2008 Jul 18th-Aug 3rd Seattle/San Juan Island/BC Gulf REDZVS

[gengiant]

Got it ~ thanks!

 

[Nehalennia II]

Here's how Twin bridges does it
Twin Bridges Launch video

 

[gengiant]

Here's how Twin bridges does it
Twin Bridges Launch video

I like it! No worries about bunks (unless there isn't enough clearance for forks of the fork lift...

 

[Just Right]

Slings & Bunk Trailers

I am planning to strip and paint the trailer this winter. One thing I had planned on was to cut the width of the sling out of the bunks and bridge the gap by affixing another 2x8 or c-channel under the bunk. If I get really crazy, I might even have someone weld additional brackets and leave the sling slot completely open.

There's my two cents, and thanks for the change!

 

[gengiant]

Re: Slings & Bunk Trailers

I am planning to strip and paint the trailer this winter. One thing I had planned on was to cut the width of the sling out of the bunks and bridge the gap by affixing another 2x8 or c-channel under the bunk. If I get really crazy, I might even have someone weld additional brackets and leave the sling slot completely open.

There's my two cents, and thanks for the change!

JustRight,

We just had our trailer completely re-done by DHM trailers in Elk Grove. They took everything off, sandblasted the frame and axle, replaced the center bar at the front between the V, welded on a new heavy-duty jack stand, welded on 2 new tire mounts, re-wired everything, replaced all bunks with brand-new bunks and carpet, incl. the 12'long guide bunks on each side, and did a few other odds and ends. They finished it in some sort of industrial-duty finish to match the blue on the boat. The job came out FANTASTIC and likely extended the life of my trailer for years to come! :smt038 The whole job cost about $1,500....powder-coating the trailer would have been another $600 because they would have had to send the frame out to another shop. They did mention that they were looking to add that capability to their shop... Regardless, I can highly recommend them!

 

[Dave M.]

I had my boat put in two years ago at Cap Sante. They did not have an issue with it, and they don't ask about the trailer configuration when you make the reservation for the lift. They figure the guy running the lift will handle it. They had no problem with mine, and I have full length bunks. Actually, my bunks extend past the rear of the boat.

Trying to remember how they did it. I think they put the slings under the bunks and the boat, lifted it with the lift. Then blocked it, lowered it, and moved the slings above the bunks. It was obvious they do it all the time, but you do need to keep a watch out. They caught the sling under one of the front bunks on the trailer belonging to the guy I was with, and pulled out his carriage bolts on the front support. The guy operating the lift probably could not see under the boat when he was operating it.

That said, I would use them again. In the San Juans, my 270 was the smallest boat present in many places we were. So they are used to the 270 and larger. One thing you might consider is if they accept financial responsibility if they drop your boat. I don't know the answer.

 

[Dave M.]

Todd,

One of the things I might be interested in is a route that would allow me to "cut out" a few days early. I just don't know if I'll be able to be off for 3 weeks. :smt009

GG, one of the nice things about the start of the trip as Todd has proposed it is that you can delay your arrival a day or two without a major loss. If you catch up in Roche Harbor or Victoria, you will still get the value of the trip. The same might apply at the end, I am not familiar with the area up around Nanaimo.

 

[Nehalennia II]

Skyine's response to my inquiry on bunk trailers

We do launch boats with bunk trailers. It takes a little extra effort on the launch attendants. We charge an extra 5.00 for bunk trailers because of the time it takes at the launch. Hope that helps. You can view our prices at www.skylinemarinecenter.com.

Betty Childs
Skyline Marine Center
2011 Skyline Way
Anacortes, WA 98221
360-293-5134
360-293-7557 (fax)
betty@skylinemarinecenter.com

 

[gengiant]

Todd,

One of the things I might be interested in is a route that would allow me to "cut out" a few days early. I just don't know if I'll be able to be off for 3 weeks. :smt009

GG, one of the nice things about the start of the trip as Todd has proposed it is that you can delay your arrival a day or two without a major loss. If you catch up in Roche Harbor or Victoria, you will still get the value of the trip. The same might apply at the end, I am not familiar with the area up around Nanaimo.

