Princess Y8083'8"
View Specs & ReviewThe islands take 200 feet. Anacortes takes 130. That is backwards, and it matters.
Yachting in Anacortes & the San Juan Islands
A Minted Location · Anacortes & the San Juan Islands, Washington
Everyone tells this story the same way: Anacortes is the serious port, the San Juans are the scenery. The published figures say the opposite at the top end.
Friday Harbor states that guest moorage is available year-round for vessels up to 200 feet, and adds that "larger boats can tie alongside the floating concrete breakwaters." Roche Harbor publishes "up to 200'+ vessels" across 425 slips. Meanwhile Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes publishes 130 feet — the largest transient figure in town.
So if your question is "where does the big boat actually go," the answer is out to the islands.
Anacortes' real product is something else entirely, and it is better than a length figure. It is density and homeport economics: several yards in one small town, covered heated work bays, 466 private condo moorage slips, a marina that takes reservations up to a year ahead, and — unusually — one that formally courts owner-group rendezvous of 8 to 45 boats. The islands are where the boat goes. Anacortes is where it lives and gets fixed.
Haul-out here is a phone call rather than a table. Anacortes Marina runs a 30-ton Travelift and Skyline a 50-ton Marine Travelift; North Harbor Diesel publishes both "150T Max Lift Capacity" and "Vessels up to 50 tons". Agree the lift with the yard before you plan a date around it.
Where to keep a yacht in Anacortes & the San Juan Islands
Cap Sante Marina, run by the Port of Anacortes, is the gateway berth — 130 feet, over 100 guest slips, diesel and non-ethanol 87 octane from 08:00 to 18:00, and a free pump-out float with portable carts at the dock heads in summer. Transient rates are $1.97 per foot up to 50 feet and $2.44 at 51 feet and over in summer (1 May – 30 September), dropping to $1.25 per foot in winter. Reservations are taken up to a year ahead for a $5 advance fee.
It also formally courts owner-group rendezvous, which is rare. In its own words, "Cap Sante Marina can host groups with as few as 8 boats or as many as 45 boats", bookable a year out, with slips assigned in a group block, welcome bags, no advance reservation fee, and priority on the activity floats at $200 a float for a maximum of four days. If you run with a group, that is a genuinely different proposition from a first-come dock.
Anacortes Marina is the homeport economics in one line: 466 private condo moorage slips from 32 to 60 feet, with a 30-ton Travelift on a haul-and-hang basis and a pump-out on site. Condo moorage, not transient. Skyline Marine Center on Flounder Bay runs transient and long-term moorage with a 50-ton Marine Travelift, indoor and outdoor storage, a DIY lot, a dual-sling monorail launch, and non-ethanol gas and "Extreme Diesel" daily 09:00–16:00.
North Harbor Diesel & Yacht Service carries the town's largest yacht-scale figures, and its page publishes two of them: "150T Max Lift Capacity" and "Vessels up to 50 tons". Call before you plan a lift around either. It states five-plus acres of storage and 200-plus vessel capacity.
Dakota Creek Industries is the town's genuinely large infrastructure — a drydock of 312 by 90 feet with 9,500 tons of lifting capacity, a Syncrolift shiplift of 306 by 75 feet at 5,000 tons, and a 360-foot central pier at 30 feet of depth, taking vessels to 400 feet. It builds and repairs commercial and naval ships rather than refitting yachts, so it sits beside the town's yacht work rather than inside it.
Out in the islands, the numbers get bigger.
Friday Harbor Marina publishes 200 feet for year-round guest moorage across 500 slips, 100 of them available to overnight visitors, with a fuel pier on site. Summer guest rates are $2.50 per foot (20–44 ft), $2.85 (45–99 ft) and $2.95 at 100 feet and over, dropping to $1.40 in winter; 30 amp is included, 50 amp is $10 and 100 amp is $30. Reservations open 24 hours ahead, with a 14-day maximum stay per month from 1 May to 30 September.
It also runs the market's customs dock, and the details are worth having before you arrive: 300 feet of tie-up space "located on the front face on the northern end of Breakwater 'B'", with a phone provided to call CBP on 360-378-2080. Only the captain disembarks. Nexus and I-68 holders report to 1-800-562-5943.
Roche Harbor Marina publishes "up to 200'+ vessels" across 425 slips, with diesel and ethanol-free unleaded from 08:00 to 19:00, 30, 50 and 100-amp power, a mobile pump-out, and more than 12,000 boaters a year. Reservations are strongly advised; a limited first-come waitlist opens at 08:30 on VHF 78a. Clearing in here is virtual — Roche Harbor states it no longer hosts a consistent Customs and Border presence, so arrive on ROAM, or bring the boat to the Friday Harbor customs dock.
