05/08 - 05/11 - 2025 Friday Harbor C-Brats Get-Together

[DayBreak]

Colby, if no one is interested in trading a 12 inch round fender for your 20 inch, consider bringing it anyway to Friday Harbor and place it in the free shack on the dock. With all the larger vessels around, it should go fast.

Also, looking forward to making an entry in your coloring book again. What a great idea you have there. Gary

 

[multimediasmith]

Thanks for the rec Colby, Anacortes no salt launch sounds worthwhile… I just replaced calipers when converting from surge to electric over ’hydraulic.. boat not quite ready and we have two weddings in May. Will be heading North July/August. Will see y’all at a rally if not before. Vicariously enjoying your pics in the meantime.

 

[DayBreak]

We have quite a number of boats planning to attend this gathering. H-Dock is full and it appears that the extra slips set aside for us up G-Dock are filling fast. I called the Port and was told that there will be enough room for everyone. If you are having trouble making a reservation on-line, call the Port of FH directly at (360) 378-2688 to make a reservation. Give them the group code so that they know you are a C-Brat and wish to be in the group reservation block of C-Dory boats. Send me a PM if you need this code. Gary and Colleen on DayBreak

 

[Joefairbanks]

It's getting closer all the time!
We will be leaving from Port Townsend on Wednesday morning.
We are really looking forward to our first CBGT!
Safe travels to everyone!

Ken and Stacie

 

[timflan]

OK, friends, I've made a promise to myself to get the boat on the water and get to Friday Harbor. Will be me and little Tristan (the "plus one" in the boat name). He's 12 now. Julia busy; big kids living in Georgia.

New tires for the trailer are scheduled for Wednesday; one of my >20yo tires has disintegrated, so let's assume they all are about to, yeah? YES!

2024 was one of the lowest-usage years I've ever had with Two Lucky Fish +1. Just too busy running a pipe band (khpb.org) and a radio station (kbfgseattle.org), never mind regular job/family stuff. I'm still doing all that stuff, but I'm going to get the boat out on the water a LOT MORE this summer.

Engine starts, I think it'll run fine once I dilute the old gasoline (18 months or so?) 50/50 with new high-octane fuel. Both tanks are about 50% full. Oil is 2 years old, but only 18 engine hours on it; seems dumb to change the oil since it feels good, looks good, and smells right. Injectors all ticking.

I say we run it and see how it goes. I'll tell you what, though: I would not mind running in company with a buddy boat, in case the motor gives me trouble!
I'm thinking about towing to Cornet Bay Thursday, and making the run to Friday Harbor Friday morning/midday, so I could be flexible to meet up at Cornet Bay anytime Friday before about 2 pm. Could do Anacortes hoist, too. Not Washington Park.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Oh, and finally: Washing and waxing the boat has not filtered to the top of the priority pile. I will, of course, accept wisecracks about the appearance of the boat with grace and good humor.

 

[DayBreak]

Thanks Ken. We will be leaving from Port Townsend tomorrow afternoon with a favorable forecast for a same day crossing of the Strait.

Tim, thank you for your honesty and positive thinking. Keep an eye open for a possible PM from someone. Your timing and location look good for you to get that buddy boat C-Brat.

Looks like the weather is going to be good this year for our Get-Together. Everyone, please get there safely and we look forward to seeing you all soon. Gary and Colleen

 

[colbysmith]

C-Traveler is currently tied to a mooring ball at Cypress Island in Eagle Harbor. Plan to arrive Friday Harbor tomorrow (May 7), around noon.

 

[timflan]

Tristan and I made it safely here. We even responded to a pan-pan on the VHF, which wasn't too far off our path, but by the time we got there they already had a little USCG boat alongside. Good to check, if you can.

Hey, any other kids coming out? Tristan needs new dock friends!

 

[colbysmith]

C-Traveler arrived Wednesday morning around 10. Sleepy C and Hunky Dory (jay) came in about the same time. There were a few other C-Dorys as well. Winds picked up later in the day, and were just howling through here Wednesday evening!

C-Traveler at Eagle Harbor, Cypress Island


How to hook up the ball to keep it from hitting the hull!


Not too many boats the day before the official start of the gathering.


Just a reminder, my personal blog of my travels both here and at Lake Powell the previous two weeks can be found here: https://findpenguins.com/77ono0cdqci52/trip/lake-powell-and-pnw

 

[colbysmith]

Thursday, day one of the gathering. H Dock starting to fill up. Everyone enjoyed visiting and socializing with other C-Brats, meeting and putting faces, names and boat names together.

H dock starting to fill up with C-Dorys!


Yours truly out getting some exercise and taking a few photos from the water.

