The $3 million breakwater repair project at Boat Haven Marina in Port Townsend starts this November, 2026, with an anticipated completion date in 2027. The subsequent $35 million project of rebuilding docks and infrastructure at the marina will take four years to complete.
The Breakwater. Work on the breakwater will reinforce 600 feet of the 1930s-era timber and sand breakwater with additional armor and bedding rock. The old wood cooper dam structure, filled with sand coated in rocks, has eroded over the years, creating slumping and exposure to wind and waves. Portions of the breakwater will be excavated and the inferior material will be replaced with quarry spalls (angular chunks of rock), geotextile fabric, and smaller rock to restore the breakwater’s structural integrity. Funding was originally sought to dig up and replace the entire breakwater. The lower cost of the reinforcement project will extend the life of the breakwater by a couple more decades.
Work will be occurring on both the bayward side and harbor side of the breakwater by Seton Construction and is anticipated to continue through the end of this year, 2026. The navigation channel, with the exception of temporary obstructions, will be open to marine traffic during this project. Funding for the breakwater project comes from the Maritime Administration (USDOT) and through the Department of Commerce (WA) CERB grant program.
Dock Moorage Rebuild. Plans include the reconstruction of Docks C, D, Linear, Commercial, and the Fuel Dock. Docks will be built in four consecutive fish window seasons (Aug.-Feb.) from 2030 through 2033, with as little disruption to boaters as possible. Aging timbers and infrastructure will be replaced with the latest technology. This four-year project will be coordinated with stormwater system improvements.
Photo Credit: Port of Port Townsend
