Living aboard in Bay Area

[Richard Stanley]

I am considering moving to the Bay Area, in particular, Sausalito. I would appreciate any information anyone could provide on live-aboard slips, or even moorings. Thanks in advance.




rlstanley@mindspring.com

[Russ Cooper]

I am considering moving to the Bay Area, in particular, Sausalito. I would appreciate any information anyone could provide on live-aboard slips, or even moorings. Thanks in advance.

If you're not already familiar with it, check out bay area sailing magazine called Latitude 38 (www.latitude38.com). There has been several articles and letters in recent months about the live-aboard situation in Sausalito. In short, marinas are becoming increasingly wary of live-aboards because of challenges from environmental agencies. It will probably be difficult to get official live-aboard status in a Sausalito marina, but that's not necessarily a problem if you can be inconspicuous. Good luck.

[larry mace]

I am considering moving to the Bay Area, in particular, Sausalito. I would appreciate any information anyone could provide on live-aboard slips, or even moorings. Thanks in advance.

You may want to contact chuck or bonnie rust(email address listed in the registry of owners).I recently purchased their CD33 and they have moved up to a hc43 to live aboard in the east bay. I know they looked into the Sausalito area and have prices etc. As Russ noted it is getting more difficult to live aboard but not impossible.



lmace@gt.com

[Bonnie Gilmore]

I am considering moving to the Bay Area, in particular, Sausalito. I would appreciate any information anyone could provide on live-aboard slips, or even moorings. Thanks in advance.

Richard,

Good advise from Russ. We are living aboard in Berkeley (Municipal Marina), but would prefer Marin because we commute to Santa Rosa. Sausalito is VERY expensive - $7.50-$8 a foot, with very limited 'legal' live-aboard slips. Berkeley is $4.75-$5 a foot, with an additional $150 for LLA status. Many are sneak-aboards (all over the Bay Area), but marinas are increasingly less tolerant due to the environmental issues Russ raised. Some will require you to be a berther before accepting you on a LLA waiting list - which means sneaking aboard in the meantime. With electronic card locks, marinas can also monitor comings & goings, making the sneakaboard thing much harder. If you have a smaller boat (less than 40 ft), you could play the do it 'til I get caught thing, and know that there are many marinas where you could relocate. There are fewer slips for big boats (we're 43 ft - 51 w/bow sprit), making moving much tougher. Still - until we turn left, we wouldn't trade the bay for anything. Good luck - let us know if you need more info.

Bonnie Gilmore & Chuck Rust
Hans Christian 43 (formerly CD33 owners!)
Berkeley




bgilmore@ci.santa-rosa.ca.us

[Richard]

Thanks very much for your comments. I spoke with an employee of a big ole marina in Sausalito, and he definitely reflected what you all have said. He kind of implied a lot of un-official live-aboards, and also the mooring out options.

Interesting stuff, and in the following days I will certainly get in touch with those that have posted.

Any comments on comparison between Cheasapeake Sailing and what goes on in the SF Bay/Pacific out of SF?



rlstanley@mindspring.com