Harbor Fees Survey by Port

Pillar Point

37° 29.545’N, 122° 28.798’W

NOAA 18682

John in the Harbormaster’s office (650) 726-5727

www.smharbor.com/pillarpoint/ppfees.htm

www.smharbor.com/pillarpoint/ppfees2.htm

Pillar Point Location Overview

Pillar Point is located in San Mateo County which comprises the majority of the penninsula enclosing the southern arm of San Francisco Bay. The Harbor District operates two facilities, Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay in Princeton, CA, and Oyster Point Marina/Park in the City of South San Francisco (the latter of which is beyond scope of this report). The City owns Oyster Point, and the District runs it for the City under a Joint Powers Agreement. The fees below apply to Pillar Point; a 369 berth mainly commercial fishing harbor. Pillar Point is a protected harbor of refuge along the San Mateo County ocean coast. Home to a vital commercial fishing industry, Pillar Point is also popular with sport fishermen and pleasure boaters seeking the amenities of this modern coastal harbor. The Harbor has 369 berths and features inner and outer breakwaters which make it one of the safest harbors in the United States. Pillar Point has 115 moorings located inside the outer breakwater, but outside the inner breakwater. View it on Google Maps (this will launch your browser; does not require Google Earth on your computer).

Pillar Point Fees

Fees and rates have no seasonal variation.

Pillar Point Berths

Berthing fees are collected at a 30 foot minimum rate and upward; electricity is separately billed.

A,B & C Docks - US$ 7.94 per berth foot per month (ft./mo.) plus US$ 15 base fee.

D,E,F,G & H Docks - US$ 7.83 ft./mo. plus same $15 base fee.

Pillar Point Non-Transient 40’ Berth

Annual fee for 40’ berthed vessel on D thru H docks: (($7.83/ft./mo. x 40’) + $15 = $328.20/mo.) x 12 mo./yr. = $3,938.40/yr. The annual fee is discounted to $3,610.20 if paid in advance. (see Special Fees, below)

Pillar Point Transient 40’ Berth

Transient berths are available at a flat rate of $0.75/ft./day (30 ft minimum), or from $22.50/day; so a 40’ berth is $30/day or $900/mo.

Pillar Point Moorings

The harbor offers two types of mooring ownership: privately– and Harbor District–held. Privately held mooring permit fee is $1.50/ft./month (30 foot min. or $45) or $18 /ft./yr. Rental fee for HD held mooring is $4.00/ft. L.O.A./month; for transients, there is a flat $10/day rate.

Pillar Point Non-transient 40’ Mooring

The annual fee for 40’ moored vessel on privately held mooring - $720/yr. ($18/ft./yr.); on a Harbor District-held mooring - $1920/yr ($48/ft./yr.)

Pillar Point Transient 40’ Mooring

The size-independent flat $10/day transient daily rate amounts to $3,650/yr.

Pillar Point Liveaboards

Liveaboards are allowed in berths and on moorings. Only liveaboards in berths require permit, fee, or are regulated (primarily as to number).

Pillar Point Liveaboard Berths

Liveaboard permit is required only for vessels in berths; no liveaboard permit is required for vessels on moorings. The liveaboard fee is $350/month in addition to the berthing fee. The fee includes water, trash disposal, shoreside shower & toilet facilities, black and gray water pumpout, bilge & oily water separator, cable TV and other amenities. Liveaboards limited to 10% of total slips, or about 37 slips.

Pillar Point Liveaboard Moorings

No liveaboard permit is required for moored vessels, fee only assessed for, and regulation only placed on, liveaboards in berths; however, no gray water or black water discharge in harbor. No limitation on the number of liveaboards on moorings.

Pillar Point Transferability

Individuals hold most mooring permits; district also holds some mooring permits. Individual permittee can sell mooring permit and tackle outright, with or without boat. Transfer fee: none charged.

Pillar Point Special Fees

Liveaboards are allowed - senior discounts (age 65+) available; $315/mo. instead of $350/mo.

Prepayment of berthing fees – if pay year in advance, earn one month free rent.

Dinghy storage is available, typically $25/mo.

Berth waiting list – $25/yr.

Note: as of 04/14/2010, monthly rates shown in Pillar Point's website table are overstated by $15. The rates are correctly shown here; double-check the math if referring to the Pillar Point website figures. That website is to be corrected.

Pillar Point Future Plans

40-berth project (including boat haul-out), new pier and channel (including Romeo Pier disposition), Dredging.

Monterey

36° 36.418’N, 121° 53.308’W

NOAA 18685

Scott Pryor of the Monterey Harbor Office (831) 646-3950

www.monterey.org/harbor/fees.html

www.monterey.org/finance/fees/

www.monterey.org/harbor/ – mooring ordinances

Monterey Location Overview

Monterey Harbor is located in Monterey County, at the southern hook of Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz is located at the bay's northern cusp. Monterey Harbor (view on Google Maps) is located in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It provides a uniquely feature–rich setting for the Monterey Harbor and the Monterey Municipal Marina. Located in the City of Monterey along Del Monte Avenue, the Harbor and Marina provide access to a variety of recreational, as well as commercial opportunities for residents and visitors. A part of the Harbor, the Marina has become a destination; people travel from miles around to launch their boat for fishing or leisure purposes or enjoy the restaurants, shops and ambiance. Monterey Municipal Marina is a 413 slip, full service marina with public launch ramp conveniently located. Monterey offers 150 year– round moorings, with additional seasonal moorings outside the breakwater in the more exposed East Moorings area.

Monterey Fees

Adjusted annually per local (San Fran—Oakland-San Jose) CPI. (Click to US CPI site or see Wikipedia.) In 2009, the US CPI fell for the first time since 1955.

☒ Discrepancy: The Finance Department’s Harbor Fees page (at 04/14/2010) uses a 29 day month to calculate monthly transient berth fees. In contrast, the Harbor Department’s page fee schedules are (correctly, according to the Harbor Department) calculated using a 28 day month. Compare Harbor Dep’t. and Finance Dep’t. pages. Note that the fee schedules greatly favor locals; pricing for transient vessels is significantly higher.