Deer Harbor Marina on Orcas offers "side ties up to 110', a full service grocery store and restaurant… as well as a convenient fuel dock and pump-out facilities", with summer reservations online, first-come in the offseason, and VHF 78a. Islands Marine Center at Fisherman Bay on Lopez publishes guest moorage "for vessels up to 100 feet with water, power, and dockside amenities" and hauls out — agree the lift with the yard before you book. The Port of Friday Harbor also runs Shipyard Cove (100 ft side tie, 135 permanent slips) and Jensen's (covered moorage to 50 ft).
Marinas
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Harbor Marina (Port of Friday Harbor)The market's largest published guest figure, and it is in the islands rather than in Anacortes. 500 slips with 100 available to overnight visitors, and "larger boats can tie alongside the floating concrete breakwaters." Summer $2.50/ft (20–44 ft), $2.85 (45–99 ft), $2.95 (100 ft+); winter $1.40/ft. 30A included, 50A $10, 100A $30. | San Juan Island | 200 ft | 500 | Fuel pier on site |
| Roche Harbor Marina"Up to 200'+ vessels" across 425 slips, with 30, 50 and 100-amp power and a mobile pump-out. More than 12,000 boaters visit annually. Clearing in here is virtual: Roche Harbor states it no longer hosts a consistent Customs and Border presence, so arrive on ROAM, or use the Friday Harbor customs dock. | San Juan Island | 200 ft | 425 | Diesel and ethanol-free unleaded, 08:00–19:00 |
| Cap Sante Marina (Port of Anacortes)The gateway berth, with over 100 guest slips, a free pump-out float and portable carts at the dock heads in summer. Unusually, it formally courts owner-group rendezvous: "Cap Sante Marina can host groups with as few as 8 boats or as many as 45 boats", with slips assigned in a block, welcome bags and priority on activity floats at $200 per float for a four-day maximum. | Anacortes waterfront | 130 ft | — | Diesel and non-ethanol 87 octane, 08:00–18:00 |
| Deer Harbor Marina"Modern dock facilities with side ties up to 110', a full service grocery store and restaurant… as well as a convenient fuel dock and pump-out facilities." The most self-contained stop on Orcas. | Orcas Island | 110 ft | — | Fuel dock on site; grades not stated |
| Islands Marine CenterGuest moorage "for vessels up to 100 feet with water, power, and dockside amenities", and it hauls out — agree the lift with the yard before you book. | Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island | 100 ft | — | — |
| Friday Harbor U.S. Customs Dock300 feet of tie-up space, "located on the front face on the northern end of Breakwater 'B'." A phone is provided to call CBP on 360-378-2080, and only the captain disembarks. Nexus and I-68 holders report to 1-800-562-5943. The market's one walk-up clearance point. | San Juan Island | — | — | — |
| Shipyard Cove Marina · Jensen's MarinaThe Port of Friday Harbor's two smaller facilities. Shipyard Cove has 135 permanent year-round slips from 20 to 50 feet plus side-tie space to 100 feet on the breakwater. Jensen's runs covered moorage at 30, 40 and 50 feet, open moorage to 35, side-tie lineal from 20 to 40 feet, and a boat ramp. | San Juan Island | 100 ft | 135 | — |
| Anacortes Marina / Northwest Marine Center466 private condo moorage slips from 32 to 60 feet — the clearest single expression of Anacortes' homeport economics. A 30-ton Travel Lift on a haul-and-hang basis, with a pump-out on site. | Anacortes | 60 ft | 466 | — |
| Skyline Marine CenterA 50-ton Marine Travelift alongside indoor and outdoor storage, a DIY lot and a dual-sling monorail launch. Part of why the town's service density is real. | Flounder Bay, Anacortes | — | — | Non-ethanol gas and "Extreme Diesel", 09:00–16:00 daily |
Figures are as each facility publishes them on its own site; blank cells mean the facility doesn't state a number. Confirm slip availability and current rates directly — or ask us to make the calls.
