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Feature: Marinas & Channels - West Coast USA

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by YachtForums, Apr 1, 2006.

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  1. Marinas & Channels: West Coast
    by Capt. David Reams​


    *Disclaimer – the following list is not a complete guide. It contains marinas and ports visited by the author. Comments are subjective and are based on experience only. If a marina or port is omitted, it is only because the author has not visited the same.

    Heading North From San Diego...

    San Diego Bay: SD 1 Buoy at 32 37.33 N 117 14.74 W. Easy channel to enter but stay in the channel. The Zuniga jetty is south of the channel and is partially submerged at any tide. Go past Ballast Point and the submarine base to Shelter Island. If entering from Mexico (or further south) you are required to stop at the Harbor Police / Customs dock. Phone in customs clearance is not allowed in San Diego. After clearing in the next marina on your starboard side is Kona Kai Marina. Next is Shelter Island Marina Inn (619-223-0301). Either of these marinas will accommodate large yachts. On the north side of the basin is Southwestern Yacht Club and then San Diego Yacht Club. You may have no cost dockage at either of these clubs if the yacht is a member of a reciprocating yacht club. Silvergate Yacht Club is next to Shelter Island Marina Inn. At the end of the basin are two fuel docks. East of Shelter Island is Harbor Island, there are several marinas on Harbor Island and two fuel docks. The marinas will have difficulty with yachts over 80 feet. Still further down the bay past the downtown skyline is the Marriott Marina. They have a couple of slips for yachts over 80 feet.

    Mission Bay: 32 45.46 N 117 15.79 W There are no spaces for yachts over 65 feet in Mission Bay. There are a couple of fuel docks and in a pinch an anchorage in the basin on the north side of the entrance channel.

    Oceanside: 33 12.09 N 117 24.48 W. Very limited service for large yachts, however there is a fuel dock and it may have space for an overnight stay in a pinch.

    Dana Point: 33 27.05 N 117 41.37W Limited space for large vessels. A small anchorage area is available at the north end of the north Basin.

    Newport Beach: 33 35.0N 117 52.68W A nice bay, well protected, some space available for transiting yachts.

    Avalon, Catalina Island: 34 21.01N, 118.19.1W Beautiful Catalina Island has three bays, Avalon and Isthmus on the east side and Catalina (Cat) Harbor on the west. There are no docks for transiting yachts at any of these harbors, there are mooring available on a first come first serve basis. In the event of “Santa Ana” winds (warm, strong east winds) immediately run for the mainland or Cat harbor.

    Long Beach: 33 42.14N, 118 11.04W Located directly across the channel from Catalina, inside the breakwater is safe anchorage. There are a couple of marinas but mostly a large commercial port. Marine services are available.

    Marina del Rey: (south jetty) 33 57.39N, 118 27.6W As close to downtown L.A. as is possible to get by boat. Enter via the south side of the breakwater. Channel is subject to shoaling, contact Harbor Patrol to check depth if you draw over 61/2 feet. Several marinas and the Marriott and the Fuel dock can take yachts over 150 feet on a transient basis.

    Ventura/Oxnard: 34 14.44N, 119 16.75W A small harbor with a couple of boatyards and facilities for smaller yachts. There is a lot of commercial fishing traffic so mechanical repair work is available.

    Cojo Anchorage: 34 26.56N, 120 26.57W Located just south east of Point Conception (the Graveyard of the Pacific) this is a small protected anchorage very useful for waiting for the weather to allow you around the point. Do not use the large mooring buoy as this is for supply boats to the oilrigs. Anchor off the beach in front of the railroad bridge.

    San Luis Obispo: 35 09.66N, 120 44W An easy to enter, large roadstead, semi protected. Long wharf is for the oil refinery. This is a good stopping place to rest up after rounding Point Conception.

    Morro Bay: 35 21.62N, 120 52.5W Do not attempt to enter in large seas! Nice small town, limited boating facilities but a quaint stopover.

    Monterey Bay: 36 36.76N, 121 52.96W Home of the famous aquarium, a rolly anchorage with no facilities. There is a small marina on the east side of the Pleasure Pier, but they hold very few transient slip available. The west side of the Pleasure Pier has a public face dock usually available for dinghy moorage. Sometimes private vessels may make arrangements with the Harbor Master to use this dock for a short stay. I have taken the 145-foot Californian to this dock but it is very tight.