Monterey Berths

Monterey offers non-transient and transient berths in its Municipal Marina and the private Breakwater Cove marina. Monterey's rate structure is the most complicated in this survey; rates for transient berths vary by size and season. Berth rates are adjusted to a locally indexed CPI (required by the City's loan from the California DBAW.

Monterey Non-transient Berths

For non-transient vessels monthly berthing fees are tiered by size. A 20’ berth rents for $138/mo; a 50’ berth rent ranges from $361/mo. to $421.50/mo. Per foot, per month, these fees fall between $6.90/ft./mo. (20 ft berth) to approximately $8.43/ft./mo. (50 ft berth). Boats in 30 ft. berths pay slighly higher per-foot monthly rate of $8.30 to $8.63.

Monterey Non-transient 40’ berth

There is a Municipal Marina as well as the private Breakwater Cove marina; both offer non–transient berths.

Monterey Municipal Marina

Annual fee for non-transient 40’ vessel in the Municipal Marina: ($314/mo.) x 12mo./yr. = $3,768/yr. ($7.85/ft./mo.), or pay year in advance, in first month of City’s fiscal year, for 10% discount, or $3,391/yr. ($7.07/ft./mo.).

Monterey private marina

There is one private marina, called by two different names. (Breakwater Cove aka Monterey Boat Works). A 40’ berth here costs ((40’ x $12.50/ft./mo.) = $500/mo.) x 12 mo./yr. = $6000/yr. The marina offers 50 ft., 35 ft. and 20 ft. berths. 20 ft. berths pay a higher monthly rate of $15.00/ft./mo., or $300 per month.

Monterey Transient Berths

Transient berths are available in both the Municipal Marina and the private Breakwater Cove marina.

The table below shows slip (berth) rates for transient vessels visiting Monterey's Municipal Marina; these rates vary by size and by season. Not shown in this table are the rates for the Breakwater Cove private marina. It charges transient vessels $1/ft./day with a 30 ft. minimum charge ( $30/day minimum ). Breakwater Cove's rates appear to have remain unchanged since 2005.

Monterey Transient 40’ berth

Breakwater Cove charges $1/ft./day, so a 40’ berth is $40/day. Monthly berthing fees for transient vessels in the Municipal Marina are tiered by size and season. Monthly fee is daily fee times 28 (yields a discount over daily rate for those staying the full month). Here are the charges for a 40’ transient vessel in the Municipal Marina:

Mar—Oct monthly fee for 40’ boat ( $28/day x 28 = $784/mo. ) ( $19.60/ft./mo.)

Nov—Feb monthly fee for 40’ boat ( $26/day x 28 = $728/mo. ) ($18.20/ft./mo.)

Monterey Moorings

Monterey offers seasonal moorings (East Moorings), completely outside the breakwater, and year-round (inside breakwater, but called Outer Harbor) moorings. The two fields are priced differently. The East moorings are City–owned; the Outer Harbor moorings are primarily individually permittted. Furthermore, the Outer Harbor moorings are priced differently for residents, liveaboards, and non-residents.

Monterey East Moorings

Monthly fees for the seasonal East Moorings (available from April 1 through October 31) are determined by vessel size:

Monterey Outer Harbor Moorings

If an Outer Harbor mooring permit holder plans to go cruising for an extended period, he can ask the City to manage his mooring while he is away. This becomes a City–managed mooring, and the City rate is charged for its use. These funds are deposited into the City's General Fund. During the period that mooring is City–managed, the permit holder's mooring permit fees are suspended. Alternatively, the permit holder may elect to sub–lease the mooring to another party himself.

These flat rate (no variation by size or season) mooring fees are assessed each quarter. A 10% discount is offered for annual payment in advance; that fee net of discount is shown below. For comparison purposes, monthly and daily equivalent rates are also shown. City Mooring describes the rate for transient mooring use; this fee is charged to transient vessels, or boaters without a mooring permit (for instance vessels on a City–managed mooring held in another permit holder's name), and those without an assigned mooring.

Monterey does not rent Outer Harbor moorings for short–term transient use. Monthly or longer transient use of City moorings, or City managed moorings is possible.

Monterey Non-transient 40’ mooring

The fees in the above table, Monterey Outer Harbor mooring fees, are size-independent, flat fees. They do not include maintenance, paid for separately by the permit holder. Because they are quoted as flat fees, the rate per foot varies widely. Picking one vessel length for comparison purposes, the annual fee for a Monterey resident’s 40’ boat (non-liveaboard) moored in outer harbor is $510.80/yr if paid in advance for 10% discount. This is equivalent to $12.77/ft./yr. for a 40’ boat (from $510.80 [annual fee net of 10% discount] / 40 feet = $12.77 per foot of boat). If comparing fees on the basis of 50 foot boat length, the fee would be equivalent to $10.22/ft./yr. or 30 foot boat length, equivalent to $17.03/ft./yr. Liveaboard fees are included in the table showing the entire fee charged to a liveaboard permit holder. See preceding paragraph regarding 10% discount for annual advance payment.

Monterey Transient 40’ Mooring

The annual fee for a non-resident’s 40 foot boat on a mooring is $888.80/yr (the City Mooring rate) if that person does not have an assigned mooring. However, it is improbable that this fee would be collected on an annual basis, because the City's objective is to get moorings transferred into individuals' names. Furthermore, this fee is not a transient rate for the Outer Harbor Moorings. The Outer Harbor moorings are not rented for short–term transient use. The East Moorings are, however, rented seasonally for transient use. The East Moorings are not available on an annual basis.

Assume an Outer Harbor mooring permit holder who goes on an extended cruise, not to return for twelve months. He could ask the City to manage his mooring. The City would suspend his mooring permit fee, and it would offer a long–term sublease for that mooring at the "City mooring" rate.

For comparison purposes, the only comparable transient fee for Monterey moorings is the one quoted for transient use of the East Moorings at $10/day.

