Langley Marina Improvements

C

colobear

New member
I visited the Langley Marina here on Whidbey Island today. They've made some really big improvements. They have added over 300ft of nice, protected moorage with 30, 50, and 100 amp power outside of the old walled in docks, added a nice dock at the launch ramp so now you can actually launch there, changed the way they operate, they now take reservations and won't arbitrarily move your boat like in the bad old days. They also have a 6 passenger golf cart to give folks a ride up into town. It is a very inviting place now. Duncan, the Harbormaster (360-331-5494, harbormaster@portofsouthwhidbey.com), said they would really like to have the C-Brats back again. The very first gathering was at Langley. So...here's a proven good location, with good restaurants, nice walking distance exploring, some really nice wine tasting rooms, etc. etc. We could sure use another gathering this summer. Who's willing to step up?
 
We tried to go to Langley last summer but were turned away by harbor master as they were over nearly full. We asked if we could stay for just an hour or 2 to check out their facilities and the town but they said we would have to pay overnight transient fee since it was already near 5pm.

I sorta thought that was poor policy and since we did not want to support it with our $$$. We headed back and stayed at our marina dock that night instead for free.

Glad to hear that they improved their facilities and have more slips now. We would like to give it another try this year. Perhaps we will have better luck by reserving in advance.
 
Barry, let me talk to Meredith tonight. We love Langley and it's just a hop, skip and jump from our "home port", Everett. We may take this on.

Love Cafe' Langley too! They have a seafood pasta that is to DIE for!
 
Nice! We were there in January while the construction was still going on, glad to hear it is finished! The town was really cool, can't wait to go back!
 
I am glad they are increasing there moorage space, but I miss the old Langley. Last year we were turned away several times because moorage was for over night only. In the old days < 2 years ago> you could tie up or raft up if you where just going up to town for a few hours while your crap pots soaked. Not any more. Now you have to call head,before you leave home, to see if they have any space and they want a full nights moorage just to stay a few hours. I hope that the extra space allows them to have temp day moorage at a reasonable rate.

We love to take people there from out of town. Its the perfect day trip for the not so boaters. If you don't have time to run to Friday harbor you can show off a little of the island life, see some gray or humpbacks, set a crab pot or shrimp pot and even drop off the wives while we troll up a salmon for dinner but still make it back to HOME for a night in a real bead. Yes its a great spot for the out of town visitors.
 
Never been down to Langley. Is this a pleasant trip down from Friday Harbour? Any difficulties I can't pick up from a chart?

Thanks
 
Depending on the weather it could be very pleasant or.....not! It is about 4/5ths down Whidbey, just a few miles north of the Mukilteo ferry route. Two options from Friday Harbor: Go across to Deception Pass and down Saratoga passage on the East side of Whidbey. Or, go out through Cattle Pass into the Straits of Juan de Fuca down and around the bottom of Whidbey. Neither is a short trip, Whidbey is over 50 miles long and both routes can have ugly water so pay attention to the wind against tide issue. Personally, if I were going to do that I'd go out Cattle Pass and head over to Port Townsend's Point Hudson marina and spend a day there (Port Townsend is another quaint and fun town to visit), then go to Langley the next day. To return I'd just pick one of those routes and make a run all the way to FH. Langley is a very nice town to visit, a little like a smaller Ganges with a few good restaurants, some nice wine tasting rooms, good walk around tourism and shopping. I'm really hoping someone will host another gathering there.
 
To add to Barry's trip to Langley. If the weather is favorable, take the east side of Whidbey, north, taking your time. Then stop for the night at the park dock in Coronet Bay and stage for going through Deception Pass the following morning.

Langley was a refuge in a storm one night. Good place to get into, and out of the south wind waves.

Just for fun.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
We used to head into Langley, but hated the $ just to walk up the steep grind into town and they closed our Fav places to eat. We love going to Coupeville instead, and it's free!
 
Don and Brenda are right about the fee. I had forgotten it. They charge $5 for a two hour visit. I have e-mailed the harbormaster pointing out that the fee is pretty rare in these parts and one of those small irritants that keeps people from coming. We'll see.
 
We were fine paying the $5 fee for 2 hours. Our purpose for that visit was to scope out the place for our next visit when we would overnight there.

They said that since it was around 4pm, they would need to charge us the overnight fee on each boat. I thought that was ridiculous given that our intent was just to look around and head back home after about an hour. I explained that to them, but they did not seem to care.

We are fine with paying overnight fees when that is our intent, but to pay overnight fees just to walk around for an hour, no thanks.

Next time we go there, we will have a reservation and will stay in the town.

Any recommendations for places to eat or things to do. We have 2 young children.
 
Great restaurant in town. Can not think of the name right now but its on the left side as you enter town. You have to go up stairs to get to it and they have a great deck that over looks the sound while dining. Great sea food and I think some Greek.
 
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