Marine Facilities Findings

The survey asked who was using marine facilities, how frequently they used them, and if they owned a vessel.

• 58% of respondents said they use marine facilities for recreation, followed by 31% who don’t use them at all.
• 38% of respondents said they use marine facilities seasonally and 26% never use marine facilities.
• 42% said they don’t own their own vessel, 34% use a powerboat, and 34% own a kayak or paddle board.

From this demographic information, we learned that while many people don’t own their own vessel, they’re using these facilities seasonally for recreational purposes.

The survey also revealed the most used marine facilities across the islands.Most Used Marine Facilities The below graph is a closer look at respondents’ top 8 most frequently used marine facilities. The graph is color coordinated by island. It’s important to note that Orcas and Lopez have more County-owned marine facilities than San Juan, which only has two.

Top 8 Most Used Marine Facilities

The survey revealed that 40% of respondents didn’t speak to improvement needs, but for those that did, 25% of respondents want to see improved moorage space, 21% want more parking space for cars, and 21% want general maintenance and repairs. 16% want improved bathroom facilities.

Features Respondents Want to See Improved in Marine Facilities

Though we see that 42% of folks don’t own their own vessel, 26% of folks never use marine facilities, and 40% didn’t identify improvements, 57.7% still agreed that “it’s a good use of County Road Funds to prioritize investment in County marine facilities.”

Response to the Question, "I think it's a good use of County Road Funds to prioritize investment in County marine facilities."

This section of the survey revealed that respondents want to see marine facilities maintained. While type of use and location of marine facilities vary widely, respondents acknowledge the importance of these facilities and tend to think investment in these facilities is a good idea.