Monterey Liveaboards

Liveaboards are permitted in berths in the Inner Harbor and on moorings in the Outer Harbor, but not on moorings in the seasonal East Moorings Field. Approximately 25 liveaboard permits are available; this number is allocated between 15 possible liveaboard vessels in berths in the Inner Harbor, ten possible vessels on Outer Harbor moorings. Liveaboard availabiity is an arbitrary number selected by City Council. There are currently fewer than six liveaboards, total, in Monterey. A liveaboard who does not yet hold his own slip or berth permit, yet has been assigned one after purchasing a permitted vessel, pays a flat US$ 50/mo. assignment fee on top of his base fee. Once that person's name reaches the top of the waiting list, he may take the permit in his own name and no longer pay the additional assignment fee.

Monterey Liveaboard Berths

Berths in Monterey are assigned by permit, as are Outer Harbor moorings. The rate tables for Monterey non-transient berths (pdf - 930KB) show a MTH x 1.5’s column; this is the rate charged for liveaboard vessels in berths. (Plus US$ 50/mo. assignment fee if not yet permit holder)

Monterey Liveaboard Moorings

Liveaboards on moorings are only permitted in the the Outer Harbor mooring field. No liveaboards are allowed in East Mooring Field because it is set within the National Marine Sanctuary. However, seasonal transient use of the East Mooring Field is possible in this no–discharge area. The mooring liveaboard fee may be extracted from the Monthly Outer Harbor Mooring Fee Table, which shows one monthly rate for Monterey residents and another for Monterey resident liveaboards. (Must also pay US$ 50/mo. assignment fee if not yet permit holder)

Monterey Transferability

No direct transfer of moorings, however, Monterey has an Assignment System. On purchase of a moored boat, the City will assign a mooring (often the same mooring) until buyer becomes eligible to hold own mooring (upon buyer’s reaching top of waiting list). It is thought permit holders would never succeed in selling boats if this soft transfer were not possible. City upcharges such transfers an Outer Harbor Assignment Rate of $50/mo. in this period, on top of the regular mooring rate. Slips are licensed and transferred in similar fashion; the Slip Assignment Rate is 1.5 times the monthly non-transient rate. The vast majority of moorings are held by individual permit holders; the district holds very few permits.

Monterey Special Fees

Dinghy fee, not included for Outer Harbor moorings, is from $54 to $90 quarterly; dinghy dockage and storage are both available. In general terms, all fees receive 10% discount for annual advance payment.

Wait list - $20 initial/ $10 Annual

The assignment fee is $50/mo. Assignment of either slip or mooring by the City gives the boat buyer peace of mind he will have a place to keep the boat he just bought. Buyer must continue to pay the $50/mo. on top of his base berth or mooring fee until his name reaches the top of the waiting list, then he may gain his own mooring or berth permit.

Annual automobile parking permit – $120

Morro Bay

35° 21.599’N, 120° 52.192’W

NOAA 18703

Polly – (805) 772-6254

www.morro-bay.ca.us/documents/ — lease management policy (pdf–34KB)

www.morro-bay.ca.us/documents/ — fees (pdf–21KB)

www.morro-bay.ca.us/documents/ — harbor contacts

ca-morrobay.civicplus.com — harbor brochure (pdf–827KB)

www.mbyc.net/visiting_yacht_info.htm

Morro Bay Location Overview

Morro Bay is centrally located on the coast of San Luis Obispo County within Estero Bay, its harbor protected by the famous rock and man-made breakwater (view on Google Maps). The Bay is the home of many fishing boats as well as a large recreational boater population. Many boats are older, neglected and possibly abandoned. A number of slips may only be rented to the commercial fishing fleet. Morro Bay is the home of modern full service marinas, both private and municipal each supporting restrooms, electricity, water, laundry, phones, launch ramp, fuel dock nearby, dock boxes, showers at North T-pier and State Park, groceries nearby, security, parking, picnic area, snack bar/restaurant, inside this nicely protected harbor. There over 200 slips; moorings are available as well, both private and city owned. The entrance can be tricky, even dangerous, at times of foul weather. The California DBAW offers this guide. (pdf–155KB)

Morro Bay Fees

Morro Bay charges mooring permit holders flat rate monthly fees. It charges per-foot monthly fees for vessels anchored more than five days (up to 30 days maximum), for recreational vessels using the T-pier side ties, and for slip users. Morro Bay has a unique floating dock in its anchorage to which vessels may also side-tie for $0.18/ft./day.

Morro Bay Berths

Many of Morro Bay's berths are reserved for the benefit of the commercial fishing fleet. Recreational users may take berth in such slips when the fisherman are out of harbor. Both transient and non-transient berths are available.

Morro Bay Non-Transient Berths

The fee charged to a commercial fishing vessel for a non-transient berth is $3.85/ft./mo. Morro Bay Marina rents non–transient berths for a flat rate of $235/mo. for vessels to 30’, equivalent to $7.83/ft./mo. for a 30’ vessel.

Morro Bay Transient Berths

Morro Bay offers transient berthage on its T-piers, and unused commercial fishing vessel slips. When vacant, a recreational vessel may sublet a commercial fishing vessel's berth for $7.60/ft./mo. or rent it for $0.85/ft./day. Morro Bay Yacht Club also provides transient side–tie berthage alongside its 150’ dock. Amenities include a key to enter the club for showers, laundry, 20– and 30–amp 120 VAC electrical service, a bar open Fridays from 6 to 7:30PM with hors d’oeuvres service and summer Wednesday evening Burger Bashes. The following table shows the Morro Bay Yacht Club visiting vessel rates:

The following table shows the side–tie fees for the mainly transient use T-piers and floating dock in the anchorage.

Morro Bay Moorings

Morro Bay has 119 privately permitted and six City-owned moorings. According to Polly, the City never intended to hold moorings, but has taken back those for which the permit holder failed to, or was otherwise unable to, pay the permit fee. A block of 25 moorings is held by Marina Square and managed by Morro Bay Marina. That entity serves primarily non–transient vessels.

In contrast to the City of Newport Beach, Morro Bay’s Harbor Department does not rent to transient vessels unused privately permitted moorings. The Harbor Department leases or rents only those six moorings for which the City holds the mooring permit. If a mooring permit holder plans to go cruising for an extended period, he may sublease his mooring to another user. Someone who has leased a City–owned mooring may not further sublease it.

The Morro Bay Yacht Club also has six moorings. For those transient vessels it can accommodate, the fee for these moorings' use is $15/day for vessels up to 40’, $20/day for vessels 40’ to 50’.

