Anchorage

Lake Madeline

5.0United States

Shelter: NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: mud
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage in Offatts Bayou on the north side of Galveston Island, Texas, off West Bay, with a dark mud bottom and shelter from all directions.

Water
Pontoon
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

From West Bay, work in towards Moody Gardens, keeping to the channel as the entrance and south bank shoal to between one and three feet. Depths inside run around twenty feet, with a few deep holes reaching forty. The bottom is dark mud and most anchors set well; one cruiser reported a plough anchor holding firm in twenty knots. The bayou is enclosed enough to hold in any wind direction.

Practical

Fresh water can be taken nearby. Moody Gardens Marina lies 0.2 nm NW with eighteen floating berths and shore power but no fuel; call 409-683-1299. Galveston Boat Club is 0.3 nm NE.

Ashore

Moody Gardens, 0.3 nm NW, has an aquarium and a rainforest pyramid. Schlitterbahn Galveston, a waterpark, sits on the south shore of the bayou.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 29.27432, -94.84702 (29°16.46'N 94°50.82'W)
Country: United States
Shelter: Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-west, south, south-east winds
Seabed: mud
Anchoring: Allowed
Services: Water, Pontoon, Beach
Boaters' rating: 5.0/5
Updated: July 7, 2026