Hello All, We recently purchased a 1988 22 cruiser and would like to take her out for a few days in the San Juans. We are wondering where would be the best place to launch in Anacortes and inperticular leave the truck and trailer where it will be safe for several days. Thanks for any suggestions you might offer.
San Juans
- Thread starter Marty
- Start date
starcrafttom
Active member
Your choices are twin bridges, my favorite. Washington park, my second choice. and third is bellingham. All have their positives and negatives. others will place these in a different order.
If you are planning to launch in Anacortes there are basically two choices: the sling launch at Cap Sante marina, and Washington Park ramp. The sling launch is convenient but more expensive. Parking there is safe. Washington Park is cheaper but the ramps are iffy at low tide and exposed to n-nw winds. Parking there is in my opinion, iffy. Twin Bridges, Tom's favorite, is right on the way to Anacortes from I5. I have only launched there once.
kevin ware
New member
Where you put in is a bit related to where you first want to go in the San Juans.
If going directly to say Lopez, Cap Sante in Anacortes is the closest you can reasonably get. There is a public park further west with a launch ramp, but leaving your truck there for several days is not a good idea.
If going directly to Sucia, on the north side of Orcas, the The Port of Bellingham has the nearest launch facility and reasonably safe parking. If the wind is from the south, then you will find crossing Bellingham Bay could be a bit rough.
Twin Bridges is pretty good, as is the Port of Skagit about two miles further south in LaConner. Both have launch facilities and reasonably safe parking. Last time I was there, Twin Bridges charged about $100 both ways, POS about $20. Either location enables you to run south through the channel, then north to Coronet Bay near Deception Pass (or south to say Coupeville) in calmer conditions if the wind just north and east of Anacortes has picked up.
Just to the south of Twin Bridges, (almost immediately under the bridge on the SE side), is a public boat launch with ample public parking. However, it is not often used by many of us who live in the area. There has been some vehicle vandalism, and also if the tide is running getting the boat on or off the trailer can be a real hassle.
Particularly the state parks in the San Juans just make great cruising grounds, and after September 1st most of the traffic is gone. In fact, we find Sept and Oct to be the best months to boat in that area.
Kevin Ware
El Gato Thomas
CD Tom Cat 25.5
If going directly to say Lopez, Cap Sante in Anacortes is the closest you can reasonably get. There is a public park further west with a launch ramp, but leaving your truck there for several days is not a good idea.
If going directly to Sucia, on the north side of Orcas, the The Port of Bellingham has the nearest launch facility and reasonably safe parking. If the wind is from the south, then you will find crossing Bellingham Bay could be a bit rough.
Twin Bridges is pretty good, as is the Port of Skagit about two miles further south in LaConner. Both have launch facilities and reasonably safe parking. Last time I was there, Twin Bridges charged about $100 both ways, POS about $20. Either location enables you to run south through the channel, then north to Coronet Bay near Deception Pass (or south to say Coupeville) in calmer conditions if the wind just north and east of Anacortes has picked up.
Just to the south of Twin Bridges, (almost immediately under the bridge on the SE side), is a public boat launch with ample public parking. However, it is not often used by many of us who live in the area. There has been some vehicle vandalism, and also if the tide is running getting the boat on or off the trailer can be a real hassle.
Particularly the state parks in the San Juans just make great cruising grounds, and after September 1st most of the traffic is gone. In fact, we find Sept and Oct to be the best months to boat in that area.
Kevin Ware
El Gato Thomas
CD Tom Cat 25.5
starcrafttom
Active member
Again I would like to restate my recommdation for the RAMP at twin bridges, NOT the storage buisness. I use the ramp all the time as do other. I have never had a problem leaving a truck there. I have never seen anyone that has had a problem leaving a truck there and have not heard of anyone having a problem leaving a truck there in the last 6 years. Its a good place to leave your truck. Now I do know that a c-brat had their trailer stolen in Bellingham. My 22 was broken into twice in my back yard. It can happen anywere.
As for the current at the ramp. I just do not consider it a problem. You look at the ramp and launch or recover on the up current side and its all good. Its only a problem if you a dum enought to launch on the down current side in which case you deserve it :wink:
I can launch and recover my 27 at down to a 1 foot tide ( above the standard low tide) or what we call a plus 1. Which is better then washington park. Washington park just saves you almost 10 miles each way.
There is also the ramp at Deception pass park.
