2007 Plans? Let's hear 'em!

[Sundancer]

For most of us in the Northwest the 2006 boating season is over. :smt089 So we might as well start planning our trips for next year. What's on your charts for next year? Twice we've gotten all fired up to go to Lake Chelan and then so does the lake! So maybe this year we'll make it! Flathead in Montana is on the books since some friends of ours returned to Whitefish. That will take care of one long weekend and half a week! Now I have to fill that with something else! Maybe Hungry Horse Reservoir or the north end of Lake Roosevelt? What great spot in the NW are you headed to next Summer?

 

[Chris989]

Well since we're moored in the water here in Seattle, we try for a few winter cruises too. If we have a decent forecasted weekend, will probably scoot down to Olympia. No crowds, cool Farmer's Market, etc.

Other than that, San Juan / Canadian Gulf Islands this summer, the occasional weekender to Port Orchard or Poulsbo. We usually try to get over to Hood Canal sometime in March / April to take advantage of the openings for shrimping.

Best of all, it looks like we're next in line for a boat-house at our marina so I can 'play' on the weekends even if it is pouring!!

So how about you - any plans on coming over to the Sound?

 

[Sundancer]

I was trying to convince the family we could drag the boat over the pass for Spring break and head to the San Juans, but I get strange looks when I mention it. I don't know if it will fly or not? I think we'll drag the trailer over the pass instead of the boat and watch the boats from the shore. We're actually headed over this weekend to look at boats too. Don't see us buying anything, but you never know! The San Juans sound good though!

 

[Chris989]

Even if it is not for Spring Break, here are some photos of Roche Harbor and San Juan Island this last July. Plenty do do. The Admiral and crew could perhaps be cajoled!

 

[Sundancer]

Roche Harbor is high on the list! Some friends of our live a few blocks away and her parents used to own and run the resort there! I guess we need to pick the week and just GO! No more messing around and just git r done! I'm nervous because we don't have fresh water cooling and our boat has never been in salt water! I know, I know we'll flush it thoroughly and no one will ever know! I'm still nervous though!

Great pictures and it does look like a great place to visit and there are all sorts of things to do all through the islands.

 

[Dave M.]

I was trying to convince the family we could drag the boat over the pass for Spring break and head to the San Juans,

Any idea if it would be rainy weather then? I would like to make it to the San Juans next year too. It would also be fun to poke around the Seattle-Tacoma-Poulsbo area, but I don't know where to go there really. I have been to the San Juans, and could find my way around there now with the chartplotter.

Lake Chelan would be fun too, it it were not on fire!

 

[mrtopknight]

We plan on trailering down to the Keys, getting a room with a slip, and playing on the boat.

 

[Dave M.]

We plan on trailering down to the Keys, getting a room with a slip, and playing on the boat.

I think I could enjoy something like that. Is it far?

 

[Chris989]

I was trying to convince the family we could drag the boat over the pass for Spring break and head to the San Juans,

Any idea if it would be rainy weather then? I would like to make it to the San Juans next year too. It would also be fun to poke around the Seattle-Tacoma-Poulsbo area, but I don't know where to go there really. I have been to the San Juans, and could find my way around there now with the chartplotter.

Lake Chelan would be fun too, it it were not on fire!

Lake Chelan is great. Weather in San Juans is USUALLY better than in Puget Sound proper as they sit in kind of a Banana Belt. However, it is the Pacific Northwest and early July can be iffy at times. Mid July to end of August you're usually pretty safe that the weather will be fine.

Seattle / Tacoma / Poulsbo area can be a great crusing area as well. Relatively short runs and plenty of amenities and services. Main thing to consider, if you're not used to crusing in this area is that there is a 12' tidal range which results in some wicked currents in some areas and can cause some nasty seas in locations where the current can occasionally run againts an opposing stiff breeze. I always recommend that people know and understand current tables.

 

[mrtopknight]

I think I could enjoy something like that. Is it far?

I live in Lake Mary, FL. (about 15 min. north of Orlando) and it's about a 5-6 hr. drive from here depending on which Key you go to.

Are you thinking about trailering from OR. ?

 

[Chris989]

With the weather we've been having, trailering to Florida isn't that far-fetched to me right now... Hmmmm. If I leave this afternoon at 5:00 - oh, need to go buy a trailer first...

 

[Dave M.]

It would be in interesting trip, but I think too far. I also would be totally clueless about boating in that area. I did do a check on how long it might take to get to Land Between the Lakes, think it was about 4 fairly long days.

I get an urge from time to time to try and travel with the boat like I do with the 5th wheel. But the boat systems don't work well out of water, so it means finding water to stay in each night. In Washington State that is not too hard. But headed towards the midwest I think it would be much harder. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has done it.

