A rendezvous cruise to the San Juans, Gulf Islands and Desolation sound 2011

This will be a great trip. The heaving planning I'm sure will begin first of the year. D9ever are you going to join us?
 
Our initial plans are to trailer over 29 July and launch at Anacortes. Plan was to trailer back 7 August. I'm towing the 340 for the first time so it will be a challenge. 15,850# of boat and trailer with Dodge 3500 dually. A lot depends on wife's vacation schedule. We'll see if we can slide the date
 
We ran into the largest pod of Orcas off the NW tip of Stuart Island. Also shots of Fossil bay at Sucia

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D9ever said:
Our initial plans are to trailer over 29 July and launch at Anacortes. Plan was to trailer back 7 August. I'm towing the 340 for the first time so it will be a challenge. 15,850# of boat and trailer with Dodge 3500 dually. A lot depends on wife's vacation schedule. We'll see if we can slide the date
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Towing is a piece of cake! You're boat is only 6 inches wider than mine and it's really pretty easy! Too bad we can't coordinate the trip over and you could follow me and a friend from Hermiston in their boat. When you travel in packs, the folks in Bellevue give you more room! That's the only place it's ever been a problem is Bellevue! The rest of the trip is relaxing and easy, but at Bellevue I bend steering wheels and do all I can not to shoot people! They cut you off, pull in and slam on the brakes figuring you can stop as fast as they can. Not quite! Everytime we go through there, we seem to have one panic stop. I guess if you leave to large of an opening ahead of you considered safe stopping distance on I-405, they see it as an invitation to pull in and PARK!! :smt013 I'm thinking about avoid it all together next time!!

You won't have any problem towing. Take it easy on the Vantage grade and you've got it made! We stop in at Vantage on the way back to splash the boat and spend the night. It gives us an opportunity to run the boat in freshwater (We're not freshwater cooled!) and clean all the salt off off the boat while swimming. It also breaks up the trip home! Hopefully you can mesh you vacation to meet up with the rest of us. If not, maybe we'll see you out on LPO??
 
Sundancer said:
Towing is a piece of cake! You're boat is only 6 inches wider than mine and it's really pretty easy! Too bad we can't coordinate the trip over and you could follow me and a friend from Hermiston in their boat. When you travel in packs, the folks in Bellevue give you more room! That's the only place it's ever been a problem is Bellevue! The rest of the trip is relaxing and easy, but at Bellevue I bend steering wheels and do all I can not to shoot people! They cut you off, pull in and slam on the brakes figuring you can stop as fast as they can. Not quite! Everytime we go through there, we seem to have one panic stop. I guess if you leave to large of an opening ahead of you considered safe stopping distance on I-405, they see it as an invitation to pull in and PARK!! :smt013 I'm thinking about avoid it all together next time!!

You won't have any problem towing. Take it easy on the Vantage grade and you've got it made! We stop in at Vantage on the way back to splash the boat and spend the night. It gives us an opportunity to run the boat in freshwater (We're not freshwater cooled!) and clean all the salt off off the boat while swimming. It also breaks up the trip home! Hopefully you can mesh you vacation to meet up with the rest of us. If not, maybe we'll see you out on LPO??
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That would be great.
 
I towed a 4Winns 245 over the pass in 2000, on the way to Anacortes. I don't know where you launch but I investigated a launch site on Hwy 20 before you cross over the double bridge into Anacortes. I emailed them and they say it does get tighter for spots once crab season starts. The nice thing about this ramp is that you don't have to drive into Anacortes or Oak Harbor. I'm thinking of launching there.

http://www.skagitparksfoundation.org/swinomish.htm
 
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D9ever said:
I towed a 4Winns 245 over the pass in 2000, on the way to Anacortes. I don't know where you launch but I investigated a launch site on Hwy 20 before you cross over the double bridge into Anacortes. I emailed them and they say it does get tighter for spots once crab season starts. The nice thing about this ramp is that you don't have to drive into Anacortes or Oak Harbor. I'm thinking of launching there.

http://www.skagitparksfoundation.org/swinomish.htm
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I think Todd launches there? I've seen it, but I have a home made painted trailer and I'd rather keep it out of the salt water. So we have our boat lifted in at Cap Sante in Anacortes and park the truck there as well. It costs a little bit of money, but I don't have to worry about corrosion with the electric brakes or the rest of the trailer either.
 
D9ever said:
I towed a 4Winns 245 over the pass in 2000, on the way to Anacortes. I don't know where you launch but I investigated a launch site on Hwy 20 before you cross over the double bridge into Anacortes. I emailed them and they say it does get tighter for spots once crab season starts. The nice thing about this ramp is that you don't have to drive into Anacortes or Oak Harbor. I'm thinking of launching there.

http://www.skagitparksfoundation.org/swinomish.htm
Click to expand...

Sundancer said:
I think Todd launches there? I've seen it, but I have a home made painted trailer and I'd rather keep it out of the salt water. So we have our boat lifted in at Cap Sante in Anacortes and park the truck there as well. It costs a little bit of money, but I don't have to worry about corrosion with the electric brakes or the rest of the trailer either.
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Yeah. That's where I launch. I was there yesterday as a matter of fact. It's $75/year which pays for itself quickly. I like the launch and the only issue can be the tidal current running through there sometimes.
 
I'm sorry guys we are going to have to back out of this trip.... Do to an extreme change in unforeseen circumstances. Job loss.....
 
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James
I've sent a PM. There are about 20 boats planning to go at this point and I'm sure more to come. Anyone else interested send a PM and I'll give you the skinny.

The Bill Collector said:
I'm sorry guys we are going to have to back out of this trip.... Do to an extreme change in unforeseen in circumstances.
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Black180BR said:
Hope everything is ok!!
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Sorry to hear that Mark. I hope all is OK too. We'll see you on the water soon I hope.
 
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For those of you who don't want to get your trailer in salt water, Cap Sante Marine will launch your boat by lifting it off the trailer. They're great folks to work with.

Also, when towing why not follow I-82 from the Hermiston area up through the Yakima Valley then connect up with I-90 in Ellensburg? This way you avoid the looooooong uphill tow at Vantage.

I towed my 330 that way 3 years ago when we went to the San Juans and it made the trip easy.

Also, try to avoid Bellevue at a rush hour time. We hit it at rush hour on the way over but went through there earlier in the day on the way home. Much easier then.
 
I'm new here and saw this thread. I'll be in SJ in mid July and would like to meet up. Is there an itinerary? It looks like I need to send a PM to someone. However, I do not what that is. Any help?
 
Towed my 340 from N. Idaho to San Juans (Aug 11-20). Launched at Swonomish Channnel just prior to the twin bridges to Anacortes. Great time-no boat problems. Trailered over with 2 other boats
 
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