Launching site on the peninsula

bshillam · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 11:12 am Post subject: Launching site on the peninsula

Looking to head out to the San Juans this weekend/week coming. I really don't care to drive through Seattle. So my plan is to launch as close on the peninsula. Anyone know if we can leave truck/trailer at Port Townsend for just over a week? Or another location close? Like to make sure it's a safe (or as safe as possible) location to drop the truck/trailer. I have a soft top truck, don't keep anything visible in the truck. Thoughts?

Schuster · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:59 pm Post subject:

I would suggest to call the Boat Basin marine office in Port Townsend, i think they have facilities to handle your truck and trailer but it's liable to be open to the public parking.
You may also check with the State Park there for overflow parking.
If you are coming from Bellingham you might want to check with Cap Santi Marina in Anachortis.

DayBreak · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2021 7:18 pm Post subject:

Seattle is a great city but I don't blame you for not wanting to drive through it towing a boat. Another suggestion is for you to drive to Port Townsend, take the Port Townsend - Coupeville Ferry to the Keystone Ferry Landing. From there drive your rig to the Cornet Bay Boat Ramp and launch from there. Park your rig in a space next to or near the Marine Park Host trailer. Check in with the host (a very nice lady) and tell her your plans. She will probably tell you that she will keep an extra eye out for your rig. Pay your fees at the Kiosk which costs $10/day for parking plus a Discovery Pass and launch fee. Once you pass through Deception Pass, cross Rosario Strait, you are in the San Juans.

RobLL · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:02 pm Post subject:

Choose time of day to travel through Seattle/Tacoma.

TyBoo · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 8:07 pm Post subject:

I second the Port Townsend ferry and drive to Cornet Bay idea. The last time we were there we did the opposite direction to come home. Well worth the ferry cost to avoid Seattle traffic

We actually launched at Oak Harbor and left the truck/trailer there for two weeks for twenty bucks total. We had a friend who happened to be available drive us to get the rig so we could retrieve at Cornet Bay park. The ramp at Oak harbor is not steep enough to easily retrieve a CD25 but it launched just fine. There was a fresh water hose at the ramp to rinse the trailer brakes and the truck brakes too since it had to be backed in quite a ways. If we did it again we would probably launch at the park and pay the extra for parking.

hardee · Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:08 am Post subject:

Port Townsend Boat Haven is good, ( I don't think there is an overnight parking fee, but neither is it a gated or controlled access. I have never had an issue there and been therefor as much as a week at a time.

Or Drive to Sequim, launch at John Wayne and park at my frined Daves (yes there is a fee) but he includes, transport to and from the marina, and it is very remote (end of the lane with plenty of turning space too.

Harvey
SleepyC