19 live-aboard boats could move into the marina if agencies give OK
Residents with floating homes who are losing spots at one Redwood City marina could soon find another spot nearby.
The Port of Redwood City’s Board of Commissioners on Sept. 27 authorized allowing up to 19 live-aboard vessels to dock at the port on a month-tomonth basis. It’s the first time the port has authorized live-aboard vessels, though the plan still needs to be approved by a governing body.
Michael Giari, the port’s executive director, said the idea came about in talks with the city after approximately 67 live-aboard vessels were told they have to vacate the premises by February 2018, as part of a lawsuit settlement over the prohibited residences. The City Council last December adopted a $10.4 million Docktown relocation plan that includes payments of fair market value for residents wishing to sell their boats to the city, but also offering advisory assistance for those looking to relocate to other marinas.
Giari also said the dwellings, which will cost $400 to $500 to dock per month, will bring additional revenue to the port if approved by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. In addition, if any Docktown residents relocate to the port marina, the port plans to ask for money from the city.
“The marina is not a big money-maker for the port, and the increased revenue from live-aboards is helpful, particularly for making repairs that the marina constantly needs,” Giari said.
The port is spending $700,000 from its reserves in repairs to the run-down dock where the boats will berth, in anticipation of the commission’s approval. The commission, which is expected to approve the city’s application in the coming weeks, allows up to 10 percent of berths in the port marina to be used for liveaboards. There are 190 slips
“Increased revenue from live-aboards is helpful, particularly for making repairs that the marina constantly needs.”
— Michael Giari,
Port of Redwood City executive director
at the marina.
Giari said the commission could come back with conditions that the port cannot meet or would cost additional funds, but he said the port went out of its way to meet the commission’s stated criteria, such as consigning live-aboard berths to the dock located closest to restrooms, showers, garbage disposal facilities and parking. Planned repairs include upgrades to the restrooms and laundry facilities, new electrical wiring and structural mends. The marina harbormaster in July told port commissioners that boats currently occupying that dock could be moved to vacant spots at the other four docks.
If OK’d by the commission, all live-aboards will have to be “navigable, seaworthy” and well-maintained boats, such as any other vessel that docks at the port marina. The vessels also can’t be longer than 35 feet, the length of the slips. Those qualifications would rule out a number of barge-based dwellings housed at Docktown.
Live-aboards are defined as boats that are occupied for more than two consecutive nights in any seven-day period or more than eight nights in any 30day period. Only owner-occupied boats will be allowed, for $400 a month for one person or $500 for two people. There is no additional charge for additional people, but that allowance would be at the discretion of the harbormaster, Giari said, adding that he didn’t foresee “a lot of demand for more than two people, if any,” because of size constraints.