San Juan and Gulf Islands
- Thread starter Osbonsky
- Start date
Osbonsky":2rem81as said:
All the marinas we stayed in in the San Juans and Gulf Islands have been nice. Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor everyone knows. Deer Harbor and Rosario Resort on Orcas Island are both nice. Poet's Cove at Bedwell Harbour on South Pender is a great place to check in for Canadian Customs... and, the resort has a nice hot tub, overlooking the harbour.
For anchorages, you can't beat the ease of Blind Bay on Shaw. Jones Island is a state park, with a decent anchorage (does have a north exposure), mooring balls, and some dock space. Our favorite in the San Juans, though, is either of the harbors, Prevost or Reid, on Stuart Island (hike up to the one room school house, and out to the lighthouse at Turn Point).
Salt Springs Island and a great stop at Ganges. Not far is Montegue Harbour, with a good anchorage and a marina (and a trip to the Hummingbird Pub on the hippie bus). Chemainus is another good stop in the Gulf Islands - a good marina (close to the ferry, though), a great bakery a block from the marina, and a nice walk through town to take in all the murals.
While not in the Gulf Islands, a few nights in the Inner Harbour at Victoria is one of our favorites - an "international vibe" to the city, and fun at the slips on the Inner Harbour where you can watch and listen to the buskers on the waterfront.
Three weeks will give you a great overview, and you'll want to come back again and again!
Enjoy!
Jim
Phil Barnes
New member
You may already have these, but we find that the Waggoner Cruising Guide and "The San Juan Islands-A Boaters Guide" from Blue Latitude Press (also available from Amazon) are great resources for the San Juans and Gulf Islands. There are guide books by Douglass/Hemingway and others available on Finedge.com specifically for the Gulf Islands. We have used the Douglass/Hemingway book and found it to be helpful for the Gulf Islands. That plus Ports and Passes or the Current Atlas with this years tide and current tables and you will have all the info you want and more. It is a wonderful place to cruise. In fact, we are headed there next week! Enjoy your trip!
You might also check out SalishSeaPilot guides at:
http://salishseapilot.com/cruising-guides
Phil
You might also check out SalishSeaPilot guides at:
http://salishseapilot.com/cruising-guides
Phil
Thanks for all the great recommendations. We are here right now (which is why I didn't respond earlier. Internet has been iffy) and having a wonderful time. currently we're at Poets Cove. Lovely and peaceful. we also loved Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor. Tomorrow we're off to Victoria.
Jim
Jim
starcrafttom
Active member
Little know fact about Butchart gardens is that you can access it by boat from the back of the park. There is a dingy dock, but they let use tie the 22 to it for the time we were in the park, in Todd inlets. Its just top the left as you start down Todd. You can even pay right there with your credit card and enjoy the park. Its a Must see if you have not been there before and we always enjoy it.
starcrafttom
Active member
I would like to put in a word for Blakely island marina. There is very little there unless you like good hot showers, ice cream and one of the best sunset viewing lawns in the San Juans. Its a nice place to stop and get a shower and relax with out having to be in a large port like Friday or deer harbor with all the noise and people. We often use it as a last night staging place before heading home because of the showers. They also have fuel and a small store, dinner that sells fresh made donuts in the mornings. Also one of the few places on the east end of the islands to wait out a big wind. Its very comfortable spot for use that we always feel relaxed and at home in.
starcrafttom
Active member
Blakely is a private island of about a hundred homes and is not open to the public other then the marina and store area. Like I said there is not a lot there to see but the sunset and the water. Its just off of a peavine pass so a lot of boat traffic to view from the lawn as the sun sets or rises. We like it because of the great views, great showers (without having to hike 1/2 a mile )and very little people. The store has free wifi so if you need to relax and get some work done or get caught up on emails its a great place. Also some great crabbing just off the sir park in the season.
starcrafttom":2raly9t8 said:
We have stayed there. Nice little marina as mentioned above. Run by a young family who let us use their own washing machine while the laundry room was being renoe'd with a new water pipe. My only gripe was the fuel was ethonol, so I passed.
Martin and Andrea.
starcrafttom
Active member
Another small out of the way stopping point is Silva bay on the south east end of Gabriola island. We only stopped there once in the early season a few years ago but it was a really nice bay with lots of room to anchor. If we go to Powell river we may use it as a over night if the weather in the straights allow it.
AstoriaDave
New member
starcrafttom":jjlwy31p said:
Agree. Love Silva Bay. The pass is actually pretty straightforward, any vessel with power, despite its reputation.
Pat Anderson
New member
Osbonsky":tmodrd7j said:
Marinas? The BEST of the San Juans and Gulf Island is the anchorages! If you have a dinghy, anchor out and stay out of the marinas until you need fuel and water!
starcrafttom
Active member
Agree with Pat anchor out or use the state docks. This time of the year during the week you should have no problem getting on a state dock.
bridma":3ovm0ogn said:
and if the scotch and beer runs out ???
Martin.[/quote]
There are definitely some nice anchorages, but to avoid marinas would mean missing some very interesting places in the San Juans, Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island. Victoria is a great city, and the experience of staying right there in the middle of everything at the Inner Harbour is a real delight. Mix it up, enjoy some of each. Some who live in the area use the San Juans and Gulf Islands as a weekend or week-long escape. Those who come from a long distance may truly enjoy seeing Friday Harbor, Victoria, Chemainus, Poet's Cove, Ganges, etc - to get a feel for how people live there.
Marinas can be much more than fuel and water when you want to experience the local culture. As can anchorages be quiet (OK, not so much Sucia on a summer weekend) and relaxing. No reason folks can't relax and enjoy the marina lifestyle AND anchoring out.
starcrafttom
Active member
James I get what you are saying but anchoring out and seeing town are not one choice or the other. This is why we love having a dinghy. No you cant anchor out in Victoria but you can in Oak bay and then use the bus system to get around. I like anchoring in Friday harbor, Ganges, Roche and Sydney far better then using their docks.