Mott's Channel between the intracoastal waterway and Masonboro Inlet
Maximum Boat Length:
25
Marsh Harbour Villas is a four-unit townhome complex on Harbor Island, the island which sits between the mainland and Wrightsville Beach. The complex sits at the east end of an L-shaped channel cut from Motts Channel. The Villas have a floating dock in a well-protected area. The floating dock is 75 feet long. Spaces are assigned in the MLS.
Channel Walk and Shoreline were built in several phases. The original section dates to 1972. More recent sections date to 1987. Older units have slips along Lee's Cut, while the newer units have slips in a protected harbor. These units were not designed or finished to be luxurious. They had 9-foot ceiling heights, contractor-grade finishes, and always felt a little cramped. While some remain as they were built, some interiors have been substantially modified. But they get a nice piece of real estate. The complex occupies the entire northwest corner of Harbor Island, with the intracoastal waterway to the west and Lee's Cut along the north and east sides. Lee's Cut leads to Banks Channel, which separates Harbor Island from Wrightsville Beach.
Intracoastal waterway north of Masonboro Inlet and Bradley Creek
Maximum Boat Length:
45
Gray Gables is a subdivision of 17 lots parallel to and just north of the Edgewater neighborhood off Airlie Road. This is a prime location in the Wrightsville Beach area, with homes ranging from 2000 to 5000 square feet on 0.3 to 0.5 acres. The marina has 14 45-foot slips, with additional space for smaller boats to tie off parallel to the docks on the inland side. Slips are assigned to residents. All slips are along the intracoastal side, with full fingers, double berths, and piles. Although this is a no-wake zone, most slips have power lifts. The docks have a mix of dock boxes. There are utility pedestals.
Intracoastal waterway north of Masonboro Inlet and Bradley Creek
Maximum Boat Length:
45
The Edgewater subdivision and its neighbor to the north, Gray Gables, command a prime location close to Wrightsville Beach, the Masonboro Inlet, and Masonboro Island. There are 34 lots in the subdivision and 34 slips in the marina. Lots range from 0.5 to 1.45 acres. Houses range from 2,000 to 6,800 square feet. Slips are assigned. There are 27 slips at 32 feet in length and 7 at 45 feet. Slips are doubles with piles and full fingers. The docks appear to be well equipped. Utility pedestals and dock boxes vary in size. There are slips on both sides of a central floating deck. The docks are in a no-wake zone, but most of the slips on the intracoastal waterway side have power lifts. I couldn't inspect the docks directly because of the security gate.
Bradley Creek leading to the intracoastal waterway north of Masonboro Inlet
Bar Harbor Estates barely qualifies as one of these properties. It has a dock where you can dock a boat for unlimited time. However, it's first come, first served, with spaces for, they say, 6 boats. But 6 may be a stretch. Boats are tied off parallel to the docks, accessed through a gate and down built-in ladders. The docks are fixed-height, and the area is tidal. There is a ramp, but it may be of little use. The water is no more than 15 feet from the water's edge to the dock, and it's a shallow 15 feet. You'll never float a boat that draws more than a canoe or a jon boat and turn it, in that space, enough to clear the docks. Anyone considering buying in Bar Harbor Estates would need to confirm access to and use of the ramp.
Ariel Cove is a three-lot subdivision on the southern bank of Bradley Creek. The lots are 0.8 to 0.69 acres. Each owner gets two 30-foot slips on a common dock on Bradley Creek. I was not able to inspect the docks, but the photos clearly show they are floating docks with full fingers. Four of the docks have fingers on both sides of the slip; two in the middle of the dock are doubles. There is a covered pavilion. And there are three utility pedestals.
The Westport subdivision consists of a single road running from Shandy Lane to the intracoastal waterway. It has 11 lots: 3 on the north side and 9 on the south, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 acres. The marina has 15 berths in a channel that it shares with Oak Landing Townhomes. The channel opens onto Bradley Creek very close to where it feeds into the Intracoastal waterway. The channel is well protected from wakes, and none of the slips have power lifts. The channel is bulkheaded on the west (mainland) side and protected by a salt marsh to the east. The docks float on piles next to the bulkhead. The docks have double berths with piles and partial finger boarding. Dock boxes are sporadic and clearly optional; water service is available. Electrical service is unconfirmed.
Bradley Creek off the intracoastal waterway just north of Masonboro Inlet
Maximum Boat Length:
35
Oak Landing Townhomes is a townhouse complex overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway behind Wrightsville Beach, just north of Masonboro Inlet. The complex has two basic floor plans: a 2-story and a 1 & 1/2 story. Both are 3-bedroom, 3-full-bath. They are fairly close in size, both around 2,500 square feet. The complex totals 15 units, clustered on the west side of the property overlooking a large green space that leads down to the community docks. The docks are well protected from the Intracoastal Waterway, with over 1000 feet of wetland to the east. A channel was dug to the north leading to Bradley Creek. The channel is shared with the Westport community to the north. Each slip has a short finger, with piles defining the back of the slip at about 37 feet.
