Mulberry Cove Marina has lots to offer

The marina, located at the south end of Ranger Street, along the banks of the beautiful St. Johns River is a place where Sailors can learn to sail, canoe and fish. It offers a wide array of rental equipment including kayaks, canoes, Flying Junior and Flying Scot sailboats, and 14-foot Lasers. Powerboats include bass boats with trolling motors and fish-finders, pontoon boats, Boston Whalers, Deckboats, jet skis, and 14-foot stump knockers.  All you need to rent a powerboat is a Florida Safe Boater card, available free of charge at www.boatus.org.  Reservations for powerboats must be made in person with a $25 deposit.

''Our boat rentals are, on average, 68 percent less than at the marinas outside the gate,'' said Mulberry Cove Marina Manager Phil Collins.

The Ship's Store on the waterfront carries bait, ice, sandwiches, a variety of drinks, fishing licenses, fishing tackle, sunglasses, T-shirts, outdoor recreation knives, basic boat parts and various sundries to meet your boating needs. The store also has unleaded mid-grade gasoline pier-side and a free boat ramp.

Retired Navy Chief Allen Black sprays down the deck of his motor yacht after a long day of sailing. Photos by JO1 Mike England

''Our store has everything a sportsman could need,'' said Collins. ''All you have to do is show up, we'll do the rest.''

For boat owners they have slips, moorings and dry storage available on daily, monthly and yearly rental basis. At the slips, fresh water and 30-amp station power are available. Live-aboards are permitted only on a temporary basis.  

''A lot of new boat owners out there might not realize that we offer boat storage, wetslips and mooring dry storage for about 40 percent less than off-base marinas,'' Collins stated.

Sailing instruction classes and safe boating courses are also available in partnership with the Navy Jacksonville Yacht Club.

''We offer classes for just about anything you would want to learn about involving the water,'' Collins said.

Photo by JO2(AW) Cassandra Thompson Children enrolled at NAS Jacksonville's Youth Center Summer Camp enjoy a day of canoeing at the Mulberry Cove Marina. Front to back are Michelle Garrett, Kaitlyn Rose, Matthew Breen, Erika Bryan, Kiera Brown and Petronia Hall. The marina offers a wide variety of rental boats at low cost. For more information, call 542-3260.

Tents, sleeping pads, cots, camp stoves, lanterns, large grills, coolers, turkey fryers, and much more are also available to be rented.

Mulberry Cove Marina also provides many free services to different organizations on and off base such as the Chief's Mess, NJROTC and the Naval Sea Cadets.

''We feel that it's important to lend our support to organizations that have a positive impact on the base and Jacksonville community,'' Collins stated.

Even with the low prices and the give a ways, the marina's employees feel that none of it would matter without great customer service.

''It really comes down to the overall experience the customer has,'' said Mulberry Cove Marina Employee Josie Hodge. ''Low prices are nice and all, but the customer isn't going to come back if they're not happy with the service they received.''

The marina is open to all active duty, reservists and retired military as well as Department of Defense civilians. To request prices or a full informational brochure, e-mail philip.s.collins@navy.mil or call 542-3260.