Guest Slips-San Diego

San Diego is a great destination for a get-away week. There are so many different areas to visit that you could stretch that week into a month and just about cover most of the bay.

Public guest slips are provided by the Harbor Police at the Shelter Island facility on the south end of the island, 1401 Shelter Island Drive. There are 22 slips accommodating boats to 40 feet with end ties for boats over 40 feet. Amenities include water and 110 shore power, restrooms (no showers), parking and a phone booth at the customs dock.

Reservations are not accepted, its first come, first served, but you can hail the Harbor Police dispatcher on VHF 16 or by land-line at 619/686-6272 to find out if there is space available. Or you can stop at the dock and check, be sure to have the vessel registration with you. Fees are $10 a day for the first 5 days, $20 day for the second 5 for boats under 55 feet. Over that, the fee doubles. Length of stay is 10 days in a 30 day period.

In addition to the transient slips, the Port also provides a "Cruisers Anchorage" located near the downtown area. No fee is required to anchor in this area however a permit is required and can be obtained through the above mentioned mooring office during office hours. The anchorage is limited to vessels registered outside of San Diego county. The length of stay allowed for the anchorage is 30 days with two extensions available for a total stay of 90 days in a 12 month period. Guest Slips - Harbor Island

There are over 20 private marinas in the harbor and most have guest slips available. Fees and length of stay varies but amenities include restrooms, showers, electricity and water. Some include cable tv, telephone service, clubhouse or lounge, lending libraries, parking, swimming pool and jacuzzi, wash down service, pump-a head service and we've even gotten room service delivered to boat at one!

Two of them are the Harbor Island West Marina at 2040 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, Ca 92102. They can be reached at 619/291-6440 or faxed at 619/291-2684 and Sunroad Resort Marina at 955 Harbor Island Drive San Diego, California 92101and they can be reached at 619/ 574-0736 or 1-800-350-0736.

If you belong to a yacht club, you may have reciprocal privileges at many of the San Diego yacht clubs. Check with the club you are interested in visiting and ask them their policies, length of stay and do make reservations well ahead of your visit. We have stayed at many of the clubs in the Shelter Island basin and can't say enough about their hospitality. One club even let us use their meeting room for an impromptu after the wedding, after the reception party while we were temporarily boatless as the bride and groom had taken "the boat" out for a little harbor cruise. Thank you, Kona Kai!. And Southwestern has one of the nicest group of sailors we've encountered. And a beautiful facility. Thank you too! San Diego Yacht Club is another club with superb facilities and a great staff.