The following table shows Morro Bay monthly mooring permit fees as charged by the City to the permit holder or lease holder.

Morro Bay Non-Transient 40’ Mooring

For a 40’ boat on a city mooring: $2,028 per year (from $169/mo. x 12 months/year); on privately permitted mooring: $894 per year (from $74.50/mo. x 12 months/year).

Morro Bay Transient 40’ Mooring

Morro Bay does not rent unused privately permitted moorings; it only rents the limited number of City–owned moorings. As mentioned just above, the fee for this use is US$ 0.18/ft./day. For a 40 foot transient boat, this amounts to $7.20 per day.

Morro Bay Liveaboards

Morro Bay permits 50 liveaboards on moorings or in private marinas but not at the City T-piers. Liveaboard fee is $172 for two years duration (bi-annual application) plus a City Fee. The City Fee is a monthly service fee which helps offset the City's cost of providing trash service, restroom maintenance, water, etc. For liveaboards on moorings, this fee is $14.50/mo.; for liveaboards in City slips, the fee is $29/mo.

Morro Bay Transferability

Transferability fee: Flat $1,000 fee to the City on transfer. Permit holder does not have to transfer boat and mooring together, can transfer mooring permit separately from boat. Vast majority of mooring permits held by individuals but harbor district does hold a few permits. (Moorings on which the permit holder failed to pay the permit fee, so were taken back by the City.)

Morro Bay Notes:

40’ Moorings have sold around $15K lately

Private moorings are on month to month lease which can be cancelled by either party in 30 days!

Port San Luis

35° 09.234’N, 120° 44.374’W

NOAA 18704

Special thanks to: Mara (805) 595-5400 – maraz@portsanluis.com

www.portsanluis.com/ — mooring info (pdf–177KB)

Mooring Regulations – Chapter 16 (pdf–1.02MB)

Port San Luis Location Overview

Port San Luis, south of Morro Bay, is also located in San Luis Obispo County. Port San Luis Harbor District is a political sub-division of the State of California and an independent special district. The Harbor was organized and validated under the California Harbors and Navigation Code, Section 6042, on January 27, 1954. Port San Luis offers no berths, only moorings (view on Google Maps). The harbor is a large bight formed by Point San Luis, where the Point San Luis Light and its Victorian–style house was built in 1890. There are two very long piers extending into the harbor, one is Cal Poly SLO's, the other is the City's Harford Pier, (aka the Avila Pier). Avila Beach is becoming a renowned resort destination.

Port San Luis Fees

Port San Luis Harbor District performs the mooring construction, maintenance, inspection, and placement for all moorings. Payment for required annual inspections is the responsibility of the permit holder, charged at $300/hr. with a 1/2 hour minimum fee.

Port San Luis Moorings

Port San Luis offers non-transient and transient moorings. It owns 34 moorings available for transient use; most moorings (currently 215) are individually permitted. The San Luis Yacht Club (on the Harford Pier) also has some moorings available for transient use from April 1 to October 31. Moorings are placed by category of use; commercial boats together; sailboats together; powerboats together. That way they swing harmoniously with wind and tide. If permit holder goes cruising for extended period, he may not sublease his mooring. Permit holder may loan mooring (to same size and type of boat) but is still responsible for payment. Port San Luis does not rent privately permitted moorings to transient vessels.

Port San Luis Non-Transient Moorings

Permit fees for moorings run from $28 to $39 per month depending on size, but are collected on a quarterly basis. For comparison purposes, the table below shows Port San Luis mooring permit fees on an annual basis and on an annual per–foot basis.

Port San Luis Non–Transient 40’ Mooring

The annual fee for a 40’ moored vessel is $408 per year. Annual mandatory inspection fee is $150 minimum, not including any needed repair.

Port San Luis Transient Moorings

The harbor offers 34 first–come, first–served transient use moorings. Some are for vessels up to 35 feet, available for the flat fee of $10/day. Others are available for vessels up to 85 feet for the flat fee of $15/day. For transient use, the maximum stay is 14 days. San Luis Yacht Club has a limited number of moorings (vessels up to 55’) available for transient use from April 1 to October 31 for the flat rate of $6/day.

Port San Luis Liveaboards

Port San Luis has no regulation or policy about liveaboards. Due to inadequate dinghy storage, many mooring permit holders rely on the water taxi which runs limited hours (last run at 4PM). The harbor's limited infrastructure is not conducive to liveaboards.

Port San Luis Transferability

The Port San Luis transfer fee is $75. A person can sell his mooring; however the buyer must apply for a permit. Mooring location is based on seniority as determined by the original date of permit issuance. When moorings transfer, the buyer may find his newly permitted mooring relocated to the mooring field outskirts—its previous location taken by a previously permitted mooring with seniority.

Port San Luis Special Fees

Dinghies: $57/qtr. for dingy storage whether in rack or in water, for mooring permit holder only (currently a waiting list)

Parking: currently no charge for parking in Port San Luis lot.

Wait List - $100 initial/ $50 annual administrative fee. The wait list fee can be applied toward cost of a new mooring if desired when a space becomes available. Currently no waiting list.

Yearly inspections on mooring tackle. Any maintenance cost is the responsibility of the private party. Inspections are performed by the port district at the rate of $300/hr. with half hour minimum ($150).

Santa Barbara

34° 24.396’N, 119° 41.099’W

NOAA 18725

Waterfront Department (805) 564–5531

Special thanks to: Kathy Sangster – Admin. Supervisor (805) 564-5531 (ksangster@SantaBarbaraCA.gov)

www.santabarbaraca.gov — berthing fees

www.santabarbaraca.gov/ — mooring field map (pdf–1.20MB)

Chapter 17—Harbor section of Santa Barbara Municipal Ordinances (pdf–1.1MB)

Docklines – a City Waterfront department publication fostering communication in the marina community

Water Taxi – runs half–hourly between Stearns Wharf and marina

Santa Barbara Location Overview

Santa Barbara Harbor maintains 1,133 berths for both pleasure and commercial vessels (view on Google Maps). It is operated by the Waterfront Department of the City of Santa Barbara, managing approximately 252 acres of tidelands and submerged lands encompassing the Harbor and Stearns Wharf. These lands belong to the State and are held in trust by the City of Santa Barbara through a tidelands grant. Santa Barbara and its neighbor Montecito are world–renowned tourist & resort destinations.

