Inside Passage Experience?

Mark in Utah

New Member
Apr 30, 2018
7
Boat Info
18' Gulfstream, 85 hp outboard. The "Little Rubber Ducky." Tow with Chevy Silverado 2500.
Engines
85 hp Johnson.
Has anyone here made the Inside Passage trip, from Tacoma to Juneau? I've been wanting to do this when I retire in a few years, but I haven't heard of many people doing this. I grew up in the PNW fishing for salmon out of Ilwaco every summer. Made lots of trips over the bar. Even surfed my uncle's 27' CC back in one day when the tide turned against us. Rough water doesn't scare me, but I highly respect it. Want to make this more of a comfortable, leisurely trip. This would partly be getting back to my roots.

Rough plans:
310 to 340 Sundancer. Would like the 8.1 engines for more umph if I need it. V-drive.
At least a 175 mile range, preferrable 200 miles. Conflict with the above. Options for the longer legs?
Have a small dinghy on the back.
The wife and I, with another couple or grandkids sharing part of the trip.
Early to mid June to early September.
Hopping from village to village, cove to cove up and back. Subsistence fishing/crabbing along the way.
Longest hop would probably be from Campbell River to Port Hardy, 127 miles. It's another 120 miles to Bella Bella, the next reasonable stop.
Probably travel 2600 miles during the entire summer. Burn tons of gas.
Really get "work" out of my mind.

Complications:
Trailering. Long term, need to haul whatever boat I get from Utah to Tacoma, and then back to Utah, and eventually the gulf. Ya, it's going to be a beast no matter what I get.
Would like to use a smaller boat (save gas & trailering), however a smaller boat would not be as liveable, nor would it handle the rough water as well. My sweet wife is adverse to rough water, even though she grew up on the gulf.

Thoughts? Experiences?
 
Sounds great... Why launch in Tacoma ?
Tacoma's the bottom end of the Sound. The trip from there to Seattle and the San Juans would be a good way to shake out any problems before heading to the never-never lands north. That's my thought anyway.
 
Olympia is the southern end.... Swantown Marina has large launching ramps. I saw semi trucks from Portland OR. launching mid 30's there.
 
This is a trip I want to make.

Will do it on a charter with NW Yachts flotilla. Probably going to be a couple of years, I can't be away from work that long right now.

We have used NW Yachts several times for exploring the San Juan Islands.

I really like their approach. Their boats are extremely well maintained. There is a lead boat with their captain, a naturist (which takes turns riding with you), and most importantly a mechanic. The lead boat is also loaded with spare parts for all the boats in the Flotilla.

I used to have a 340 - IMO one of the best boats ever built by SR. But not sure I would want to be on one with 3 other people for weeks at a time.

Lot of information on their website.

www.nwexplorations.com/

Each person has their own boat. They are flexible on cruising - if you want to go a different route for a day or two, that's fine. You don't have to travel in a single file line.

They do this every year. Compare the cost to what it costs to trailer the boat back and forth.
 
"I used to have a 340 - IMO one of the best boats ever built by SR. But not sure I would want to be on one with 3 other people for weeks at a time."

The intent is that for a lot of the trip it'd be just my wife and I. For about a week at a time we'd have one of our kids and their spouse, and for a week or two at a time with one or two lucky grandkids.

I figure that for just the wife and I with the occasional visitors during the trip it'd work fine. Plus if we stopped at a bigger town (relatively speaking) we'd probably stay in a local hotel or cabin, catch up on our laundry, resupply the kitchen, and see the sights.
 
I may be way off base here (wouldn't be the first time)

My interpretation of your first post was that you are an experienced boater, but had not spent long periods living on a boat. If I am mistaken - sorry my mistake - ignore my points.

We routinely spend 2 weeks at a time on a boat out of state. So there is no running back to the house in the middle.

Long distance cruises are different than 50-60 mile day or overnight trips.

For me, spending that amount of time on that size of boat would be challenging - even if it was just my wife and I. Kinda starts to feel cramped day 2 or 3.

You mentioned taking the boat eventually to the Gulf? Are you talking about Gulf of Mexico?

Reason I pose the question is to offer something to consider. I am not sure that Utah would be the best place to buy a boat like this. I am not familiar with the market there, but I would imagine you would find a much better selection either other parts of the country or in a coastal area.

Back to my point - take the trip on a charter - then buy your boat where you want it to be long term.

I have cruised from Tacoma up into Canada. Tacoma to Bellingham you can do in 2-4 days easy depending on cruise speed. A 340 with 8.1's could make it in a day and half if you ran it at cruise and burned some gas.

