Please find the Harbor Master’s Office Sounding Report for West Marina from March 23rd, 2022.
West Marine Sounding Report Feb. 24th | Harbor Master’s Office Advisory
Please find the most current sounding report for West Marina, per Feb. 24th, 2022.
SAN FRANCISCO MARINA SHOALING ADVISORY
West Marina Channel Entrance
Boaters are advised that shoaling conditions can exist at the West Channel. Caution
should be taken at all times, especially at low to medium tides, to monitor depth on
entry and exit of the channel.
The lighted red and green PATON markers serve as a guide and aid to navigation, and
hazard buoys have been placed to warn boaters. Boats should always exercise
vigilance and caution in this general area when transiting the West Marina channel.
It is recommended that larger or deep-draft vessels traverse alone through the west
channel and monitor depths and speed.
During the winter and spring, boaters can expect very low tides in this area of the San
Francisco Bay until the allowable dredging window occurs in the summer/fall of 2022.
Prudent boaters should consult local tide tables whenever they expect to traverse
hazardous areas prone to shoaling conditions. The San Francisco Marina is happy to
provide boaters and the public with a complimentary 2022 Tide Book at the Marina
Office during business hours.
Please also monitor for swimmers, as they have been sighted in the open bay outside of
the West Marina Entrance. (Swimming is prohibited in the marina and the channel
entrance.)
San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor
1 Marina Green Drive | San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (415) 831-6322 | Fax: (415) 775.1060
SFHMA Preliminary Vision for Community Boating East Harbor
SF Marina Harbor Association presents a preliminary vision for a community boating center in the southern end of East Harbor where the City intends to abandon many berths rather than dredging there.
We are also recommending dedicated berth-holder bathrooms as well as a breakwater along the eastern edge to protect against surges. The conceptual design is depicted below.
For more information, please join our upcoming meeting:
SF Marina Harbor Annual Meeting via ZOOM – Thurs Feb 10, 2022 – 7 PM
Link to the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84897421434
Full agenda is at www.sfmarinaharbor.org under “Latest News” and you may initiate or renew your membership at http://sfmarinaharbor.org/#hs-service-post-section – just $60 for three years!
West Marina Sounding Report January 5, 2022
Editors Note:
When entering West Harbor to go to the St. Francis or your own berth, there has been continued shoaling that can endanger your boat. Since the attached photo was at +2.8 tide, well above low, the areas marked 8’ indicate only 5.2 ft depth, therefore you can hit bottom especially along the green channel markers along the south side of the channel. Favor the red markers along the north side of the channel. Also, you do not need to continue to the end of the “channel” as that’s not where they dredged the last two times; rather, they dredged closer to the wave organ and the channel should curve Northerly rather than a straight line going East-West.
In past decades, there was a sandpit off the end of the wave organ which then collected sand and prevented the harbor from silting in so quickly. This sand was given away to a dredger who came in exchange for dredging it out. That deal was dropped when the harbor was renovated, and the consequences have been dire for the harbor entrance, costing $500k or more each year for remedial dredging and even that has not been substantial enough to make solid headway against the problem, thought to come from sand off Ocean Beach and Crissy Field.
If you have an interest in learning more, and perhaps contributing to a solution, please join the SF Marina Harbor Association. Our Annual Meeting will be on Feb 10 via ZOOM and we’ll be sending out notices soon to members. See http://sfmarinaharbor.org/ for how to join, just $60 for three years. We’re also looking for another director to join our Board.
SF Marina Sounding Report July 25, 2021
On July 25, 2021 the Harbor Master’s Officer released the most recent sounding report. The soundings taken on 7/25/2021 @ 0715 at -1.2 tide. Please note that this map is not intended for navigation purposes, try to enter and exit during high tides.