Cruising from Anacortes & the San Juan Islands
Deception Pass is the single most useful operational fact in this cruising ground. NOAA CO-OPS, 1–31 August 2026:
| Station | ID / position | Bin | Max flood | Max ebb | Mean set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deception Pass (Narrows) | PUG1701 — 48.4062 N, 122.6431 W | 33 (~18 ft) | 6.56 kn | 7.30 kn | 108° / 277° |
| Rosario Strait | PUG1702 — 48.4581 N, 122.7501 W | 16 (46.8 ft) | 3.12 | 4.19 | 357° / 190° |
| San Juan Channel, south entrance | PUG1703 — 48.4610 N, 122.9520 W | 17 (75.4 ft) | 5.81 | 4.77 | 347° / 168° |
⚠️ A 7.3-knot ebb against a westerly exceeds the cruising speed of most displacement yachts outright. That is not a caution, it is arithmetic: Deception Pass is a genuine slack-water transit, and the rest of the cruise plans around it.
Tide is modest by Pacific Northwest standards, which is part of what makes the islands comfortable. NOAA station 9449880 at Friday Harbor: MHHW 11.61 · MHW 10.96 · MSL 8.40 · MLW 6.14 · MLLW 3.85. Mean range 4.82 feet, great diurnal range 7.76.
Washington State Parks is where the anchoring content actually lives, and the fee mechanics are the useful part.
- Dock and linear moorage $1 per foot, $23 minimum. Buoys $23 flat.
- The Annual Moorage Permit is "$7 per foot of your vessel's total length, with an $80 minimum", valid 1 January to 31 December, and it waives the moorage fee at State Park marine facilities. One vessel, non-transferable, commercial vessels excluded. For anyone spending a season in these islands that permit is the single best-value thing the state sells.
- Fees are charged year-round from 13:00 to 08:00; buoys have a three-night maximum; everything is first come, first served; phone registration adds a $4.50 convenience fee.
| Park | Buoys | Dock / linear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucia Island | 48 | two linear systems and two docks | Six bays: Echo, Ewing Cove, Fossil, Fox Cove, Shallow, Snoring. Potable water early April to September. Dock 2 removed October–April |
| Stuart Island | 20 (Reid 13, Prevost 7) | 448 ft — Prevost 128 ft, Reid 96 ft | Pump-out barge year-round, but "access to this pumpout is limited to vessels with a length of no more than 60 feet" |
| Jones Island | 7, year-round | 128 linear ft at North Cove | Dock removed early October to early April |
| James Island | 4 (East Cove) | 128 ft dock (West Cove) | Docks and buoys in place year-round |
Crossing the border is a real part of cruising here, and both directions are published. Northbound, CBSA requires you to report in person at an open designated marine reporting site or to the Telephone Reporting Centre, 1-888-226-7277. Its rule on the call is specific: "Only the operator may leave the boat to place the call. Everyone else must remain onboard until the CBSA authorizes entry." Groups of 30 or more cannot clear by telephone and must notify CBSA in writing at least 72 hours before arriving. The reporting exception applies only if you do not land on Canadian soil and do not anchor, moor or make contact with another conveyance. ⚠️ "The minimum fine for failing to report to the CBSA upon entry to Canada is CAN$1,000."
Southbound, use the Friday Harbor customs dock described above, or clear virtually through ROAM.
Ferry traffic is a live consideration. Washington State Ferries runs a route named exactly "Anacortes / San Juan Islands", crossing San Juan Channel and Rosario Strait, and Friday Harbor's ferry landing sits immediately adjacent to the marina — keep a lookout for ferries on the approach and in both channels.
- Sucia Island Marine State Park — North of Orcas IslandThe flagship state park anchorage: 48 mooring buoys across six bays — Echo, Ewing Cove, Fossil, Fox Cove, Shallow and Snoring — plus two linear systems and two docks. Potable water early April to September. Dock 2 is removed October to April.
- Stuart Island Marine State Park — Reid Harbor and Prevost HarborThirteen buoys in Reid Harbor and seven in Prevost, with 128 feet of dock at Prevost and 96 at Reid. The pump-out barge runs year-round, with a published limit: "access to this pumpout is limited to vessels with a length of no more than 60 feet."
- Jones Island · James Island — San Juan Channel and Rosario StraitJones Island has seven buoys year-round and 128 linear feet at North Cove, and its dock is removed from early October to early April. James Island has four buoys in East Cove and a 128-foot dock in West Cove, both in place year-round, which makes it the more reliable shoulder-season stop.
- Washington State Parks Annual Moorage Permit — All State Park marine facilitiesThe single best-value thing the state sells to anyone spending a season here: it waives the moorage fee at State Park marine facilities outright. One vessel, non-transferable, commercial vessels excluded.
