Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay Is a Changing Thing
Unlike most parts of the country, Bay Area municipal waterfronts have never been very accommodating for visiting boats. With this year’s closure of the Angel Island guest docks in Ayala Cove, we checked on a few other places sailors could dock for a destination cruise. The good news is Pier 1 1/2 in San Francisco, near the Ferry Building, has now reopened for business. We understand it has a smaller configuration, but you can pull in and visit downtown or stop at La Mar restaurant at the head of the dock.
The bad news is Sam’s dock in Tiburon is currently closed, though they report they’re hoping to reopen in a couple of weeks. You’ll want to check with them before you make plans to head over. With summer coming, everyone will want the dock at Sam’s to be back in action.
We also checked in at Jack London Square, where we learned from harbormaster Jason Koulouris that the guest docks in front of Scott’s Restaurant are open for business. It’s an ever-changing landscape with the recent closure of the Waterfront Hotel, though a new restaurant, Kuidaore Handroll Bar, has opened on the Square. Yoshi’s, The Fat Lady, Heinhold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and several other dining destinations are not far from the guest docks. Check them out here.
We also received a photo from Kirby Long of Napa Valley Marina, who has a new guest dock installed along the Napa River. He reports it’s about 200 feet long and has deep draft for anyone who wants to stop by and visit.
Of course most marinas do have some guest slips available by reservation, and if you’re a yacht club member, you can take advantage of reciprocal privileges to tie up at most other yacht clubs.
Overall, the Bay Area is still sorely lacking the many welcoming guest docks found in most parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t options. With the docks at Ayala Cove closed you may discover some interesting new alternatives. Anyone have any other guest-docking suggestions? Leave them in our comments below.
Just FYI – the restaurant dock in Richmond at Lara’s restaurant, is closed. 🙁
Also – if you’re in one of the four Safe Harbor Marinas in the Bay – you have reciprocity at the other ones if you arrange in advance. Very nice benefit.
Suisun City has a 300 foot guest dock in the downtown basin. These is also adequate space to anchor off the guest dock in the basin for more privacy.
Is the lift bridge on the Napa river back in service? It had been stuck in the down position for some time.
Alison Toohey, Pier 39 Marina Tenant Administrator, said they plan to re-open their guest docking program sometime in February.
Is there any way to tie up at the old Ford factory where the Richmond ferry lands? There’s a long dock there that looks kind of like a town dock. Would be cool to go grab lunch at the restaurant there…
Adding to Jan Passion’s comment: Safe Harbor operates these four SF Bay Marinas:
Marina Bay, Richmond
Loch Lomond, San Rafael
Emeryville
Ballena Isle, Alameda