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Osbonsky
Joined: 05 Jun 2016
Posts: 3
City/Region: Tiburon
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Jean Marie
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 Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 10:08 am Post subject: San Juan and Gulf Islands |
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| getting started on our first 3 week trip from Bellingham tomorrow. Any suggestions or concerns we should be aware of? Best worst marinas? |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 7445
City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 11:22 am Post subject: Re: San Juan and Gulf Islands |
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| Osbonsky wrote: | | getting started on our first 3 week trip from Bellingham tomorrow. Any suggestions or concerns we should be aware of? Best worst marinas? |
All the marinas we stayed in in the San Juans and Gulf Islands have been nice. Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor everyone knows. Deer Harbor and Rosario Resort on Orcas Island are both nice. Poet's Cove at Bedwell Harbour on South Pender is a great place to check in for Canadian Customs... and, the resort has a nice hot tub, overlooking the harbour.
For anchorages, you can't beat the ease of Blind Bay on Shaw. Jones Island is a state park, with a decent anchorage (does have a north exposure), mooring balls, and some dock space. Our favorite in the San Juans, though, is either of the harbors, Prevost or Reid, on Stuart Island (hike up to the one room school house, and out to the lighthouse at Turn Point).
Salt Springs Island and a great stop at Ganges. Not far is Montegue Harbour, with a good anchorage and a marina (and a trip to the Hummingbird Pub on the hippie bus). Chemainus is another good stop in the Gulf Islands - a good marina (close to the ferry, though), a great bakery a block from the marina, and a nice walk through town to take in all the murals.
While not in the Gulf Islands, a few nights in the Inner Harbour at Victoria is one of our favorites - an "international vibe" to the city, and fun at the slips on the Inner Harbour where you can watch and listen to the buskers on the waterfront.
Three weeks will give you a great overview, and you'll want to come back again and again!
Enjoy!
Jim |
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Phil Barnes
Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 126
City/Region: Colorado /San Juan Islands
State or Province: CO
C-Dory Year: 1991
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Swan-C
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| Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 7:08 pm Post subject: San Juan and Gulf Islands |
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You may already have these, but we find that the Waggoner Cruising Guide and "The San Juan Islands-A Boaters Guide" from Blue Latitude Press (also available from Amazon) are great resources for the San Juans and Gulf Islands. There are guide books by Douglass/Hemingway and others available on Finedge.com specifically for the Gulf Islands. We have used the Douglass/Hemingway book and found it to be helpful for the Gulf Islands. That plus Ports and Passes or the Current Atlas with this years tide and current tables and you will have all the info you want and more. It is a wonderful place to cruise. In fact, we are headed there next week! Enjoy your trip!
You might also check out SalishSeaPilot guides at:
http://salishseapilot.com/cruising-guides
Phil |
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Osbonsky
Joined: 05 Jun 2016
Posts: 3
City/Region: Tiburon
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Jean Marie
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| Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 9:20 pm Post subject: San Juans |
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Thanks for all the great recommendations. We are here right now (which is why I didn't respond earlier. Internet has been iffy) and having a wonderful time. currently we're at Poets Cove. Lovely and peaceful. we also loved Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor. Tomorrow we're off to Victoria.
Jim |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7881
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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Little know fact about Butchart gardens is that you can access it by boat from the back of the park. There is a dingy dock, but they let use tie the 22 to it for the time we were in the park, in Todd inlets. Its just top the left as you start down Todd. You can even pay right there with your credit card and enjoy the park. Its a Must see if you have not been there before and we always enjoy it.
