GOOD LUCK

Finding a liveaboard slip in San Diego Bay can be challenging due to high demand and limited availability. The waitlist for liveaboard slips can be long, and there are strict regulations in place to ensure that liveaboard boats are well-maintained and comply with safety and environmental standards.

Waitlists for liveaboard privileges in the Shelter Island and Harbor Island areas are years long and definitely the most coveted.  Some marinas no longer allow liveaboard at all (that 5% of the boats cause 90% of the headaches for the dockmasters).

Until 2024 it had generally been considered easier to obtain liveaboard privileges in the south part of the bay, particularly in marinas such as Safe Harbor Southbay, Safe Harbor Bayfront, and Pier 32 Marina. These marinas tend to have shorter waitlists and may be more accommodating to liveaboard boaters.

Safe Harbor Southbay and Safe Harbor Bayfront used to allow up to 10% of their slips to be liveaboard.  However, in 2024 the limit was taken down to 5% of slips available for liveaboard.  Unfortunately, that means that the marinas in the Chula Vista Yacht Basin now have waitlists as long as the many of the marinas in Shelter Island!

LIVEABOARD EXPENSE IF YOU CAN GET IT

As an example: Pier 32 Marina offers liveaboard privileges to a limited number of boaters and has a designated area for liveaboards. They also offer amenities such as a clubhouse, fitness center, pool and laundry facilities.  As of January 2025, Pier 32 publishes additional liveaboard expense of $500/month plus an additional $75/month for a second person and $150/month additional pp after that.  In my experience, that is somewhat typical of San Diego marinas.

Recently I've heard rumours that Marina Del Rey is easy to get Liveaboard privileges at and the going rate for liveaboard privileges is +50% of the slip cost.

It is important to note that each marina has its own set of rules and regulations regarding liveaboard privileges, and it is essential to carefully review and comply with these regulations to maintain liveaboard status. Additionally, it is important to consider factors such as location, amenities, and accessibility when choosing a marina for liveaboard purposes.