04/30 - 05/02 - Lopez Island Opening Weekend

Doug, I'm one who likes Skyline. Oh, sure, they're comparative snobs, you'll pay more than Anacortes or the state park, and parking can be a challenge if you don't want to pay. But the location is primo, they're careful with the strap launch, your trailer avoids an acid bath, supplies are right there, and it's a fairly quiet place.
Still, most guys prefer other places.
 
If you don't see the SSSS at Lopez, please return to Rosario Strait and look for the three of us swimming across the Strait with the dog and the BBQ for Saturday nights potluck! :crook
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If you don't see SSSS at the Lopez fling look for my body buried somewhere...maybe next to Hoffa...'cause Dave'll kill me. :shock:
 
We think Twin Bridges (the Skagit County site under the bridge, not the private facility) is the better choice. We tried Skyline, it cost a fortune for our 22' ($37) and the attendant was not really in charge of the line of cars trying to get to the sling, tt was really disorganized. YMMV.

Doug / Liberty Call":1mgf5029 said:
From the charts and write-ups I am planning on launching from the Skyline Marine in Flounder Bay on Friday morning. Does anyone have any experience with this facility? Is this a good plan or is there a better option?

Liberty Call
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Jon - CLou":1syll6wv said:
Hey Dave, is the $25.00 fee for both nights?
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Jon, that's for each night. If I'm not mistaken their old rates (when you had to pay it) was $1.50 per foot each night. I'm quite certain that the rate includes electricity plus one or two people on C-Dorys snoring you to sleep at night! (Can't get a much better deal than that......huh! :shock:
 
I suggest everyone who is sensitive about snoring get right on down to Napa Auto Parts and get your foam ear plugs...we decided against the Powell trip, too much driving, so we be going to Lopez...
DaveS":36cq7hnw said:
Jon - CLou":36cq7hnw said:
Hey Dave, is the $25.00 fee for both nights?
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Jon, that's for each night. If I'm not mistaken their old rates (when you had to pay it) was $1.50 per foot each night. I'm quite certain that the rate includes electricity plus one or two people on C-Dorys snoring you to sleep at night! (Can't get a much better deal than that......huh! :shock:
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Well, I'm gonna try to make this gig again.
Hopefully I will be able to make it up there this time.
I'll call to make arrangements.

Where is everyone launching from?
I am concerned about leaving my tow rig overnight.
What does it take to drive to the island and launch there?

I'd rather boat there if I can arrange safe storage for my tow rig....
 
Pat Anderson":2urc7phh said:
We think Twin Bridges (the Skagit County site under the bridge, not the private facility) is the better choice. We tried Skyline, it cost a fortune for our 22' ($37) and the attendant was not really in charge of the line of cars trying to get to the sling,
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Hey Pat
I would think twice about launching and leaving your rig there over the weekend.
Have you looked around the parking lot at all the broken glass from windows and bottles ?
The safer public parking and launch site would be the Anacortes City Park just past the Ferry Landing.
I would talk to the marina at Twin Bridges and see if they would rent you a parking space for the weekend
 
We'll probably launch out of Oak Harbor again - seemed very secure, and the trip under the Deception Pass Bridge is pretty cool. And if you catch the barista at E.Q. at the right time, you just might score a latte...

On our way back last year, we shot past Anacortes, and down the Swinomish Channel, stopping at La Conner for lunch. Real nice cruise...
 
We have friends that use the sling at LaConner Marina--very secure parking. The marina is owned by Skagit County--if your interested there phone # is 360-466-3195.
Cap Sante Marine also has a sling in Anacortes--phone # 360-293-0694.
We keep our boat at TwinBridges Marina so we don't need to launch it. She's ready when we're ready.
 
