Fishermans Terminal/Lake Union

Lake Washington is susceptible to the winds. Here's Pat Andersons comment from last Dec.'s C-Brat cruise

Pat Anderson":1xnn0dcq said:
Well, this was just a great little day cruise and lunch, so glad Roger and Lisbeth, Joe and Ruth and Brock came down to join us at Fisherman's Terminal - must say, however, that on the way back to the ramp from the SR 520 bridge down to the east channel bridge, Lake Washington was not on good behavior at all! LARGE waves crashing over the cabin roof! And some moron in a big yacht just about ran us down, I don't think he even saw us. But the stalwart little CD16 plowed through it all, the elderly 1991 Johnson VRO 40 never missed a beat! From what I have heard about these outboard engines, we may never need to repower!
Click to expand...

Note that he specifically talks about south of the 520 bridge. The floating bridge acts as a significant breakwater. As the wind is generally from the south, when one drives across the bridge you can sometimes see whitecaps to the south and essential calm to the north. Of course the area south of the 520 bridge down to Mercer Island is quite an open expanse and averages 200 feet deep.
 
North winds on Lake Washington can be a bear. I won't even go into Kirkland if there are substantial winds out of the north, unless of course you want to experience 0 gravity in the v-berth.
 
Well....we're safe and sound at the Fisherman's Terminal. Our timing through the locks was perfect...2nd boat in. I was impressed with the lockmasters. Once we explained we were noobs, they helped us immensely.

Docking at Fisherman's was tricky. They wanted to put us on an old dock (#6) which proved impossible for this boat. We finally radioed to say adios when the dockmaster came up with plan B....dock at a new linear dock. Why he didn't order this in the first place? We're the only ones on it.

Ate lunch at Little Chinooks, enjoying the fish n chips. Fabulous. I'm glad there isn't one near where I work or live. It would be a weighty situation.

After lunch, we had enough daylight to make it to Kirkland. My wife turned her nose at the prices, so two SBucks lattes later, we headed back, enjoying the sights at dusk. Rained on the way in, limiting visibility.

Tomorrow, I think we'll spend some time near Union Bay, gawking at the skyline and boat show yachts. Any suggestions for a 2 hour transient dock?

-Greg
 
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