Reason I mention that is to bring up the point, no way I would consider that short segment as a shake down on a boat I just bought that I was taking on the inside passage to Alaska.

We are prepping for a cruise leaving in late June. By the time we come back in the fall we will have covered approx. 2500 miles. This is a boat I have been running for 6 months, so have some idea of overall condition. Just thinking about the amount of activities that I am working on to get ready. We are going up the Atlantic coast, so we will never be far from mechanics and parts. Still the amount of work to get ready for the trip is significant. You are cruising along a largely desolate coast for a large portion of the journey. For me, shake down of a couple of days on a boat I just bought wouldn't be enough.

OK - I am calmed down ... So sorry if I sound "preachy". You were asking for input - and I offered my opinion.

I offer the comments as someone wanting to answer your questions. Offered in a "helpful" perspective not attacking your plans.

You are dead on correct about being on the water cruising will get your mind off the work world. Seems like the only time I escape work - is on the boat going somewhere.

Lot of help here on this site - so I will shut up and let others speak...

Fun trip - big part of the fun is the planning...

Mark
 
There's a member named "northern" on here who I believe does Vancouver to Alaska and back every year.

This sounds like a dream trip, but I'm not sure I'd want to do it on my 340. I'd prefer something with better range, closed cockpit, and more efficient. Something like a Sabre 48 like Tman's would be the perfect boat for a trip like this IMO.
 
Listen to Football Fan.... Any boat that you could feasibly tow from Utah to the Seattle-Tacoma area is not going to be comfortable enough to house 4 people for anything more than 1 overnight. You mentioned a 310 to 340 as possible boats. You're talking 11-14,000 lbs. + trailer. That's over 800 miles one-way with some steep mountain passes thrown in. Next you're talking about cruising over 1000 nautical miles, again, one-way. In a gasoline powered boat? Just the fuel alone from Utah to the Sound and then the Sound to Alaska would pay for your charter. As I said above, that trip should be in a diesel-powered boat and something with a cabin and preferably a flybridge.

I grew up in Seattle and cruised the Sound extensively. Weather can be unpredictable; stuff floating in the water can be trip altering. A boat with a cabin and a flybridge increases your chances of seeing something in the water early enough to avoid it and a boat with a cabin can make things more pleasant when the weather turns bad. BUT....that kind of boat prevents you from towing. (Yes I know, there are many express-type boats cruising the NW waters every day. However, the OP is talking about a 2000+ mile cruise in what can sometimes be not-so-great conditions)

I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm but unless you have lots of disposable income and a great amount of time, I think there are better ways to approach this. I think you would even be better off to buy a boat in the NW, take your trip and then sell it after. Remember, you asked....
Shawn
 
I used to have a 340 - IMO one of the best boats ever built by SR. But not sure I would want to be on one with 3 other people for weeks at a time.

Lot of information on their website.

www.nwexplorations.com/

That sure looks like a trip I need to start saving for now. With a captain and mechanic with you it sounds like the perfect way to do it.
 
I may be way off base here (wouldn't be the first time)

"My interpretation of your first post was that you are an experienced boater, but had not spent long periods living on a boat. If I am mistaken - sorry my mistake - ignore my points.

You mentioned taking the boat eventually to the Gulf? Are you talking about Gulf of Mexico?
....
Reason I mention that is to bring up the point, no way I would consider that short segment as a shake down on a boat I just bought that I was taking on the inside passage to Alaska.

We are prepping for a cruise leaving in late June. By the time we come back in the fall we will have covered approx. 2500 miles. This is a boat I have been running for 6 months, so have some idea of overall condition. Just thinking about the amount of activities that I am working on to get ready. We are going up the Atlantic coast, so we will never be far from mechanics and parts. Still the amount of work to get ready for the trip is significant. You are cruising along a largely desolate coast for a large portion of the journey. For me, shake down of a couple of days on a boat I just bought wouldn't be enough.
...
Fun trip - big part of the fun is the planning...

Mark
I used to have a 44' house boat on Lake Powell, a great place for family vacations BTW. Ran it for 19 years. Typically stayed in a remote canyon on a sandy beach, 10-15 miles from the marina with nobody around us. 80 degree water. ~90 miles from Bullfrog Marina to Wahweep marina, and 1800 miles of shoreline. Not the same as what I'm talking about here I know. More like driving a big barge in tight maneuvering areas. Rough water is more like a 5' chop, tightly spaced waves with +70 mph winds along the main channel. Became an anchoring fanatic, as late summer thunderstorms and micro-bursts are common.

Looking at buying the boat at least 2 years before the Inside Passage trip, running it on Powell for about a month at a time and working out the kinks there.

