I like to write up these “Cruiser’s Reviews” when we visit fun and interesting places to A) help other people find fun and interesting places to visit by boat, and B) to help me remember our adventures! Haha. 😉 Enjoy this Cruiser’s Review for the Eureka Public Marina and find all my other ones HERE.
Eureka Public Marina Cruiser’s Review for the United States West Coast
When we started to look at visiting Eureka on our way south from Washington to Mexico, I found this website for the Eureka Public Marina. There, I found the contact information for the Harbormaster, Donald Wilkes, and a couple phone numbers for the marina.
Initially, I called the first listed number (707) 441-4230 and left a voicemail. In the voicemail message on that number, they give out Donald’s cell phone (707) 499-9754 and another marina office phone number (707) 268-1973.
A few hours after leaving a message at the main number, Donald the Harbormaster called me back.
Upon speaking with Donald, he initially told us that we could dock our 43-foot sailboat anywhere open on the outside of K dock. K dock is the outermost long linear dock. I had heard, though, from some cruiser friends that we would want to be on the inside of that dock if at all possible. This due to large wakes and exposure to heavier weather on the outside.
I asked Donald if there would be space for us on the inside. After a little hemming and hawing, he agreed that we could probably take a spot on the inside (yellow arrow, approximately). He said he would leave a key for us with “Dennis the Liveaboard” whose boat, SV Andromeda, is permanently moored at the green arrow.
Arriving at the Eureka Public Marina and Getting Settled
When we arrived, there was a sailboat tied in the middle of the open space on the inside and we ended up going back out and tying to the outside anyway, at the red arrow.
Immediately upon arriving, I sent Donald a text that we had arrived and had tied up on the outside. I told him the space for us inside was too small. Another cruising sailboat came in shortly after we did and tied right behind us. Dennis The Liveaboard immediately came and greeted us to give me the key. He launched into a lecture on how he didn’t think we should stay where we were. There was a commercial fishing vessel that would need to fit on the outside between us and two other big fishing vessels.
I gave the other cruisers Donald’s cell number. They called him and were given the OK to stay there overnight. (They had tried to call the marina earlier but got no answer. They’d come in without any reservation or slip assignment).
The whole scene just seemed overly dramatic. A bit like Dennis just wanted a little Saturday evening excitement. Dennis finally offered up that the tenant fishing vessel, the FishWish, is about 70 feet long. And that he didn’t know if they were returning to the dock that night or not. We and the other cruisers decided to stay where we were. We had approval from the harbormaster, after all.
As far as wakes go, there are definitely some inconsiderate boats that go by in the channel. But our night on the outside wasn’t too bad. We did put out LOTS of fenders. On top of our general concern for wakes, there are large bolts on the side of the dock which could cause a lot of damage to any boat bashed up against them.
The next day, I got a phone call from Donald. The sailboat on the inside had left and we could take that inside spot. So we moved to the spot at the yellow arrow above.
Cruiser’s Review: Amenities and Services in the Eureka Public Marina Area
The Eureka Public Marina is open to the public from 8am to 5pm daily. The marina gates will be closed and locked after 5pm and you’ll need a key to enter. If you come in after hours, it seems like Dennis the Liveaboard has several keys to loan out to visiting boaters.
The marina bathroom building is locked 24/7 and you’ll need the same key to get inside. This building houses:
- The restrooms
- Two individual shower rooms (no charge for showers and we had no issue with water temps)
- Two washers and two dryers (coin-operated: $1.50 wash, $1.00 dry)
There’s a locked dumpster just to the east of the restroom building, also locked and requiring the same key.
Englund Marine Supply seems to be the only fuel dock in the Eureka area and is conveniently located just to the east of the public marina.
The fuel dock itself is quite an experience. The float is about 15 feet long and currently only has 2 cleats on the side of the float away from where you land your boat. The service attendant was very kind and helpful.
Cruiser’s Review: A Note About the Humboldt Bay Bar Crossing
The best information that I found for the Humboldt Bay Bar crossing was this blog article. It’s from 2017 but the information seems to hold true. Biggest tip: favor the south side of the channel as you pass between the jetties. There’s shoaling on the northern side. It’s recommended to enter the bar at slack current, or on the flood. An ebb current has the highest potential for unfavorable conditions.
The current can run pretty strongly through the marina basin- up to 2-3 knots! So tie your boat well and be sure to use spring lines.
I hope this marina review write-up helps anybody looking for information on the Eureka Public Marina. And, especially, any of our friends or other southbound PNW boats coming down the coast behind us! If you have anything I should add or edit, please let me know. Thanks! ~Rachel
