Clearwater Harbor

Marinas near Clearwater Harbor

Introduction:

Located off the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater Pass, the cities of Clearwater Beach and Clearwater are about 15 miles northwest of Saint Petersburg and 20 miles west of Tampa. The two towns thrive on the water and more than a dozen marina facilities dot the shoreline in and around Clearwater Harbor. Ashore you will find easy access to Tampa and Saint Petersburg for shopping and entertainment, but more locally you will find a variety of attractions and provisioning opportunities that make the area a popular stop for boaters.

History:

When this area was known only to the Native Americans, clear springs gurgled from the banks into the bay. The springs, long since gone, were located along the high bluffs upon which City Hall and downtown Clearwater are now situated. Early settlers called it Clear Water Harbor, by which it was known until 1895 when Clearwater became one word. Harbor was dropped in 1906.

The city of Clearwater was incorporated on May 27, 1915. The library was built in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. In the same year, the city built the first wooden bridge to Clearwater Beach, opening it up for development. Morton F. Plant, the son of the illustrious Henry Plant, donated and raised money for the first hospital in 1914. The population continued to steadily climb. After World War II, a number of soldiers who had trained here returned to live. The Philadelphia Phillies professional baseball team began spring training in the 1940s. From 1950, with 15,000 residents, the population continued to burgeon until it reached the number of citizens here today.

[i]Portions Courtesy Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce[/i]

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 11411.

The major navigational feature in Clearwater Harbor is Clearwater Pass, a reliable and relatively deep (8.5-foot project depth) inlet that allows access to the Gulf of Mexico from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) near GIWW Mile 135.0. Also of note is the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bascule Bridge (25-foot closed vertical clearance; restricted opening schedule), which crosses the GIWW route at Mile 136.0.

Most of Clearwater’s marinas are located on Clearwater Beach Island on the west side of the GIWW and require navigating off the main channel. The first set of marinas are located off a channel that runs parallel to the Clearwater Memorial Causeway on its southern side. There are four facilities here and two of them offer transient facilities for visiting boaters. One of the marinas has fuel, but none have haul-out facilities.

If you can clear the 14-foot fixed portion of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge, you can access three more facilities off the Mandalay Channel, but you’ll only find fuel here (no transient slips). Alternate access to these facilities is available around the north side of Clearwater Beach.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Things To Do/Local Events:

?One of the most populuar attractions in Clearwater, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is one of only eight facilities in the United States, authorized to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals. This "hands on" attraction offers personal encounters with bottle nose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, river otters, sting rays, local fish and coral reefs. Sick and injured marine mammals recover here until they can be returned to their homes. The aquarium is home to Sunset Sam, a dolphin, world renowned for his painting.

Clearwater's special events offer a diverse group of activities that satisfy most every taste, whether to hear the best in jazz at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday or to enjoy the spring at the Fun 'N Sun Festival or to experience Kid's Week showcasing family activities or to participate in the Florida Birding Festival or to watch the pros at the various beach volleyball tournaments.

For a detailed calendar of events, see the “Helpful Links” section below.

[i]Portions Courtesy Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce[/i]

Transportation:

Three airports just minutes from the beaches make make crew changes or schedules departures easy. Both Tampa International Airport and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport have recently been recently renovated. Airport shuttles and rental cars are available at both airports. Tampa International Airport is 19 miles from Clearwater Beach and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport is 11 miles away. For detailed shuttle and flight schedules see the “Helpful Links” section below.

Helpful Links:

City of Clearwater

Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce

Clearwater Calendar of Events

Tampa International Airport

Saint Petersburg International Airport