Richmond CA marinas

[jenders]

Hello all: I'm looking at two marinas in Richmond CA in the SF Bay as the possible new home for my 34' sailboat, starting in the spring. They are Brickyard Cove Marina and Marina Bay Yacht Harbor. Without embarrassing or slandering anyone, I wonder if folks here might have insights into the pros and cons of both. Any info helps. Thanks, John

[Tsho]

I’ve been at Marina bay for a long time now and mostly like it. Decent facilities, pretty good people, right on the bay trail so good bike (etc) acesss to ferry’s and everything else in the East Bay.

Brickyard feels a little more “upscale”, little stronger sailing “community” and is closer to an actual, enjoyable town in Pt Richmond. I thought usually a waitlist to get into Brickyard.

Both are really good access to sailing on the bay. Both keep you out of the thickest of the Bay Area traffic and both are cold, foggy, blowy in the spring—we are a straight shot through the golden gate for the wind and fog.

Hope that helps.

T

[Stu Jackson]

MB gets afternoon winds all summer long. It can get very rock n rolly. Brickyard is a little more protected. MB is a good ways in down the channel, too.


Why not visit them both, or are you still in MX?

[sailorchic34]

TSHO info is spot on. Brickyard cove generally has a long waiting list so Marina Bay will most likely be it. I was there for three years 10 years ago and have visited it now and then since then.

You'll want to be in D or E docks. I recommend E dock as D dock includes a sailing school which can add excitement to the Pre docking experience.

Avoid F dock as it gets little love. It's also the transient dock. Steve the Harbor master said they are not doing much at F dock at the moment as they expected the lot outside of it to be developed sometime sooner rather then later.

As Stu said, it can be windy at marina bay. Avoid the outside slips on E dock as the fetch rolls on from outside the marina and it can be bouncy. It's quite chilly there in summer with the cool afternoon breezes. D and F docks are slightly more protected in that regard.


Overall I found Marina Bay to be safe and clean. Some smash in grabs in the parking lot, but you have that everywhere in the bay area now.

[jenders]

Thanks Tsho for that info. Very helpful. I assume when you refer to waitlist you are not referring to liveaboard waitlist but general, no? FYI, see Brickyard's website for new info on dock replacements and new-slip availability. Again, thanks.

[jenders]

Thank you. Yes, I'm in Mexico but planning to visit both soon.

[jenders]

Thanks sailorchic34. Also, very helpful.

[bad.wabbit]

We berthed in both and are now at the RYC which is next door to BYC. We much prefered BYC over MB, though the restrooms and showers are nicer at the latter. BYC will have much warmer temps and less wind - it can actually be balmy. If you are spending time in your boat and want to enjoy the cockpit it matters. You are also closer to the Bay, though we didn't mind the treck that much.

[deluxe68]

We spent 1 year at Brickyard (because we bought a new Beneteau) and 2 at Marina Bay. We never did get a permanent slip at Brickyard, nice place but very narrow slips and fairways. The Marina Bay slips were wide as were the fairways, concrete docks which were always covered in Seagull crap.

[billknny]

I lived in Marina Bay for several years. Great place, I enjoyed it.

Brickyard, only 2 miles away definitely has the better weather, located in the middle of the “Richmond Riviera”. It’s hard for non locals to appreciate the differences such a short distance can make in SF Bay.

Even inside Marina Bay it is much more comfortable on the west side than the east.

And as had been mentioned, Pt Richmond is a great little town.