by Migael Scherer
In Migael’s Wake | Langley
Jul 28 2010 in Migael's Wake, Spotlight by Migael Scherer
Langley’s popular—and crowded—little marina is scheduled for expansion. The pilings near shore mark the launching area. The best anchoring is to the right (south) in this photo.
Langley, northwest across Saratoga Passage from Everett, is a cozy Whidbey Island town that enthusiastically welcomes tourists. The main street is crowded with shops and restaurants, with park benches along the narrow sidewalks and flower boxes blooming at every door. The small marina is a short walk from these attractions, and is operated exclusively for visiting boats.
Moorings and Anchorage
The Langley small-boat harbor is inside a stout, hook-shaped, timber breakwater and is entered from the south. The breakwater looks and feels like a stockade, especially at low tide. This is a tight marina, with limited turning room. Slips are carefully assigned to make the most of the space.
The harbormaster takes reservations by phone (360.221.1120), email (harbormaster@portofsouthwhidbey.com) or on the web (portofsouthwhidbey.com). If you don’t have reservations, call when you’re outside the breakwater for a slip assignment, either by phone or VHF 66A. There’s good depth inside, though it shallows briefly at the southeast end of the breakwater. Entering, turn sharply into the marina, close to the outside (west) floats; 200 feet west of these you’ll run out of water at low tide. Watch for traffic around the launch ramp.
Art meets reality outside this Langley pub.
A booth and fee box is at the head of the dock.
Anchorage is south and west of the breakwater, in good depth and holding ground. Expect to roll — from weather and from the wakes of passing boats.
Getting Ashore
Daytime moorage is in designated areas and costs $5. Small dinghies are usually free.
For the Crew
Showers are in the marina restrooms across the street from the launching ramp.
The nearest fuel dock and marine supply is in Everett.
Things to Do
You’ll find plenty of restaurants, gift shops and bookstores in town, as well as a bakery and several bed and breakfast inns. Galleries feature arts and crafts. Halfway down First Street are stairs that lead to a promenade and public beach.
Langley hosts Choochokam Arts, a juried festival, in July. Galleries have openings throughout the year. Langley has so many bookstores it calls itself Book Town by the Sea.
Sailor, writer and teacher Migael Scherer, who divides her time between Seattle and Lopez Island, is the author of “A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands,” published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill. The guide can be purchased online through Armchair Sailor Books & Charts, Captain’s Nautical Supplies, Amazon and other retailers.
They don’t pack them in like they used to, we had to moor out last weekend and there was no shortage of potential space available. But the holding seemed good, so that wasn’t so bad. and really, i am happy there’s at least a few holdout cruddy old marinas left — how bland would it be if everything looked like the flawless arabella, shilshoe, and des moines docks? & Langley is still the best town in the sound: primo bistro is a surprisingly good dinner, the star store is one of the best small groceries around, the movie theater is cute as a button, a good cafe, and used bookie, ice cream abounds, even scooter rentals (!!), top notch dinners at the Inn@Langley, and brekkie at the braeburn is a lot better than it would first appear. and there is a nearly invisible new brewery behind the glass blowing place. as they say, if you want a good marina, go to port orchard, but if you want a reason to go ashore, it’s very hard to beat langley. if only the saturday farmers market weren’t 4 miles away, and if they had a chocolate store that didn’t suck, the place would be indistinguishable from heaven.
New brewery? Man time for another visit to Langley. We’ll put that on our Fall list of places to visit!
Ben was his name, according to my source, who remembers helping him pack 115 boats into the marina and harbor.. But his successors, Rich and Duncan, are plenty resourceful and super accomodating.
The town and the harbormasters are worthy of a better marina facility, or at least one with better amenities. There is a pump-out float that requires a full-body contortion (or two people on the float) to run, and the marina would do better with dedicated restrooms and showers.
That said, we love the spot and the people, and will likely visit for a third time.
Do you remember the previous harbor master? Can’t recall his name, but he was a colorful character who managed to pack the boats in that place. I remember having my boat turned around and passed, boat-to-boat, through a narrow channel to tie up at a small piece of dock. What a great time.