About one mile east of the harbor, beyond the Santa Barbara Mooring Area is the Year–Round Anchorage where anchorage may be taken free of charge.

Santa Barbara Fees

Santa Barbara offers reasonable berth and mooring fees for non–transient vessels. Berths and moorings are assigned by permit. Berths may be transfered while moorings may not. Berth transfer fees are, however, quite high, as are transient vessel rental rates. Santa Barbara’s fees are due to be adjusted in July 2010. Please call the Watefront Department for details at (805) 564–5531.

Santa Barbara Berths

Santa Barbara offers 1,133 berths including about 100 transient berths. Unused non–transient berths may also be rented to transient vessels by the Harbor Patrol as available.

Santa Barbara Non–Transient Berths

Santa Barbara non–transient berths are assigned by permit. Ten percent of these (113) may apply for liveaboard privileges, for which an additional monthly fee is assessed. The total number of liveaboard permits is an arbitrary number set by the City. The table below shows the monthly fees charged berth permit holders as of April 2010. Santa Barbara’s fees are due to change July 1, 2010 (see The Log – 2010-04-14).

Santa Barbara Transient Berths

Santa Barbara offers approximately 100 guest berths. Some of this number are City–permitted berths available when the permit holder’s vessel is away. The City retains the rental income for transient rentals. Rates charged to transient vessels beyond 14 days, on a monthly basis, are the highest in this survey (higher than Avalon, though Santa Barbara offers slips and Avalon offers only moorings). The table below shows Santa Barbara’s rates for transient berths by length of stay. No monthly transient rate is offered; it is shown here for comparison purposes only.

Santa Barbara Moorings

The annual mooring permit fee for all moorings is $250 regardless of mooring size. Santa Barbara assigns moorings by means of a lottery system. No fee is charged for inclusion in the mooring lottery. Santa Barbara does not rent unused City–permitted moorings for transient use.

Santa Barbara Liveaboards

Santa Barbara permits up to 10% of the harbor’s berths (or 113) to be used as liveaboards by the berth permit holder. A Liveaboard fee of $140.00/mo. is charged. Currently there is no waiting list (e.g. no wait for berth permit holders) for a liveaboard permit. When a liveaboard waiting list exists, the fee to be added thereto is $25 per year. There is no regulation of, or fee related to, liveaboards on moorings in the East Santa Barbara Mooring Area (or Year–Round Anchorage).

Santa Barbara Transferability

Santa Barbara berths and moorings are assigned by permit. A berth permit holder may transfer his permit with sale of his vessel. For such transfer, a transfer fee of $200 (for 20’ slip) or $250 (larger slips) per berth foot is charged (this transfer fee is slated to increase to $275 in July 2010). This transfer fee is also assessed upon addition of partner to a berth permit. For addition of a spouse to a slip permit, a slip swap, or change of vessel in a slip, a $50 processing fee is assessed. When a permit has been acquired from the waiting list, a 5–year sliding fee scale is applied. Santa Barbara moorings are not transferable. They are only assigned by means of the lottery.

Santa Barbara Special Fees

Slip Transfer - Vessel sale, slip permit reassignment or transfer, addition of partner - $200/ft. (20’ berth) - $250/ft (larger berth) ($250 > $275 in July 2010).

Processing Fee — Slip trades, new boat in slip, addition of spouse to slip permit. - $50.00

Waiting Lists:

Slip Waiting List — Currently full and closed to new applicants. When open, the fee to be added thereto is $50.00 Initial Fee. / $40.00 Renewal fee per year

Liveaboard permit waiting list — $25/yr. (But currently no wait and no waiting list; liveaboard permit only available to berth permit holder)

Yearly mooring inspections and any required repair paid by permittee.

Note: No regulations on liveaboards on moorings as to number, fee, inspections.

King Harbor - Redondo Beach

33° 50.315’N, 118° 23.708’W

NOAA 18744

Redondo Beach Marina (310) 374-3481

www.rbmarina.com/services.html#slips

King Harbor Location Overview

There are four marinas in King Harbor (view on Google Maps). One of these, Redondo Beach Marina, has transient slips 20’ to 65’ from $25 to $35/night respectively. The harbor currently offers only a few moorings (for commerical vessels only). The City received a DBAW $250,000 grant (yet unfunded) for additional transient vessel moorings to be managed by Redondo Beach Marina and leased to vessels >26 feet. The project has not moved forward due to State budget deficit. See Minutes of Harbor Commission of 06/08/2009. The DBAW grant requires these moorings accommodate transient boats. Currently, none has been installed, but we’re monitoring King Harbor for progress.

The few moorings currently available are only for commercial boats. A previous larger mooring field was displaced when a new breakwall was erected.

Avalon, Catalina Island

33° 20.874’N, 118° 19.284’W

NOAA 18757

Kate in the Harbormaster’s office (310) 510-0535

www.cityofavalon.com/ — mooring regulations

www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/ — overnight rental fees

www.cityofavalon.com/ — mooring map (p1) & fees (p2) (pdf–238KB)

Two Harbors – Manages Catalina Island moorings not in Avalon.

Chamber of Commerce

Avalon Location Overview

The City of Avalon has 362 moorings in a quaint tourist-oriented harbor at the southeast end of Catalina Island ( view on Google Maps). Moorings range in size from 14 feet to over 100 feet. The majority of visitors gain access to Avalon by means of commercial ferry services from the mainland. Avalon has no berths available for transient boaters and no anchorage within the harbor. Anchorage may be taken at nearby Descanso Bay . The vast majority of moorings are owned by individuals who pay a mooring permit fee of $0.73/ft/month to the City. Moorings may be sold with no boat, and great demand supports high prices. 70 foot moorings have sold for $1 million in past years (click to current moorings for sale). The City takes 5% of the transfer price. Mooring owner is responsible for annual maintenance.