Yep, talking about the Gulf of Mexico. My wife's a Pensacola girl. We'll probably moor around Destin after the Inside Passage trip and then run all along the Florida gulf coast, and down into the Keys. Keep a small home on shore.

Your 2500 mile trip sounds like fun!

You're right, the BC coast is pretty remote. If I have an engine break down along the way, worst case I could be almost 250 miles to the nearest large full-service marina. I wouldn't relish having to limp that far on one engine to get the boat pulled out. Let's just say everything would have to be perfect before I head out.
 
Has anyone here made the Inside Passage trip, from Tacoma to Juneau? I've been wanting to do this when I retire in a few years, but I haven't heard of many people doing this. I grew up in the PNW fishing for salmon out of Ilwaco every summer. Made lots of trips over the bar. Even surfed my uncle's 27' CC back in one day when the tide turned against us. Rough water doesn't scare me, but I highly respect it. Want to make this more of a comfortable, leisurely trip. This would partly be getting back to my roots.

Rough plans:
310 to 340 Sundancer. Would like the 8.1 engines for more umph if I need it. V-drive.
At least a 175 mile range, preferrable 200 miles. Conflict with the above. Options for the longer legs?
Have a small dinghy on the back.
The wife and I, with another couple or grandkids sharing part of the trip.
Early to mid June to early September.
Hopping from village to village, cove to cove up and back. Subsistence fishing/crabbing along the way.
Longest hop would probably be from Campbell River to Port Hardy, 127 miles. It's another 120 miles to Bella Bella, the next reasonable stop.
Probably travel 2600 miles during the entire summer. Burn tons of gas.
Really get "work" out of my mind.

Complications:
Trailering. Long term, need to haul whatever boat I get from Utah to Tacoma, and then back to Utah, and eventually the gulf. Ya, it's going to be a beast no matter what I get.
Would like to use a smaller boat (save gas & trailering), however a smaller boat would not be as liveable, nor would it handle the rough water as well. My sweet wife is adverse to rough water, even though she grew up on the gulf.

Thoughts? Experiences?
Sounds like a great idea to me. Buy a less expensive boat and pay what it costs for gas. I have a 310SA 2000 and wouldn't hesitate to do a trip like that. I am in the PNW and boat a lot around here. As luck would have it, I am selling my boat and you could use it for the trip and tow it home. I am in Victoria,BC.
 
Sounds like a great idea to me. Buy a less expensive boat and pay what it costs for gas. I have a 310SA 2000 and wouldn't hesitate to do a trip like that. I am in the PNW and boat a lot around here. As luck would have it, I am selling my boat and you could use it for the trip and tow it home. I am in Victoria,BC.

Unfortunately, I'm not quite ready to buy the new boat! A 310 is just a little more cramped in the kitchen/dining area. Still plenty of room for a couple, but I think my wife (and I) would enjoy the extra room, especially with guests.
 
There's a member named "northern" on here who I believe does Vancouver to Alaska and back every year.

This sounds like a dream trip, but I'm not sure I'd want to do it on my 340. I'd prefer something with better range, closed cockpit, and more efficient. Something like a Sabre 48 like Tman's would be the perfect boat for a trip like this IMO.
I have a 2000 340DA. We trailer it from the Spokane, WA area to Anacortes every year in August launching at the Twin Bridges at Swinomish Channel. We spend 3 weeks in in the San Juans and up into Canada. We have been as far North as Campbell River and Desolation Sound. We have been doing this for 19 years. I have enclosed a shot taken at anchor in Melanie Cove, Desolation Sound BC
DSCN2067.jpg
DSCN2109.jpg
 
I have a 2000 340DA. We trailer it from the Spokane, WA area to Anacortes every year in August launching at the Twin Bridges at Swinomish Channel. We spend 3 weeks in in the San Juans and up into Canada. We have been as far North as Campbell River and Desolation Sound. We have been doing this for 19 years. I have enclosed a shot taken at anchor in Melanie Cove, Desolation Sound BCView attachment 65591View attachment 65592

Awesome ..we are also headed back to Desolation Sound this summer. We also spend lots of time in the San Juan’s and Gulf Islands. Love it. Here’s our video from DS his past year:

 
Awesome ..we are also headed back to Desolation Sound this summer. We also spend lots of time in the San Juan’s and Gulf Islands. Love it. Here’s our video from DS his past year:



Such a amazing place to boat.It is 1005 polar opposite of Lake Powell where we boat.

One day I will do a charter up there.
 
Such a amazing place to boat.It is 1005 polar opposite of Lake Powell where we boat.

One day I will do a charter up there.

And I would love to boat where you guys boat one day. You’re right ..it’s very different but also very beautiful.
 

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