Lagoon Cove Marina

After a morning cruising north in Johnston Strait, and up Havannan Channel watching for bears, transiting narrow turbulent Chatham Channels at slack tide, then passing through the narrow and kelp lined Blow Hole and into picturesque and well sheltered Lagoon Cove the quaint Lagoon Cove Marina  comes into view. The marina is one of the most popular stops on the coast and fills during the summer months.

In the beginning the marina was the brainchild of Bill and Jean Barber. In the working world, Bill was president of the outdoor-advertising division of Ackerley Communications in Portland, Oregon. When he retired in the early 1990’s he and wife Jean bought the marina on East Cracroft Island. They work tirelessly developing the marina. Barber was a superb storyteller and known for serving his early morning catch of prawns at afternoon happy hours on the dock. As an advertising executive, he knew that a marina with extras, free prawns and interesting tales would draw customers.

Bill died in April 2013 and Jean had help running and maintaining the marina and facilities until she sold it in 2016 and the new owners Jim and Lou Ryan began their first season in 2017. Since Bill’s passing, there have been a number of improvements, but they have been able to maintain the whimsical quality that Bill had established.

The marina monitors VHF channel 66A and offer 15, 30 and 50 (2×30) amp power, water, diesel, gas, propane, float plane service, clean showers and restrooms, internet access, book exchange, clothing and gift shop, fishing tackle, crab and prawn traps, and a cook shack for crabs and prawns. They marina accepts limited reservations – half the dock space – for the minimal amount of $40 and is non-refundable but is credited to your bill.

The upland facilities are situated on 154 forested acres. Visitors are welcome to stretch their sea legs on any of the four trails that meander through the property. Although, you are warned by the staff that there are bears and cougars in the area so be careful when walking in the woods and always keep pets on a leash. It is common to spot grizzlies ambling along the beach.

Walk up to the main house and beyond to admire the gardens, fruit trees and berry bushes. The backyard is also where you will discover a campfire circle where visiting boaters roast marshmallows, boating stories are shared, and songs are sung. There is a horseshoe pit, and a totem made from pieces of outboard motor parts. There are also lawn games available, and a do-it-yourself burning barrel is available for burnable garbage.

In need of a little exercise? There is a unique exercise course. Each “Exercise Stations” has a cute sign worth a laugh or two. You can mow the lawn with a push mower, chop wood or work in the garden.

Each morning there is fresh coffee in the dock office to fill your coffee cup before running the dinghy out to check the cab traps and prawn pot you left out to soak overnight.

At 5 pm, most every day the staff hosts happy hour appetizer potlucks for the marina guests at the old dockside shop. Guests trek along a planked pier, with their favorite beverage in one hand, appetizers to share in the other. In the case of inclement weather, the event is moved inside the boathouse which is filled with an assortment of old hand tools hanging on the walls and yacht club burgees hanging from the rafters. During the gathering guests introduce themselves and share boating stories.

The main attraction, however, is a heaping bowl of ice-cold prawns provided by the owners. The prawns are prepared by removing the heads, and the tasty critters cooked quickly in saltwater and chilled immediately. Everyone grabs a plateful, finds a seat along the pier railing, and dig in. You toss the shells over the railing into the water, while savoring the sweet flavor, a taste sensation you will not find in prawns that spend days getting to market.

Bill may not be with us any longer, but his humor and spirit are alive at Lagoon Cove. The marina has its own personality that makes it a friendly, fun and worth a visiting. Many boaters stay put at the popular marina for days, visiting friends made from previous years and welcoming newcomers.