I have moored at many marinas the last 35 years of my boating years and I have found this one to be one of the best from Seattle south. I have been here now for over 10 years and have a great time each time I come down, which is near every other day!
Previous to mooring here, I was at a marina in the Thea Foss Waterway for 9 years and, even today, is not a very secure area. With the dirty liveaboards (vessels run down/ no motors/ no holding tanks), homeless people, occasional gun shots, loud trains and traffic, and more, I was glad to leave. Tyee Marina is much quieter.
I found the tenants here at Tyee Marina to be a nice group by the most part. There are not any liveaboard (unless they are secretly there or in the middle of house moves), although some vacationers nest in for a short time. Most of the vessels are of clean usable condition and each tenant must provide proof of insurance before mooring here. (This keeps out the run down/rotted vessels.) I see very little in vessel rebuilding other than the normal upkeep, unlike I have seen at other marinas. If there is a complaint towards a moorage customer or vessel, the marina staff doesn't just look the other way, but checks out the problem and addresses it.
The marina has new cement docks and wiring. There are some of the old wood docks still in play but are study. The marina will be replacing them too, it is ongoing each year.
The breakwater is the best you can hope for. The breakwater is the old I-90 Bridge from Seattle and it keeps the waves down much better than the old stuff. The breakwater and the docks in that location are in 65 feet of water. I have been down there on nights of big winds and found that I was not the only one cruising the dock. I found the marina crew checking lines and boats. What amazed me is how the marina rode out nicely with the waves just slamming into the breakwater.
I have only seen an issue with the west entrance due to the Foss Barge line moving on extreme tide changes or big wind. I understand that Foss is making repairs to that issue but is not normally a problem for most vessels coming and going. There has been no issues with the east entrance. There is always water, even on the lowest tide, at both entrances. The moorage to the shore side is shallower and the turn on Tyee 1(at the shore side) but not normally an issue unless very low tides. The entrance to both sides are over 50-feet deep. It is not advisable to try to enter from the north shore side as it get shallow. It is not an entrance anyhow but some people like to chance it.
Instead of the 15 to 20 minute run to get to open water when moored in the other marinas, here the open water is just outside the entrance. For those who have taller / bigger vessels, the view is the best. What a way to enjoy a sunset!
Security is pretty good. There is a security guard. There is also the marina crew that keeps a look out while working the docks. There are also several other security persons that help at night. MUCH better than most marinas!
Location is a plus. Just up the hill is the Cliff House Restaurant, soon to reopen I understand. The small Brown's Point community of stores on the top is a great for the necessary hardware you may need or supplies. Going toward the south, only 5 minutes is Fred Myers, Winco Food, Safeway, many gas stations, and much more of the Federal Way area.
There is Seaward Canvas at the entrance of the marina for those needing sail work or such. There is a sailing school. There is a brokerage for new and used vessels. There is a boat manufacturer/haul-out facility just before the entrance.
All in all, a very good place to moore and enjoy your vessel. I give it a a good rating overall. read more