A large, deeply protected harbor cradled between Vashon and Maury Islands, Quartermaster Harbor offers some of the most reliable all-weather anchoring in central Puget Sound, with room for a crowd off Dockton and a snug inner basin near Burton.
Quartermaster Harbor reaches nearly five miles south to north between Vashon Island to the west and Maury Island to the east, entering between Neill Point and Piner Point about a mile east of the Tahlequah ferry landing. The harbor turns east into the bay at Dockton, then swings north around the Burton Peninsula and west into a shallow inner harbor at Burton.
Most cruisers anchor off the King County public dock at Dockton Park, which has guest floats, a boat launch, walking trails, and restrooms. The historic village of Dockton was named for the Puget Sound Dry Dock Company shipyard that operated here in the 1890s. Farther in, the calm inner harbor near Burton and Jensen Point is a quiet, well-sheltered alternative.
The harbor is large enough to absorb many boats and is fairly protected from most winds, making it a dependable foul-weather refuge close to Seattle.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Enter from the south between Neill Point (Vashon) and Piner Point (Maury). The entrance is clean and the main harbor carries good water, with excellent anchorage about two miles inside the entrance in 5 to 10 fathoms over mud. Favor mid-channel as you proceed north.
Depths shoal markedly toward the inner harbor north of the Burton Peninsula, where soundings drop to roughly 14 to 17 feet; watch the tide and stand off the drying flats near Burton. Charted obstructions and wrecks exist in places, so consult NOAA charts and avoid anchoring over them.
Wind protection summary and tide planning at a glance. Full per-direction and 7-day detail with Plus.
Live readings from the nearest OpenWeather station and WorldTides; refreshed every few minutes.
Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
A curated photo + map walkthrough showing approach, mooring options, and points of interest.
A guided walkthrough of Quartermaster Harbor with approach photos, depth notes, and points of interest — written by members who have been here recently.
Member-uploaded images of this anchorage.
Real first-hand reports and questions answered by members who have actually been here.
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