The story of the Oakland waterfront is one of environmental degradation, intercontinental commerce, real-estate squabbles and even armed conflict. Soon, the waterfront will also be a part of the story of the Oakland A’s, when the baseball team erects a new stadium at Howard Terminal. This summer there are two ways to explore the waterfront by boat: Free harbor tours sponsored by the Port of Oakland on a Blue & Gold Fleet vessel, and $45 tours organized by local historian Liam O’Donoghue of the East Bay Yesterday podcast. Tickets for the latter tour, which launches on an Emeryville fishing boat, are mostly sold out, so check for additional dates.