THE WATERFRONT AT POTLATCH is the county's newest resort.

Saltwater boating is one of Mason County’s main attractions. The network of waterways offered by Puget Sound is almost limitless. Hood Canal, that splendid, if vulnerable, fjord that cleaves the county from the north, is a treasure in itself.

Pump, don’t dump! Increasing concerns about water quality in Puget Sound and Hood Canal underscore the need for use of pumpouts. It’s illegal to discharge raw, untreated sewage. Some pumpouts on county waters are free, some charge a small fee. Hood Canal: Alderbrook Resort at Union, vessels under 75 feet. Twanoh State Park on the canal’s south shore. Port of Allyn Dock on the North Shore, spring-fall. Puget Sound: Shelton Yacht Club Marina, year-round. Jarrell Cove State Park on Harstine Island, daily year-round. Jarrell’s Cove Marina also year-round. Port of Allyn Dock on North Bay. Boaters should be sure when they pump their heads the waste actually goes to the tank and doesn’t discharge directly into the water.

Port districts in Washington often maintain public facilities for boaters, and Mason County’s large and small port districts are no exception. Other launch areas are maintained by the county and state. Many private marinas also offer launching facilities.

Marine state parks have special hours and fees. Dock moorage is 50 cents per foot, minimum $10 per night; moorage buoys are $10 per night. Annual permits, good January 1-December 31, are available at $3.50 per foot, minimum $50. Launch fees are $3 and $4 at most state parks. More information is available from infocent@parks.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 902-8844.

Here’s a sampler of moorage and launch sites. Coordinates refer to the map on page 53 of this guide.

PUGET SOUND

•  Oakland Bay, Hammersley Inlet: (E-6) The Port of Shelton owns a moorage site on Oakland Bay managed by the Shelton Yacht Club. The port also maintains a launch ramp nearby at the foot of Pine Street. Marina facilities include a small visitors’ mooring float with power hookups and a pumpout facility. For moorage availability, call 426-6435.

•  Hammersley Inlet: (F-6) Access is from a boat launch ramp at Mason County’s Shorecrest Park on the Agate peninsula.

•  Arcadia Point: (G-7) The Squaxin Island Indian Tribe owns a public launch site at Arcadia Point with parking for vehicles and boat trailers nearby. Take Lynch Road at Taylor Towne south of Shelton or Arcadia Road east from Shelton’s Hillcrest neighborhood.

•  Pickering Passage: Jarrell Cove State Park (H-5) has moorage floats, buoys, restrooms, campsites and showers. Jarrell’s Cove Marina is located across the cove with a small store as well as moorage facilities and services, including gas.

• McMicken Island State Park: (H-6) Off the east side of Harstine Island, this park offers sheltered anchorage with an easy-to-hold bottom, and five mooring buoys. No drinking water, but a primitive restroom.

• Hope Island State Park: (G-7) A marine state park. There are five mooring buoys and vault toilets; bring your own water.

•  Case Inlet, North Bay: The Port of Allyn maintains a dock and two launching ramps in Allyn (H-4). Waterfront park has sanitary facilities. Launching involves a $4 fee with a $40 yearly pass for port facilities on Case Inlet and Hood Canal. Moorage is $10 per night for 25 feet and under, $12 for 26- to 34-foot vessels and $14 for 35 feet and up. More information is available at 275-2430.

At the south end of Allyn, the port maintains a kayak park with 450 front feet of no-bank waterfront.

• Case Inlet, Grapeview: The Port of Grapeview (H-5) maintains a launch ramp north of Grapeview with access to Case Inlet and Pickering Passage. It’s adjacent to Fair Harbor Marina, whose docks and moorages are privately operated.

• Stretch Island State Park: (H-5) Also in Case Inlet, this island shore is boat-in only, with five mooring buoys. Bring drinking water.

HOOD CANAL

•  North Shore: A floating dock (G-3) with transient moorage is operated by the Port of Allyn on the North Shore Road a mile past Belfair State Park. Half a mile farther is the port’s public launch ramp and parking lot. See North Bay for fees. Mason County’s Menard’s Landing Park on North Shore Road (E-4) offers a hand-carry boat launch at its waterside picnic area, with parking area across the road (no trailer access.) Private boating facilities are also available at Summertide Marina and Sandy’s Resort near Tahuya.

•  South Shore: Twanoh State Park (G-4) has a large launch and a parking area (a $5 fee is involved), as well as moorages, camping, and showers. Mason County Parks operates Union Boat Launch off of State Route 106 in Union (E-4). There is no parking. Next door, Hood Canal Marina offers privately run marine facilities, and moorage is available at luxurious Alderbrook Resort.

•  West Shore: Potlatch State Park (E-4) offers mooring buoys, showers, camping and picnicking facilities. At Tacoma City Light’s Hydro Park at Potlatch (E-4) there is a launch ramp, parking, bathhouse and restroom. Triton Cove State Park (F-1), near the Jefferson County line, has a launch ramp, pier and floats, parking and toilets. Launch and mooring facilities are available at Mike’s Beach Resort near Eldon.

• Hoodsport: The Port of Hoodsport (E-4) has a 200-foot public dock for incoming craft and 392 feet of waterfront at the center of Hoodsport on Highway 101 for transient moorage, parking and portable toilets. Hoodsport Marina, a private facility, has hoist gear for boats to 24 feet. Rest-A-While Marina offers launch and moorage facilities a short distance to the north and Glen Ayr Resort offers deepwater moorage.