Thursday, October 1, 2026
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There is a small community of individuals who live in old sailboats just offshore in West Bay on the south end of Budd Inlet.
Some of them will tell you they are homeless, and that living on the water is a way for them to survive. Other individuals will adamantly state that just because they live on a boat does not mean they are homeless.
These individuals are known as “anchor outs.”
The JOLT News spent a couple of months talking with and listening to what many of these individuals had to say while tied up at Percival Landing E and D docks, and while anchored in the bay. Most of them said they are just trying to survive; several mentioned having an occasional job.
What follows are thoughts from some of the anchor outs, several business owners and City of Olympia about this unique situation and its connection to the city’s homelessness crisis.
Dennis heads back out onto West Bay after repairing his small outboard motor. “Living out here sure beats living on the streets,” he said.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
On an early, cold and rainy December morning in 2024, Dennis was standing up against a building on Thurston Avenue NE.
“I’ve been homeless for five years because I lost my job and apartment due to COVID,” the former U.S. Marine said at the time. “And I don’t like living in the mission or on the streets. Something’s gotta change.”
Things did change. In early June of this year, he showed up on the stern of an old 26-foot sailboat tied up at E dock struggling to fix the pull cord to an outboard motor.
“I’ve been living out on the water for a while now,” he said.
According to Damein Egan, Harbor Senior Manager for the Port of Olympia, used and old boats are not hard to acquire.
“We tell all vessel owners at Swantown Marina and the other surrounding areas to work with the Department of Natural Resources Vessel Turn-in Program if they are looking to get rid of their boat,” Egan said.
“I got this boat for free,” said Dennis about the vessel he is living on in West Bay.
He added that since he does not have a job, he ties up at the landing to go pick up food at the Thurston County Food Bank and clothes at Olympia Union Gospel Mission. He said he had previously worked for three decades as a car salesman.
“I like living on the water; I don’t have to answer to anyone,” he said. “And I’m not on the streets.”
A longtime anchor out, Michael H. said he cannot afford to live on land, but can afford to live on the water. “It’s the only way I can get by,” he said, “and most of us are just trying to survive.”
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
Not living on the streets also strongly appeals to Michael H. A former contractor, who said he lost everything more than 20 years ago, has been anchored in West Bay for the better part of a decade.
“For me it’s a matter of survival, of getting by,” said Michael H., as he stood in the cockpit of the Heather, a 41-foot sailboat that won several competitions in the early 1980s.
“I would have to spend all of my benefit money just to afford a one room apartment in Olympia,” he explained. “But I can afford to live on the water and have some money left over to buy what I need.”
He has a point about the cost of living, especially renting in Olympia.
At the end of 2024, homeless numbers had reached a record high. Results from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) point-in-time count found approximately 771,000 individuals living in shelters, on the streets, in parks or in cars in the United States.
That marked an 18 percent increase from 2023, with HUD cited rising rents as the driving factor. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Olympia is $1,637 per month and $2,572 per month in Southeast Olympia.
During an Olympia City Council study session on June 24, 2025, council members were reminded of two things: According to a housing displacement risk study conducted by Uncommon Bridges, the city’s housing challenge is due in large part to the loss of existing low-income homeownership and a critical shortage of affordable rental units for the city’s most economically vulnerable residents.
While she lives as an anchor out, Melissa strongly states that she is not homeless.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
But not all of the anchor outs agree that they are homeless.
“Why is it that people think I’m homeless?” asked Melissa, the strongly opinionated owner of the boat My Last Dime, while recently tied up at D dock. She did not divulge how long she has been living on the water.
“I’m not homeless. I live in a boat; I have a roof over my head; I come in to work on whatever work I can find when I can find it. But I’m not homeless!”
Given the federal government’s general definition of the word "homeless," she has a point. Nowhere in 42 USC 11302: General Definition of Homeless Individual is the word “boat, ”“ship” or “seafaring vessel” used.
While he can live with a relative, Steve prefers to live on the water. “Living out here gives me a sense of freedom," he said.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
Steve, another anchor out for almost a year, shares the same outlook.
“I have a place to stay; I sometimes go to my grandmother’s house,” explained the native of Olympia, adding he had been previously injured in a motorcycle accident.
