Boating in Marina del Rey: Ramp, Guest Docks and Harbor Rules

Marina del Rey is Los Angeles County's home harbor and the center of recreational boating on the Santa Monica Bay coast. It is a man-made harbor of roughly 4,600 slips in eight basins (A through H) off a single Main Channel, and the water inside the breakwater is flat and protected. It suits slip owners, trailer-boat anglers, sailors and paddlers who want sheltered water close to the open bay.

Where to launch

• Marina del Rey Public Launch Ramp is the county's main trailer-boat launch, at the inland end of Basin H off Fiji Way, open 24 hours a day. Fees are posted at the pay station and can change.
• Marina "Mother's" Beach is the free hand-launch option for kayaks, paddleboards, windsurfers and dinghies. Only the standard parking fee applies.

Harbors and marinas

• Marina del Rey is run by the LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors. The county leases most marinas, so operators change more often than the docks do.
• Burton Chace Park Guest Docks are the public visitor docks: a free 4-hour day dock, plus first-come overnight berths for up to 7 nights in any 30-day period. The county does not take reservations.
• Del Rey Landing Fuel Dock sells diesel and regular and high-octane gasoline, with a dockside pump-out, near the harbor entrance.
• The Boat Yard combines a marina with a working yard, which matters because slip rules allow only minor repairs.
• California Yacht Club and Del Rey Yacht Club are private clubs. Guest moorage is for members of reciprocal clubs only.
• Marina del Rey County Boat Storage offers dry storage for powerboats up to 40 feet at Dock 77 and mast-up storage for sailboats of 15 to 31 feet at the launch ramp.

Fishing and destinations

Marina del Rey Jetties and Ballona Creek is a popular shore-fishing spot for halibut, kelp bass, surfperch and corbina. A California sport fishing license is required there, because the jetties do not have the pier exemption. From the harbor, many boaters run across Santa Monica Bay toward Malibu and Palos Verdes, or about 30 nautical miles to Catalina Island.

Rules every boater should know here

• The entire harbor is a 5-knot, no-wake zone.
• Marina del Rey is a no-discharge harbor. Hold sewage on board for a pump-out, and never discharge contaminated bilge water, fuel or oil.
• Anchoring is not permitted and there are no mooring buoys.
• Boats may not extend more than 4 feet beyond their slip, and only minor emergency repairs and washdowns are allowed in slips.
• Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and fishing from docks is not allowed.
• For emergencies, call the LA County Sheriff Marina del Rey Station at (310) 482-6000 or use VHF 16.
• California Boater Card: required for every operator of a motorized vessel, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025.

Conditions and seasons

Inside the harbor the water stays flat, with average depth of about 15 to 21 feet. Outside, afternoon westerlies make Santa Monica Bay a favorite with sailors. Mother's Beach sits in an enclosed basin with little flushing, so bacteria levels can be a problem, especially after rain. Ballona Creek can bring strong current, debris and water-quality closures after rain. Summer weekend mornings are the busiest time at the ramp and fuel dock, and the guest docks fill early on event dates.

Boat services in the region

Boats kept in warm salt water pick up growth quickly, so bottom cleaning and antifouling paint are routine, and dry storage is one way to cut that cost. Because slip rules limit repairs, haul-outs, bottom paint and larger jobs go to a yard, and slots fill before spring. Detailing, engine service, pump-out and used-oil recycling are also common needs. Browse providers on Dockya for the work your boat needs.