Avalon Fees

Avalon offers no berths, only moorings. Avalon collects permit fees from mooring permit holders. Permit holders also pay for annual maintenance on these double–point moorings. The permit holder may reserve his mooring for his own use, reserve it for a friend’s use, or not use it. Everyone but the permit holder must pay a rental fee for use of the mooring.

Avalon Moorings

Avalon is the sailing destination of vessels from all of southern California. Once they arrive, they may anchor or pick up a double–point mooring. Avalon, and Catalina Island in general, offers no berths. The vast majority of moorings in Avalon are permitted to individuals. They may transfer their mooring to another person at any time. The City receives 5% of the sale price as transfer fee. 70’ Avalon moorings fetched prices up to US$ 1 million during the boom years. Moorings range in size from 14’ to 100’ plus.

Avalon Non–Transient Moorings

Mooring permit fee: 14 foot boat: $122.64 to 100 foot boat $876.00. The Avalon annual mooring permit fee is calculated by multiplying mooring length in feet x $0.73/ft x 12 months/year, equivalent to $8.76 /ft./yr.. Moorings require yearly maintenance at owner’s expense.

Avalon Non–Transient 40’ Mooring

For the permit holder of a 40 foot mooring, his cost, not including maintenance, the permit fee is $350.40 per year (or $8.76/ft./yr.).

Avalon Transient Moorings

The following table presents the fees for transient use of Avalon moorings by anyone other than the permit holder himself. The permit holder pays no rental fee when he uses his mooring himself.

Avalon Transient 40’ Mooring

An Avalon mooring for a non–permit holder costs $1,050 per month ($26.25/ft./mo. for a 40’ foot boat), or $12,600 per year ($316.00/ft./yr. for 40’ boat).

Avalon City-Owned Moorings

The vast majority of moorings in Avalon are owned by individuals, but the City does own some (fewer than 50) moorings which it leases to individuals. These are leased on year–long terms at more affordable rates than daily rates. On the waiting list for these moorings, priority is given to vessels which provide essential harbor services, but no more than 20% of such moorings may be so prioritized.

Avalon Liveaboards

Avalon Municipal Code Section 10-2.212 (f) states that no liveaboard permit is required of mooring owners but a Long Term Vessel Permit is required of other boaters who stay longer than 15 days. No fee is specified.

Avalon Transferability

Five percent of the mooring sale price is the Avalon mooring transfer fee. Permit holder can transfer mooring with no boat. Must also pay PIT to Los Angeles County on mooring.

Avalon Special Fees

$5/year waiting list fee for the City–owned leased moorings with 500 people on list.

Newport Beach

33° 35.212’N, 117° 52.669’W

NOAA 18754

OCSD Harbor Patrol (949) 723-1002 or VHF channel 16 (24/7/365)

Harbor Patrol – mooring, guest dock, launch ramp info

www.newportbeachca.gov/ — mooring info from City's Harbor Resources Division

Balboa Marina – City–owned marina information

www.newportbeachca.gov – Visiting Boaters’ Guide from the City (pdf–4.65MB)

NMA Visiting Boats FAQ – web page opens in a new window

Newport Beach Location Overview

Newport Harbor is in Newport Beach, located about 20 miles southeast of Long Beach harbor on the Orange County coast. The harbor was naturally formed but much improved by Army Corps of Engineers dredging in the 1930's to suit small craft. San Diego Creek (on Wikipedia) empties into Upper Newport Bay the runoff from about 112 square miles of upland watershed. Sediment accumulation displaces precious species habitat in the Upper Bay and jeopardizes safe navigation of small craft in the Lower Bay. The City has nearly completed dredging of the Upper Bay to restore habitat and hopes to begin harbor–wide maintenance dredging of the Lower Bay. Today the harbor offers both berths and moorings (view on Google Maps). The harbor is formed by the Balboa Peninsula. Local attractions include the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, the Pavillion, Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, and Disneyland (about 40 minutes from the harbor). Newport Beach began as a summer place for families from Riverside and Pasadena but today is a renowned resort destination. A distinguishing characteristic of Newport Harbor is private ownership of the majority of property fronting the public tidelands. Many bayfront residences have their own private piers with slips.

Newport Harbor Fees

Newport Harbor has flat rates (per foot) for moorings and varied, generally high, rates for berths. Newport Beach assesses mooring permit holders a $20/ft./year mooring permit fee. A mooring accommodates a single vessel. Homeowners with private docks pay about $100/year for a pier permit; a private pier may accommodate several vessels. Commercial pier permit holders pay the City a permit fee on a per–square–foot basis.

Newport Harbor Berths

Berths are available in the City–owned Balboa Yacht Basin and from private marina operators. Limited transient berths are available; most marinas offer only non–transient accommodation. Over the past ten years or so, fees charged in some private Newport Harbor marinas have escalated to dizzying heights. In the current economic climate, at least one marina not included in this survey has dropped its rates 25% and still has numerous unfilled slips.

Newport Harbor Non–Transient Berths

The City publishes the rates for its marina, called Balboa Yacht Basin. Newport Dunes publishes its rates so they are available for comparison. The following table shows berth rates in Newport Harbor; it is not a complete listing of all marinas and their prices:

Newport Harbor Transient Berths

The Dunes Marina offers limited transient berthing. For vessels 31’ and under, $50/day; vessels 32’ to 37’, $60/day; vessels 38’ and up, $70/day. Holiday and holiday weekends, add $10 per day to these rates. Alternatively, the Harbor Master offers five reasonably priced guest slips on a first–come, first–served basis. These are available for $0.60/ft./day with a $10 minimum. The fee, for example, for a 40’ boat in one of these berths, would be $24/day.

Newport Harbor Moorings

Newport Harbor offers non-transient and transient offshore moorings. These are moorings within the harbor but without physical connection to shore. The harbor also has non–transient shore moorings for boats under 18 feet; these allow some mooring permit holders to keep a skiff and others to keep various launches and sailboats at the water's edge. The City and County own very few moorings. The vast majority are individually permitted. The Harbor Patrol is the only entity which may rent moorings for transient use; no individual mooring permit holder may rent his mooring. However, a mooring permit holder may loan his mooring to a friend for a month or two. The Newport Harbor Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Clubs manage mooring fields and rent them at retail rates to members or allow transient use by boaters from reciprocal clubs or international voyagers. The Lido Isle Community Association manages shore moorings on Lido Isle.