In the past I've preferred to launch at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes and I've felt that my rig was secure parked in the city lot near the sling launch as it is patrolled regularly by Anacortes P. D. However, the downside of sling launching is that you have to arrive back at the sling launch before it is closed for the day in order to place your vessel back on your trailer.
I believe that the launch that Bill (Da Nag) is referring to is the Cornet Bay launch next to EQ Marine. (Am I correct Bill?) Several folks have launched there and do so on a repeat basis. (I've never launched there).
I'll agree with Roger (Sensei) on his thoughts on the Twin Bridges launch under Highway 20. I'd be concerned about leaving my rig there overnight, although I have friends that have done so and the fact that they received a citation from Wa. State Patrol for expired trailer license tabs confirms that the State Patrol does wander in there on occasion, but I really doubt that they are in there that often.
Wade's suggestion of La Conner sounds interesting although I've never launched there. I'm sure that that would be a secure area.
One other possiblility would be the following...........While at the SBS, I talked with Bill and Michelle the owners of the Twin Bridges Marina (where Wade and Lois keep their vessel) about the possibility of launching at the Twin Bridges launch under highway 20 and then parking the rig in the Twin Bridges Marina parking lot which is fairly close by. Bill indicated that although they've not done that before, that it may be possible to do. I asked him how much it would cost to do that and he indicated approximately $10. per night. This would require a bit of "jockeying" with your boat at the launch and your towing rig over to Bill's marina but it might be a workable option, then you wouldn't be "committed" to a sling for vessel retrieval. Obviously, we'd need to confirm with Bill at Twin Bridges Marina to ascertain if that option still exists.
Mr. Fisherman, as far as trailering your vessel over to Lopez Island on the Wa. State Ferry, I would suggest your consider walking on board the ferry and purchase a boat after you get over to Lopez given the amount of $$$ they would charge you to take your rig over there.
The one other option that I can think of is the Washington Park launch outside of Anacortes (just beyond the ferry terminal). I've launched there for daytime cruising but have never parked my rig there overnight. One of our members has indicated that that is not the most secure place, although I've known of folks that have had no problems there.
As we get closer to the "launch date" for this event I'm sure folks will start "tipping their hats" as to where they plan on launching and you can make a decision that works best for you.
 
I launch out of the Anacortes area regularly. I have not used the Twin Bridge launch due to the previously mentioned reasons. All of the people I have known to use Cap Sante have had no problems.

I like Skyline, but I have a pass and can haul out after hours.

Washington Park is great on many accounts. I have never had trouble with my towing rig, traliler left for a few days w/o rig, or a boat left on a trailer (this is allowed - if you want to run in for supplies or home for the night!). There is a two week max on parking.

Problems may be:
Long lines depending on the time of year and day of the week.

Lack of dock space (one dock - two launch ramps) especially at low tide.

Not much water at low tides - Not as big a problem with a C-Dory! Bigger boats would need at least a + 2 for no worries.

Ramps can be sandy, 4x4's should have no trouble

Good luck!

Chris

CD22 on order!
 
DaveS":24q9ya71 said:
I believe that the launch that Bill (Da Nag) is referring to is the Cornet Bay launch next to EQ Marine. (Am I correct Bill?) Several folks have launched there and do so on a repeat basis. (I've never launched there).
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Yup, that's the one.

Les and Dusty can give better details about the place. It's not fancy, but it's more than adequate. I've never seen it crowded, but I've only been there twice. Les and/or Dusty have mentioned in the past it's secure - no ongoing theft or vandalism problems last I heard.

It's not the closest to Lopez, but it's a neat little place - a number of us launched out of there last year.
 
Last year we launched out of Oak harbor and the year before, Washington Park. Didn't have any problems at either place. Maybe this year I'll try it from Port Angeles if the weekend weather looks good.
 
Mr. Fisherman,
As you can see, there is a myriad of possibilities of places to launch to get to the Lopez Gathering. Two years ago a couple with three kids and a dog came across Haro Strait from Vancouver Island, Canada in the wind and darkness in their 22' to join us. Heck, you could even head due West from your house in Oregon, hang a right and cruise up the coast to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, hang another right and be right there with us! (Just think of all the FISH you could catch along the way!) :smilep
 
This morning I talked with Bill Youngsman, the owner of Twin Bridges Marina about the possibility of launching at the County launch site under the twin bridges & storing the tow rig at Twin Bridges Marina during the weekend of the Lopez Island Season opener. He said he would be more than happy to allow this & he would only charge $10 for both Friday & Saturday nights If you're interested you need to call Twin Bridges at 360-466-1443 & make arrangements.
 
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