    Santa Cruz: 36 57.4N, 122 00W A very small harbor, may be possible to get transient moorage for one large yacht. Anchorage east of the breakwater has OK holding but tends to be rolly.

    Half Moon Bay: 37 28.88N, 122 28.9N Beautiful double breakwaters protecting a large bay. You will see the giant “golf tee” (large antenna) from a distance. Inner harbor has some transient moorage but outer harbor has good holding ground and is very protected.

    San Francisco: 37 45.80N, 122 37.93W One of the best landfalls in the world, coming under the Golden Gate Bridge is truly memorable. Strong currents, lots of chop, high winds are features of this great, huge bay. To the north is Sausalito with Schoonmaker Point marina (415-331-1550) having only large boat transient slips on the Bay. They can take yachts greater than 150 feet with up to 10-foot draft.

    South of the Bay Bridge is South Beach Harbor (415-495-4911) located at the old Pier 40. There is 700 feet of face dock and a couple of “T heads” sometimes available. Charter companies use the face dock for dinner cruises so availability is limited. If you can get a spot here it is a short (3 mile) trolley or walk to Pier 39 and the great Aquatic Park with Maritime Museum at Hyde Street.

    Bodega Bay: 38 17.26N, 123 02.37W A breakwater entrance, long channel and new marina, limited space but a nice marina if there is room. Bodega Head is the last point north of San Francisco before open ocean. If it is really big rounding Bodega Head I strongly suggest taking shelter in either Bodega Bay or Drakes Bay (south of Bodega Bay) and waiting for a break in the weather.

    Crescent City: 41 43.5N, 124 11.36W Crescent City is the last “all weather” port before Cape Flattery. Due to St. Georges Reef the harbor entrance is protected in any weather. The bay is quite small and devoted to the local fishing industry, however there are a few transient slips available. The town is small with Pelican Bay Prison being the main employer. Englunds Marine Hardware is located right on the waterfront with mostly commercial hardware but a good supply of parts.

    Oregon...

    Newport, OR: 44 43.54N, 124 06.04W Much easier to enter to enter than the Columbia River, Newport is a nice small town with another well developed fishing base. On the north side of the river is the commercial marina with several hundred feet of transient moorage. The south side of the river has the yacht basin with no space for vessels over about 75 to 80 feet.

    Cape Flattery: 48 24.96N, 124 45.02W Rounding this takes you into the Straights of Juan de Fuca and hopefully a break from big swells and a chance to rest. Try to avoid running after dark as the logging tows drop quite a few waterlogged logs and these are difficult enough to spot in the daylight. Hitting a 30+ inch diameter log 35 feet in length will ruin your day.

    Port Townsend: 48 06.4N, 122 46.03W. Approx. 85 miles east of Cape Flattery, turn south around Pt. Hudson and find the town of Port Townsend. A great history as this was THE port for Washington before steam engines made it possible for tugs to get ships to Seattle. Several foreign embassies were constructed and then left when steam took over shipping. The Port of Port Townsend controls docks (360-385-2355); large yachts (up to 130 feet or so) can be accommodated at the old Admiral Marine dock.

    Seattle...

    Seattle has several yacht harbors but our favorite is Bell Harbor (206-615-3952) located on Elliott Bay. This marina is easy walking distance (up a long flight of stairs) to Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. A completely protected yacht basin it is only for transient yachts with a maximum stay of about one week.

    Shilshole Bay Marina: 47 40.77N, 122 24.90W. This is a huge marina with transient slips and a fuel dock. Located north of downtown Seattle it is a taxi ride into town.

    Victoria, B.C.: 48 24.64N, 123 24.10W. The harbor at Victoria British Colombia is beautiful. Enter the channel proceed around the point to the east and the view of Downtown Victoria unfolds before your bow. The Empress Hotel is the large building with the gardens stretching towards the water. High Tea at the Empress hotel is a touch of England in the New World.
    We stayed at Wharf Street Floats (250-363-3273), with floating docks and a wonderful view of the city front.

    Vancouver, B.C.: 49 19.02N, 123 08.7W. You will be entering through the Narrows, under a large bridge and then following the channel south and west around Stanley Park to Coal Harbor. This is easy to spot from a distance because of the floating fuel docks ½ mile from shore. Coal Harbor Marina (604-681-2620) has floating docks, a ship’s store, restaurants and Stanley park in walking distance.
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