Tucked on North Fork New River, Sailboat Bend Preserve/Townsend Park Dock is a saltwater launch that gives Broward County boaters direct access to some of the region's most fishable water. It's the kind of ramp locals keep in their rotation — close to home, reliably usable, and a quick run to open water. As of the last FWC inventory update, launching is free here.
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At a glance
- County
- Broward
- City
- Fort Lauderdale
- Waterbody
- North Fork New River
- Water type
- Salt or Brackish Water
- Ramp type
- Hand Launch Only
- Ramp surface
- Floating Dock
- Dock
- Floating Dock
- Parking surface
- Paved - Asphalt or Concrete
- Restroom
- No Toilet
- Fee required
- No
- Managed by
- City of Fort Lauderdale
- Status
- Open for Business
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Address: 1401 S.w. 14th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33312 · Coordinates: 26.120209, -80.16048
Get directions on Google Maps →
Where it is
Live NEXRAD radar from Iowa State Mesonet — past ~65 minutes animated. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Ramp location from the FWC boat ramp inventory. Not for navigation.
On-water restrictions nearby
No mapped state manatee-protection or boating-safety zones were found within 500 m of this ramp in the current FWC dataset. This does not mean the area is unrestricted — posted signs and other local, state, or federal rules may still apply.
Restriction zones: For general awareness only — not for navigation or legal determination. Florida Administrative Code and posted on-water signs prevail. Other local, state, or federal restricted zones may exist that are not shown here. Source: FWC manatee protection & boating-safety GIS layers. Zone data as of .
What to know before you launch
- Rinse your trailer and engine with fresh water after launching in salt — corrosion is the enemy on Florida's coast.
- Parking and lane space can be tight on weekends; have your gear staged and your plug in before you back down.
- There are no restrooms on-site, so plan accordingly before you head out.
- Always check current tides, wind, and marine forecasts before you launch — Florida afternoons can turn stormy fast.
Tides at the nearest station
The closest NOAA tide station is South Port Everglades, ICWW, about 4 miles away. Here are today's predicted highs and lows (referenced to MLLW):
Boater discussion
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