NW Inland Freshwater Rendezvous????

I have a bunch of decals and pins if anybody is needing any. I also have a few of the burgees that need to be stitched up if someone wants to take one to a seamstress close to you. Basically it's the printing on the fabric and rough cut.
 
That's a one and done trip for me. There's pretty much no place in Lewiston for our boats. It's a town geared for the large Hells Canyon jet boat tours.
I wouldn't be opposed to going upriver a few locks.
 
wyrman said:
That's a one and done trip for me. There's pretty much no place in Lewiston for our boats. It's a town geared for the large Hells Canyon jet boat tours.
I wouldn't be opposed to going upriver a few locks.
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'Sorry to hear that about Lewiston. What exactly is the issue? Maybe we could meet on the way down.
 
wyrman said:
Fuel, pumpout, and dockage.
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Sounds like the trifecta of rejection. I wonder if we could fit your boat on my trailer. That way, we could haul it just upriver to the casino for the less expensive fuel. Wait, there's still the pumpout and dockage. What the hell happened to Lewiston? That's very annoying to me to learn about.
 
We were able to get fuel, at one place. It was just everything about Lewiston that makes it a non-destination for me.
There's too many other beautiful places to go around the area to waste it with Lewiston.
I think it would be fun to go upriver two or three locks and hang out for a day or so.
 
Wyrman's got it. There was only one marina that had space in Lewiston and only worked for very shallow draft boats. The spot we could get to had a half-submerged, rotten dock that was very close to the launch. Nope, not going there again! The trip was fun, but I wouldn't be interested in doing it again for a while if ever. I even got to go swimming in a very large pool right at the dam! Swimming in a lock was way more fun that I thought too!!

We ended up at Chief Timothy state park. We asked if we could pump out and they didn't know if it even worked. Fortunately, they opened the cover and left Greg alone to use the pump out. Greg fired it up and it wasn't working, so while the manager was away, he opened up the box and discovered the belt was loose. It hadn't been used in two years at least!! Greg tightened it, so that we were able to pump out. I think we could have made it, but why not pump out since we're paying for it anyway!!

Boyer Park/Marina would be nice with the new docks and fuel dock going in. They closed that after Labor Day so there was no fuel available or moorage there. Might be a great place to go? I'd rather go elsewhere if I'm spending THAT much on fuel! Even the San Juans would burn less fuel towing and spending two weeks over there! That would include a trip to Victoria and other Canadian Island destinations.

Fortunately, we have many options here in the Pacific Northwest!! Guess I'll go winterize my boat. The temps are down in the 20's and we haven't been above freezing for a while, so I guess it's time.
 
So sorry to hear that, guys! Maybe I should just consider towing to the Tri-Cities and motoring around with you there. I was really looking forward to cutting my teeth by going through a lock or two. Actually, we'd really like to head over to Puget Sound some day. I think I'll have to get retired first (2023-24?)
 
Many years ago we towed our 330 Dancer to the San Juans. The tow was easy, no problemo. We towed over to a rest area near Mt. Vernon and waited until dark because we didn't have a tow permit for the road from there to Anacortes. When we got to Anacortes we overnighted in the Safeway parking lot.

We launched at Anacortes marina. Nice guys they are. Then we spent 2 weeks in the SJ's, went to Victoria, rented a car and toured Butchart Gardens. We tried to go to High Tea at the Empress Hotel but we were rejected because we were in shorts and t-shirts. :cool:

I think our two fav spots were Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. Nice places both where they treat you very well.

If you guys do a SJ tour, please post lots of pics! :D
 
The people we got our DA from, used to launch in Longview. They would leave the pick up there as its patrolled and clean. They would run down to Astoria then cross the bar and head north from there. They would do a 3 week trip to the San Juan's every year. They would run up and back on the Columbia so they didnt have to flush the boat when they got it back on the trailer. Let it flush its self by doing the 40 miles up the river.

We have talked about Portland down to the Garibaldi bar and back.

I've been told Billy Chinook is out of the question, until it gets filled more.
 
Nathan, tow your baby up to the Tri-Cities and launch from here. It's a great trip down to Portland with stops at Arlington, The Dalles and Portland. Time it right and you can dock within walking distance to the Portland Blues Festival. Ask me how I know.-

That trip goes through McNary, John Day, The Dalles and Bonneville. 4 Days each way plus 2-3 days at the Blues Festival and you can be back in the Tri-Cities in 10 days. Or skip the Blues Festival and make it an 8 day trip.
 
Gofirstclass said:
Many years ago we towed our 330 Dancer to the San Juans. The tow was easy, no problemo. We towed over to a rest area near Mt. Vernon and waited until dark because we didn't have a tow permit for the road from there to Anacortes. When we got to Anacortes we overnighted in the Safeway parking lot.

We launched at Anacortes marina.
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Mike,

I've never heard that you need a separate permit to tow from the freeway to Anacortes. No one I know has ever applied. Technically, your oversize load permit is only for the state highways and you are responsible for your "home" to the freeway route and I guess from the freeway to the launch. I talked to the folks at City of Prosser and they indicated no additional permit was necessary. If I had the State Permit, that was enough. Other locations I've talked to have indicated the same thing. I didn't call Anacortes! I guess I'll make that inquiry next year.

Funny thing, we bought our boat from a Washington State Patrol Officer and he said he called many different departments within the State and none could actually tell him if he needed an oversized load permit. When you get one, it's for commercial vehicles, NOT private vehicles. He talked to DOT, Weights and Measures and some others and he never got a good response either way. As an ex-law enforcement officer, what is your take on that? I get the permit, but I also wonder why I'm treated like a commercial operator when I apply.

