wake boarding in the San Juan Islands
- Thread starter pauley
- Start date
Alyssa Jean
New member
I have never seen anyone wake boarding in the San Juans. I am not a real proponent of wake boarding. Your never much more than a mile or two from an island in the SJ's and almost certainly closer to other boats. Trying to create a large wake on purpose is not something I or other responsible boaters look highly on. Then there is also the danger posed by CO poisoning from the exhaust. I am sure there are areas where the wake is not intrusive on others, but I can't think of any around here.
On the other hand, some of the big Bayliners put out a huge wake just trying to get from here to there.
On the other hand, some of the big Bayliners put out a huge wake just trying to get from here to there.
pauley":1hyh4d86 said:
Hi Pauley,
We've been in the San Juans during the last two summers (July and August); not seen anyone on a wake board there. Seeing that you have "south Texas" in your info, let me say that the water up there is COLD. As in the 50s during that time of year. Not even close to the upper 80s/low 90s water temps we see that time of year. Never tried wake boarding, but I can't imagine it would be much fun in a survival suit! 8)
As I recall, San Juan County has a ban on PWC (jet powered, straddle to operate). The cold, deep water is really well-suited to cruising... finding a nice anchorage, staying cool on the water, and just enjoying all the beauty the area has to offer. I would think some of the water activities that require a person to be wet would be better done elsewhere. (That's coming from a warm-weather perspective.)
Can't say that I've ever seen anyone wake boarding behind a Ranger Tug. Remind me sometime to tell you about my feelings of the right vessel for the mission. :wink
:twisted: Where in south Texas are you?
Best wishes,
Jim B.
I guess we will leave the rope and the wake board in San Antonio when we go to pick up the new R-25 at the end of June . When I get it back to lake Travis later in the summer we can do some boardind there in the warm water, the tug should get up to 21mph fairley quick and put out a nice wake.
Jim ; we will be puting in at Aransas Pass at Hamptons Landing most of the time . Port Isabell wil be one of the first trips we take .
Jim ; we will be puting in at Aransas Pass at Hamptons Landing most of the time . Port Isabell wil be one of the first trips we take .
Pauley, if you get down this way, drop me a note. Even if we aren't around, I'd be happy to pass on some local knowledge. We also enjoy Port A; plenty to see and do around there. That's a very nice boat you're getting, and should make for some great cruising.
For any folks not familiar with the size of Texas, Pauley is in "south" Texas... only 300 miles NORTH of us. :wink
For any folks not familiar with the size of Texas, Pauley is in "south" Texas... only 300 miles NORTH of us. :wink
Wake boarding in the San Juan Islands is likely to cause you nothing but trouble, if you consider hostility and resentment directed towards you to be trouble. Jet ski's are illegal. Most small communities within protected bays (the only place calm enough to wake board in the SJI) have docks and moorings where boats could be damaged by big wakes. The offender is liable for such damage and folks are increasingly reporting offenders. I apologize for the sanctimonious tone of this post, but please consider saving your wakeboarding for Lake Washington, Lake Chelan, etc., where the local ethos is more favorable to watersports. Respectfully, Mike.
Pauley-
The photo below depicts the Memorial to Bobby Bluesome, the first, last, and only wakeboarder ever known to the San Juan Islands area.
Bobby was caught doing tricks on his wakeboard behind his Moomba X-10 towboat just inside the Friday Harbor entrance in July 4, of 2006.
The U.S. Customs/Boarder Patrol/Homeland Security patrol boat cited Bobby for violation of the "NO Wake Zone" policy, seized his board, boat, and tow rope, and remanded Bobby to the U.S. Coast Guard Station and temporary Homeland Security Detention Center at the Port of Bellingham.
Billy was already freezing his arse off from the cold water when apprehanded, and the sparce facilities at the makeshift detention center are not heated in summer due to the high cost of heating oil.
Needless to say, Bobby froze off more than his arse that following night, hence the design of the Memorial.
No Court of Inquiry was every held, as the Preside Judge of the U.S. Judicial Court moors his boat at Friday Harbor and is a "No Wake Zone" advocate.
Wickipedia reporter Phun Too Yoo stands at the base of the Memorial to Bobby Bluesome near Bellingham, Washington in this 2007 file photo. Bobby was the first, last, and only known wakeboarder to trick wakes in the San Juan Islands. See story above for details.
