The west end of Harbor Island is a construction zone right now — and for San Diego boaters, that’s good news.
Harbor Island West Marina, the 600-plus-slip marina at 2040 Harbor Island Drive, is in the middle of a $70 million rebuild: every dock, every building, the whole waterfront. It’s one of the largest private marina investments in San Diego Bay history, and when it’s done in 2028, the bar for what a San Diego marina looks like goes up.
Here’s what’s being built, who’s building it, the timeline, and what it means for anyone who boats on the bay.
What the $70 million buys
The project covers 3.8 acres of land and 22 acres of water, and it’s a ground-up rebuild — not a facelift:
- 623 new slips for boats from 20 to 140 feet, including dedicated berths for mega yachts. The new docks replace the marina’s aging originals with modern floating systems built for the next fifty years.
- Two new landside buildings replacing four aging ones, with a boater lounge, shower rooms, a business center, and crew lockers.
- Resort-style amenities: pool and spa, fitness center, EV charging stations, and concierge services.
- 16,000 square feet of commercial space — retail storefronts, a provisioning market, and a waterfront café.
- Public waterfront access: a 12-foot public promenade along the water and a 6,000-square-foot observation deck open to everyone.
The commercial and public-access pieces matter: this isn’t just a nicer parking lot for boats, it’s a waterfront destination the public gets to use.
The timeline
- 2025: The Port of San Diego approved a new 50-year lease for the marina’s operator, Beauchamp Leslie Development & Management — the company that has run the marina since 1981. Final building permits followed, and preliminary site work (trenching, temporary utilities, fencing) ran July through September 2025.
- June 4, 2026: Formal groundbreaking, with the Port, the development team, and project partners on the docks.
- Now through 2028: Phased construction over 18 to 24 months, starting with the 100 and 200 docks. The marina stays open through the phases — more on that below.
- 2028: Targeted completion.
Timelines on waterfront construction are always weather- and permit-dependent, but the phasing plan is designed to keep boats in the water the whole way through.
Who’s behind it
Beauchamp Leslie Development & Management has leased and operated the property from the Port of San Diego since 1981, and the new 50-year lease is the commitment that unlocked the investment — funded with private capital and institutional financing. Waterside construction is being executed by Bellingham Marine, one of the biggest marina builders in the world; landside work is by Pacific Building Group.
As Beauchamp Leslie’s CEO Eric Leslie put it at the groundbreaking, the goal is “a premier waterfront destination that will allow boaters and the public to experience the bay with improved access and more comfortable, modern services.”
Yes, it’s open during construction
The marina isn’t closing for two years — the build is phased specifically so boats stay in their slips. Longtime tenants are riding it out: Harbor Sailboats, which has called the marina home since it was built in 1969, is operating from a temporary office on the west side of the parking lot with lessons, rentals, and member activities running as usual.
If you’re a slip holder there, expect shifting dock assignments and construction rhythm. If you’re visiting, call ahead — guest-slip availability moves around as phases come online.
What it means for San Diego boaters
A $70 million bet on San Diego Bay boating tells you something about demand: the waitlists aren’t imaginary, and the market for quality slips keeps growing. We’ve written before about what slips actually cost in San Diego — and a rebuild like this one only sharpens the math. New docks, resort amenities, and a 50-year lease don’t come cheap, and premium slip pricing follows premium infrastructure.
Which is exactly why the other side of the bay matters. Our San Diego club runs its fleet out of Point Loma — minutes from Harbor Island across the water — and our members never think about slip assignments, dock phases, or construction timelines. The boat is fueled and waiting at the dock; the marina’s problems are someone else’s.
Want to boat San Diego Bay without the slip hunt? Our boats are maintained, fueled, and waiting at Point Loma and Newport Beach. Call (619) 488-6630 and we’ll show you what the club life feels like.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Harbor Island West Marina renovation be finished?
Completion is targeted for 2028. The project broke ground on June 4, 2026, with an 18-to-24-month phased construction schedule — the marina, landside buildings, and public promenade are all part of the same build.
How many slips will the rebuilt marina have?
623 slips for vessels from 20 to 140 feet, including dedicated berths for mega yachts — a full replacement of the marina’s aging docks with modern floating systems.
Is Harbor Island West Marina open during construction?
Yes. The project is phased so the marina stays operational throughout — slip holders keep their boats in the water, and on-site businesses like Harbor Sailboats are running from temporary facilities during the build.
Who owns and operates Harbor Island West Marina?
Beauchamp Leslie Development & Management, which has run the marina since 1981 under a lease from the Port of San Diego. The Port approved a new 50-year lease in 2025, and the $70 million redevelopment is proceeding under that agreement.
What’s it going to cost to keep a boat there?
Slip rates for the rebuilt marina haven’t been published. But a $70 million rebuild with resort amenities and a 50-year lease points in one direction — premium infrastructure commands premium pricing. For context on what San Diego slips run today, see our San Diego boat slip cost guide.