The Quartermaster Funnel: Why Paradise is Collecting Puget Sound’s Trash


​If you look at a map of Vashon and Maury Islands, your eyes are naturally drawn to the calm, horseshoe embrace of Quartermaster Harbor. Historically, these protected waters were the heart of our local shipbuilding industry. Today, they remain a haven for rowers, sailors, and some of the island’s most coveted real estate.


​But look closer, and a persistent problem emerges. Because of its unique shape and currents, the harbor acts like a giant vacuum, sucking up marine debris and abandoned vessels drifting in from the greater Puget Sound. It’s a common—and heartbreaking—sight: smashed powerboats tangled in driftwood or beached sailboats with their contents spilling onto the shore.

​For locals, the frustration lies in the red tape. Under current state regulations, getting help with a drifting, abandoned boat often feels impossible until it’s too late. The system seems designed to wait until a vessel is already aground, spewing fuel, and littering the beach with household junk before action is taken.


​It feels like a dysfunctional cycle: Why wait for an environmental hazard to happen before intervening? If anyone has insight into the maritime laws or "hoops" that prevent the state from acting while these boats are still seaworthy, I’d love to start a conversation in the comments.

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