The photo below depicts the Memorial to Bobby Bluesome, the first, last, and only wakeboarder ever known to the San Juan Islands area.
Bobby was caught doing tricks on his wakeboard behind his Moomba X-10 towboat just inside the Friday Harbor entrance in July 4, of 2006.
The U.S. Customs/Boarder Patrol/Homeland Security patrol boat cited Bobby for violation of the "NO Wake Zone" policy, seized his board, boat, and tow rope, and remanded Bobby to the U.S. Coast Guard Station and temporary Homeland Security Detention Center at the Port of Bellingham.
Billy was already freezing his arse off from the cold water when apprehanded, and the sparce facilities at the makeshift detention center are not heated in summer due to the high cost of heating oil.
Needless to say, Bobby froze off more than his arse that following night, hence the design of the Memorial.
No Court of Inquiry was every held, as the Preside Judge of the U.S. Judicial Court moors his boat at Friday Harbor and is a "No Wake Zone" advocate.
Wickipedia reporter Phun Too Yoo stands at the base of the Memorial to Bobby Bluesome near Bellingham, Washington in this 2007 file photo. Bobby was the first, last, and only known wakeboarder to trick wakes in the San Juan Islands. See story above for details.
I commented to my Lopez neighbors during a group dinner where I was being introduced as the newest property owner that I wanted to install a slalom course off my property on Mud Bay. I was a tournament slalom skier for 20 years, and there is ideal water there. Boy, did that ever kill the conversation, and there were looks of utter disbelief all around. I was joking, of course.
Side note: cold water need not be a deterrent to wake boarding. Water sports are very feasible in 50 degree and colder water with a good wetsuit or even better, a dry suit. This is done routinely during the winter months around NorCal during the tournament offseason at which time the water temps drop into the 40's and the air temps are not much warmer. Some people enjoy the invigorating effects of cold. I happen to be one of them and went for a dip in Lake Michigan north of Chicago just today where I am visiting my soon to be 88 year old mother, and the water is 53F; not too bad. My wife joined me.
Where we swam today:
Side note: cold water need not be a deterrent to wake boarding. Water sports are very feasible in 50 degree and colder water with a good wetsuit or even better, a dry suit. This is done routinely during the winter months around NorCal during the tournament offseason at which time the water temps drop into the 40's and the air temps are not much warmer. Some people enjoy the invigorating effects of cold. I happen to be one of them and went for a dip in Lake Michigan north of Chicago just today where I am visiting my soon to be 88 year old mother, and the water is 53F; not too bad. My wife joined me.
Where we swam today:
Jay-
Good point about cold weather water sports and wet/dry suits! I still have my sailing wetsuit farmer johns, but getting into them may be questionable at this point(!)
BTW, I think I can see a curvature in the surface of Lake Michigan in your photo above.
I held a ruler up to your photo above and, sure enough, can see the arc or curvature in the lake's surface.
II wonder if this is a photograph of an observable phenomena or just an effect of some spherical aberration of the lens?
Also BTW, I hope no one was offended by my attempt at humor above.
Joe. :teeth :thup
Good point about cold weather water sports and wet/dry suits! I still have my sailing wetsuit farmer johns, but getting into them may be questionable at this point(!)
BTW, I think I can see a curvature in the surface of Lake Michigan in your photo above.
I held a ruler up to your photo above and, sure enough, can see the arc or curvature in the lake's surface.
II wonder if this is a photograph of an observable phenomena or just an effect of some spherical aberration of the lens?
Also BTW, I hope no one was offended by my attempt at humor above.
Joe. :teeth :thup
Sam Walker
New member
Hey Capt. Jim, you need to look at Rub N' Tug's photo album. It seems that I saw the owner, Rob, I think, boarding on something behind his R-21. :thup
Where is It-Sea-Bit-Sea when you need him? :xnaughty :xnaughty :xnaughty :xnaughty :xnaughty
Where is It-Sea-Bit-Sea when you need him? :xnaughty :xnaughty :xnaughty :xnaughty :xnaughty
20dauntless
New member
I'm in the minority here, but I certainly think that wakeboarding could be done in the San Juans. There are many mornings with glassy water that would be perfect. As long as you choose your area carefully and avoid throwing a big wake into an area with docks or boats, you'd be fine. Given the right conditions you could wakeboard in Rosario Straight, Haro Straight, San Juan Channel, Thatcher Pass....
