Friday Harbor

Joefairbanks

Joefairbanks

Member
Good morning!
I am a new C-Brat and am looking forward to attending a gathering next year. I think that the Friday Harbor gathering will be the closest one for my wife and I to attend. I realize that there hasn’t been anything official posted yet for dates, but just planning ahead.
We have a 16 Angler, so we would not be sleeping on the boat. We plan, weather permitting, to cruise from Anacortes to Friday Harbor. We have not been there before, so we are looking for suggestions on places to stay. And suggestions on everything else we should know about attending a gathering.
Any and all information would be greatly appreciated!
We are really looking forward to joining our first gathering, seeing a bunch of C-Dory’s and meeting new friends!
 
Welcome to the C-Brats,

It's a good idea to plan ahead and book ahead to land a place near to the marina. Here is a web address you can copy and put into your browser

https://www.airbnb.com/friday-harbor-wa/stays

I saw a couple condo's located right down town Friday harbor close to the marina for right around $200 a night. Just be aware that there are probably taxes above and beyond the rental fee. Good Luck in your search.
 
Thanks for the link, Dave!
As soon as the dates are confirmed, we will get something booked!
We are really excited for this gathering, and anxious to explore around the island(s)!
Maybe when things get closer, we can see who else will be going over from Anacortes. We will need to find a place to park our truck and trailer for the weekend.
Any other suggestions?
 
Thank you Clay! I looked and did the search but could not find it listed anywhere.
Do most people get there the day it starts, the day before? Sorry for all the questions, we are just excited to go!
Any and all suggestions are much appreciated!
 
Joefairbanks":31452hbi said:
Thank you Clay! I looked and did the search but could not find it listed anywhere.
Do most people get there the day it starts, the day before? Sorry for all the questions, we are just excited to go!
Any and all suggestions are much appreciated!
Click to expand...

It is not uncommon for there to be an increase in C-Dory traffic in the San Juans for several days before the "Official" gathering (FH-CBGT) dates. They will be scattered from Stuart Island, Sucia, Jones on the NW to Lopez and Orcas on the East. It is weather dependent of course, and it's fairly common to arrive at Friday Harbor a day early, just to be there.

It is a great time, with great friends and great boats.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

6_June_2017.thumb.jpg
 
Hey Harvey. Nice to see you back on line. Hope the Holidays are treating you well. I plan to be at Friday Harbor, and hope the admiral comes with me. Sounds like there might be another PLI undertaking afterwards. I've always wanted to see the South Sound area by boat, so plan to come out a week or two earlier, and see if I can find Gig Harbor, Olympia, and a few other places, by water. I have several ideas so far as to where to launch and leave the rig. Inside Passage might even be a possibility after the gathering, but for now, a pretty low possibility. Just not ruling it completely out, yet. Colby
 
You could launch at Cap Sante but that sling is a lot. Ramp and parking at deception pass. We use this one a lot. launch at washington park with parking. Good for your smaller boat. But does go almost dry on a -2 tide. My boat needs a 2 ft tide or better for that one. We have also been using Bellingham again if we are heading for the northern park of san juans. its the same time from my house in Tulalip to all three ramps. As for hotels we liked the Earth box inn and spa. Old motor inn that has been redone. its right in town and not a long walk to the harbor. https://www.earthboxinn.com/ The Friday harbor house is always a good choice but pricey. We had our wedding there way back in the dark deep history around 2003.
 
Its been a while since I have made a gathering.
Penciling these dates in.
Glad to be back on another C-Dory.
Hope to hear some 2025 shrimping dates.
Plan to head back to PNW and be there about a week prior to shrimping dates.
 
starcrafttom":1bt3y2dv said:
We have also been using Bellingham again if we are heading for the northern park of san juans
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In our last launch for the San Juans last Fall, Colleen and I used the launch out of Blain, Wa. It is about another 15 minutes further north from Bellingham and offers a great launch with washdown. The launch has free parking for up to two weeks and even more if you notify the Harbormaster. Great launch if you are heading into Canada for extended travel. We used it for the first time last Fall and stayed at Patos, Is. on the first night. We plan to use this launch next year for the opener of the 2025 C-Brats Friday Harbor Get-Together. Look for an announcement on this May 8 to May 11 gathering toward the end next week. Gary
 
In our last launch for the San Juans last Fall, Colleen and I used the launch out of Blain, Wa.
Click to expand...

