Puget Sound Marina Search

[FlyMeAway]

I’m sure that Port of Edmonds is fine, but they require that one appear in person in the marina office with a $200 deposit to be placed on a waiting list. I guess they don’t trust internet or email, and obviously don’t need business. I might do so in Feb when we visit the area if nothing else has come through.

I got the same runaround FWIW, called back the next day and the next person I spoke to had no such requirement -- totally willing to take it from me by mail. I didn't end up joining their waitlist (decided to stay at EBM, and waitlist for a slip for the 31 was 3+ years long).

 

[Joseph]

Baz,
Thanks, I spoke to Toby, who gave me the slip lessee's name and number, as according to him, sublet arrangements must first be made with that person, not the marina. No luck with that contact yet.
Joe

 

[Joseph]

Done! Locked in a slip at Delin Docks, Tacoma. It may not be her 'forever' home, but it will be just fine for the honeymoon period with our new yacht. Thanks to all for the input, especially Andrew at Ranger Tugs for making the contact and referral.

 

[Toki]

South sound all the way to the San Juans is a HUGE area. If you're only planning to have a slip from March to June, maybe you should pick a particular area of the sound to explore and look for a marina there. I HIGHLY suggest the San Juan Islands, and I further highly suggest Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. You're right there in the islands, all within an easy days travel (some an hour away), and even the Canadian Gulf islands aren't far.

You can usually get a slip at Cap Sante in the early spring, by late spring they're full. They may want a lease through the summer though. Call them, very friendly folks!

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

Joseph,

I can't disagree with anything Toki said...

However, in 20 years of being fisher over boater to now being a boater over fisher, living in Lake Stevens , WA and launching out of Everett or slinging out of Anacortes, I had never been south of Elliott Bay in Seattle... Until last year!

Covid kind of changed the boating climate here in the PNW... lots of new boaters... and everyone wanting to go to the San Juans... and for good reason, it's beautiful!

Last year I got together with several other cruising buddies and explored South Puget Sound... we had a blast.

You're getting used to a new boat, new area... south Puget Sound is a great place to explore... your boat, the area, and your boating skills.

Once you venture north into the SJI's, then north of the border into Canadian waters, you might not want to ever go south of Elliott Bay!

Happy boating!

Bob
Kimberly Dawn

 

[Joseph]

Thanks, TOKU;

Cap Sante currently has a 2-3 year waitlist for a slip to accommodate a R31. After very many negative replies from marinas throughout Puget Sound, I was happy to lock in a slip at Delin Docks in Tacoma.

I’m optimistic that Delin Docks will be fine for our first marina in WA. We have family very near there. We like extended cruises to explore new areas, so permanent berthing really close to destinations isn’t a top priority at this time.

After 13 years of seasonally cruising (in retirement) a 42’ sailing catamaran throughout the Western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and never having a ‘permanent home marina’, finding marina or boatyard storage (particularly for a 23’ beam) in a new location each year was always an adventure. I’m looking forward to the portability of yacht that can be lifted onto her own trailer and moved or stored ashore. That was really a big factor in our decision to order the R31.

 

[Toki]

Glad you found moorage.

Around Puget Sound, 30 feet is a magic number. Slips for 30' and under are much more readily available (part of my decision to go with the R27). I'm guessing your R31, with swim step, dinghy, anchor etc., pushes to 34+.

Plenty to explore in the central sound around Tacoma, but I do hope you find your way north at some point to explore the islands, you won't regret it.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Around Puget Sound, 30 feet is a magic number. Slips for 30' and under are much more readily available (part of my decision to go with the R27). I'm guessing your R31, with swim step, dinghy, anchor etc., pushes to 34+.

The R-31 is a hair shy of 36' without the dinghy or the anchor. Different marinas measure differently; there are some where with dinghy and anchor you'd need a 38' slip! (for a "31 foot" boat 😀 )

 

[FlyMeAway]

Cap Sante currently has a 2-3 year waitlist for a slip to accommodate a R31. After very many negative replies from marinas throughout Puget Sound, I was happy to lock in a slip at Delin Docks in Tacoma.

This is insane. When I moved my 36' sailboat to Anacortes in 2016, I got on the waitlist in November and was offered a slip in April (for move-in the weekend before my wedding; only time I've ever hired a skipper to move a boat without me 😀 )

 

[SJI Sailor]

I recently called around several area marinas just to check some options and 1 to 3 year waits were relatively common. There were outliers such as Elliott Bay (usually short for under 36')) and Roche Harbor (10 years+). Some such as Everett are putting their ETA lists online.

I guess this is the effect of manufacturers selling everything they can make, while no new marinas are being built! For a slightly positive take, it aligns with 9-24 months wait to get a boat (I heard 3 years out for the new Nordhavn 41 model!)

 

[Craig]

We have a slip available at Skyline Marina, Anacortes,that I could rent to you for March and April. As well as prorate February. I would need you to be out in May for sure because we bring our boat back then.
If you wanted to try Lake Washington, Lake Union, the locks and central Puget Sound you could rent our covered moorage in Kenmore on the lake this summer. It’s nice to give the boat a break from the salt and there is plenty to explore in the central sound too.
Feel free to call me 2067559928 if you want to chat about those options.
Craig


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