Basically, use your common sense. Don't wake people up with a big wake, don't go out if it's too rough or if there is too strong a current, be mindful of flotsam, etc.
Obviously the water is cold, so the wakeboarder would need to wear either a wetsuit or a drysuit. Lake Washington would probably be a better place to wakeboard but on warm summer days it gets very rough with boat wakes early on making it unsuitable for boarding.
I can't comment on the Ranger's performance pulling a boarder, but I'd imagine that it would turn some heads.
Basically, use your common sense. Don't wake people up with a big wake, don't go out if it's too rough or if there is too strong a current, be mindful of flotsam, etc.
Obviously the water is cold, so the wakeboarder would need to wear either a wetsuit or a drysuit. Lake Washington would probably be a better place to wakeboard but on warm summer days it gets very rough with boat wakes early on making it unsuitable for boarding.
I can't comment on the Ranger's performance pulling a boarder, but I'd imagine that it would turn some heads.
WoW alot of good information on this thread ,Thanks to everybody for your imput and humor :shock: . I think that it would be a doable like 20dauntless says , the right place ,the right time and the proper equipment . The R-25 with a 150 HP motor loaded up should do 18knots or 21mph on a glassy water . Hooking up a tow harness off of the top of the cabin would not be to hard ,mabe a lasso over the smoke stack would work. Sea Wolf your story about Bobby Bluesome was great , thats enuff to keep me from attempting it ,but my wife is the one who wants to do it tho . Im sure it will be done at some point in time it's just when that is yet to be decied . I will post the pictures . thanks ,Pauley :thupJust keep it the heck away from folks that are enjoying the peace and serenity they went up there to enjoy. There is a reason PWCs have been banned up there. Have a little consideration for your neighbors.
Keep it out of bays and areas where wild animals gather and boats are moored. It's one thing to drive your boat from one place to another. It's another to impose on people and wildlife the noise, wake and disturbance caused by your buzzing around.
Have a nice day.
Keep it out of bays and areas where wild animals gather and boats are moored. It's one thing to drive your boat from one place to another. It's another to impose on people and wildlife the noise, wake and disturbance caused by your buzzing around.
Have a nice day.
Pauley,
I am wondering how well you know the San Juan/Puget Sound area.
It seems a bit crazy to want to tow a person thru all those floating logs and debris, even if you found a calm place where such activity is welcome.
Also, I don't know if you truly understand the significance of the cold water in that area. It is life threatening.
John
I am wondering how well you know the San Juan/Puget Sound area.
It seems a bit crazy to want to tow a person thru all those floating logs and debris, even if you found a calm place where such activity is welcome.
Also, I don't know if you truly understand the significance of the cold water in that area. It is life threatening.
John
Agree with Dr. John, that you would really be pushing the R 25 to have a sustained speed of 21 mph--even with the 150 engine. The issue not is could it be done, but is it the best for the engine? I would not choose a R 25 for any water sports, including tubing--partly because of lack of clear sight lines aft--and a host of other design reasons. Also consider that usually the tow line is attached to a tower, foreward of the prop--this would take special consideration from a stuctural and safety standpoint.
All of this is an assumption that this is a serious question.
All of this is an assumption that this is a serious question.
Please don't refer/suggest people go to Lake Washington to wakeboard. As a committed slalom skier who grew up there in a house on the waterfront.....guess what? The locals don't want your intentionally large wake damage either. Learn to waterski, go fast, keep the wake small. It takes talent and balance and strength, but it can be done. If you drive a PWC (Personal Watercraft) venture out far away from wherever you launch and go for a ride, don't buzz repeatedly around in small circles in the same area driving all of the locals crazy right off of their docks. The Columbia River is a great place for PWCs as they can jump the large barge and ship wake and the moving river has a way of spreading people out. With all of the room between the San Juan Islands, it would seem there is plenty of room to wakeboard. Don't do it close in the bays. Make sure you have adequate gasoline and a radio and knock yourself out. What gets me is the stupid windsurfers and kite surfers who buzz back and forth perpendicular to the shore, crossing and recrossing the river at very high speeds and they expect every other boater to anticipate and yield to them because they are "sailing" (though at 22 mph.) C.W.