San Juan Islands June 2014

Just a couple of thoughts. Dinghies- take one. They are great and if you are just going from the boat to shore in a cove you are going to be just fine. I like to pull up close to shore, which does not equal -shallow, and toss the dinghy over the side and paddle in with the dog for a short shore break. Having a dinghy and being able to access shore with out a dock or when the dock is full opens up a lot of chances to see what you are here to see. All charts depths are the low tide so as long as you anchor in water that is marked for 10 ft or more you will be fine. Bring it and you will use it.

Anchoring out- You should try it. Its the best way to see and experience the SJ's. Just pull in to a bay and drop the hook, open up the windows and hatch ( if its sunny) and crawl in bed with a good book and read for a few hours. Just the best time you will have. Nothing is more relaxing.

Route- Going back and forth to friday harbor is IMHO just a waste of fuel and time. I love friday harbor. Spent two days there, but go stay other places. If having a shower every night is a must then try this. Blakely marina, Deer Harbor , Friday harbor , Lopaz Islander in fishermans bay, Rosario resort and Roche harbor all have showers and most have food. Blakely and Roche are the farthest apart at one hour maybe?? and all the rest are between the two.

Day spots- James island ( also over night spot) Olga ( also called bucks bay on some charts has dock and ice cream, art etc) Watmough bay ( no dock but large family of otters) Garrison bay ( has a dock to the English camp, dinghy only. also good over night anchorage) East sound ( small dock with little use and you can walk to town-200yrds) very over looked spot. From there you can get a ride or walk, not easy but my folks did it, to Mt Constitution. Best view of western Washington and the islands you can get. Hitch a ride or even take a cab its well worth it. Shallow bay on Sucia for a hour or a week. very well protected, row ashore and hike the island. Fossil cove has a dock on Sucia for the same trails. Blind bay on Shaw has loons almost year round. Great lunch spot or over night but no shore access really. Small store at the ferry dock. Small guest dock next to the ferry dock. Parks bay is great for a over night anchor or lunch. just across from Friday harbor .

Canada- stop being a sissy and go. Its a non event going thur customs. People that have not done it over worry it way to much. As long as you don't have a DUI in your past or a warrant GO. If you have a pass port GO. Go to Sidney and then Sidney spit. From Sidney you can take the bus to both Butchart gardens and Victoria. Go to Victoria in the morning and Butchart later in the day on a Saturday and stay for the fire works ground display. Its worth it. GO. Clear customs at Sidney and then go to the spit on the way home. You can clear at Roche in the U.S. on the way back and stay the night there. Don't over think just Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If you don't mind the fee then the sling in Anacortes is great. Anacortes would be my choice over bellingham everyday of the week unless I was crossing over to Canada north of the Sj's. Why would you drive farther north to run the boat back south west?? Just makes NO since if you are going from everett/seattle. I like to use the ramp at Twin bridges and avoid the slings. $7 and day for up to 14 days. You can launch a 22 at a 1 ft or better tide and my 27 at a 2 plus tide ( thats 2 ft above min low tide) Low tide is only a hour a day so it leaves the most of the day free. Washington park is the closest launch but it also a plus 2 tide for my boat. Also exposed to the wind IF its from the north west. I dont use it as much because of my long trailer. hard to find a parking spot for me some times but a 22 would have no problem.

People will tell you that twim bridges parking looks "sketchy" or unsafe. They will boast about bellingham being safer. I have never had my rig broken into ( knock on wood) at any ramp in washington. a cbrat had their trailer stolen at Bellingham, just saying.... truth is you could have your rig stolen at any place. My boat was broken into twice at my house!!!! Everett has a large launch and security driving around and people get broken into there about twice a month.
 
I hear you Tom. :-) But my wife does not have a passport, and I've only got limited time so have to leave something (probably a lot) out. I like the idea of just doing day trips out of FH this time, just to have a somewhat solid base (and reserved spot) to end up every evening. I can probably always cancel a reservation if things change while there. :-) Regarding a fresh water rinse of my boat motor, my brother lives about an hour away and I will be going there right after taking out. And I bet there are a few fresh water lakes on the way I can back into. :-) It was the idea of putting my trailer in the salt water and then leaving it sit for a week or more before being able to wash it down. I liked the idea of a fresh water rinse at Bellingham, but the extra distance from everywhere I was going to be didn't make much sense with Anacortes sitting there. ;-) Everyone has been quite helpful with suggestions here and I very much appreciate it. That's what I was looking for. I'm quite a bit more ready for this trip than I was just a few days ago! And I know once I get there, and get the boat in the water, and get comfortable with it all, we can throw all the planning out and just enjoy ourselves! 8)
 
Well don't rush to friday harbor the first day. half the places I listed on on the way too friday harbor. Hit them for a hour or so on the way. and Enjoy the time.
 
Colbysmith,

Unless you anchor or go ashore, you do not need a passport to cruise the Gulf Islands.

But, as it is, you will have plenty to do in the short time you have for the SJ's..
 
Think I might do that Tom (Take my time getting to FH, and thanks Dave. I didn't think about that....but yeah, I'm sure I'll have plenty to see this time in US waters! ;-)
 
Its too bad you don't have a few extra days to extend your trip and really explore the San Juans.

I think us locals get spoiled with it only being 5 hours from Seattle. In your case, it might be a trip not taken again anytime soon.

Hope you have fun and share your photos.
 
We have used the Cap Sante sling launch at Anacortes. Easy and faster than you'd think. You may be in a line if you want to launch on the weekend, but we haven't run into that. Anacortes is an easy town for provisioning - there is a Safeway nearby (easy walking distance), and plenty of good restaurants. West Marine is a few blocks away.