Intracoastal waterway between Bradley Creek and Masonboro Inlet
Maximum Boat Length:
60
Shandy Point has a small identity issue. Although it is known in the MLS and in legal descriptions as Shandy Point, it is known in our tax record service as "Sandy Point". But the quirkiness only begins there. Quirky in the most endearing sense. In Shandy Point, for landlocked lots, in addition to their building lots, owners are deeded small plots of land around an artificial harbor. The owner is entitled to build a dock of their own design on that plot. In fact, the owner is responsible for maintaining the bulkhead for their individual plot. There are 23 of these small plots, which appear to match the number of landlocked lots in the subdivision. We saw utility pedestals and water hoses, which indicates utilities have been run to the area. The harbor is well protected from intracoastal wakes by a nearly 1000 foot entry channel.
Intracoastal waterway just north of the Masonboro Inlet
Maximum Boat Length:
24
Greenville Sound Gardens & Saucier Estates share a well-protected marina on the intracoastal waterway called Money Point. The Greenville Sound Gardens subdivision is made up of 13 parcels. The lots are small, but the houses range from 2,500 to 5,000 square feet. The docks are well protected, with bulkheads on all sides of an irregular pentagon, except for the opening to the intracoastal waterway on the northeast side. Slips are doubles with partial fingers that appear to max out at around 25 feet. A deck runs along about half the perimeter of the bulkhead, with another floating deck inside the bulkheads to access the slips. It was impossible to get any pictures of the docks because of the bulkhead height. The slips do have utility pedestals and sporadic dock boxes.
Harborside Club at 70w is an 8 story condominium complex on Peletier Creek which feeds into Bogue Sound. Amenities include a pool, a sauna, a fitness center, a conference room, an owner's lounge with a wet bar and a full kitchen overlooking the pool. There is also a grill and picnic area under a canopy by the pool. There are changing rooms, showers and baths on the ground floor. Each owner has a storage unit on the ground floor for gear. Two high speed elevators service the building. The entire complex is gated and secured.
There are 3 basic floor plans designated "A", "B" & "C", all are 3 bedroom & 3 bath. All units have terraces overlooking the pool, marina and Peletier Creek. There 2 floor plan “B”s at 1925 sq ft, one on each end with corner wrap around terraces. There is one “C” plan in the middle of each floor which features a deeper terrace that runs the full width of the unit. There are 6 “A” plans on each floor. Four of the “A” plans on each floor have balconies half the width of the unit.
Cabin Creek off Bay River leading to the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound
Maximum Boat Length:
35
Cabin Creek is a 14-parcel subdivision on Cabin Creek off the Bay River, which leads to the point where the Neuse River and the Pamlico Sound converge. Lots in Cabin Creek range from 1.2 to 5 acres, all of which are waterfront. Nonetheless, they have a well-protected common dock with 11 slips on the Bay River. Slips are 35 feet in length; the docks are a fixed height with a wooden frame and a concrete-based 'hog slat' decking. The slips are doubles with piles, and several have power lifts.
This area will require more research on my part. There are three neighborhoods, each with its own docks. I'll try to clarify the situation soon and make another visit.
Lord Carteret Condos shares a common dock with 1013 Front Street, a 5-unit complex just behind it. Lord Carteret Condos has 4 units each at approximately 1170 square feet, 3 bedrooms 2 baths. These condos were built in 1975, so it is reasonable to expect modifications. Each unit is one level, with two units on the ground floor and 2 on the second. There is no elevator. Beaufort's downtown waterfront is less than a half mile away.
The common docks are right across the street on Taylor Creek. Slips are assigned. They are marketed at 25 feet, but the back piles are 30 feet from the dock. The docks are basic but well maintained and would be fine for craft under 25 feet for cruising downtown Beaufort, Morehead City, and beyond.
A small subdivision with 12 very substantial homes and 8 slips. All of the houses in 1612 Front Street subdivision (yep, that's the name) are on the western side of Carrot Island Lane which runs perpendicular to Front Street, which is running parallel to Taylor's Creek. The docks are well maintained and equipped for a community facility. Most of the slips are equipped with power lifts. Slips may be rented to residents but can not be sold to anyone outside of the subdivision.
This is a great location for dinner cruises to Beaufort and Morehead City or exploring the undeveloped islands of the area.
Beaufort Landing is one of three neighborhoods in a row along Taylor Creek that share the name Beaufort Landing. This Beaufort Landing consists of 15 parcels beginning on the east side of Tidal Pond. The second, or Beaufort Landing Townhomes, is made up of 40 units in clusters of 4 and 5, which are legally condominiums, not townhomes. The third is Beaufort Landing Village comprised of 28 condominiums. Each neighborhood has it's own association with different association fees and it's own docks.
So this Beaufort Landing, the farthest to the West, boarding on the east by a small pond called Tidal Pond, consists single family homes on 15 parcels. Across Front Street to the south they have a well maintained marina of 27 slips. Most of the slips have power lifts. There's a pavilion and sitting area.
Masons Bluff is a 10-parcel subdivision around a single street and cul-de-sac running from Middle Sound Loop Road to the intracoastal waterway in northeastern New Hanover County. Three of the 10 parcels are waterfront, with the remaining 7 landlocked. None of the three waterfront properties have private docks, so the common dock has 10 slips. It's a bit of a hike to the slips, which are 200 yards from the shore. There is a pavilion at the docks. The slips are 30 feet long, with double slips, full fingers, and piles in between. All slips accept one boat; one appeared to have a power lift. The docks are right off the intracoastal waterway, with no breakwater, and are subject to wake buffeting.
All of the slips, except one, are equipped with power lifts. The docks are floating with wood framing and wood decking. They have utility pedestals.
