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NORO LIM
Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 875 City/Region: Olympia
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: NORO LIM (sold 12/12/14)
Photos: NORO LIM
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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South of Heaven wrote: | Why is the west coast so much more treacherous than the east? On the east coast one could take a C Dory from Maine to Florida without taking a huge risk. |
1. The West coast of the lower 48 has no equivalent to the East coast inland waterway.
2. Distance between safe harbors.
3. Does the East coast have anything like, say, the Columbia River Bar?
4. Angle of the near-to-shore seabed?
5. Prevailing winds?
6. The Pacific Ocean is pretty big. _________________ Bill, Formerly on NORO LIM
2001 CD 16, 2001-2006
2006 CC 23, 2006-2014 |
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smckean (Tosca)
Joined: 18 Jan 2014 Posts: 975 City/Region: Guemes Island (Anacortes)
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Tosca
Photos: Tosca
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | Why is the west coast so much more treacherous than the east? |
IMHO, long stretches with few if any protected anchorages. |
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A Fishin C Guest
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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wind and waves |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20829 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Jason go to [urlhttps://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@5&key=%7Df%60%60Htz%60yV]Navionics web app of the Oregon/Washington Coast/and Straits of Juan de Fuca.[/url]
The wind and waves can be high, and not as predictable as those on the East Coast. The majority of weather is out of the North West, so this entire coast is a lee shore with very few harbors of refuge.
I went to "Windy.com" and looked to see what the conditions were on mid voyage for this trip currently. 9 knots out of the SE (unusual), against two sets of swells: (representing two different storms in the Pacific--one in the Northern portion, the other in the mid Northern, but South of this area.) Average swell is 7' at 9 seconds. But in some places 12' at 5 seconds. When you adding back wash from the shear cliffs, and against even a mild breeze, it can become rough quickly.
Now tomorrow at about this time the wind will be 31 knots out of the SE with some waves up to 12 feet. (I have run into SE storms when going down the coast in both spring and fall.)
There are some difficult passages on the East Coast also--would you go out in a Nor Easter? There can be some very difficult bars, and passes, all along the coast depending on the weather. For example anything North against the Gulf Stream current of 2.5 to 3 knots can get very rough. I have gone up the East Coast both totally offshore, and in the ICW--both can get rough enough that you don't want to do it in a C Dory 22--but as noted, there is the ICW, and many more harbors. Much of the East Coast is gradual topography at the shoreline, vs cliffs and rocks on the West coast--refer to the * on the chart.
Near La Push during a storm:
_________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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South of Heaven
Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 1459 City/Region: Sharon
State or Province: MA
Photos: Blue Water
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. I'd love to boat in the PNW one day and see firsthand what a large majority of the Brats see everyday! _________________ <><><> Jason <><><>
2005 Silverton 35 Motoryacht (Twin 385 Crusaders) (SOLD 6/20)
2000 Camano 31 Troll (Volvo TAMD41p) (SOLD 2/19)
2007 C Dory 25' Cruiser (200 hp Suzuki, sold 7/17)
2003 C Dory 19' Angler (80 hp Yamaha, sold 7/16)
1995 C Dory 16' Angler (40 hp Yamaha, sold 2/16) |
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Robbi
Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 1193 City/Region: Chambers Bay
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2023
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Photos: C-Run
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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Drive two hours north and launch at Olympia and enjoy a great trip north! _________________ 2023 C-Dory 23 Venture Sport
2003 C-Dory 19
sold 2019
2004 C-Dory 16 Cruiser
Sold 8/2015
2004 C-Dory 19 "C-Run"
Sold 8/2011
1989 C-Dory 16 Angler
Sold 2010 |
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thechadmiller
Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Posts: 85 City/Region: Portland
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Agostino
Photos: Agostino
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Robbi, where would I launch from and leave my truck and trailer in Oly? |
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journey on
Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 3597 City/Region: Valley Centre
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: journey on
Photos: Journey On
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 12:21 am Post subject: |
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South of Heaven
Well, if you're going from Maine south to Florida AND not using the various inland water ways, I would bet that you would hit a few Northers on the way down and have to pull into a safe harbor. Or a thunderstorm would make you do the same thing. So it's not safe all the way. And then there's the capes, such as Hatteras, etc. It's not all smooth sailing. And you're going downhill; each Coast has its dangers. By the way I've gone north from Florida and got caught offshore off Georgia in a lightning storm where I thought we'd sink.
