Gig Harbor is a welcome break and layover while waiting for favorable winds or currents in the Tacoma Narrows area, or a great place to relax after the sometimes challenging passage encountered when cruising in these awesome waters. Pre-cruise study of weather, tides and current charts and tables is important to a safe and successful passage of the area. The harbor is about 23 nautical miles south of Seattle's Shilshole area by way of Colvos Passage, 28 miles northeast of Olympia and 7 miles west of downtown Tacoma. The well-protected harbor is about 1 mile long to the northwest and 1/2 mile wide. Winds and waves from Colvos or Dalco Passages or the Tacoma Narrows seldom affect the harbor and its secure anchorage, thanks to a sandspit at the southeast entrance. Entering Gig Harbor Flashing red Gig Harbor Light is on the end of the curving spit. The 13-foot high light is obscured if approached on "seaward headings of 162¡ to 273¡ true," according to the Light List. We keep about 300 yards south of the light to avoid the 1-fathom, 4-foot shoal projecting south of the spit, and then head north into mid-channel. At extreme low tides the navigable width of the channel may be less than 100 feet, while charted depths may be less than 10 feet. The channel can be dicey on busy summer weekends when all manner of craft enter and leave about the same time. Be ready for possible evasive action if necessary. There is an enforced no-wake speed limit of 4 miles per hour or less inside Gig Harbor and for 200 feet outside of the entrance. Now that we have you inside Gig Harbor we'll tell you some of the things you can do and see while you're here. There are many services for boaters here, as this is a long-time seaside village with a history of depending on the water for transportation and commerce. Over the past several decades it has become a popular safe haven for recreational mariners, with overnight moorage and repair and haulout facilities. Everything is here except marine fuel. More on that and moorage information follows. The southwest harbor shore is lined with marinas for the local commercial fishing fleet and pleasure boats; boatyards, marine repair facilities, shops, galleries and restaurants. The northeast shore is mostly homes, many with private docks. There's a feeling of energy and friendliness in the air in Gig Harbor as people greet each other strolling the streets, whether they've met before or not. This is a wonderful walking town, especially along Harborview Drive on the southwest shore extending around the north end to the head of the harbor. A brochure with a map details the galleries, restaurants, inns or B & B's and 34 or more miscellaneous shops, bookstores, museums, stores and markets along the way, and on side streets. If you like galleries you'll find at least ten, with delightful names like Ebb Tide and Birdnest and Waters Edge. There's great antiquing if that interests you. Numerous restaurants are spread throughout town, serving everything from barbecues to pizzas and full-course meals. Coffee houses offer lattes and snacks. Visitors searching for books enjoy browsing the two popular booksellers in town. Mostly Books, owned by Jo Graffe, is near the main intersection of Harborview and Pioneer. No Dearth of Books, a bit farther along Harborview carries all used books. It's owned by Harry Dearth, a fascinating story himself. If you're low on groceries there's a Wholefoods Market on the south end of Harborview and Finholms Market at the north end, and a bakery or two. A Thriftway Market, hardware store and post office are in a shopping center a couple of blocks off the main street. Rich in history, some restored Victorian homes grace the streets. A number of intriguing interpretive displays with historical photos are along Harborview, explaining interesting people and places in the town's history. Research and photos are provided by the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society and Museum. History lovers enjoy visiting the Museum on Harborview. Ph: 253-858-6722. When you're walking the waterfront you might want to stop at Ship to Shore Marine Supply at 4021 Harborview Drive. Doug Doyle, friendly store owner, carries a good supply of many of the things mariners need most and can't find anywhere else. Ph: 253-858-6090; cell: 253-278-8178; shiptoshore@centurytel.net. Moorages Etc. Gig Harbor no longer has a fuel dock for the first time in nearly 60 years, a disappointment for mariners. Stutz Shell Service, which opened for business in the mid-1940s, was the last fuel dock in town. It closed down on the Thursday before this past Labor Day weekend. The fuel dock at Pleasurecraft Marina closed down Labor Day weekend in 1995. Nearest marine fuel is at either Breakwater Marina or Boathouse Marine, both at Point Defiance, about 3 miles east. Narrows Marine near Day Island, about 5-1/2 miles south, also carries fuel. There are five possible tie-ups for visiting boaters: three are for moorage, two are for moorage while dining. Or you can anchor in the bay in 4 to 7 fathoms. Charted shoals are close to both shores and near the head of the bay. We set the hook well to be sure it's not fouled in seaweed which could cause it to drag, in the middle of the night, of course. All buoys in the harbor are private. Many mariners in the area are happily familiar with the Tides Tavern and Restaurant just inside the harbor entrance on the southwest shore, the harbor's first moorage. This watering hole, long a favorite with racing sailors, offers complimentary moorage for patrons. There are wonderful pizzas, burgers, salads, snacks, soups, beer and wine, and live music occasionally. The Tides celebrated it's 30th anniversary this year. 
