Entry 02First watch · Slips & Marinas4 min
Most marinas in Fort Lauderdale are private, but the city itself runs dockage along the New River in the middle of downtown. The city’s marine facilities page describes its waterways as offering municipal docking at competitive rates, and says all of its marine facilities are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For a visiting boat or a newcomer looking for a first slip, they are the easiest place to see published prices.
The two facilities
Cooley’s Landing
Cooley’s Landing sits at 450 SW 7th Avenue on the New River. The city lists it as a 2.96-acre park with a boat ramp, fishing, a marina comfort station with showers and a laundromat, marina connections for cable, electric, phone, sewage and water, parking, a pavilion, picnic tables and a waterfront walkway. The city notes the comfort station was recently renovated with new restrooms and laundry facilities.
New River/Downtown Docks
The downtown docks line the banks of the New River along the brick-paved Riverwalk, just off Las Olas Boulevard. The city says the facility has 100 slips with full utilities and puts boaters within walking distance of shops and sidewalk cafes. The U.S. Coast Pilot, NOAA’s official sailing directions, adds that both banks of the New River between the U.S. Route 1 tunnel and the Florida East Coast Railway bridge are owned by the city, with berths along the bulkheads providing water and electricity.
Contacts and hours
- Office: 450 SW 7th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Phone: (954) 828-4626 or (954) 828-5423
- Radio: the office monitors VHF channel 9
- The Coast Pilot notes that the city dockmaster has police powers over all waterways within the city limits
What dockage costs
The city publishes a rate card with daily, monthly, three-month and annual rates per foot per day, a 35-foot billing minimum and 7 percent Florida sales tax, plus a separate utility charge by the size of the power connection. The rates change seasonally; the card for summer 2026 noted that new rates took effect October 1. A worked example with those numbers is in Renting a Boat Slip in Fort Lauderdale: How Dockage Is Priced and What to Ask Before You Sign.
A few house rules on the card are worth knowing before you arrive:
- Check-out time is noon; a late check-out is charged at the day dockage rate.
- An annual rate needs a non-refundable deposit equal to 31 days of dockage with utilities.
- BoatUS members can get the equivalent of the monthly rate for up to 10 days a calendar year, but not at the fuel dock, on holidays or during special events.
- Parking permits are available to registered customers.
Free pump-out for everyone
The city operates four complimentary sewage pump-out stations, open to the public:
| Station | Address | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Cox’s Landing Boat Ramp | 1784 SE 15th Street | Self-service, 24 hours |
| Smoker Park | 501 S. New River Drive | Self-service, 24 hours |
| Marshall Point | SW 4th Avenue | Assisted, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Cooley’s Landing Marina | 450 SW 7th Avenue | Assisted, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
The city said a mobile pump-out service was planned for spring 2026; ask the office whether it is running. Florida law prohibits discharging raw sewage from any vessel in state waters, so a nearby pump-out matters. More on fueling and pump-outs is in Fuel Docks and Pump-Out Stations in Fort Lauderdale: Where to Fill Up and Empty the Tank Legally.
Getting there by water
The New River is entered from the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Coast Pilot warns that at Tarpon Bend, 0.6 mile above the mouth, the channel is narrow, currents are strong and heavy traffic can be expected. Speed on the New River is limited to no wake. Several bascule bridges cross the river above the downtown docks, and some do not open during weekday rush hours; check clearances and schedules in Bridges and Clearances on Fort Lauderdale’s New River: Heights, Rush-Hour Rules and the FEC Railroad Bridge before you head upriver. The Coast Pilot advises strangers going upriver to get information from the city dockmaster first.
Tip: Call or radio the dockmaster before you arrive. First-come, first-served works best when you know a slip of the right length is free.
Repairs and storage up the river
The Coast Pilot describes Fort Lauderdale as a city where all facilities for yachts are available and several thousand yachts base in winter. Above the city-owned berths, a number of large storage yards line the New River about 2.5 miles upriver, along with repair yards and storage basins. The largest shipyard listed has a marine elevator with a capacity of 300 tons and a marine railway that can handle vessels up to 120 feet, and some yards have cranes of up to 50 tons. For storm-season planning, see Hurricane Plans for Boats in Fort Lauderdale: What Florida Law Lets Marinas Do and How to Prepare.
Clean Marina designation
The city says its marine facilities are designated Clean Marinas under the Florida Clean Marina Program. For boaters, the practical side is free pump-out access and rules about fueling. Fueling by truck at the downtown docks, for example, is limited to slip SNR-43, and the city requires the fuel supplier to carry spill insurance and equipment.