Newport Harbor Non-Transient Moorings

Permit fees for moorings are collected by the City of Newport Beach on an annual basis at $20/ft./yr. of mooring. This is a flat rate without seasonal or size variation.

Newport Harbor Non–Transient 40’ Mooring

The annual fee for a 40’ moored vessel is $800 per year. Biannual mandatory inspection fee is about $250, not including any needed repair. There are at least two mooring services providers in the area.

Newport Harbor Transient Moorings

The harbor offers seven first–come, first–served transient use moorings located in Carnation Cove (view on Google Maps. These are the deepest moorings in Newport Harbor and offer ten feet of depth at low tide. As they are available, additional unused individually–permitted moorings may also be rented for transient use by the Harbor Master. Moorings can accommodate vessels from 20 feet up to 70 feet for the flat fee of $5/day. For transient use, the May 1—Oct 31 maximum stay is 15 days in 30, but can only be paid in five–day increments. From Nov 1—Apr 31, the stay can be 60 days. Newport Harbor Yacht Club has a limited number of moorings (vessels up to 55’ from reciprocal clubs or those from international ports) available for transient use. It offers two days free, and thereafter charges $25 flat per day. That includes 7:30am to dusk shoreboat service, rowboats, limited dock access, restaurant access, 24/7/365 restroom and shower access, trash, private off–street parking, water. Balboa Yacht Club offers similar service to reciprocal clubs.

Newport Harbor Transient 40’ Mooring

The monthly fee for a 40’ moored transient vessel is $150. While not possible to pay a monthly fee at one visit (and not possible to stay for a month on a mooring May 1—October 31), the rate is shown here for comparison purposes. On an annual basis, for comparison, this equals $1800 per year ($150/mo. x 12 mo./yr. = $1800/yr.). This is a flat rate, without variance as to vessel size. For a 40’ boat on an annual basis, this is equal to $45/ft./yr. or $3.75/ft./mo.

Newport Harbor Liveaboards

Living aboard a mooring in Newport Harbor has its challenges. Parking is limited, and seasonally nonexistant (summer). Newport Harbor has limited dinghy dock space, but several dinghy docks are currently getting extensions to allow more use. The City will permit approximately 51 liveaboards (7% of permitted moorings) in the harbor, but currently only about half of the possible permits have been requested. Liveaboards must be inspected annually; the fee for this inspection is $184. They are also required to keep a log of their use of local pumpout stations.

Newport Harbor Transferability

A homeowner with a tidelands permit for his pier may transfer it to the buyer of his home. A mooring permit holder may also transfer his mooring with sale of his boat. Currently there is a nominal flat transfer fee paid to the City, currently under US$ 40.

Newport Harbor Special Fees

Dinghies: the new dinghy dock extensions may provide an option for a dinghy permit allowing longer–term storage for a fee (TBD).

Parking: subject to local street sweeping or metered parking regulations, limited parking on City streets is available.

Wait List - the waiting list for moorings is currently closed.

Biannual inspections on mooring tackle. Any maintenance cost is the responsibility of the private party. Inspections are performed by a City–authorized mooring services provider, usually $250 to $300 every other year.

Mission Bay - San Diego

33° 45.360’N, 117° 16.211’W

NOAA 18765

Developed Parks Division, San Diego Parks & Recreation (619) 235–1169

www.sandiego.gov/ – general mooring info

www.sandiego.gov/ – mooring application and fees (pdf–534KB)

www.driscoll-boats.com/marina/ – Driscoll Mission Bay monthly berth rates

missionbay.hyatt.com – Hyatt Regency Islandia Spa and Marina brochure (pdf–225KB)

Mission Bay marinas

Mission Bay Location Overview

Mission Bay (view on Google Maps) is a totally sheltered small–craft recreational harbor, located in Mission Beach. It is a 4,000 acre aquatic park and home to SeaWorld. Sailing, kiteboarding, rowing, water–skiing, are only a few popular uses of this beach–lined bay. Mission Bay only permits limited moorings for vessels up to 25’ in size. There are a number of fine marinas, including Driscoll’s Marina and Shipyard (or see rates such as $11/mo. for a 40’ slip), the Dana Inn and Marina, and the deluxe Hyatt Regency Islandia Spa and Marina with full resort amenities. Mooring size and numbers are very limited in Mission Bay (to 25’), with almost no amenities provided beyond beach bars for dinghy storage (additional $131/year permit fee required). Entrance to Mission Bay is constricted by a bridge (West Mission Bay Drive) with clearance over water of 38 feet. Several marinas (Hyatt Regency, Driscoll's, Seaforth), and the Mariner’s Basin anchorage, are located seaward of this bridge; the bridge does not restrict vessels headed to these destinations. Mission Bay is a No–discharge harbor.

Mission Bay Fees

Mission Bay moorings are administered by the San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. The City charges a flat rate, mooring–size independent, for mooring placement. Marinas offer a wide range of pricing for berth fees.

Mission Bay Berths

Mission Bay Yacht Club, several marinas and hotels provide transient and non–transient berthage in a range of prices. Berths run from $11/ft./mo. for a 40’ berth at Driscoll’s to $17.75/ft./mo. at the Hyatt Regency; both marinas are located in Quivira Basin (view on Google Maps). (Hyatt Dockmaster at (619) 224-1234). Driscoll’s Marina offers the typical marina experience (electricity, water, laundry, restrooms & showers, parking for vessels up to 90 feet) while the Hyatt offers full resort amenities, including previously mentioned amenities plus market, dockhands, gym, pools, even room service to the slip! (for vessels up to 80 feet). Mission Bay Yacht Club also has berths and can accommodate a limited number of transient vessels from reciprocal yacht clubs.

Mission Bay Non–Transient Berths

The following table shows rates for two marinas (one high–end, one mainstream) in Mission Bay:

Mission Bay Transient Berths

Driscoll Marina charges $1/ft./day for stays under a month; but for stays over a month, it charges $17/ft./mo. The Hyatt Regency charges a flat $50/day for transient visits, but $100/day on holiday weekends. Hyatt Marina transient reservations – (doc–26KB) currently limited to vessels up to 35’.

