Port Townsend - Boat Haven

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DuckDogTitus

New member
Thinking of trailering up to Pt Townsend, launching and mooring overnight at Boat Haven. The idea would be a day of cruising Admiralty, maybe to Mutiny and a little exploring in town. (I've never been. I haven't done any peninsula boating yet really actually).

can anyone give me an suggestions or feedback on the area? I called the Boat Haven line to firm up details but got a voicemail. Should be simple trip but wanted to make sure i'm going somewhere that I can be had, lol. Thinking of making it the first overnight for my young son as well, so I'm perhaps a little over thinking things.
 
Launched there a couple times. Can be pretty busy, depending on whether there is an event going on in PT. Moorage can be tight during those times. Ramp is straightforward, though parking is tight. We hauled our boat on trailer and used it as an RV at the local fairgrounds in lieu of anchoring out. Pretty comfy, actually, and inexpensive.

At high water, the bay separating Indian and Marrowstone Islands is interesting, and there is the option of anchoring near Fort Flagler docks. Not sure whether they have their floats in yet, but moorage there would be my choice, unless you want to explore Port Townsend. PT is a cool place, with a nice wooden boat center, tons of tourist oriented shops downtown, including a killer ice cream place.

Cruising is very good, though Admiralty Inlet can be rough during major tide exchanges.

http://www.portofpt.com/boat_haven.htm I expect they are just busy. Call them again.
 
I have launched at the PT Boat Haven a few times and found the parking to be adequate (although it can get pretty busy, especially on the weekends). I think they have overflow parking available if necessary. If you intend to explore the town, you might want to consider staying at Point Hudson Marina, as it is closer to downtown.
 
thank you for the feedback. I got a slip reserved (the last one, i'm told) at Point Hudson. I'm told I'll have to launch at Boat Haven, then motor up to my slip. Seems reasonable, we did the same from Pt Defiance to Dock Street Marina (which was a great experience).

any other recommendations or suggestions, points of interest? My cruising doesn't have to be extensive, especially since I'll have my little boy, but if the weather holds i'll try to get him on the boat as much as possible, he's been asking for a month. :mrgreen:
 
Overnight parking in their lot was very tight in 2008, 2009. On the street nearby was the fallback, and I honestly do not recall if you could park overnight. Contact the marina.
 
Here's a thought.

Why not leave the car behind. Launch here in Seattle wherever you normally do,load a couple of bikes up,motor over to Port Hudson Marina where you have a slip rented. They have power available and you can tour the town by bike. Oh, they also have restrooms. You can cook on-board or there is a good restaurant right by the dock.

My 2 cents worth.
 
Port Townsend is one of the neatest towns in Washington! We took our fifth wheel to the Port Hudson RV Park a couple of years ago and had a spot right on the water. We walked up to the Farmer's Market, which was one of the best I have been to. Rode our Honda Sprees all around town too! Love to visit from the water side one day! Enjoy!
 
Great thought, but a launch in Everett would be even better! Great ramps, great parking, not nearly as tight as anywhere in Seattle.

G Gallagher":1wsly7pm said:
Here's a thought.

Why not leave the car behind. Launch here in Seattle wherever you normally do,load a couple of bikes up,motor over to Port Hudson Marina where you have a slip rented. They have power available and you can tour the town by bike. Oh, they also have restrooms. You can cook on-board or there is a good restaurant right by the dock.

My 2 cents worth.
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No matter where you launch, plan a trip into Mystery Bay State park on the boat. (It does not have to be at high tide, but you do have to pay attention to the marked course and depths. Its a fun patch.

Just a block form the launch ramp at Boat Haven, is West Marine, and(OK, I know :lol: and right across from WM is a place called Sea-J's. Really good fish and chips and milk shakes.

There is a dock at Fort Warden too. inside the pilings, and up the stairs is a pretty fun marine center, especially for the young uns. There is a fee there but it is reasonable. the dock is State Park so your park moorage pass works there for over night.

Port Townsend is a fun place and when you are done, the wash rack has 2 hoses. One for the engine flush and while that is running you can do the boat and trailer with the second hose.