Those who moor here are aware the float goes partially dry on extreme low tides, and that there's no water, electricity or restrooms, rafting is mandatory if requested and there's a 24-hour limit.
The tavern (im)modestly notes it "offers the greatest homemade food and the finest beverages in the western hemisphere, but only to persons over 21 years of age." Ph: 253-858-3982; www.tidestavern.com. Next to the Tides are several private piers, including the closed down fuel dock. Gig Harbor Marina has haul-out facilities and permanent moorage only. West of this is a new, modern, two-story, glass-fronted building with orange girders and a private dock belonging to the Russell Family Foundation which makes grants to support organizations working in the fields of education and environmental sustainability. Gig Harbor Public Dock at Jerisich Park is a short distance farther, past commercial fishing boat moorage. An especially nice touch is the free moorage for up to 48 hours, no rafting. This charming waterfront park has a long, easily visible float with a pump-out on the outer end. A dinghy float and porta-potty dump are near shore. Ph: 253-852-8145. 
The park has lawns, picnic tables on the dock, restrooms and a handsomely sculpted statue of a fisherman pulling in his net, commissioned in memory of Gig Harbor fishermen lost at sea. There is even a green and yellow fire plug with a smiley face carved on one of its "arms," just for dogs. Our Farley thought this was just the greatest hydrant he'd ever met.
Pleasurecraft Marina, all permanent moorage, is west of the Public Dock.
Arabella's Landing, the newest marina in the harbor, is next. The guest float at Arabella's is the first float, 250 feet long, visible perpendicular to the shore, while permanent moorage slips are on A and C floats. There's guest moorage for 10-30 boats at modern concrete floats; rates are approximately 50 cents per foot, $15 minimum. Included are 30-50 amp shore power, water, pump-out station at the end of the guest float, restrooms with showers, laundry. They offer assistance in tying up, very likely from Jordan Pingrey, the young, athletic "dock assistant," who moves with speed and agility throughout the marina. John Moist is general manager. Beautiful lawns with colorful flower beds, a furnished lounge where guests can relax, sip coffee on weekend mornings, and meeting rooms for groups greet visitors. The marina, with a charming white home in the center, is within easy walking distance of the many amenities in town and service is first class. Ph: 253-851-1793: www.arabellaslanding.com. They no longer monitor VHF Channel 68. The owners Stan and Judy Stearns, said they built the marina because they couldn't find a place to moor their Grand Soleil sailboat Arabella a few years back, and she's still there. Murphy's Landing, next door, no longer has guest moorage. Remember the old Shoreline (Shorline, sic.) Restaurant at the head of the harbor? It has been remodeled and is now an Anthony's Home Port. We sailed there many a time on New Year's Eve, away back. The low tides at the float often left our Sea Witch grounded in the muck. There's still complimentary moorage for diners, and the two floats can still leave you aground at the inner ends at low tides, said Jim Buss, dining room manager. "But we can moor 6-7 bigger boats at the outer ends of the floats. People who are concerned about grounding can always anchor off and dinghy ashore, just like they always have." Jim told us that boaters should not look for an ÔAnthony's' sign. "The 'Shorline' sign, even though it's misspelled, is grandfathered in," he said. And there it remains, hovering above the restaurant. He said there is an Anthony's sign on the downstairs lounge that can be seen from the water. There's