Catching up with the gang a couple of days into the trip may be the way to go for us, giving us a chance to leave Sacramento either Friday after work or Saturday eeeeeeeaaaarly in the morning. The Friday pm option might be best, getting us maybe 4-5 hours closer right off the bat. We'll see as we get closer to next summer how this will all pan out, which group we'll be going with, and so on. To date, this group (and Todd) is certainly doing a great job of planning and putting this all together! :smt038

 

[Nehalennia II]

If it helps, I'd be willing to return to Washington Park or Skyline from Roche(or whereever we are- as long as we're not in Canada already) on the groups jaunt to Victoria to escort you from WA park to Victoria. From Skyline, once you leave the marina and get out of Burrows pass into the straight of Georgia, down to the straight of Juan De Fuca Victoria is a relatively straight shot.
Skyline Marina to Victoria

 

[gengiant]

If it helps, I'd be willing to return to Washington Park or Skyline from Roche(or whereever we are- as long as we're not in Canada already) on the groups jaunt to Victoria to escort you from WA park to Victoria. From Skyline, once you leave the marina and get out of Burrows pass into the straight of Georgia, down to the straight of Juan De Fuca Victoria is a relatively straight shot.
Skyline Marina to Victoria

Thanks Todd! That's awfully kind of you to offer. :thumbsup: I seriously doubt that this will be necessary, however. Even if we were to join the group from the outset, I'd be well-equiped with charts and a chart plotter, and would have each leg of the coming day planned well in advance. Though these will be unfamiliar waters for me, I think with some thought put into this ahead of time, coupled with the tons of experience and advice this group has to offer, we'd be able to catch up on our own.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

For those thinking of going on this trip, I'll post a couple of pics we took this past trip of some of the places we will visit. First one is a panoramic of Roche Harbor taken in front of the hotel. Laundry, heads and donut/coffee shop are in the green builings on the left. 110 foot ship to the right of that is the OR NOIR... have not found any info on it but it was a very nice boat... As you can see, lots of BIG boats.

This is a light house just outside of Roche on the northern tip of Stuart Island as we crossed the Haro Straits coming from Ganges, BC...

and this is of Victoria looking at the palace during the day while docked in front of the empress hotel. Note the water taxi int helower left. they go all over the harbor dropping off at different destinations. The hut at the foot of the ramp is the new marina check in booth:

 

[Nehalennia II]

Hey Doug
Great Shots.
I have heard that the owner of Or Noir (Black gold) is the guy that got the contract to pave Eastern WA. Black gold, - no kidding.

Vessel Name: OR NOIR USCG Doc. No.: 699218
Vessel Service: RECREATIONAL IMO Number: *
Trade Indicator: Recreational Call Sign: *
Hull Material: FRP (FIBERGLASS) Hull Number: *
Ship Builder: AZIMUT S.P.A. Year Built: 1986

Length (ft.): 105
Hailing Port: YAKIMA, WA Hull Depth (ft.): 12
Owner: SUPERIOR EQUIPMENT & LEASING CO
2000 E BEECH ST PO BOX 10147
YAKIMA, WA 98909 Hull Breadth (ft.): 23
Gross Tonnage: 194
Net Tonnage: 155
Documentation Issuance Date: May 17, 2007 Documentation Expiration Date: June 30, 2008

Previous Vessel Names: AVANTI
Previous Vessel Owners: No Vessel Owner Changes

 

[Dave M.]