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Thomas J Elliott
http://tomsfishinggear.blogspot.com/ |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7881
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I would like to put in a word for Blakely island marina. There is very little there unless you like good hot showers, ice cream and one of the best sunset viewing lawns in the San Juans. Its a nice place to stop and get a shower and relax with out having to be in a large port like Friday or deer harbor with all the noise and people. We often use it as a last night staging place before heading home because of the showers. They also have fuel and a small store, dinner that sells fresh made donuts in the mornings. Also one of the few places on the east end of the islands to wait out a big wind. Its very comfortable spot for use that we always feel relaxed and at home in. |
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bridma
Joined: 13 Sep 2011
Posts: 1155
City/Region: Comox
State or Province: BC
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Nomad
Photos: Nomad
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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One of my favourite spots is Wallace Island half way up the Gulf Islands. Newcastle Island near Nanaimo is well worth a visit. Comox is a good stop if you are going north up the Vancouver Island side.
Martin. |
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johnr
Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 308
City/Region: Bellingham
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Stillwater
Photos: Surf Scoter
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| starcrafttom wrote: | | I would like to put in a word for Blakely island marina. There is very little there unless you like good hot showers, ice cream and one of the best sunset viewing lawns in the San Juans. Its a nice place to stop and get a shower and relax with out having to be in a large port like Friday or deer harbor with all the noise and people. We often use it as a last night staging place before heading home because of the showers. They also have fuel and a small store, dinner that sells fresh made donuts in the mornings. Also one of the few places on the east end of the islands to wait out a big wind. Its very comfortable spot for use that we always feel relaxed and at home in. |
Is one allowed to walk or bike around the island, or is that kind of thing not allowed on Blakely? |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7881
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Blakely is a private island of about a hundred homes and is not open to the public other then the marina and store area. Like I said there is not a lot there to see but the sunset and the water. Its just off of a peavine pass so a lot of boat traffic to view from the lawn as the sun sets or rises. We like it because of the great views, great showers (without having to hike 1/2 a mile )and very little people. The store has free wifi so if you need to relax and get some work done or get caught up on emails its a great place. Also some great crabbing just off the sir park in the season. |
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bridma
Joined: 13 Sep 2011
Posts: 1155
City/Region: Comox
State or Province: BC
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Nomad
Photos: Nomad
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| starcrafttom wrote: | | Blakely is a private island of about a hundred homes and is not open to the public other then the marina and store area. Like I said there is not a lot there to see but the sunset and the water. Its just off of a peavine pass so a lot of boat traffic to view from the lawn as the sun sets or rises. We like it because of the great views, great showers (without having to hike 1/2 a mile )and very little people. The store has free wifi so if you need to relax and get some work done or get caught up on emails its a great place. Also some great crabbing just off the sir park in the season. |
We have stayed there. Nice little marina as mentioned above. Run by a young family who let us use their own washing machine while the laundry room was being renoe'd with a new water pipe. My only gripe was the fuel was ethonol, so I passed.
Martin and Andrea. |
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starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7881
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Another small out of the way stopping point is Silva bay on the south east end of Gabriola island. We only stopped there once in the early season a few years ago but it was a really nice bay with lots of room to anchor. If we go to Powell river we may use it as a over night if the weather in the straights allow it. |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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One of our favorites is Shallow Bay, Sucia Island. Great sunsets.
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"We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013 |
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Jazzmanic
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 2231
City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
Photos: C-Dancer
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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| localboy wrote: | | One of our favorites is Shallow Bay, Sucia Island. Great sunsets. |
You've got that right Mark. We just stayed there for the Memorial Day Weekend. The sunset was spectacular! Here's the view from C-Dancer.
 
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Peter & Caryn
C-Dancer - 2005 22' Cruiser 2005-2017
Island Time - 2018 Ranger Tug 23 2017-2022
Email: pjamero@gmail.com |
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AstoriaDave
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 994
City/Region: Astoria
State or Province: OR
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| Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| starcrafttom wrote: | | Another small out of the way stopping point is Silva bay on the south east end of Gabriola island. We only stopped there once in the early season a few years ago but it was a really nice bay with lots of room to anchor. If we go to Powell river we may use it as a over night if the weather in the straights allow it. |
Agree. Love Silva Bay. The pass is actually pretty straightforward, any vessel with power, despite its reputation.
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Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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| Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2017 11:58 am Post subject: |
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| Nice pics, Peter! |
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