It will cost you more to leave your truck/trailer at Cap Sante vs Bellingham. Given the option, I prefer to launch our boat with a ramp, doing it myself, but the folks at Cap Sante are great. We just left from there this morning - we were having bottom paint and service done, so we used the boatyard's (Marine ServiCenter) launch. We made the trip from Anacortes to Friday Harbor today - less than two hours, and we were running at speeds from 5 knots to 18 knots to check out everything on the boat. Here's a link to the blog...

http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2014/05/to ... arbor.html

A beautiful day in the San Juans!

Go back on the blog a day or two, and you will see other Anacortes content.

Have fun with your San Juans trip.

Jim B.
 
Read on one of the other forums recently something about a state park pass. Considering I'll be on the water for a week, is there a pass I should get? Also, I now have reservations at Friday Harbor for June 18-24, if anyone else will be in the area then and wants to lead us in any good day cruises. Will be at the Anacortes marina on the 17th. Colby
 
The state park pass is $4 a foot per year, so you will have to calculate whether that is worth it or not, without a pass it is $.60 per foot per night at state park docks and $12 for the mooring buoys. Bellingham over Anacortest any day of the week, $5 launch and free parking. Only downside is Bellingham Bay can be (but not always is) a wee bit snotty.

colbysmith":1ggoiwv7 said:
Read on one of the other forums recently something about a state park pass. Considering I'll be on the water for a week, is there a pass I should get? Also, I now have reservations at Friday Harbor for June 18-24, if anyone else will be in the area then and wants to lead us in any good day cruises. Will be at the Anacortes marina on the 17th. Colby
Click to expand...
 
colbysmith":xz217jmp said:
Read on one of the other forums recently something about a state park pass. Considering I'll be on the water for a week, is there a pass I should get? Also, I now have reservations at Friday Harbor for June 18-24, if anyone else will be in the area then and wants to lead us in any good day cruises. Will be at the Anacortes marina on the 17th. Colby
Click to expand...

The "break even point" for the pass for your boat would be: 7 nights at WA State Park docks. That is IF you can find room at the State Park docks on any given 7 nights. Since you're looking at staying at the Port of Friday Harbor Marina and day tripping, you wouldn't have much use for the annual State Park pass. Save your money.

One other thing: the fuel dock at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes has non-ethanol fuel. It's the ethanol laced stuff at FH. Deer Harbor Marina is listed on the Pure Gas site as having non-ethanol fuel, the only place I'm aware of in the San Juans.

We topped off our tank before leaving Anacortes.
 
Think I'm still sticking with Anacortes to launch. I don't mind paying the extra in relation to everything else. I'm ok using up to 10% ethanol in my boat, since ethanol free isn't always readily available here. (I've been running it during the summer with no problems. Towards the end of the season I do put ethanol free in so the boat's not in storage with ethanol.) Sounds like I don't need the annual pass then. Thanks again for all the great information you guys have shared with me! I'm really looking forward to the time out there! Colby
 
I think anacortes is a good and prudent choice for your otherwise freshwater trailer. I'm going to keep your FH dates in mind as well in case we end up that way :)
 
We've been at Cap Sante a couple days now and concur it's a nice place. Walking distance to all you need. Like Jim said it's a quick run into the SJ's. We'll be heading west tomorrow or Thursday depending on wind. One wants fairly light winds near slack for Rosario. Short hop but potential nastiness. Have fun.
George
 
Just going back thru rereading everything as I plot out different routes, and came upon the mention of Skyline Marina in Anacortes. Would this marina be worth considering compared to CapSante? Also, I can't find it, but last year I asked about MMSI numbers of other C-brats, and thought someone said they were in the profiles. I have not been able to find a listing. Anyone know a quick link for me to follow? Thought it would be nice to jot down the MMSI numbers of any other C-brats in the San Juan area. Still looking at launching in Anacortes on the 17th of June, spending the night, then heading out to Friday Harbor on the 18th. Then spending about a week on the water. If anyone will be in the area, I do have reservations at the Friday Harbor Marina, and tend to monitor 16. Colby
 
We live just a few miles from Anacortes. Skyline has a sling launch, limited parking and very limited transient moorage. It is more of a place for permanent moorage. Cap Sante has a sling launch, better parking and is a superior marina Imho. Skyline has virtually no shopping, restaurants, etc. Cap Sante is near shopping, many restaurants. Not a hard decision to me. Anacortes is a fun town. There is a good West Marine, and a funky old Marine hardware store within walking distance. Safeway is close, For dining Anthony's is good for seafood and has a good view of the harbor, Geredeli's is good for lunch, the Rockfish Grill and the Brown Lantern are both good for pub food, lots of other choices. We will be in Canada when you arrive so can't help then. Enjoy the San Juans. PM me if you would like more info.
 
Just about ready to head out west in a few more days. Some additional questions for the drive out.

1. Anyone know what state has the cheapest gas along highways 94 and 90 from Wisconsin to Washington? Leaving home with fairly empty boat fuel tanks! :mrgreen:

2. If my travel goes as planned, I will probably have a few (2) extra days to spend along the way out. Of these three lakes for those familiar, which would be the best:

Couer d'Lene, Lake Pend Orielle, Flathead Lake

Thanks again for all the wonderful suggestions and advice. That's one of the things so neat about this site! Colby
 
And since my wife and I plan to go thru Yellowstone National Park on the drive/tow home, any advice about spending an afternoon on Yellowstone Lake?
 
for fuel prices use fuel buddy .com. They have the price for nearly every gas station in the country. I have it on my phone and use it here all the time.
 
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