Advice wanted for San Fran area please!

[michalex19]

Greetings to everyone!

I will be going to school in San Francisco in the fall (currently Dallas, Tx) and need some advice on a couple things, ANY advice would be greatly appreciated! From what I have seen (and I've physically called and email marinas in the bay area), everywhere is several years waiting list for liveaboards in San Fran. I was planning on finally buying my own sailboat and living on it while I go to school, and by the time I got out of school taking a sailing trip to asia. I've read different sources that say it's not really a big deal if you liveaboard without permission as long as you are respectful and that by actually getting to know people, might get permission in only a few months, and also that there are some marinas where that is just impossible. What would you say? I don't have any friends in San Fran and really that is my only plan for housing so far. Again anything you want to add would be awesome!

alex

[KeelHaulin]

Where are you looking to live? On the penninsula (near SF City) would be tough to impossible find a marina that would let you live aboard. If you don't mind a bit of traveling to get to your campus I could point you to a marina or two.

The problem is that environmental restrictions are limiting marinas to 10% max live-aboards. So the number of allowed live-aboard slips are very low. In addition any slip on the SF side of the bay is obtained via a wait list to begin with so getting live-aboard status there is nearly impossible. Several marinas don't allow live-aboards at all; like Pier 39 for one.

I would not expect to be a sneak-aboard; many marinas now have transponder key entry to the docks and the security system logs your entry onto the dock and to bathroom facilities. If you are "on" your boat too often it will flag your account so they can follow up and find out if you are spending every night aboard.

[michalex19]

I pretty much figured I would have to travel a bit, but how much? Like an hour or so? What are the marinas? Thank you for the information!

[mbettman]

Try farther down the peninsula, like redwood city, you should be able to find something.

[Packrat]

I heard Berkley has a few.

[svfriscorose]

I think richmonds marina bay has a few liveaboard slips open. Berkeley has a waiting list. Marina bay has lots of empty slips and probably one or two liveaboard slots left. I think the minimum boat length is 30' but check with Steve the harbor master, or Dale the AHM

[emagin]

Union Point Marina also has some nice lien sales from time to time.
However, I am not 100% about what kind of setting that is for liveaboard.
For a student probably cool. Just check it out at night and find out who the neighbors are.

[madusa]

look into richerdson bay on the north end of the gate. that is where saucileto is and there are several marinas there or you can anchor there to.

[Cal28]

Alex

If you are still looking, let me know. I just checked out most of the marinas in the bay area.

Or you can check out this link:

Marinas San Francisco Bay