Anchor-outs still anchor out in Richardson's Bay and the residents can row ashore in Sausalito. They are a colorful lot. The RBRA keeps an eye on the "boats". If abandoned they lose their grandfathered status, otherwise, they have a spot to live. There was a 'honey boat' that Annette Rose arranged, asking $1 fee. Don't know the status of that. The anchor-outs are not to be confused with the Gates Cooperative. That's a story documented in "The Last Free Ride." The film is shown on special occasions. The County has hepled relocate the residents of The Gates, and a park will go on the land there. The old ferryboat the Charles Van Damme used to be there and you can still see one old paddlewheel and smokestack. There is a movement to restore the paddlewheel commemorating the history of a bygone time in the new park. Juanita's Galley was on the CVD and it was also known as The Ark. Many a famous musician played there. Lots of history was there: See charlesvandammeferry.org.
In case you missed it, Sam Andrew (of Big Brother and the Holding Company and Janis Joplin bandmate) talks a little bit about Sausalito and the Anchor Outs in his interview in the People section.
Thanks. I dug up this old video I shot back in '89 at the Marin City Flea Market and this guy identified himself as an "Anchor-Out". I couldn't remember what he was talking about.
If anyone is a former Anchor Out, please write something about those old days and by all means send in some photos!
If you're interested in seeing the old video, go to www.MarinNostalgia.org and click "Spotlight" under the banner. You'll see the video under "Marin Question".
It's not great television but it's interesting to see how people were generally concerned about the same issues then as they are today.
The anchor outs were a loose knit bunch of people who lived on their boats in the Richardson Bay. Some of them were disrespectful of the waters and dumped sewage and trash into the bay. Some of them would abandon their vessels and let them drift around, but all of them were quilty of the hienous crime of paying no rent at all. And having all the people around the bay, ( a very wealthy bunch ) looking at people who lived rent free was too much to bear, so they put pressure on the County of Marin to clean up the bay and get all the boats into slips and pay anywhere from $800.00 per month on up for rent and utilities just to park a little boat.
