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

[Dave M.]

I have two things I would put on a list as recommended reading for the San Juans. One is "San Juan Islands Cruising Atlas" by Evergreen Pacific. It has lots of info on where to go and not go, how to get through certain passes, and a lot of nice aerial photos; charts also. The second is a paperback book, "afoot & afloat - The San Juan Islands" by Marge and Ted Mueller. There is a lot of interesting reading in it, lots of info about what to do and see.

 

[Sundancer]

Time to talk anchors! What kind of anchor is recommended for the San Juans? I have a Danforth on the 250 DA and the 300 DA has a Plow type? Should I just "borrow" the anchor from the 250 DA or will the Plow work OK in the San Juans? I know I'll need a stern anchor, but I'm not sure what works or is recommended over there? So, I'll wait for some advice!

 

[Nehalennia]

Hey hey,
I found myself heading north for work today. I have a couple hours to kill so I drove by Washington park and just took a couple of pics with rainy skies but nice calm waters
......enjoy.......

Since this will be the starting place for many you can check out the ramp

 

[Nehalennia]

Hey hey,
I found myself heading north for work today. I have a couple hours to kill so I drove by Washington park and just took a couple of pics with rainy skies but nice calm waters.
This is looking West towards Thatcher Pass with Blakely and Orcas islands in the background
......enjoy.......

Since this will be the starting place for many you can check out the ramp

 

[gengiant]

Time to talk anchors! What kind of anchor is recommended for the San Juans? I have a Danforth on the 250 DA and the 300 DA has a Plow type? Should I just "borrow" the anchor from the 250 DA or will the Plow work OK in the San Juans? I know I'll need a stern anchor, but I'm not sure what works or is recommended over there? So, I'll wait for some advice!

Good question! Anyone know what type of bottom we'd typically be anchoring in?
__________________
GG

'Gypsy' of the Lunar Sea
1994 270DA

 

[Nehalennia]

Good question! Anyone know what type of bottom we'd typically be anchoring in?
__________________
GG

'Gypsy' of the Lunar Sea
1994 270DA

.
Sundancer and GG, we will more than likely be in both sandy and rocky anchorages. A stern anchor may be a good idea as well but also lots of line. The Danforth is what I had but the new boat I may get a plow or Bruce with a Danforth spare to stow.

 

[gengiant]

.
Sundancer and GG, we will more than likely be in both sandy and rocky anchorages. A stern anchor may be a good idea as well but also lots of line. The Danforth is what I had but the new boat I may get a plow or Bruce with a Danforth spare to stow.

Sounds like I am good to go! I've got a 28# Delta Quickset with 33' of chain and 330' of line running through a windlass on the bow, in addition to a Danforth on 20' of chain with 150' of line for my spare/stern anchor. (The reason my primary rode is so long is that we sometimes anchor in 80-100' depth off the coast to go scuba diving....).
__________________
GG

'Gypsy' of the Lunar Sea
1994 270DA

 

[Nehalennia]

Sounds like I am good to go! I've got a 28# Delta Quickset with 33' of chain and 330' of line running through a windlass on the bow, in addition to a Danforth on 20' of chain with 150' of line for my spare/stern anchor. (The reason my primary rode is so long is that we sometimes anchor in 80-100' depth off the coast to go scuba diving....).
__________________
GG

'Gypsy' of the Lunar Sea
1994 270DA

Oh yeah, you'll be just fine. I don't anticipate we'll anchor in any more than 75' or so

 

[thunderbird1]

With the number of people that have expressed interest in this trip, it would not surprise me if there are trips in following years. If that is the case, then we don't need to try and do it all in one year. I am concerned that the trip as presently outlined will only give one the "Executive Overview", at a significant outlay in fuel cost.

Dave M: Thank you for your suggestion. I agree that we should consider breaking the agenda up over a couple years, or in the alternative breaking the cruise into two parts (one for the fast crowd, one for those who prefer a slower pace, with some overlap). Perhaps the first year/first portion could focus on U.S. waters? This will be my first time boating in the Puget Sound and I'd love to have time to just wallow in the beauty. It won't hurt my feelings if we cruise for 20-40 miles, stop for 2 nights, cruise another 20-40 miles then stop again for 2 nights. Additionally, I prefer to maximize opportunities to tie up somewhere where there might be supplies, shower, bathrooms, fuel, pumpout and/or a restaurant so that my crew (wife + kids 5 and 11) can get off the boat to burn energy and explore. Just my 2 cents.