Sorry if I sound upset but its a great place to launch your boat and I get tired of it being put down. Its a lot closer by road to the seattle area then bellingham and with the price of gas I like to go to the closes place I can. I also dont like trailering thru bellingham or boating across bellingham bay if the wind is up. Which is 90% or the time.
The best ramp in all of washington is Everret. It is the biggest and has the most parking. Its protected water from wave and most of the wind and only goes dry on a minus 3 or less tide ( twice a year). If you are coming out for a long trip you may want to consider it. Lots to see between Everett and the San juans. In the winter its a great place to start from to see grey whales. It would also make a great place to cruise the north and middle sound from. Lots to see in the sound north of seattle that we forget about.
As for the current at the ramp. I just do not consider it a problem. You look at the ramp and launch or recover on the up current side and its all good. Its only a problem if you a dum enought to launch on the down current side in which case you deserve it :wink:
I can launch and recover my 27 at down to a 1 foot tide ( above the standard low tide) or what we call a plus 1. Which is better then washington park. Washington park just saves you almost 10 miles each way.
There is also the ramp at Deception pass park.
Sorry if I sound upset but its a great place to launch your boat and I get tired of it being put down. Its a lot closer by road to the seattle area then bellingham and with the price of gas I like to go to the closes place I can. I also dont like trailering thru bellingham or boating across bellingham bay if the wind is up. Which is 90% or the time.
The best ramp in all of washington is Everret. It is the biggest and has the most parking. Its protected water from wave and most of the wind and only goes dry on a minus 3 or less tide ( twice a year). If you are coming out for a long trip you may want to consider it. Lots to see between Everett and the San juans. In the winter its a great place to start from to see grey whales. It would also make a great place to cruise the north and middle sound from. Lots to see in the sound north of seattle that we forget about.
Skyline Marina in Anacortes was not mentioned and I wonder why. It's the only launch I've used in Anacortes. Its advantages are the sling [no salt on my trailer axels, brakes, etc] and a fenced in parking area. We usually go for three weeks or so. I think the time limit at Washington Park was a problem. The disadvantage of Skyline was - I thought it was a tad expensive.
Not to pile on, but Tom is a very experienced boater. Twin Bridges is a great ramp and probably as safe a place to park as any. However, the first time I launched there, I had no idea how swift the current could be. I came back from parking the car to find my wife and three other people holding our C-Dory against the end of the ramp. I told her she didn't need to move it and she said "I didn't move it, it got sucked down here and it took 4 of us to hold it." So it was my own fault, but the boat would have gotten sucked into the current and away from my wife if it wasn't for the other folks at the ramp.
I don't know how experienced you are, but if you have limited experience, that kind of thing can ruin your day.
My boat is moored right by the launch at Skyline Marina. I see dozens of people each weekend use the sling launch. I park all of the time in the lot for up to 3 weeks and have never had any trouble. It is right on Rosario Strait and only 7 miles from Lopez Island. By far the fastest and most convenient access to the San Juan's.
Lyle
I don't know how experienced you are, but if you have limited experience, that kind of thing can ruin your day.
My boat is moored right by the launch at Skyline Marina. I see dozens of people each weekend use the sling launch. I park all of the time in the lot for up to 3 weeks and have never had any trouble. It is right on Rosario Strait and only 7 miles from Lopez Island. By far the fastest and most convenient access to the San Juan's.
Lyle
Launch at Point Defiance, stop in Everett to have dinner at Scuttlebutt. The next day motor up to La Connor and have dinner at La Connor Brewery. Wake up the next day and time your passing through Deception Pass for the slack, then motor over to Friday Harbor in time for dinner at that new pub on the corner. On the way back, go on the other side of Whidbey to stop in Port Townsend to have dinner at the Port Townsend Brewery. Then just to complete the theme, might as well motor all the way to Gig Harbor for a late afternoon refreshment at the Tides Tavern.
That would be a great shakedown for a new-to-you boat. :smiled
That would be a great shakedown for a new-to-you boat. :smiled
beermanPDX
New member
DaveS":1s0wki1c said:
I'm in! Let me know when you get the sign-up sheet set up. :wink:
johnrmarshall22
New member
Hello Marty, Laurie and I are looking at your thread with great interest as we plan to cruise up in the San Juans next summer. We live on the SF Bay and have only visited up north on the big ferries. I really like the Pub Crawl Cruise. :beer Who knows maybe we will try to get some sort of a sign up sheet going! :smiled ... our cruise would have to start sometime after Jim's Bay and Delta Cruise.