Traveling with a group doing this might be fun.

 

[Sundancer]

We've camped on our boat prior to owning a travel trailer and the only real difficulty was climbing up the swim step to get in and out! Four of us were able to go two nights easy without putting it in the water. The only discomfort was having to pour water from the sink down the toilet to flush it. Next time we'll buy a hose to use or add a bladder tank to the toilet line to keep it separate from the drinking water and allow us to flush easier. I think figuring out a way to dump the head would be a huge plus. We don't have a Y valve, so it has to be sucked out somehow. I suppose I could buy a macerator pump and drop a hose down the pumpout and just run the other end to an RV dump. I suppose it could run off a 12 plug? Hmm, how much is a macerator??

 

[Dave M.]

I would not mind climbing in and out too much. The problem that I have is that the sinks and shower drain overboard. I don't think most camping places would appreciate that. Or WalMart!

And lack of water to operate the head is an issue, I had not thought about just dumping in water. I think my holding tank would last for several days, long enough I could pump it out at a pumping station assuming I knew where to find them. Not sure I have room for a macerator, a lot of my space that would normally be free is taken up with house batteries. Wait, now I have re-read your post and understand you are talking about a portable macerator pump setup. That might work. RV pump out stations are normally pretty easy to find when you are on the road. I don't know what a Y valve is in this application. Is there a standard one for holding tank use?

Is this starting to sound like a can-bote project? Where's Frank?

From here it is a long one-day pull to Lake Shasta. But from there it is not to far to Sacramento. I understand you can tie up by old town there? I know nothing about that, other than what others have hinted at here.

Of course, there are closer destinations, such as Lake Chelan, or the lower Columbia.

 

[thunderbird1]

As our boat is staying in the water this winter, I'm hoping to take a few short cruises to a nearby island (Government Island) for a relaxing overnight -- we have a generator. I've added a few extra gallons of pink to the fresh water holding tank (when winterizing the fresh water system), so that my family can use the head when the temperature drops below freezing.

I'm hoping that having access to my boat to visit on weekends, coupled with attending the Portland and Seattle boat shows will help me cope until March.

 

[mrtopknight]

I have a 40' RV and camp a couple times a year. To tell you the truth we never use the shower, tolet or sinks. We just get a site close to the restrooms, and use paper products. :thumbsup:

 

[Sundancer]

Thunderbird1, your post makes me REAL nervous! Tell me it's a typo or that at LEAST you have a separate freshwater tank the feeds ONLY the toilet or a special valve to keep the critters from climbing up the toilet into the freshwater system! I'm amazed at what prior owners do without understanding the modifications!

Topknight: So you've never camped in your boat onland? Bummer! You should try it sometime! Personally, I'd rather shower in my own RV than use a public shower! You don't know where those showers have been! Most of the places I've been are well, sub par though rated much higher. Besides, I wouldn't want to meet people walking to the shower that haven't HAD a shower yet! I certainly wouldn't want to cause someone else's heart attack by showing my bedhead and stubble! Funny though, I know people that absolutely refuse to use the head on their boat for the same reason. They'd rather break into Fort Knox than use their toilet. To each his own I guess!

When we camped on our boat, I just redirected the waste water into a milk jug that I emptied periodically at the waste water sites. It looks kind of silly draining overboard, but many campers just toss out their dishwater too. We don't have a shower, so it's just handwashing and dishes that we collected.

 

[thunderbird1]

Thunderbird1, your post makes me REAL nervous! Tell me it's a typo or that at LEAST you have a separate freshwater tank the feeds ONLY the toilet or a special valve to keep the critters from climbing up the toilet into the freshwater system! I'm amazed at what prior owners do without understanding the modifications!

We've made no modifications to the factory install, A single fresh water tank feeds the entire fresh water system, including the head. There is a Vacuflush system between the toilet and waste tank, which I assume functions to keep critters from moving upstream (the water system is under pressure). In any event, we don't drink from our fresh water system.

 

[lorenbennett]

Thinking about going over to Channel island marina and cruising the channel islands then going south ending at dana point. Then over to Catalina island or down to ensanada mexico, depending on which Marinemax getaway is around the time we are in california. We only live about 4 hours from the coast in the hot spot of the nation, Bullhead city, Arizona. Yah its a dry heat :thumbsup:

 

[Sundancer]

Thunderbird: Vacuflush! That's one of those new fangled things! Yep, that will take care of you and prevent that break in your freshwater system! PHEW!! I should have known!

Where is Government Island? Is it upstream or downstream from the Airport on the Columbia river? I hear about it all the time, but I don't have a clue where it is. Does it have a sandy beach to pull up and spend the weekend or are there docks? Hiking?