harbormaster Steve is very friendly and helpful. He caught our lines under really windy conditions and made sure that we had a nice visit. This marina has the cleanest bathrooms, showers and laundry room that we have ever seen. It is about 5 miles away from Charleston and a loaner car is available. The new owners plan to add an on site restaurant and yacht club.

A Waterway Guide User on February 14th, 2022:

New rates $2.5' or $15' weekly. No longer gives the Boat US discount. Military rate -10%. Courtesy car is still available so can go for provisions with it. Clean and nice restrooms and showers. Nice swimming pool and laundry facilities. Boaters lounge is very nice and even has a pool table. Came at slack so docking went well but I could see some difficulty if you came at wrong time with the current. Staff friendly and very helpful. Dog friendly marina.

A Waterway Guide User on January 13th, 2022:

We broke down on way to Beaufort and had to be towed from North Edisto River. No other marinas wanted to take us since we were not under own power. Tow Boat US recommended them and they welcomed us even though after hours. Steve came out to help us in and get set up. They provided a free courtesy car for 3 hours so we could provision. Recommended a great restaurant Wild Olive and entire staff very helpful including the repair parts that came they brought right to our boat. The marina is great now and they are doing additional upgrades. Can't wait to see it in the spring on way back up North. Would plan a couple days to try other restaurants, breweries and distillery an Uber away.

A Waterway Guide User on January 11th, 2022:

The marina has fuel, pump out, ice, excellent laundry facilities, floating docks, good WiFi, but what sets it apart are the courtesy cars. We often provision here at the nearest Harris Teeter, a large supermarket in the area. There's some current when docking but the dockhands are used to handling the incoming boats and I've never had a problem.

Mike on December 13th, 2021:

Attention to detail and competent staff make for a successful combination.

Paula on November 28th, 2021:

The marina is very well maintained and the staff very friendly and accommodating. I like this marina for its location to Charleston - yet not in the hustle and bustle of downtown Charleston.

A Waterway Guide User on November 11th, 2021:

St Johns is a great place to stop. Staff was outstanding in securing us upon arrival and helping us depart with the swift current. Bathrooms as noted by other reviewers were outstanding, WiFi was great, and the use of the courtesy car was a major plus. Would definitely recommend staying here as an alternative to downtown Charleston.

A Waterway Guide User on August 10th, 2021:

Very nice Marina a little bit outside charleston. We chose it for the affordability and the comfort. Did get some waking there from small boats traveling the Stono River, but nothing unmanageable. The staff, Steve particularly, we're extremely helpful and hospitable. Has a loaner car which is a super plus. Will stay there again. There's also a lovely pool area that you can enjoy as well. Only reason it didn't get five stars was because of the conditions of the docks, they were good floating docks, would some of the screws were coming out and it made it a little more difficult for the pets to walk. The bath house is probably the finest I've seen. Clean, large and well air conditioned.

A Waterway Guide User on July 7th, 2021:

We are weekly visitors to St Johns for fuel, ice and beer. Great staff and always on spot when we pull up for fuel. We once had a battery issue not far from the marina and couldn't get a hold of friends to help. We called St Johns and they came out and gave us a charge. Locally owned marina and it shows.
So glad to have them here on Johns Island-they are great neighbors.

A Waterway Guide User on May 12th, 2021:

Top notch dockmaster and staff made for a very enjoyable stay at St. John's Yacht Harbor. Arrived on a Saturday and was met by the dockmaster and another line handler. Current runs swift so pay attention to the dockmaster's advice. Our one week stay was easily extended to enable us to continue to visit with our daughter. Courtesy car used during our stay that allowed us to resupply food and to pickup parts at a local marine supply. Had several maintenance issues to address while there. Local knowledge of good service people to assist was appreciated. Pump out boat arrived every Monday to empty our tank. Again, the dockmaster and staff are on the top of their game. Thanks again for a great stay. We will stay at SJYH again.

A Waterway Guide User on May 12th, 2021:

Great staff and excellent assistance. Very clean and spacious showers. Nice pool and laundry. No restaurant on site. Lyft and Uber were non-existent at diner time and cabs needed to be reserved. The courtesy car is available during the day until 6:00 PM. There is food delivery available via popular apps, but may take some time. An excellent overnight stop if you plan ahead to deal with the remote dinner availability and challenging currents.