I've always launched at Cap Sante and had the boat slung in. I'm at the upper limits of the sling, but I think they were changing it a few years ago, so maybe it's limit has increased to more than 12,000 lbs? I like the folks and I can park overnight in line for the launch. Parking is provided and we've never had any issues with our truck.

On our way home, we usually put the boat in the water at Vantage or Tri-Cities for an overnight soak to remove as much of the saltwater as possible. Makes me feel better anyway!!
 
The people we got our DA from were in Rainier. They would drive across the river to Longview to launch. Nice clean, secure place to park. From there, they would run to Astoria then cross the bar, head north and to the San Juan's. They would use that 40 miles to flush the systems of salt.

Portland isnt bad as far as transient slips or dock space. But parking a truck and trailer is another story. And there is a lot of places along both rivers to park and enjoy the city.

Plenty of places along the Washington side to launch. And SR-14 isnt that bad of a road. At least from east of White Salmon to Long Beach. I-84 is just a bigger road.

We have talked to a few places about truck storage. Launch then take an uber back to the boat. So far, the best I can find is the Sea Ray dealer on Hayden island. But they cant say it will be secure with all the homeless that have moved in around them.
 
Sundancer, it was/is my understanding that you could tow with an oversize load on the freeways with a permit and didn't need pilot vehicles. Once you hit the two lanes then pilot cars were needed. That is the reason we hung out until after dark. That 2-lane to Anacortes was a bit on the skinny side in places so when we got in those places I put the stbd trailer wheels over the fog line to give oncoming traffic a bit more room.

I never heard anything about oversize load permits only applying to commercial vehicles, and it doesn't say anything like that in the RCW's about that. I always figured better safe than sorry. I didn't want to be doing the roadside chat with a trooper and try to BS my reasons for not having a permit.

Now a funny story from that trip. We exited I-90 to I-405 northbound and found ourselves in a road construction area where the lanes were narrowed. Our ability to move to our right was stopped by orange barrels. As we went n/b a semi truck was passing us, going just a tiny bit faster than we were. I was watching the distance between my boat and his trailer and at times it got down to a foot or less. He successfully passed and I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief.

We pulled into the rest stop by Marysville and that same truck pulled in and parked a couple of spaces from us. The driver came over to chat and thanked me for moving as far to my right as I could. He also was watching the space between our loads and said he guessed it at 6"-12".

Too close for comfort!
 
Gofirstclass said:
Sundancer, it was/is my understanding that you could tow with an oversize load on the freeways with a permit and didn't need pilot vehicles. Once you hit the two lanes then pilot cars were needed. That is the reason we hung out until after dark. That 2-lane to Anacortes was a bit on the skinny side in places so when we got in those places I put the stbd trailer wheels over the fog line to give oncoming traffic a bit more room.

I never heard anything about oversize load permits only applying to commercial vehicles, and it doesn't say anything like that in the RCW's about that. I always figured better safe than sorry. I didn't want to be doing the roadside chat with a trooper and try to BS my reasons for not having a permit.

Now a funny story from that trip. We exited I-90 to I-405 northbound and found ourselves in a road construction area where the lanes were narrowed. Our ability to move to our right was stopped by orange barrels. As we went n/b a semi truck was passing us, going just a tiny bit faster than we were. I was watching the distance between my boat and his trailer and at times it got down to a foot or less. He successfully passed and I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief.

We pulled into the rest stop by Marysville and that same truck pulled in and parked a couple of spaces from us. The driver came over to chat and thanked me for moving as far to my right as I could. He also was watching the space between our loads and said he guessed it at 6"-12".

Too close for comfort!
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Mike,
You were 12 feet wide with a 330, so pilot vehicles were required. Technically, I think the boat is 11feet 11 inches! ;-) Mine is only 11 feet, so I don't ever need pilot cars. I agree, we ALWAYS have our paperwork, just in case! It's cheaper than the ensuing ticket would be!!

We took our boat up to Priest Lake one year. I didn't notice the restrictions on oversized loads as we left the town of Priest Lake and we were excited to get up to the lake since some friends had rented a cabin. We got 22 miles into the 28 that we needed and hit the oversize restriction. I slowed down to 25 and I swore my wife (Ex for a reason now!) was delivering a cow! She was also leaning forward into the mirror that I was using to keep it between the concrete barriers!! One of the only times I ever slightly raised my voice! My son was watching out the back window of the truck giving me distances and we managed to keep the boat between the concrete barriers they had erected at 11 feet apart. The boat was hanging above the barriers with the little orange blinking lights on every other one! My son said we were probably 2 inches OVER those blinking lights! I was NOT going to be denied a week at Priest! LOL!! I will confess that WAS a shorts changing moment! When we arrived at the lake the guy behind us was towing a normal sized boat and he couldn't believe how fast WE were going and how I managed to avoid hitting anything. He couldn't decide if he should watch us or his own boat, so he stopped just to see what we did. Once we were safely through he continued on. He caught me at the ramp and asked if we had been through it before. I said, "No, but I'm nervous about going back on Sunday!!" I was too! I pay closer attention to the map of restrictions that each state issues when you get your Oversized load permit!!
 
With the permits, pilots and restrictions change every year. There are roads this year that are a no go while last year were ok. And at 10'6", we have a couple roads that require a pilot car.

Roads are left to state/county regulations while interstates and highways are bound by federal regulations. Being private and non divisible loads, we dont need permits for the smaller roads. But if one is closed to over width and your on it, you can get a hefty ticket.

I asked about being private and needing a permit. Because permits are issued by third party, they couldn't answer. But holding a CDL A, I was advised to forget the private carrier stuff. I'm bound to federal laws anyways. So, I call before a trip to see if there is any changes. Fines for me are doubled and I choose to not pay them.
 
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