Port of Port Angeles working to replace West Boat Haven
Published 1:30 am Friday, April 3, 2026
PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles has taken its first step toward redevelopment of West Boat Haven, a long-term project that will likely cost $11 million to $20 million and will probably start no earlier than 2030.
A master plan feasibility report commissioned by the port concluded the marina’s more than 40-year-old infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life, increasingly costly to maintain and no longer meets demand.
Community responses echoed the PND Engineers report findings. Marina tenants, commercial fishing interests, recreational boaters and other stakeholders raised concerns about old floats, a shortage of mid-sized slips and limited space for marine trades and community boating programs.
The orientation of the slips was a frequent complaint. In the current north-south layout, docking can be difficult because winds typically come from the west.
“Your boat’s getting blown down all the time,” said Marty Marchant, the port’s marine trades manager.
The need to adjust the mix of slip sizes reflects a growing demand for larger vessels and because owners of small boats are more likely to trailer than pay for moorage, port staff said.
“Recreational fishing boats have just grown in size,” Marchant said.
At the same time, the port cannot eliminate smaller slips because 20-foot spots are still in demand, he said.
The study’s data shows increased use at the marina.
Between 2019-2023, activity at the launch by recreational boaters increased 53 percent; commercial use also rose, with hoist weight up 62 percent since 2020. West Boat Haven supports vessel repair and the construction industry, as well.
The study also identified inadequate safety features at West Boat Haven, accessibility issues related to ADA standards and a shortage of flexible side-tie space.
Redevelopment would require meeting current electrical safety standards, such as ground-fault protection for marina docks.
“The whole electrical system would need to be brought up to code,” Marchant said.
Boathouses remain in demand but are declining in number and many are aging, with potential structural and flotation concerns, according to the report. It notes the port likely will have to decide whether to keep, reduce, relocate or redesign them in any rebuild.
The study outlines five redevelopment options.
Lower-cost options — about $10.8 million to $18.2 million — largely retain the existing layout, while mid-range concepts fall between $11.5 million and $21.3 million. The most extensive rebuild option carries the highest estimate at roughly $17.5 million to $29.6 million.
All options include demolition and removal costs, replacement of aging creosote piles and installing new floats that meet environmental standards, allowing more light to penetrate into the water, new float gangways and support platforms.
The study focuses on in-water marina infrastructure and does not include upland amenities. While a restaurant was discussed during community outreach, officials said it isn’t part of the current planning effort.
Replacing the existing breakwater, though it is also aging, is not part of the project and would be addressed at another time, port officials said.
Of the five options, commissioners and stakeholders leaned toward Option C1, which would reorient the marina to align with prevailing westerly winds and add about 700 feet of flexible side-tie moorage along the breakwater. It carries an estimated cost of $12.5 million to $21.1 million.
The study also pointed to potential economic gains from redevelopment.
West Boat Haven supports about 63 jobs and $7.5 million in economic output annually, the study said. Redevelopment could increase that to about 66 jobs and $8.3 million to $8.5 million annually.
Jobs at the West Basin average about $62,000 annually — about 11 percent more than the county average of $55,900.
As the port weighs redevelopment, its maintenance team has spent about four weeks cleaning and repairing floats in preparation for the upcoming season — work driven in large part by their age and condition.
Among their tasks has been adjusting the hinges that connect the float sections, as well as the floats themselves, to make them level.
“If we don’t, there’s tripping hazards that can happen,” Marchant said.
One question remains unresolved: what to do with existing moorage tenants during construction. Port officials said that challenge is still being discussed and will depend in part on which design is ultimately selected.
If the marina is reconfigured rather than rebuilt, officials said the basin could have to be emptied during construction.
“We’re aware of it, and we’re discussing different options,” Marchant said.
Even with the study complete, construction is not imminent. The port’s next step is a financial analysis, expected in 2027, followed by finalizing design and engineering. Actual work could ideally take place between 2029 and 2031.
That timeline will largely depend on funding and permitting, said Jenna Riley, the port’s procurement manager.
The feasibility study was funded by a $75,000 state Department of Commerce Community Economic Revitalization Board grant, with the port providing a $50,000 match. The study can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y78fscuk.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
