Savannah Marina Plans Major Redevelopment

The Savannah, Georgia, marina and boatyard formerly known as Sail Harbor Marina and Boatyard has new owners – and a new name. Wilmington Partners purchased the facility, now called Savannah Marina, from its longtime (three-decade) owners in September 2021.

The new owners plan a major redevelopment of the marina and the two adjacent lots, which they also bought. “We’re going to be building a waterfront dining restaurant on the property, and then we’re doing a new marina next to the old one,” said Rory Jose, Savannah Marina general manager. Meanwhile, they have closed the boatyard, but kept the 60 existing slips open.

The majority of the boats in the new, 60-slip section of Savannah Marina will probably be in the 40-foot range. But the slips will also be able to accommodate boats up to 120 feet, with power and other services sufficient to meet their needs. The owners hope to attract some of the bigger yachts that travel the Intercoastal Waterway, which is less than a mile away. (The marina is located at the mouth of Turner’s Creek, which flows into the Wilmington River.)

“The marina is going to be a full-service marina, with fuel, a new two-story ship store and bathhouse with office space for rent, pump out and green space,” Jose continued. The partners will reserve about 200 feet of linear dock for a dock-and-dine service for the new restaurant.

The new docks, which will total about 20,000 square feet, will have 60 slips. Jose estimates that about 20% will be reserved for transient boaters.
Structure Marine, based in Montreal, Canada, will build the docks, which will be made from aluminum with composite material decking. A local marine contractor will install them and drive the new pilings as well.

Since the marina already has the permits in place for the in-water work, pile driving and installation of the new docks should begin in late summer 2022. Jose said they hope to have those slips ready by the end of that year.

Planning for the restaurant and ship store building is now underway, and the partners hope to get construction started in late spring of 2022, with an expected completion date of February 2023.

Jose said the additional space and amenities at the marina should be a welcome addition for Savannah area boaters. “The existing marina is pretty full right now with long-term customers, and we have a waitlist. I’m anticipating that we will stay busy throughout the rest of this year and next year.”