So, if you try going from the Straits of San Juan de Fuca down the coast, that's a different game from going uphill from say the Columbia to the Straits. I've done downhill all the way to California and so have a whole bunch of Canadians. If you're going downhill, those rollers from the big Alaskan storms are going with you. Even then, they're impressive. And they stay with you until you're into Oregon after which they smooth out. Going uphill, which is what thechadmiller asked about, you're fighting those seas in a 22' boat all the way, 193 mi, even with no weather. That would be an impressive ride. It probably is doable if you can find a couple of good weather windows, but the Pacific Coast isn't as accommodating as the Atlantic Coast, since it's a subduction zone. The Atlantic Coast has a gentle drop off (except for Maine) since the North American Plate is moving east and also has a lot of harbors.
So the moral of this missive is that both East and West Coasts have their good and bad points and just enjoy what you have. And there is a yearly sailboat race from the Columbia River to Seattle every year: Oregon Offshore, Portland to Victoria by the Corinthian Yacht Club.
Boris
Boris |
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Robbi
Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 1193 City/Region: Chambers Bay
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2023
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Photos: C-Run
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 1:13 am Post subject: |
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Here are two launch ramps. Both are at marinas that have services.
Swantown Marina in Olympia, Port of Olympia. $5 launch, $5 a night to park.
360-528-8049 www.portolympia.com
Zittels Marina, 8 miles from Olympia. $14 launch. You can call to find out about parking. 360-459-1950 www.zittelsmarina.com
Let me know if you have any other questions and I will try to help you out. |
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South of Heaven
Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 1459 City/Region: Sharon
State or Province: MA
Photos: Blue Water
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:34 am Post subject: |
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Boris,
I didn't mean that. Of course you'd have to wait for weather windows on the east coast. I just meant that it seems quite doable to go from ME to FL in a smaller boat, where after reading this thread it seems that it's not even an option to go from WA to CA (in a smaller boat).
Even in my new boat I've run into some interesting situations and they were all within sightline of the coast! I learned pretty quickly about dealing with a big following and beam sea (3-5 feet sustained). I felt like my boat was gonna roll over (probably one of those times where "the boat can take more than the captain" !
Here's a video I took of me in a head sea during a small craft advisory. My boat has no issues with big head seas (big beam/following seas are the problem).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIByizVkWc |
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Foggy
Joined: 01 Aug 2013 Posts: 1521 City/Region: Traverse City; Northern Lake Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2014
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: Boatless in Boating Paradise
Photos: W B Nod
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:12 am Post subject: |
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Guyz,
Heard of the east coast northbound Gulf Stream? Mix it with a stiff Norther
(a strong wind blowing south for you stink potters), or Nor'Easter, and you
have a world class dangerous sea state.
I don't like to compare bad sea states except to know to avoid them east or
west.
Aye.
Grandpa used to say, "Often nothin' peaceful about the Pacific". _________________ "I don't want any cake" - said no one ever.
If someone tells you they don't eat cake, unfriend them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life. |
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robhwa
Joined: 04 Dec 2013 Posts: 272 City/Region: Anderson Island
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Marcia C
Photos: Problemadela
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:58 pm Post subject: Launching in South Sound |
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There is also a launch at Steilacoom. Don't know the cost, and I think there are only a few parking places. If you are really adventurous or worried about vandalism, which is a big problem, take the ferry (don't come at low tide) from Steilacoom to Anderson Island and use the launch at the Riviera Yacht Club, $5 and free parking. The ferry will probably be about $60 by you only pay one way. I'm not saying there isn't any crime here on AI, but it is an island with no bridge, so I haven't heard of much. You would also be welcome to park your trailer at my house for an extended trip. |
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