 

[gengiant]

Dave M: Thank you for your suggestion. I agree that we should consider breaking the agenda up over a couple years, or in the alternative breaking the cruise into two parts (one for the fast crowd, one for those who prefer a slower pace, with some overlap). Perhaps the first year/first portion could focus on U.S. waters? This will be my first time boating in the Puget Sound and I'd love to have time to just wallow in the beauty. It won't hurt my feelings if we cruise for 20-40 miles, stop for 2 nights, cruise another 20-40 miles then stop again for 2 nights. Additionally, I prefer to maximize opportunities to tie up somewhere where there might be supplies, shower, bathrooms, fuel, pumpout and/or a restaurant so that my crew (wife + kids 5 and 11) can get off the boat to burn energy and explore. Just my 2 cents.

As far as I'm concerned, you guys are on to something! Sign me up for the "wallow in the beauty" group!! (~;
__________________
GG

'Gypsy' of the Lunar Sea
1994 270DA

 

[Sundancer]

As far as I'm concerned, you guys are on to something! Sign me up for the "wallow in the beauty" group!! (~;
__________________
GG

'Gypsy' of the Lunar Sea
1994 270DA

Todd:

Can you suggest an alternative itinerary? Like starting after a few nights in Victoria for those of us that might want to stop and smell the roses, daisies, tulips and whatever else might be in bloom? We MIGHT even hit Butchart Gardens and smell some stuff there too. I know you've done the SJ's a million times and it's probably as exciting as going to the mall to shop for your kids school clothes, but for the rest of us, we'd kind of like to branch out and check out the islands rather than cruising through them. Again, I think two groups is asolutely fine. Especially after the first few nights. I know we'd all like to get acquainted with the whole group, but after that there is some dissension in the ranks! Maybe even suggest some places we should see? I think some of the group has been there before and they can chime in here too, so please do! I'm personally hoping to follow directly behind a boat with a REALLY nice chartplotter since I don't have one. Hopefully close enough to see it, but that might be pushing things!!

 

[Dave M.]

I''m going to post a bit here about Victoria, as it is perhaps the easiest. While staying at the waterfront park on your boat, here are some things you can do.

You can take the bus and visit Butchart Gardens and the Butterfly Gardens. You can tour around the Harbour on the Victoria Harbour Ferry. You can visit the Royal London Wax Museum, and tour the Parliament Building, You can visit the Royal BC Museum, which is very close to where the boats are docked, or the Maritime Museum of BC.

This is in addition to all the activities that take place on the waterfront during the afternoon and evening hours. People watching is great fun here. You can also seek out a nice place to go for high tea. Two or three nights might be in order here, possibly depending on whether you go to Butchart from here via the bus or make a special boat trip up around the Saanich peninsula and back down to Brentwood or Butchart.

For Todd or anyone to offer an alternate itinerary, we will have to speak up about what our interests are, and what our crew members needs are.

 

[Sundancer]

Butchart sounds good, so does the Wax museum. People watching is a great way to fill in the gaps especially from the boat looking up! I know there will be other things like the aquarium that my daughter will want to hit, despite that fact that it may not be as good as the one at the pier in Seattle. I know there will be a lot of stuff and I'd go for a minimum of two nights, but would prefer three I think. It would be fun to boat to Butchart Gardens, but if it's tough to get moorage or a difficult place to anchor, the bus will work!

It would be really cool if some of the other folks got a moorage and they could radio us so we could sneak in and take it before they actually leave!! We could even raft a few boats together there on a mooring ball!

OK, so Lopez, Roche, then two/three nights at Victoria! What's next?

 

[Dave M.]

It would be really cool if some of the other folks got a moorage and they could radio us so we could sneak in and take it before they actually leave!! We could even raft a few boats together there on a mooring ball!

This thought just occurred to me last night also. There must be some etiquette involved; if you are just cutting to the front of the line because you have a friend there, it could be an issue. My wife is a nurse, and would willing bandage your broken nose! If you are just joining some boats that are rafted up, and one or two leave, then that is different. But it is something to think about, and maybe a way to handle the 'crowd' if too many boats are involved.

I am not an expert with mooring balls, so don't know how many boats can reasonably attach to a single ball. I think at Butchart's little bay, three would be easy. Maybe four? You will be tied off to eyes on the bank, as Go Aweigh as indicated.

OK, so Lopez, Roche, then two/three nights at Victoria! What's next?

