Marin is surrounded by water, with the Pacific Ocean on its west coast and San Francisco Bay to the east and south. Whether sailing on the Bay or canoeing on a lagoon, boat owners have a wide choice of residential neighborhoods that have either direct access to private moorings or are located close to marinas, yacht clubs, and inland lagoons. Here are the options:
Sausalito
In addition to its famous houseboats, Sausalito boasts many marinas and yacht clubs along the bay, with easy access to open ocean. The city also maintains a public boat ramp at the foot of Turney St.
Sausalito Yacht Club provides a yacht harbor for members’ boats and many events, including racing, education, and social activities.
Presidio Yacht Club lies at the southern tip of Sausalito, close to the Golden Gate Bridge. It provides rentals, racing events, and weekend social events with dinners and live music.
Sausalito Cruising Club provides “nautical activities, nightly entertainment and a full-service galley and bar for our members enjoyment.”
Marinas on the bay in Sausalito and Tiburon/Belvedere from Google Earth
Homes for Sale in Sausalito
Tiburon/Belvedere
The co-joined towns of Tiburon and Belvedere provide two of the oldest yacht clubs in San Francisco Bay:
The Corinthian Yacht Club in downtown Tiburon provides guest docks, numerous racing events, boat rentals, a dining room, and bar.
The San Francisco Yacht Club was founded in San Francisco, in 1869, but soon moved to Sausalito. The club hosts regattas, races, classes, youth sailing, a large harbor with individual slips, and a dry boat storage facility. Like all good yacht clubs, it has a full-service dining room and bar.
The Tiburon Yacht Club is north of downtown Tiburon, in Paradise Cay, on San Francisco Bay. The club sponsors races and has Friday night events in the clubhouse for members. Many of the 200 homes in Paradise Cay have docks accommodating yachts up to 60 feet.
Belvedere Lagoon with yacht clubs in the foreground.
Belvedere Lagoon is a 66-acre man-made lagoon between Tiburon and Belvedere Island. Residents with homes fronting the lagoon and residents of Belvedere who are members of the Belvedere Sailing Society can use the lagoon. Only manually powered boats are permitted, including canoes, paddleboats, rowboats and sailboats (mono-hulls) up to a maximum of 15 feet long. The lagoon has no access to the bay.
Homes for Sale in Tiburon
Homes for Sale in Belvedere
Homes for Sale on Belvedere Lagoon
Mill Valley
The east side of Mill Valley on Strawberry Peninsula borders on Richardson. Many elegant homes here have docks on the bay with access to San Francisco Bay.
Homes for Sale on Richardson Bay
Corte Madera/Larkspur
Corte Madera has two lagoons and Larkspur one large lagoon lined with homes that have recreational use of the lagoons, for example, swimming and use of small, non-motorized boats and canoes. The lagoons have no access to the bay.
Corte Madera lagoons in the bottom half of this photo, with marshland and the bay at the top
The Larkspur Marina and lagoon are just north of the Corte Madera lagoons. This unique neighborhood borders Corte Madera Creek. Homes on the outside perimeter of the lagoon may have boat docks that extend into the Corte Madera Creek, providing direct access to the bay.
Homes for Sale on the Corte Madera Lagoons
Homes for Sale on the Larkspur Marina
San Rafael
East San Rafael has a long frontage on San Francisco Bay with yacht clubs and six marinas. The Bayside Acres/Chicken Point neighborhood along San Pedro Road has a few waterfront homes, some with spectacular views south toward San Francisco. Individual homes on San Rafael Creek, which opens to the bay, have private boat docks. Homes on the Peacock Gap Lagoon offer placid paddling.
Safe Harbor Loch Lomand on the bay provides wet slips, dry storage, and extensive services.
Lowrie Yacht Harbor has berths on the San Rafael Canal, a short trip to the open bay.
Marin Yacht Club on the San Rafael Canal as 100 boat slips, tennis courts, a pool, lounge and dining.
San Rafael Yacht Club on San Rafael Creek offers a tie-up dock for members and guests, dining rooms and bar.
Loch Lomond Yacht Club on the bay has cruise-in docks.
San Rafael Yacht Harbor is a public facility administered by the California State Parks. It offers 140 slips.
Marinas on San Rafael Creek and the bay.
Homes for Sale Near the San Rafael Marinas
Homes for Sale on the Peacock Gap Lagoon
Novato
Bel Marin Keys is comprised of two large lagoons in northeast Novato, each in excess of 100 acres, surrounded by waterfront homes, many with boat docks. The lagoons open to Novato Creek via locks that provide homeowners with water access to the bay.
Lagoons at Bel Marin Keys, Novato, CA
Homes for Sale on the Bel Marin Keys Lagoons
Looking for the Right Home?
If you’re looking for a Marin home for both you and your vessel, contact Madeline. Your real estate adventure will be smooth sailing!