Just called the Pt. Defiance Marina to see what the status of the boat launch parking is.  Sounds like the new parking area won't be open all or 2018.  It was recommend by the  marina staff to call the commissioners or Parks dept to complain.  The new parking is paved and in place- just closed to the public.  This is probably the best public launch in the South Sound and there is no parking.  Pretty ridiculous. Has anybody heard anything different?

Have not heard anything different, but have been wondering. When I was last down there, a couple months-ago, it looked close to completion.


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Quote from: Peddler on February 03, 2018, 12:00:57 PM
Have not heard anything different, but have been wondering. When I was last down there, a couple months-ago, it looked close to completion.


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Every time I go by its a handful of construction rigs. Don't see why they just don't open it up to boaters and let the construction guys park there as well.

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https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/marina-parking

Too bad, that looks like a beautiful facility!

There is a meeting at the park on Feb. 10 to discuss park upgrades. The new trailer lot is now being described as multi-use parking not specifically trailer parking. If I was trailer I guy I would be at that meeting to discuss your frustration. The construction guys have been using that lot since last fall.

General use is fine. Just crazy in the south sound. Our access is shrinking. Nothing fun about telling the kids we're going out but you get near the ramp and trailers are lined up miles away just to do an about-face and head back home because you can't get the boat in the water.

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Flying over with my google helicopter it looks like they have 8 nice launch/retrial ramps and 10 trailer parking spots plus 4 handicap spots. That doesn't make any sense. What are you supposed to do? Take the trailer home a return on a bus?
Not to mention the parking is on the other side of the ferry ramp. 

Diablo- don't you haunt MA7?  I guess I can't complain since we are up there a lot at Lopez but it'd be nice to get on the water where we live. We're thinking about keeping the boat at Anacortes this summer but if we lose the salmon season I guess we'll have a commuter.

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Quote from: Mile2885 on February 04, 2018, 02:28:17 PM
Diablo- don't you haunt MA7?  I guess I can't complain since we are up there a lot at Lopez but it'd be nice to get on the water where we live. We're thinking about keeping the boat at Anacortes this summer but if we lose the salmon season I guess we'll have a commuter.

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I have been fishing MA7 a lot of the time camping in the islands. Mostly I launch at Don Arimie ramp for MA10, 11. But that was back when you could actually catch fish in those areas.

Yup going on 3 years of working on that parking lot.No fish in 11 anyway better stay up North. :whistle:

Well if your near McArthur bank during halibut season we're in Davis Bay. You should swing by. Unfortunately it gets pretty sporty on that side of the Island that time of year. It'd be nice to meet.

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Quote from: Mile2885 on February 04, 2018, 04:18:36 PM
Well if your near McArthur bank during halibut season we're in Davis Bay. You should swing by. Unfortunately it gets pretty sporty on that side of the Island that time of year. It'd be nice to meet.

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We often anchor in Fisherman Bay and run out Cattle Pass to fish. Maybe have a beer in the resort restaurant sometime. 

Quote from: Diablo on February 04, 2018, 02:02:24 PM
Flying over with my google helicopter it looks like they have 8 nice launch/retrial ramps and 10 trailer parking spots plus 4 handicap spots. That doesn't make any sense. What are you supposed to do? Take the trailer home a return on a bus?
Not to mention the parking is on the other side of the ferry ramp. 

There's historically been more than that amount of parking spaces there. I'd say there's a good 20 or so. Plus there's another parking lot up the hill (or at least there used to be). It's been a good ten years since I used the ramp there, but what I used to do if there was no parking in the lower lot was detach the trailer and park in two regular spaces side-by-side, or, preferably, across the aisle.

The friends I know that live in Tacoma all drive over the bridge to launch. Ramps are plentiful over here and they're all free, so even with the toll, it's cheaper than launching at Pt. Defiance.

They are working on the round about at the park entrance now.I would guess the new parking will be done by June