Marina guide
Berkeley Marina
Berkeley, Alameda County, CA
Overview
Berkeley Marina is the City of Berkeley's municipal small-craft harbor on the east shore of San Francisco Bay, reached from Interstate 80 by University Avenue. California Parks lists about 1,000 slips and tie-ups for boats from 16 to 110 feet, plus dry storage for around 100 boats. The City's Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department runs it.
Guest docks, launch and fuel
Visitors can tie up free for up to four hours, Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm. Overnight guests use guest slip K-102 or K-104 and check in at the marina office at the base of K Dock with registration, insurance and photo ID. The public ramp is off Spinnaker Way, and the marina offers free 24-hour self-service pump-out. California Parks lists fuel sales on site, but the marina's own pages don't state fuel hours, so call ahead.
Dredging and infrastructure
The entrance and shallow inner basin shoal, and City reporting says boats can touch bottom at some tides. The City scheduled maintenance dredging of the entrance channel and shallow inner harbor for August to November 2025, with South Sailing Basin dredging in design as of March 2025. Docks are being rebuilt in stages, and a March 2025 City report put unfunded waterfront needs near $153.5 million. The Berkeley Pier has been closed since 2015.
Berkeley Yacht Club
Berkeley Yacht Club, founded in 1939, is based at the marina and runs racing (including Sunday Chowder Races), cruising and member events.
Getting there & access
Entering from the Bay
The entrance channel and shallow inner-harbor areas are the City's maintenance-dredging targets, and the City's own reporting notes boats can run aground at some tides. Ask the marina office for current depths before a low-tide arrival, and watch for dredging markers and anchor lines near the entrance while work is under way.
Guest-dock procedure
Pull into guest slip K-102 or K-104 under your own power and check in at the marina office at the base of K Dock. Bring current registration, insurance and photo ID, and confirm availability with the office beforehand. Day visitors can stay free for up to 4 hours, Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm.
Public launch ramp
The ramp is off Spinnaker Way in the northern marina, reached from I-80 via University Avenue. It is used mainly by motorized boats and gets crowded on weekends, with heavy traffic near the marina mouth. A large parking lot sits north of the ramp, and trailer parking is reported at up to 72 consecutive hours; confirm rules and the posted fee at the ramp.
By road
Take University Avenue from I-80 to the marina. The waterfront links to the Bay Trail and Cesar Chavez Park, and restrooms and a fish cleaning station are at the ramp.
Amenities
- Guest docks — Free 4-hour tie-up Mon-Sat; overnight guest slips K-102 and K-104
- Public launch ramp — Spinnaker Way, with restrooms, picnic area and fish cleaning station
- Pump-out — Free 24-hour self-service facilities, plus mobile pump-out service
- Fuel — Fuel sales listed by California Parks; confirm hours with the marina
- Slips and live-aboards — Monthly slips; 80 new concrete slips for 35-46 ft boats on the rebuilt D and E Docks; live-aboard waitlist
- Dock utilities — Water and electric on the docks, restrooms, showers and Wi-Fi
- Dry storage — About 100 boats, per California Parks
- Dining and rentals — Waterfront restaurants plus kayak, paddleboard, windsurf and sailing rentals nearby
- Berkeley Yacht Club — Founded 1939; racing, cruising and member events
Rules & official resources
- California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025
- Guest docks: free up to 4 hours Monday-Saturday 8 am-4 pm; overnight guests need registration, insurance and photo ID and must confirm availability with the marina office
- State law: no vessel may travel more than 5 mph within 200 feet of any floating dock or marina, and boats must stay off plane and fully settled in no-wake areas
- Launch ramp is fee-based on the marina's rate sheet (daily, monthly and seasonal passes); check the posted rate at the ramp
- Boaters are cautioned to boat safely around dredging markers and anchor lines while entrance and inner-harbor dredging is active
Common boat service needs here
Hull cleaning and bottom paint
Boats kept in Bay water pick up marine growth, so slip holders typically schedule regular diver cleanings and antifouling renewals.
Find Bottom Cleaning, Hull Cleaning & Dive Services providers →Dock and shore-power electrical
Berkeley is rebuilding docks and replacing K Dock electrical service in stages, so owners moving to new slips often need shore-power cord, inverter and battery-charger checks.
Find Marine Electrical & Electronics providers →Grounding and shoaling checks
Shoaling at the entrance and inner basin means occasional groundings. Surveyors and gelcoat or structural repair shops handle keel and rudder damage afterward.
Find Marine Surveyors & Inspections providers →Engine and cooling-system service
Shallow water and groundings can foul raw-water intakes and stress cooling systems, so mobile mechanics are a common call.
Find Marine Mechanics & Engine Service providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.