Considering it is scheduled for a 2 week trip, if some of us stay in the San Juans and don't go north, then maybe we are hitting Victoria too quickly. Most of the locations are small towns with nice marinas or anchoring out in some nice place to expore. Victoria is the opposite, it is a large city atmosphere. You will likely spend most of the time off the boat, seeing the sights. The boat will just be a home base to take a nap or grab a bite to eat, or just rest. So from that point of view, it would make a nice break in the middle of the trip for those needing a break.

So maybe a rough float plan would say head west via the south side of Orcas Island for 4-5 days, then Victoria for a few, then turn around and head back east, maybe going the north side of Orcas Island and hitting Jones Island, Sucia Island, and whatever.

I would recommend getting a copy of Canadian chart # 3462. It covers all the area from Anacortes to Victoria, and well north of Orcas and Sucia Islands. It includes North and South Pender Islands. It is a nice planning/overview chart; about 3 feet high by 4 feet wide.

 

[smanier]

I have access to two mooring bouys at Fishermans Bay in Lopez Island, aslo connections to get reservation at the Islander. Todd, if you need help with that part let me know.

The bouys at buchart gardens have a posted limit based on size. We spent a night on a bouy at Buchart Gardens and it was one of the nicest nights of our two week trip last August.

Sydney Marina and Sydney Spit are aslo worthy of a stopover.

 

[Dave M.]

I have stopped for an hour to two at Sidney Marina. Looks like a good place to wash clothes. I did not know anything about Sidney Spit, so looked it up. Found it on Google. Doing some playing around last night, I found I could get a full screen Google image with a bit or work. So I took some screenshots. Here is on of the whole San Juans plus Anacortes and Victoria. I have annotated some places to visit, or consider visiting. Click on the map to get the full size one. I expect you will need to scroll it to see the full detail. I wanted to get as much relevant map as possible into one image. Other info can be added to the image if requested. If you have a 'must see' place that you would like included, let me know.

I agree that the overnight I spent at Butchart Cove was also one of the best on the trip I took two years ago. It is very calm, and the stars are bright at night if the weather is good.



__

 

[Sundancer]

OK, so no sneaking in and stealing a bouy! I could use an adjustment on my nose, but there are probably easier ways to get it done!! It's a LONG way around the point just for the one night, so it might be easier to stay in Victoria and ride the bus up anyway?

The Google map looks great. If we just go with all the stops, plus Sydney Spit and marina that should wipe out the full two weeks! Anything we don't hit, we'll have to come back and do the following year.

 

[smanier]

I agree with Sundancer, there are enough nice stops to make on this trip that someone will just have to make an iternary that last two weeks.

One advantage of Sydney Marina is that it is very close to a large grocery store and has a large laundry facility (did I mention that I have five girls).

BTW, we will be travelling with 2 -5 kids. The older ones won't last for two weeks so we will send them to Grandma's at Lopez Island for most of the trip.

The 7 and 10 YO girls will accompany my wife and I for the whole trip. It sounds like they will have lots of kids to keep them company.

 

[Sundancer]

Laundry! Good point Smanier! Two to five kids!?!?! Where do they sleep and can I go to Grandma's too??

I'm guessing we'll have laundry facilities at most marina's? Do we need to plan a laundry stop every 4th or 5th day? I certainly don't want to pack a weeks worth or even two weeks worth of clothes for the trip.

While I'm here...... Is the pistol flare gun allowed in Canada?? I vaguely recall something about that earlier in this post or another one. I have the other type of flares, but figured I ask the question before I get there and have to explain why I have a 12 gauge "pistol"!! (Yes, I know it can't handle a real load!!)

Is it time to start packing yet? What time do I need to leave Spokane and who's caravaning over with me?

 

[Dave M.]

While I'm here...... Is the pistol flare gun allowed in Canada?? I vaguely recall something about that earlier in this post or another one. I have the other type of flares, but figured I ask the question before I get there and have to explain why I have a 12 gauge "pistol"!! (Yes, I know it can't handle a real load!!)

Information here about entering via boat. There is a dock and a reporting phone to use in Victoria. We need to make the location known. I think it is here, the long skinny dock that extends to the left in the middle of the map, above the float planes. Someone who really knows please correct me if I am wrong.

What time do I need to leave Spokane and who's caraveening over with me?

"caraveening" :smt101 Oh, I mis-read what you wrote. I had this image of a 300 DA .... Well, never mind....