also a small sign on a piling indicating "Dining Moorage" in front of the lounge. Ph: 253-853-6353; www.anthonys.com. Peninsula Yacht Basin, just beyond Anthony's, has guest moorage. There's room for approximately 10 boats at 75 cents/foot. Shore power is $2 per day; there's water, restrooms and showers for guests. Ph: 253-858-2250. A stairway at the head of the bay, built by the Lions Club, leads to the Finholm View Climb observation area where you'll have wonderful views of the harbor and Mount Rainier. Gig Harbor historical tidbits Gig Harbor, long-known to Native Americans, was first explored by (non-Natives) the Charles Wilkes expedition in 1841. He sent men ashore in one of the ship's boats--a gig--to investigate the bay. Midshipman Joseph Sanford called it a "pretty little bay that is concealed from the Sound." Once soundings were taken, we understand Wilkes followed into the harbor in his 88-foot Porpoise. Pretty impressive sailing. He decided it was necessary to explore the harbor and this part of the Sound because, "...I deem it highly important as vessels are likely to be detained here in consequence of the difficulty of getting through the Narrows..." As in most early communities around the Sound, Gig Harbor's "highway" was the Sound and steamers were the main form of transportation. The first ferry, the side-wheeler, City of Tacoma, arrived in 1917. Soon the larger Gig Harbor replaced it, followed by other ferries, including Defiance, Skansonia (now on Seattle's Lake Union and the site of weddings and parties) and Elk. Samuel Jerisich, originally from Yugoslavia, arrived in Gig Harbor in 1867 with two fishing partners. They were fishing in Puget Sound when bad weather prompted them to seek shelter in the harbor. They liked what they saw and decided to make it their home, becoming the first three white people to settle in the harbor. A band of Puyallup Indians were living in a village at the head of the bay. Sam and his Canadian Indian wife Anna lived in a one-room cabin with their family of eight children. She hunted, fished, farmed, spun and wove, while he fished, rendered dogfish oil and smoked fish. He rowed his products to Olympia and Steilacoom as he felt they were better markets than Tacoma. This was the beginning of the commercial fishing industry in Gig Harbor. (Note: Some of this historical information is from the interpretive boards along Harborview Drive and from Along the Waterfront: A History of the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula Areas by Goodman Middle School Student. Upcoming events in Gig Harbor Artwalk around the harbor is the First Saturday of each month from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31: Halloween on Harborview Nov. 29-30: Winterfest Dec. 6-7: Tidefest Dec. 13: Lighted Boat Parade NOAA Charts and other useful publications for this area *Chart 18474 Shilshole Bay to Commencement Bay, 1:40,000 Chart 18445 Puget Sound--Possession Sound to Olympia, Page C, 1:80,000; *Page B, Gig Harbor, Inset 7, 1:20,000 Chart 18448, Puget Sound, Southern Part, 1:80,000 ( *indicates preferred chart) Tide Tables (Current year) Tidal Current Tables (Current Year) Tidal Current Charts, Puget Sound, Southern Part Jo & Carl are authors of Gunkholing in the San Juan Islands, a Comprehensive Cruising Guide Encompassing Deception Pass to the Canadian Boundary, and Gunkholing in South Puget Sound, a Comprehensive Cruising Guide from Kingston/Edmonds South to Olympia. Both books are available at the 48° North Gift Shop on the web at 48north.com, as well as at bookstores and chandleries. Jo and Carl can be reached at 206-323-1315 or gunkholing@earthlink.net, for slideshow presentations of Northwest waters at club meetings, etc. ...back to 48° North title page. | |
