Sausalito’s Working Waterfront Takes Center Stage in Innovation

As the Bay Area faces a slow but continual assault on its waterfront property from developers looking for real estate dollars, the Sausalito Working Waterfront Coalition (SWWC) is continuing its mission to retain the Marinship waterfront as a home for maritime businesses, industrial activities, and the artist community. The organization describes itself as “a coalition of Sausalito’s maritime craftspeople, technology innovators, industrial fabricators, makers, artisans and artists.” Their work encompasses long-term advocacy for the preservation of Sausalito’s maritime heritage, and its modern-day work environment.

As sailors, we’re concerned about losing access to the Bay and to the industries that support our sport, and we want to see the SWWC succeed. To our eyes, they’re doing a great job, but there can’t be too many supporters for a cause such as this, and we want to update you on the progress among the marine and other businesses that are operating in Sausalito. We also invite you to share their stories and offer your support.

First up, in a development that holds great promise for sailors, the Sausalito nonprofit organization Spaulding Marine Center has partnered with Minnesota-based Electric Yacht to complete its first diesel-to-electric engine conversion aboard a Catalina 30. Spaulding’s team of experienced technicians and Boatworks 101 apprentices removed the Catalina’s diesel engine, and replaced it with a 10kW electric propulsion system. This is an example of the Marinship’s “new blue-economy initiative.” And as Spaulding’s staff and apprentices gain experience and fine-tune their training, the nonprofit endeavors to become “the go-to boatyard for these conversions.”

In addition to Spaulding, there are a number of active boatyards in Sausalito’s Marinship, such as Bayside Boatworks, KKMI, and Richardson Bay Boatworks. Michael Zolezzi‘s racing sloop Yucca, once owned by the late Hank Easom, was recently spotted undergoing some maintenance at Bayside Boatworks. By the way, you can watch a short film about Hank Easom here.

Other happenings in Marinship include Canvas Works’ “largest ever project” — a massive temporary roof cover.

On the non-boating side, inventors and innovators are creating products such as a new HVAC system for an electric car, global medical devices, renewable energy systems, portable thermoelectric cooling units and more. But manufacturing facilities and boatyards are only one side of the Marinship coin. There’s a whole host of artisans and creators who work with everything from varnish to paint to sewing machines to timber to sign painting  to … We can’t list them all here, so we encourage you to check it all out for yourself.

Go to Sausalito Working Waterfront Coalition and learn more about what’s happening in this active waterfront community.

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