 

[colbysmith]

Several more C-Dorys came in today. Most the day was spent socializing. Then this evening about 20 of us headed up to the San Juan Island Brewing Co for dinner. Earlier in the day I was out walking, and almost tripped on what may be Popeye's replacement.... A young seal named Arrowhead, due to the markings on it's head. I believe we have 42 C-Dorys, 1 C-Sport and 1 Grand Banks. Mike, and his wife Alona, from Northwest Marine Industries (C-Dory Factory), are also in attendance. It's always a pleasure to be able to socialize with the manufacturer of our boats!

 

[thataway]

Thanks for posting the photo! Colby. Are pat and Patty Anderson in attendance? Say Hi to our old friends!

 

[Schuster]

Thanks for posting your blog address. I'm enjoying following your journey thru the North sound and San Juans. Just a note on your method of keeping your hull off the mooring ball.... it looks to me that chaffing of the line could become a problem if the wind were to blow causing a chop. Check with Gary on Daybreak on how he riggs to the mooring ball using a bungy. Have a great time at the FHGT.

 

[Hunky Dory]

Hello I am Shane and you have most likely met my wife, my son my daughter and my mother in-law. I was very sorry to have had to miss this event at the last minute due to being hospitalized but I want to thank you inviting my family in. I do hope to make to next years run. But unfortunately a broken leg the night before trip launch stopped it. Well an how my family will be returning home tomorrow morning and would like to express thier thanks. And hunky Dori we will have meet up some time. Thank you

Shane

 

[colbysmith]

Thanks Dave. Bob, I believe Pat posted earlier in the thread about not being able to make the gathering. He is missed!

Rather cloudy and chilly most the day, although the sun did come out for a while. Tomorrow is the official last day of the gathering here at Friday Harbor, but there is nothing planned for the day, other than about a dozen boats will head out for Princess Louisa Inlet with its Chatterbox Falls. Many others will head back home. This morning started out with USCG Safety inspections of our boats for those that signed up for them. And more socializing. At 2pm there was a meeting for anyone interested in going to Princess Louisa Inlet and discussing weather and border crossing with Canada, including food restrictions and process for clearing customs both ways for boaters. Then at 5pm we had our potluck followed by drawings for some very nice “swag”, mostly provided by Northwest Marine Industries. I also shared that a few of the items were from another new C-Brat from the east coast (Rick on Willow) that enjoyed doing some intricate wood work and engravings, had asked me to bring out to this gathering, as he had shared with the St. John’s River gathering as well. Michael , one of the NMI owners, and his wife Alona, were introduced and thanked for the goodies they provided along with the steak at the potluck! Julie, NMI’s marketing director was also introduced. While Gary and Colleen from Daybreak coordinate this gathering, they asked Patrick from Kim Christine to emcee this afternoon. Patrick also did the boat christening of Sjohest, for its owners, Ken and Stacie.
I saw that both the resident seals were resting up on a dock finger again, up near the dock intersections by the restrooms.
(There are two videos of the boat christening, one of which was too big (2mins35sec) to place in Findpenquins. If you would like to watch them, please go to my youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23nflZ1zNgU, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkKbdzvP0T

Today's photos next page.

 

[colbysmith]

Coast Guard Auxiliarist doing safety inspection with Brock at Songbird


Gary leading Princess Louisa Inlet trip meeting


NMI's Michael cooking steaks


Potluck dessert table


Potluck










Patrick (Kim Christine), Gary and Colleen (Daybreak)


Boat christening Sjohest








Friday Harbor resident seals.

 

[colbysmith]

Thanks Dave. Bob, I believe Pat posted earlier in the thread about not being able to make the gathering. He is missed!

I should have said both Pat and Patty were missed. A few folks remembered Patty’s dry wit with the game questions at past potlucks! Still many new members attended and it was a great gathering coordinated by Gary and Colleen and NMIs attendance and donations! Thanks to all!

 

[DayBreak]

Colby said it all! Thank you Colby for your wonderful photos. We had nice weather, good fellowship and a fun time with you all. See you again next year on the second Thursday of May at Friday Harbor. Mark your calendars. Gary and Colleen on DayBreak

 

[ssobol]

Colby said it all! Thank you Colby for your wonderful photos. We had nice weather, good fellowship and a fun time with you all. See you again next year on the second Thursday of May at Friday Harbor. Mark your calendars. Gary and Colleen on DayBreak

FYI, 2nd Thursday of May 2026 is the 14th.

 

[Salmon Fisher]

Thank you Gary and Colleen for putting together another fantastic C-Brat Get Together!
Thanks also to NMI owner Michael Millison and his wife Alona for providing the party barge, T-shirts, C-Dory swag and delicious steaks.
Thank you to Julie Scammell NMI Marketing Director for designing one of a kind Gathering T Shirts and coordinating the swag. Julie will also be putting together a C-Dory calendar for 2026 so send your submissions to her.
Thank you all for coming. Great to see C-Brats who have been members since 2001 and meeting brand new members. What fun Kim and I had!