Hey Gary, can you give a little more info on this launch. Named? Or just Blain Harbor? As I mentioned earlier, I'm planning on spending a week or so in the South Sound before the gathering. I was looking at possibly launching somewhere on Lake Washington, but haven't found anywhere yet on that lake where I can launch and then leave my rig for any length of time. I've also had a couple private offers to launch and park on some private land. And finally looking at one option on the canal out of Lake Washington, I was told about, that had a ramp nearby, and then paid parking. Otherwise, if I were just spending a couple weeks in the San Juans, I've always been happy using Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. I believe parking was $5 or $6/night, and I've never had a problem there. The sling launch does run $51 or $63 round trip, for a 22' or 25'. Really not all that bad for us fresh water types, considering that the trailer is not getting dunked in salt. And I've never had an issue finding a hose to rinse the outboard and boat off before heading home. However, it might be worth heading on up to Blain to launch, if I pull the boat back out after doing the South Sound, and then relaunching for the San Juans. Colby[/quote]
 
Hi Colby,

I think you will like this launch for your 25 Cruiser. It is in the city of Blaine, Wa. (Blaine Harbor) less than 1 mi. off of Hwy 5 (exit 276) at the Canadian border. It is a 2-lane boat launch with what I consider good and safe long term parking, which is free. I still cable the wheels of my trailer to the frame. Makes me feel better. :)

https://www.portofbellingham.com/204/Pu ... t-Launches
 
DayBreak":2cw6x40t said:
Hi Colby,

I think you will like this launch for your 25 Cruiser. It is in the city of Blaine, Wa. (Blaine Harbor) less than 1 mi. off of Hwy 5 (exit 276) at the Canadian border. It is a 2-lane boat launch with what I consider good and safe long term parking, which is free. I still cable the wheels of my trailer to the frame. Makes me feel better. :)

https://www.portofbellingham.com/204/Pu ... t-Launches
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll file that away until I start doing more planning for the PNW trip. Colby
 
Hi Ken
Another option you might consider would be driving to Bellingham and launching at the Squalicum Harbor boat launch, $9.00 to launch includes three days parking for your truck and trailer. The parking can be extended as well. Cruising to Friday Harbor from Bellingham Bay is a leisurely 4 hr cruise through the San Juans. My wife and I will probably be heading to the Rendezvous as well.

Mac & Jess
 
starcrafttom":26u8yxdf said:
You could launch at Cap Sante but that sling is a lot. Ramp and parking at deception pass. We use this one a lot. launch at washington park with parking. Good for your smaller boat. But does go almost dry on a -2 tide. My boat needs a 2 ft tide or better for that one. We have also been using Bellingham again if we are heading for the northern park of san juans. its the same time from my house in Tulalip to all three ramps. As for hotels we liked the Earth box inn and spa. Old motor inn that has been redone. its right in town and not a long walk to the harbor. https://www.earthboxinn.com/ The Friday harbor house is always a good choice but pricey. We had our wedding there way back in the dark deep history around 2003.
Click to expand...

We are thinking that for us, coming from Sequim, the Port Townsend to Coupeville ferry is much preferable to anything on I-5.
Whether we launch at Deception Pass or Anacortes is still undecided.
If we were starting out on the other side, Bellingham or Blain both sound great.
Is there a launch at Anacortes that has a ramp, and has parking? The idea of using a sling seems like overkill for a 16' Angler.
We will also look into Deception Pass to launch. Being such a small boat, launching is pretty easy for us.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions, keep them coming!
 
Hellsranger":33ckkovh said:
Hi Ken
Another option you might consider would be driving to Bellingham and launching at the Squalicum Harbor boat launch, $9.00 to launch includes three days parking for your truck and trailer. The parking can be extended as well. Cruising to Friday Harbor from Bellingham Bay is a leisurely 4 hr cruise through the San Juans. My wife and I will probably be heading to the Rendezvous as well.

Mac & Jess
Click to expand...

Thank you for that suggestion, Mac & Jess!
I think that we are going to try and avoid going around the loop on I-5, just because it is so hit and miss with traffic for us coming from Sequim.
Unless we took the ferry to Edmonds, which would bypass the worst of it...
Too many options!
 
I suggest taking the Port Townsend ferry to Whidbey. You'll pay less and won't have to drive on any of I-5. You're then only 20 miles to Deception Pass and launching out of Cornet Bay. Boating through Deception Pass is always fun and interesting. Multi lane ramp and lots of parking especially if you don't go on a weekend.

Or drive to Anacortes and launch at Washington Park, just past the ferry to San Juans. From there, easy to shoot across Rosario Strait through Thatcher Pass and you are in the islands.
 
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