Service, refit & supplies
Shipyards & refit
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Dockage |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Harbor Diesel & Yacht Service"150T Max Lift Capacity" and "Vessels up to 50 tons" both appear on its page — call before planning a lift around either. Five-plus acres of storage and 200-plus vessel capacity, the largest yacht-scale figures in town. | Anacortes | — | — |
| Dakota Creek IndustriesThe town's genuinely large infrastructure: a drydock of 312 by 90 feet with 9,500 tons of lifting capacity, a Syncrolift shiplift of 306 by 75 feet at 5,000 tons, and a 360-foot central pier at 30 feet of depth. Commercial and naval shipbuilding rather than yacht refit — it sits beside the town's yacht work rather than inside it. | Anacortes | 400 ft | Commercial yard |
On the Anacortes & the San Juan Islands calendar
Every official rate calendar in this market breaks on the same two dates, which makes the season unusually easy to state. The Port of Anacortes runs summer transient rates 1 May to 30 September and winter 1 October to 30 April. The Port of Friday Harbor runs summer rates and its 14-day cap 1 May to 30 September. Roche Harbor's winter agreement runs 1 October to 30 April. Cap Sante's activity floats run 1 April to 30 September.
And the state park infrastructure physically comes out of the water for the other half of the year — Sucia's potable water runs early April to September, and Sucia's Dock 2 and the Jones Island dock are removed October to April. That is a five-month commercial season with an April/October shoulder, and it is worth planning a purchase around.
One dated event to plan around:
- Anacortes Arts Festival — 1 to 2 August 2026.
The Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show runs in town as well — confirm this year's dates with the organiser before you book a berth around it.
Yachts we'd shortlist for Anacortes & the San Juan Islands
Reviewed the same way as everything on this site — specifications verified against the builder's own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is the current at Deception Pass?
NOAA station PUG1701 gives a maximum flood of 6.56 knots and a maximum ebb of 7.30 knots, with the flood setting 108° and the ebb 277°. A 7.30-knot ebb against a westerly exceeds the cruising speed of most displacement yachts outright, which makes Deception Pass a genuine slack-water transit rather than a cautious one. By contrast Rosario Strait runs 3.12 flood and 4.19 ebb, and the south entrance to San Juan Channel runs 5.81 and 4.77.
Is Anacortes a good place to have a yacht serviced?
Yes — the density is real: several yards in one small town, covered heated work bays, 466 private condo moorage slips, a 30-ton Travelift at Anacortes Marina and a 50-ton Marine Travelift at Flounder Bay. Above that, lift capacity is a phone call rather than a table: North Harbor Diesel publishes both "150T Max Lift Capacity" and "Vessels up to 50 tons", so agree the lift with the yard before you plan a haul-out around a date. Dakota Creek's 9,500-ton drydock is commercial and naval shipbuilding rather than yacht refit.
How much does state park moorage cost in the San Juan Islands?
Dock and linear moorage is $1 per foot with a $23 minimum, and mooring buoys are $23 flat, charged year-round from 13:00 to 08:00, first come first served, with a three-night maximum on buoys. The best value by far is the Annual Moorage Permit at $7 per foot of vessel length with an $80 minimum, valid 1 January to 31 December, which waives the moorage fee at State Park marine facilities entirely. One vessel, non-transferable, commercial vessels excluded.
When is the boating season in the San Juan Islands?
Five months, with an April and October shoulder, and every official rate calendar breaks on the same dates. The Port of Anacortes and the Port of Friday Harbor both run summer rates 1 May to 30 September; Roche Harbor's winter agreement runs 1 October to 30 April; Cap Sante's activity floats run 1 April to 30 September. The state park infrastructure physically leaves the water for the rest of the year — Sucia's Dock 2 and the Jones Island dock are removed October to April, and Sucia's potable water runs early April to September.
Where do you clear customs by boat in the San Juan Islands?
At the Friday Harbor U.S. Customs Dock, which offers 300 feet of tie-up space on the front face at the northern end of Breakwater B, with a phone provided to call CBP on 360-378-2080. Only the captain disembarks. Nexus and I-68 holders report to 1-800-562-5943. Note that Roche Harbor states it no longer hosts a consistent Customs and Border presence, so clearance there is virtual via ROAM rather than at a dock. Going north into Canada, CBSA's minimum fine for failing to report on entry is CAN$1,000.
What is the largest yacht that can berth in the San Juan Islands?
Larger than in Anacortes, which surprises most people. Friday Harbor states that guest moorage is available year-round for vessels up to 200 feet, and adds that larger boats can tie alongside the floating concrete breakwaters. Roche Harbor publishes up to 200 feet plus across 425 slips. Deer Harbor on Orcas takes side ties to 110 feet, and Islands Marine Center on Lopez publishes 100. By comparison Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes — the gateway port — publishes 130 feet.