Enjoy,

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
That's correct. The Marine Center has the only docks close to Ft. Worden. Breakfast and lunch at the Port Hudson Café are pretty good. Try the Baja Burger!

When are you planning to take this trip?
 
Tomorrow :) lol

have you seen the launch at Mystery Bay? I have spoken with those folks and they said we could launch and leave the car there overnight while we sleep up at Pt Hudson. seems reasonable but the low tide this weekend is right smack in the middle of the day and I'm wondering if I will have trouble getting out of the water sunday. I'd rather not head home at 7pm on a sunday night (about 2.5hr drive I'm expecting).
 
We've stayed in the Point Hudson Marina a couple of times and the biggest impression we took away from the marina was those slimy otters that climbed aboard our boat. Be sure you put all your food away and secure your cooler because those critters are not fearful and do not hesitate to crawl around in your cockpit.

This was at least five years ago so I don't know if they still have a problem with the otters but until that point, I used to think they were cute. However, the town of Port Townsend is great! Have fun!
 
DuckDogTitus":3tjna13g said:
Tomorrow :) lol

have you seen the launch at Mystery Bay? I have spoken with those folks and they said we could launch and leave the car there overnight while we sleep up at Pt Hudson. seems reasonable but the low tide this weekend is right smack in the middle of the day and I'm wondering if I will have trouble getting out of the water sunday. I'd rather not head home at 7pm on a sunday night (about 2.5hr drive I'm expecting).
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Channel in the bay from MB to Flagler is sinuous, scantly marked. At low water, the channel is the only route. Not acquainted with the MB launch, though it sees a fair amount of use, for a back bay ramp.
 
google maps satellite view of Mystery Bay shows what I assume is low tide and a gravelly looking launch past the concrete, that's kinda why I wondered.

so my itinerary is this...

launch no later than 9am at MB. if the launch won't work for some reason, alternative solution is Boat Haven.
Cruise around Admiralty with the boy and wife for a while, head up to Fort Warden for some exploration and maybe lunch on the boat.
Back to Point Hudson (slip already reserved) for afternoon, dinner at the cafe in town, explore a bit, etc.
Sunday I'll shoot to pull the boat out on the earlier side of things, but with boating and schedules being what they are... full prepared to have to hang out for a while if low tide causes a problem.

sounds fun and simple, lets me explore three new destinations too. if all goes well then in the next couple weeks I think I'll take the boy up to Jarrel Cove next, he should like that.
 
There are two launching areas at Fort Flagler, a couple of miles down the road from Mystery Bay SP. However, with a -1.1 tide, all cement portions of the ramps will be out of the water. None of these ramps have docks directly beside them. I think your original plan of using the Boat Haven ramp sounds best.
 
Thanks Roger, i was finally able to get ahold of Boat Haven today and they did express some space concerns. I suppose I will wing that aspect. maybe I'll shoot for Boat Haven as my first choice and see if we can fit in. I dont think I'll be there before 9 am so that's probably going to be about the busiest possible time for the parking lot. we'll see how it goes!
 
Last time we launched at PT Boat Haven (May 15), there was lots of overnight parking.

With regard to the river otters: Don't leave ANY food in your cockpit. They will open what you think is a secure cooler.
 
Dreamer":2dgash83 said:
There are two launching areas at Fort Flagler, a couple of miles down the road from Mystery Bay SP. However, with a -1.1 tide, all cement portions of the ramps will be out of the water. None of these ramps have docks directly beside them. I think your original plan of using the Boat Haven ramp sounds best.
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Agree with Roger.

I have seen a C-Dory launched and one retrieved at MB, but "it takes a village". There is no side dock, you would probably have to disconnect the trailer to get it out deep enough to launch, and there is no wash down available. I would launch at PT Boat Haven for sure. Can also launch at Fort Worden, but even though there is a dock there, it can be very sandy, and shallow at low tides.

The trip into Mystery Bay is convoluted and you do have to pay attention, but it is basic navigation. No you do not want to take short cuts.

Harvey
SleepyC

:moon
 
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