Mission Bay Moorings

Mission Bay offers a maximum of 552 mooring permits, of which 60 are currently available. Mooring size is limited to 25 feet! Moorings may only be placed in a few parts of Mission Bay (San Juan Cove, Santa Barbara Cove, and Mariners Basin). The annual mooring permit fee is $610 (or $24.40/ft./yr. for a 25’ boat). The Parks & Recreation Department can cancel any mooring permit with 5 days notice! Mooring permit holder owns the tackle and may sell it (but not the permit); he must also pay for mandatory annual inspections and any required repairs to his tackle. There are no transient moorings; the Harbor Patrol does not rent individually–permitted moorings to visiting boats.

Mooring permit holders may apply for limited dinghy storage on beach bars for which a separate permit and fee is required, $131/year.

Mission Bay Liveaboards

No liveaboards are permitted in Mission Bay. Mooring permit holders may not even spend the night on their boats, but transient boaters are accommodated.

Mission Bay Transferability

Mission Bay mooring permits are not transferable but the mooring tackle is transferable. The Park Department points out that although a person may buy someone else’s tackle, he still needs to obtain a mooring permit.

San Diego

32° 38.402’N, 117° 13.574’W

NOAA 18773

San Diego Mooring Company (619) 291-0916 (Mon–Fri 8:00a–4:30p)

Harbor Patrol Mooring Office (619) 686–6227 (Hours: 7a–11a, 12–4 every day) – for anchoring permits & transient dock use.

www.sandiegomooring.com/rates.htm

San Diego anchoring info – from Venture Yacht Club (pdf–52KB)

San Diego marinas

Anchoring and mooring info – from Marina Sailing

San Diego Business Journal – 2008 survey of San Diego marinas by size (with fees).

Water taxi – on–call 9am to 9pm (619) 235-TAXI; $7 one–way

San Diego Location Overview

San Diego Bay (view on Google Maps) is a world-renowned multi-purpose port with recreational, commercial, and military users. It is where California’s maritime history began in 1542 when Cabrillo sailed into the bay. Today this world–class harbor is home to many recreational marinas, hotels, and yacht clubs with slips and side ties. A multitude of amenities are available. Among the slip and side tie providers are San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, Bay Club Hotel & Marina, Sunroad San Diego, Harbor Island West, Sheraton Hotel & Marina, Kona Kai, SDYC, SWYC, Shelter Cove Marina, CYC, and Chula Vista Marina—an incomplete list. The San Diego Harbor Patrol offers attractively priced transient slips. This survey has very limited coverage of San Diego berth options. In San Diego Bay, all moorings are managed by a single private entity (San Diego Mooring Co.) under contract. Individuals do not hold the permits. Portions of San Diego Bay are subject to a 5 knot speed limit.

San Diego Fees

San Diego mooring fees are size-independent, flat fees, but the amount of the fee varies with mooring field location. There are so many marinas in San Diego that researching all of them would be an entire project in itself. Here, rates for one club and several marinas are shown.

San Diego Berths

There are more than a dozen marinas with berths throughout San Diego Bay. Hotels such as Loews Crown Isle Resort in Coronado and others, and yacht clubs also offer berths, both to transient and non–transient vessels. The San Diego Harbor Patrol also maintains well–kept, very attractively priced transient slips.

San Diego Non–Transient Berths

There are thousands, from many marinas and yacht clubs, which provides healthy competition with varying rates. Here is a brief sample:

San Diego Transient Berths

San Diego Harbor Master offers thirty transient slips available on a first–come, first–served basis, for vessels up to 55 feet, at $10.50/day (flat rate) for first 5 days, $21/day (flat rate) for next 5 days; use limited to 10 days’s stay in a 40 day period. San Diego Yacht Club charges US$ 1/ft./day. Month–long stays may not be offered; the figures are shown here only for comparison purposes.

San Diego Moorings

Moorings are available for a flat monthly fee which varies by mooring field location. The application fee is a one-time fee charged up–front on joining the mooring waiting list.

The San Diego Mooring Company rents and maintains the 462 moorings located throughout San Diego Bay. There are four different locations with rates which vary, not by size, but by location (mooring field location), from $128.17 – $157.07 per month. Parking and shore services are not provided. Near the Laurel Street and America’s Cup Harbor mooring areas, public dinghy docks are available. The Bay Bridge area and the Shelter Island Roadstead offer a beach stay chain, to which a dinghy may be locked. No extra fee is assessed.

Mooring rental rates shown above are retail rates; there is no additional charge for mooring maintenance. The San Diego Mooring Company is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the moorings. The permit holder only pays for that portion of the mooring tackle above the mooring ball, which means the mooring pendants or hawsers, swivel, shackles.

Non-transient 40’ mooring

Fee varies by location but they are size-independent. For comparison purposes, a 40’ mooring in the Shelter Island Roadstead costs $128.17/mo. x 12 mo/yr = $1,538.04/yr. On a per foot per year basis, this equals $38.45/ft./yr.. NOTE: this is a retail rate which includes maintenance performed by the San Diego Mooring Company at its expense. For comparison purposes, we assume cost of ballast, chain, and float maintenance of about $300 per year per mooring included in this retail rate. $1,538.04 less $300 maintenance equals $1,238.04, or $30.95 per foot per year net of maintenance.

Transient 40’ mooring

12 transient moorings are available for up to 30 days use at a flat rate of $7.50 per day ($225/mo.). Occasionally more than 12 moorings may be available for transient use; this depends on whether non–transient users are away for extended periods.

San Diego Liveaboards

The Port of San Diego places no limit or additional regulation on liveaboard boaters and charges them no additional fee whether in a berth, moored, or anchored.

San Diego Transferability

Moorings are managed on behalf of the City of San Diego by the San Diego Mooring Company. Individuals do not hold the permits, therefore they are not transferable.

Additional resources:

• California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains

• Slips Guide from The Log.

• Harbor Guide from The Log.

• Latitude 38 Harbor Info

• DBAW Harbor Info

• BoatHarbors.com (covers California)

Revised: 2010-04-17