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WORKING WATERFRONT: West Coast

Latitude 38 Working Waterfront News Central

Since its inception, Latitude 38 has been able to cover, inspire and connect the people in our sailing community thanks to the businesses that support sailors and sailing. This includes boatyards, sailmakers, marinas, boat builders and numerous trades and craftspeople. Over the decades, the space available along our critical public waterfront continues to shrink.  Our Working Waterfront page is dedicated to covering these stories to bring awareness to the jobs, facilities and services that are vital to our nation's commercial and recreational maritime infrastructure. Enjoying the 12-month sailing season up and down the California coast is one of the prime features of living in the West. A working waterfront is one that works for all California citizens and retains space for these important waterfront facilities.

Celebrating Labor Day and the People Who Made It Happen

KKMI

However you choose to celebrate Labor Day, we wish you a safe and happy time doing it. Cover photo ©KKMI

Joining the Marine Trades With Spaulding Apprenticeships

Spaulding Marine Center Boatworks 101

When you do something you love you never have to work a day in your life. Spaulding brings in the next class of apprentices for Boatworks 101.

Brigantine ‘Matthew Turner’ Featured in ‘WoodenBoat’ Magazine

Matthew Turner WoodenBoat

The Bay Area’s ‘Matthew Turner’ gets full coverage in ‘WoodenBoat’ magazine with an in-depth look at the history, inspiration and construction of Alan Olson’s vision for a Bay Area educational tall ship.

Welcome to the Oakland Waterfront

Jack London Square Guest Docks

Some observations from a pleasant cruise down the Oakland Estuary.

Oakland Estuary Stakeholder Comment Deadline August 22

Oakland Estuary

Two meetings of importance to sailors and boaters on the Oakland Estuary will be held this Wednesday, August 23.

Speak Up for the Oakland Estuary on August 23

The Oakland Estuary remains an area of transition and opportunity. Boaters have two opportunities to contribute to the vision and improvements on August 23.

Calendar Alert: Galilee Harbor Maritime Day and 5th Avenue Marina Neighborhood Sale

Put an “X” on your calendar to mark these two salty-treasure days coming up in August.

Cruise-In Chad Shares the Ins and Outs of Sailing and Docking on S.F. Bay

Chad has spent many hours sailing and docking in various parts of the Bay. Here’s his take on what’s needed.

New India Basin Park Reclaims a Slice of San Francisco’s Industrial Shoreline

The new India Basin Waterfront Park will be up to 22 acres and include a new boathouse, a recreational dock for fishing and kayaking, a bikeway and two public piers — amenities that will open next year, according to the ‘The Standard;’ the rest of the park will be finished in 2026.

Is the CrossWater Horizontal Elevator an Alternative to the Oakland Pedestrian Bridge?

Crosswater - Crossover

Are floating, horizontal elevators a solution to crossing water on foot or bicycle, and a possible alternative to bridges?

Working Waterfront Issues and Resources

Numerous groups and organizations around the country are working to help preserve maritime economic zones.  Working Waterfront Organizations:

National Working Waterfront Network

Sausalito Working Waterfront

San Diego Working Waterfront

Port Townsend Working Waterfront

San Francisco Bay fill map circa 1969.
Map of Bay fill and conversion to resevoir in 1969. San Francisco Bay might have disappeared or looked dramatically different without the attention of those who recognized and protected the Bay for all Bay Area citizens.

Job Opportunities