A Waterway Guide User on April 25th, 2021:

Excellent staff and facilities. Courtesy car for 2 hours allows easy access to Charleston, Folly Beach and lots of stores/restaurants. Recycling at marina.

A Waterway Guide User on April 15th, 2021:

A must stop on the AICW. The facilities here are incredible. Very nice pools, and the best showers I have seen at any marina. The current rips through here so plan accordingly. Great beer selection in the ships store.

A Waterway Guide User on March 24th, 2021:

Great dock hands. Friendly and very knowledgeable. Super nice facilities with the nicest laundry room you will find. Good place to walk the dog. Swimming pool looks great.

A Waterway Guide User on March 21st, 2021:

Best part is the dock crew. They are all helpful, friendly and competent. Stan is the dockmaster and he was very accommodating, allowing us to stay on the fuel dock one night to make it easier when having some work done. Steve, Molly, E, and Austin all helped us during our 4 night stay. Deep water. Strong tidal current but E was very good helping us dock. Pump out boat comes to slip. Sturdy docks. Very nice large restrooms and showers. Four washers and four dryers in laundry room. Pool. Courtesy car.

A Waterway Guide User on January 10th, 2021:

Undeniably the most knowledgeable and helpful dock master I've encountered! The care given and his communication was great. Facilities were nice and well maintained. Will visit again.

A Waterway Guide User on October 24th, 2020:

This is the cleanest marina we have seen! The staff was very professional and knowledgeable.

A Waterway Guide User on October 2nd, 2020:

Ditto the review below - would give 6 stars if I could! Wonderful staff - Stan, Steve and E went above and beyond to help us and had great recommendations for the area, and are truly friendly people - and the bathrooms/showers were so nice I could’ve slept there lol. Same care with laundry room ($1 machines)! Free pump outs either at the fuel dock or served by the pump out boat. There’s a nice pool, and post Covid I’m sure the other gathering spaces will be lively. The night time lighting was comfortable and not glaring.
The location was fairly low on boat traffic, so not a lot of rocking, had such easy boating access to waterways, anchorages, islands, beaches and creeks that we will go back for more exploration. A walk from the marina between the only two nearby neighborhoods passes a bird filled marsh and was a nice way to start my day.
Courtesy car, easy access to shopping (Muddy Waters Coffee and Normandy Bakery; both two thumbs up!), and of course all the attractions of the Charleston area are a bonus.

Hannah on September 27th, 2020:

If only we could get off the wait list and have our on slip!

Anonymous on August 16th, 2020:

Excellent facilities friendly staff

Anonymous on August 9th, 2020:

Beautiful facilities! Excellent service! Highly recommend

A Waterway Guide User on May 31st, 2020:

This has been one of our favorite marinas to stop at so far and would not hesitate to recommend or come here again in the future. They have the cleanest facilities from the bathrooms to laundry to the docks. And they have the friendliest and most helpful staff all around. They were knowledgeable and so friendly.

We originally planned for a short stopover but got waylaid by some weather but this marina was exceptionally helpful and accommodating. Also have a courtesy car that can use to run into town; number of grocery stores, Walmart, propane refill options, and a West Marine all within short driving distance.

A Waterway Guide User on March 28th, 2020:

Would give 6 stars if possable, agree with all the rest reviews, great amenities and helpful staff

A Waterway Guide User on February 16th, 2020:

This is the nicest marina in Charleston. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The facility is kept spotless and the amenities are fantastic. More than fair pricing for what you get. A pleasure to stay here.

A Waterway Guide User on June 13th, 2019:

This has got to be one of the nicer Marinas in the area. The staff is very friendly and the Marina is so clean. Lots of showers and washer/dryers.

A Waterway Guide User on April 9th, 2019:

We arrived after hours and Steve, who lives there, helped us dock, which was good because of the current. It runs diagonal to the docks. The bathrooms were the cleanest and nicest we've seen in 3 years of cruising, and the everyone was friendly. They provided us with a splitter for our power cord. We got a nice Boat US discount, which was a pleasant surprise. Will absolutely stay there again.

A Waterway Guide User on January 29th, 2018:

Great facility, but remote. There is a courtesy car which is great for errands. Would get 5* if the internet was functional, but it really is marginal.