SF Bay Area Marinas ?

[CAELESTIS]

Possible relocation to SF Bay area.

Any suggestions on marinas for a 50' sailboat? Alameda or Sausalito? Any hassles with particular marinas?

Thanks.

[ssanzone]

alameda is a lot warmer than sausalito if you are planning on living aboard you may have difficulties finding a marina right away.

any specific amenities you are interested in?

i am at granda marina in alameda and like it. emmeryille is pretty good too.

gl.

-steve

[Bash]

There's a new Marina in Redwood city that still has room for 50" boats. Westpoint. I recommend it highly.

You should expect a 1-year wait for most of the better marinas in Sausalito with 50' slips. You might get lucky at Clipper, however.

If you're hoping to line up anything in Sausalito, DO IT NOW. The America's cup is coming, and that's expected to tie up our waterfront for the duration.

[rgscpat]

Asssuming 6' draft, non-liveaboard, and how much patience do you have for transiting from the berth to sailable water?

[rgscpat]

Mariner manager considers us "cheapskates" -- and he used to be a liveaboard sailor!

[bazzer]

Originally Posted by CAELESTIS

Possible relocation to SF Bay area.

Any suggestions on marinas for a 50' sailboat? Alameda or Sausalito? Any hassles with particular marinas?

Thanks.

How about Richmond, great access, I' thinking of moving there.

[CAELESTIS]

No liveaboard needed. Just want a secure marina without overly oppressive management style. Ideally, wide fairways, and no bridges. Also my boat draws 9 feet.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by rgscpat

Asssuming 6' draft, non-liveaboard, and how much patience do you have for transiting from the berth to sailable water?

In Alameda, you have to transit the Oakland estuary (except for Ballena Bay on the west side of the island). That's a lot of motoring for most folks.

In Sausalito, I'm invariably under sail within 5 minutes of leaving my slip. A lot depends on how far down the channel you have to go to find a slip.

[David M]

Paradise Cay in Tiburon has a number of available large slips. The harbormaster, Tom, is a nice guy and the rules reasonable.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Bash

In Alameda, you have to transit the Oakland estuary (except for Ballena Bay on the west side of the island). That's a lot of motoring for most folks.

In Sausalito, I'm invariably under sail within 5 minutes of leaving my slip. A lot depends on how far down the channel you have to go to find a slip.

Second that. On the plus side, Alameda is warm, sheltered, and some people like the estuary for sailing when the bay is too wild. However, it's a 40 minute motor down the estuary to the bay.

[David M]

I like motoring out of the Estuary in the morning and sailing back in the relatively warmer weather in the evening. There is a lot to see. There are enormous container ships, restaurants, boatyards and marinas with thousands of boats. Plus it is fun sailing back in with all the other sailboats...it's like a big party at times. It's not called the "Alameda Riviera" for nothing.

I feel sorry for the people in Sausalito who only have to look forward to hosing off their boats in the cold and the fog and then going below deck to get warmed back up.

[Misiu]

Originally Posted by David M

I like motoring out of the Estuary in the morning and sailing back in the relatively warmer weather in the evening. There is a lot to see. There are enormous container ships, restaurants, boatyards and marinas with thousands of boats. Plus it is fun sailing back in with all the other sailboats...it's like a big party at times. It's not called the "Alameda Riviera" for nothing.

I feel sorry for the people in Sausalito who only have to look forward to hosing off their boats in the cold and the fog and then going below deck to get warmed back up.

I liked Marina Village in Alameda for the same reasons as above.
I've been in Sausalito, Berkeley, Delta before Marina Village.
Both Marina Village and Grand Marina are well managed, pleasant (warm!) marina with lots of services around.

[Dustymc]

Marina Bay (Richmond) has been good for me, and it's the best combination of drive-ability/sail-ability from where I usually stay. Depending on traffic, it might take me an extra 2 hours to get to Alameda or Sausalito - motoring for 20 minutes is a welcome tradeoff. If you're new to the area, do not underestimate the monster that is Bay Area traffic.

It's close to a couple of good shipyards, a fantastic marine hardware store, a really great westmarine, and two good taco trucks.

And it's never boring driving through the 'hood to get to the boat....

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Misiu

I liked Marina Village in Alameda for the same reasons as above.
I've been in Sausalito, Berkeley, Delta before Marina Village.
Both Marina Village and Grand Marina are well managed, pleasant (warm!) marina with lots of services around.

A 30 ft slip in Marina Village is $300. One in Grand Marina seems to be $40-$50 cheaper. What is one getting at Marina Village for the extra money?

[Misiu]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

A 30 ft slip in Marina Village is $300. One in Grand Marina seems to be $40-$50 cheaper. What is one getting at Marina Village for the extra money?

I did not do the price comparison. Just stated that I liked both.
Grand Marina had construction going on for a long time and it is somehow more 'industrial' (boat yard etc..). There are also two yacht clubs, excellent shopping and couple of hotels within walking distance of Marina Village. That might explain difference in rates (?)
They don't have 30 ft slips, so I used 32 ft slip for my 30 ft Catalina.
32 ft at Marina Village is $295 (9.21/ft)
33 ft at Grand is $275 (8.59/ft)
31 ft at Grand is $259 (8.35/ft)
Grand Marina doesn't have 32 ft but taking the average per ft it would be 8.47/ft x 32 = 271
It is indeed about $24 difference. Not as bad as 40-50 but still almost 9%...
I left Marina Village about 2 years ago. I would probably put my boat in Marina Village again if I come back. They are quite comparable however.