Catching up with the gang a couple of days into the trip may be the way to go for us, giving us a chance to leave Sacramento either Friday after work or Saturday eeeeeeeaaaarly in the morning. The Friday pm option might be best, getting us maybe 4-5 hours closer right off the bat. We'll see as we get closer to next summer how this will all pan out, which group we'll be going with, and so on. To date, this group (and Todd) is certainly doing a great job of planning and putting this all together! :smt038

For you Sacramento guys, I have a comment on travel. I have made the trip up and down I5 from Portland to Paradise many times, and it is the same trip you have in the Oregon section. Now I make the trip from eastern OR, but still use I5 sometimes. If you are travelling to make miles, then you need an easy stop close to the freeway. If you are of a mind to use a free stop, then Wal-Mart is traveller friendly. They like to have you stay in their lots overnight, and you will normally have security lights and the company of a few others staying overnight.

RV parks don't like them doing this, as it takes away some of their business. If you just pick a town halfway up I5 in Oregon, you may well end up in a town that has passed a law that you cannot stay in a business parking lot overnight. So just picking a WalMart and heading for it is not a good idea there.

I would not be writing this if I did not have a solution. The place I have found works well is the Wal Mart in Cottage Grove. It is just a mile or two off the freeway on the east side. Lots of room in the lot, and they don't mind you staying.

It is 450 miles from Sac, a long pull for the evening, but otherwise fine. It puts you within 380 miles of Anacortes. I am farther than that from Anacortes, and I can leave here at 8 AM and be in Anacortes in time to catch the lift, put the boat in the water, and be at Friday Harbor by evening. So I am sure you could to the same from Cottage Grove.

For Spokane guys, don't make the mistake I made. I stopped to eat lunch in the boat at the top of Snoqualmie Pass, by the old log visitor center that has been there for decades. Unfortunately, I pulled up to the right of the building, where there was a large, clear, graveled lot. But in turning the trailer around in the gravel, I picked up a nail that wounded a tire, so I arrived at Anacortes needing a new tire. Better to keep the rig on the pavement if you stop at the top of the pass. There is plenty of space to park along the road, especially if you turn the rig around and point east. Then there is a dedicated long parking strip at the side of the road for trucks and trailers. It is a beautiful place to stop and eat, just don't ask for trouble like I did. :smt018

 

[gengiant]

For you Sacramento guys, I have a comment on travel. .....

Thanks Dave! The way I figured it, we'll take about 16-18 hours to reach Anacortes. If we want to launch in the early afternoon, we'll have to make up that "lost" half day of driving in the afternoon the evening before. But as you said yourself, if push comes to shove, this would indeed be doable in just 2 trip segments with a single overnighter.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[Nehalennia II]

**UPDATE**
Twin Bridges does not offer private haul-ins/outs or parking. Only for monthly/yearly storage renters.
Twin Bridges is adjacent to the Swinhomish Slough County Ramp, so I suggest we all shoot for Skyline, WA park (which are close together-and closest to the islands) or Cap Sante which is back in town.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Here is a photo of Deception Pass, on Whidbey as we head toward San Juan Islands. Capt Vancouver thought it was a short cut back to Europe...

Here is the back side of the enterance coming back from the San Juans in the fog from a different angle (Bridge is in front of us):

And here is a photo of the southern stantion of the bridge as we pass under

 

[Nehalennia II]

Great shots Doug!
For those of you that don't know,
Deception Pass bridge, considered the "Gateway to the San Juan's" connects Fidalgo Island(where Anacortes and Skyline are) and the Mainland to Whidbey Island. It's a very narrow passage and currents druing tidal change can flow as fast as 9 knots and can be volatile.
With the proposed path we won't need to go through here, but Skyline's a 15 minute boat ride north of here, so leaving from there it can be planned to run by if it's an attraction people want to see.

It's beautiful scenery for sure.

 

[Nehalennia II]

Here's a Couple Picutres of Jones Island, which is a State park and has been mentioned as a potential stop. It was one of my favorite stop as a kid.
My Brother Troy aka "Fun Tide"(1987 19' SeaRay Seville cuddy) took these. I'm hoping he can join us next year as well

 

[Nehalennia II]

I found a picture of my old 220OV when I launched it at Skyline.
Thought some of you may want to see it. It's a nice hauling facility.