He said he “was at the right time with the right person to be able to purchase for next-to-nothing” the 36-foot Pandora. “But living out here gives me a sense of freedom.”
For the past three years, Issac has lived on a boat in West Bay He feels that living on a boat is more economical than trying to pay rent for an apartment.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
Nineteen-year-old Isaac Daniels falls somewhere in the middle of not being homeless, being an anchor out, and not being able to afford to rent an apartment in the area.
“My wife and I live out here; we’re not necessarily homeless,” said Daniels, as he stood on the foredeck of their 41-foot Liberte Tambien.
“But I had to move out, and living on a boat was cheaper than living in an apartment, a van or a RV — it is the most economical way for us to live.”
Daniels added he has a job and is able to afford to work on the craft in order to improve their living conditions.
“In some ways it is not much different from living on land, only cheaper,” he said as he prepared to depart E dock.
Percival Landing Park totals 3.38 acres in size and is named after an old commercial steamship wharf, a well-known maritime landmark in the Pacific Northwest.
The original dock, built by Sam Percival in 1860, was operated by the Percival Family. The first phase of the current Percival Landing was completed in 1978. Expansion and improvement measures were added in 1985 and 1988.
Today, the well-maintained park and boardwalk host a number of businesses, including restaurants, offices and art galleries. It also flanked by a number of residential developments.
“This is a nice place to come and walk, grab a bite to eat and just enjoy the waterfront,” commented one individual who asked not to be identified.
All boaters can tie up at E dock (where there are electrical outlets), and they are charged a daily rate. On D dock (where there are no electrical outlets), boaters can remain for free for four hours. After that, charges apply.
“Some boaters may temporarily be staying on a boat, some may just be visiting, and others may be friends of the boat owners/operators,” explained Scott River, Director of Recreation & Facilities for the City of Olympia.
“Our approach with all vessels is that they have to abide by the posted rules and the Olympia Municipal Codes.”
But some anchor outs do not abide by the law.
“We’ve had boats here burglarized,” commented JD, an individual who works on the boardwalk. “This past April, thousands of dollars of electronics, chargers and navigation equipment were stolen from a boat, and we’ve seen individuals who live offshore take boat motors and, once, a dinghy.”
The Olympia Yacht Club is also dealing with the results of criminal activity. To combat this, it recently installed a $150,000 fence system to deter such activity.
“We’ve had dinghies disappear, and we’ve found one floating in the bay,” said one member who wished to remain anonymous.
While most of the anchor outs are not engaged in criminal activity, the Olympia Police Department is actively engaged in keeping West Bay safe.
“We have jurisdiction on West Bay out to Ellis Cove,” said an official with the police department, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“We often go out to check to ensure that anchor outs have safety equipment and to remind them about late moorage fee.”
Olympia Police Department officers regularly check the boats used by anchor outs to ensure safety and compliance with the law.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
A JOLT News staff writer watched one day as a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy piloted an inflatable boat, while three Olympia Police Department officers made contact with all of the boats, anchor outs and others, tied up at E dock.
“The officers are pretty decent about how they interact with us out here,” commented Michael H., as he watched the boat make the rounds.
Olympia Police Department officers recently impounded a boat from an anchor out, who allegedly engaged in criminal activities.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
But some of the engagements are made to enforce the law.
“We’re aware of what goes on out there,” said the police department official, “and we are quick to act when laws are broken.”
He specifically noted two individuals had recently been arrested and charged. One individual, identified as Aaron Pearl, was arrested and charged with theft and possession of stolen property. A second individual, identified as Grady Bedell, was arrested and charged with rape, false imprisonment and assault in the second degree.
“We do go after the bad actors,” said the police department official, “but we also realize that most of the individuals living on boats are just trying to get by.”
An anchor out sails under the Jolly Roger flag. “I like the sense of independence it conveys,” the unidentified individual said.
JM SIMPSON | The JOLT News
13 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Boatyarddog
Just remember Boater friends, "What goes around, comes around". I'm out there too. I'm friendly, but DON'T steal or F. with My ****. You WILL be sorry!
Monday, July 28, 2025 Report this
JnNwmn
It is legal to anchor offshore in Wa State.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
100% Legal
WAC 332-52-155
Anchorage.
