California 'Anchor Outs' Vow Fierce Resistance Against Marin County Eviction Efforts

A community of boat owners, known as "anchor outs," is mounting resistance against Marin County officials' efforts to clear them from Richardson Bay in Sausalito, California. The "anchor outs" view the eviction campaign as an attack on their lifestyle, while authorities cite environmental and public safety concerns.

Chad Wycliffe, a 45-year-old resident who has lived on his sailboat for decades, stated his refusal to leave, telling The New York Times, "They’re going to have to kill me." Wycliffe is among the remaining few from a floating community that once provided an affordable alternative to the Bay Area's high housing costs. The community's origins trace back to the post-World War II era, when artists and veterans began residing on vessels from a closed shipyard.

Growing Tensions and Official Action

Previous attempts to clear the waterfront resulted in clashes known as the "Houseboat Wars." While many residents eventually moved to regulated marinas, others remained offshore. As rents escalated, the number of boats in Richardson Bay reportedly grew to nearly 250 by 2016.

Concerns raised by officials include rubbish and human waste polluting the water, as well as vessels breaking loose during storms, catching fire, or sinking. The Richardson Bay Regional Agency also asserts that anchors and chains damage eelgrass beds crucial for marine life. As of October, the agency has removed over 500 vessels deemed derelict, according to executive director Brad Gross.

Since 2022, the county has offered $150 per foot for surrendered boats and provided a $3 million state grant for temporary housing assistance. However, by May 2025, rising rents depleted the housing authority's budget, leaving some former residents without stable housing. Meredith Rodas, 56, who lived on the bay for two decades, reported that she and her husband did not receive assistance and were subsequently living in a pickup truck with their dogs.

Resistance and Evasion

Wycliffe has refused to move ashore, citing that the offered accommodations could not house him and his two dogs. He has instead relocated his sailboat further offshore, where challenging conditions make life more perilous but help him evade authorities. For Wycliffe and others like him, the risks of living on the water are preferable to abandoning the only home they have known for a significant portion of their adult lives.