For generations of Tacoma families and fishermen, getting onto Puget Sound did not require owning a boat. They could simply visit Point Defiance Marina, rent one of its small motorboats and head out onto Commencement Bay.
Those familiar boats have accumulated plenty of stories—and plenty of wear—during their years on the water. Now the last survivor of the marina’s aging rental fleet is being retired as Point Defiance prepares for a substantial upgrade.
The replacement fleet consists of ten Whaly 435R boats manufactured in the Netherlands. At a little over 14 feet long, the distinctive boats are constructed from tough, double-walled polyethylene and designed for stability and durability. Whaly promotes the model for everything from fishing and recreation to professional work on the water.
They should also provide noticeably more power. The marina’s previous rental boats carried 9.9-horsepower motors, while the new boats will be equipped with 20-horsepower motors. That should make it easier to move around the bay without turning the rentals into high-speed craft intended for experienced boaters.
Another important change will happen before customers even reach the dock: The marina plans to accept reservations for the new fleet. The outgoing boats were available only on a first-come, first-served basis, leaving visitors to join a waiting list when every boat was already on the water.
The ten new boats have arrived, but they still need to be assembled, outfitted and prepared for rentals. Marina officials expect them to become available beginning in November.
Boat rentals are part of a waterfront tradition at Point Defiance that stretches back more than a century. The Park Board leased space for a boat stand, restaurant and float as early as 1895, and the first permanent boathouse opened in 1903. Buildings have been replaced and even lost to fires since then, but fishing and public access to the water have remained central to the marina.
That continuity helps explain why retiring an old rental boat feels more significant than disposing of an ordinary piece of equipment. These modest boats introduced generations of residents to salmon fishing, crabbing and the experience of seeing Tacoma from the water.
The new fleet will preserve that accessible tradition while offering sturdier boats, twice the horsepower and the ability to plan a trip in advance. Tacoma’s familiar marina excursion is not disappearing—it is finally getting an upgrade.
Read more from The News Tribune, or visit Point Defiance Marina for current rental information.
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