(1) What is the length of time that a vessel may be moored or anchored on state-owned aquatic lands? Persons shall not moor or anchor a vessel in the same area on state-owned aquatic lands for periods longer than thirty consecutive days or for more than a total of ninety days in any three hundred sixty-five day period. For purposes of WAC 332-52-155, "in the same area" means within a radius of five miles of any location where the vessel was previously moored or anchored.
(2) Are there places where the time limit does not apply? Subsection (1) of this section does not apply where the federal government, a county, a city, a state agency, including DNR, a port, or any other public entity with authority has posted, enacted, or adopted different anchorage or moorage restrictions. Persons shall observe restrictions specific to the locality. Additionally, persons may exceed this time limit if:
(a) Granted express consent by either DNR or the lessee of the state-owned aquatic lands where the vessel is moored or anchored; and
(b) Anchorage or moorage does not violate any other law or rule.
(3) Any violation of this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Boatyard, do you live on a boat?
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
CascadianDream
The anchor outs are a bigger issue for the local marinas than this article leads people to believe. While I'm glad they interviewed someone at the yacht club, those of us with boats at the marinas adjacent to the boardwalk would paint a different picture. Fiddle head in particular has lost people to other marinas because the crime was so rampant and blatant. Thousands of dollars worth of gear was stolen and/ or destroyed, even a boat was stolen. Needles and trash wash into our marinas. Anchor outs loose their anchors and crash into our boats. There are oil leaks and boats that have partially sunk. We had a thriving community at our little marina until recently because of this very issue. I'm hoping more of our neighbors will comment on this article as well.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
@ CascadianDream, your reference is to a prior Owner Bob Wabbena, Fiddlehead is now under strick managment ownership ,After Several Deaths and bad Rule violations under Wabbena. Note worthy: Bob Wabbena is now acting chair for The Port Of Olympia, POCAC Citizen Advisory, he is a Mess. I'd Worry More But the Port is Self defeating and will Suffer More Issues, if he is allowed to Move any Further. The Liviboard community is Generally Solid, there are Always troublemakers but they get discovered and routed OUT or self destruct because They are Not Sailors or serious boaters.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
@SSGUY ??? Good question, whats your intrest as I do not recognize you as friendly.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
OlyGuy
I am sure they are disposing of their waste and trash responsibly...... I would have less of an issue with the homeless if they would just show some respect to the community that is attempting to help you. The jungle dumping trash and human waste in a wetland and now we have people in our water doing the same stuff.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
Hey OLYGUY! DID you even read the article?
This is Not the Jungle! Boaters are already inconvienced by The fact that Small spaces don't allow for Much extra items. These are not homeless folks, they are houseless, and are mostly waiting for Long term Moorage. LIVEABOARD Moorgage is capped at 10% of the marina capacity. And, Moorage costs are rising as fast as housing. If you don't understand the problem, you are just causing more problems, adding to the misinformation.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
Oly guy Is 100% Misinforming the General public. The statements made by them are 100 % incorrect. Boaters have trash access at Marinas, portapotties or holding tanks by Law! And Free pumpouts at the landing, Westbay marina, amongst other areas. This is all monitored by Marine Patrol and Mobile pumpouts are available also.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Report this
PissAnt
We should continue to allow this. I dont see any harm this is causing. If a person is a criminal they will be a criminal on land also. Being on a boat doesn't mean anything about the person, if anything it may show they are intelligent as they have found a way to survive with nothing and still be free. Maybe lets not advertise this so all the illegal immigrants can figure this out. I think possibly you should have to be a citizen of the USA to do this.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Report this
PissAnt
We should continue to allow this. I dont see any harm this is causing. If a person is a criminal they will be a criminal on land also. Being on a boat doesn't mean anything about the person, if anything it may show they are intelligent as they have found a way to survive with nothing and still be free. Maybe lets not advertise this so all the illegal immigrants can figure this out. I think possibly you should have to be a citizen of the USA to do this. I don't believe they are disposing of their trash and waste properly but I also don't care if they do or not.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
@**** ant, you must have current registration to be legal on a boat, not in a marina slip however.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Report this