Cruising the NW questions

MikeF

New Member
Jul 8, 2012
11
Arizona
Boat Info
1984 270 Sundancer
Twin 5.7 Mercruiser
Ford F250 Turbo Diesel
Engines
Twin 5.7 Mercruiser
Hello All,
I'm a new member in the Phoenix area. I'm thinking about a trip the the NW area maybe the San Juan Islands or the Inside passage and would like to know the best time of year for cruising.
Also, any members that make the trip from Arizona, what is the trip like towing a big boat?
Are there any planed rendezvous?

Thanks

Mike
[h=2][/h]
 
Mike, we have a friend who lives in Scottsdale who towed his 260 Sundancer up to WA several years ago for a couple week cruise. He said it was a piece of cake. I'd probably inclined to come up through Las Vegas, Salt Lake, Boise, etc. because it's all freeway. If you go through Vegas, Jackpot, etc., there are some pretty long stretches where there ain't nuffin around. If you have a break down out there you could be sitting for awhile.

I've driven both routes (we have a place in Surprise) and have towed out 19' boat down the Jackpot route.

The San Juans are beautiful and a great place to cruise. You'll want to make sure you have up to date charts and a current chip for your GPS. All those islands look exactly the same when you're on the water and without a good GPS you'll get lost/aground, etc,

Where do you boat in the PHX area?
 
Come now. Between now and the end of Sept. is perfect.
 
We leave this Friday for two weeks starting in the San Juans and then into the Canadian Gulf Islands..... Nothing else on the planet like it !!!
 
I have a great google map kmz file(s) that you could download and load up on google earth (free). Describes many of the San Juan area marina's, etc. Also near the top of the page is a food packing guide that keeps getting updated if you want to save room and weight of packing. Aug/Sep are awesome up here...

Look on left side of page, first column, last item... Says Desolation Sound kmz file but includes San Juans and some of our favorite Vancouver Island marinas too. If you have google earth, it will automatically load up the map info...

http://www.doug-cook.com/cruise.htm
 
My wife and I leave on July 30 for our annual 3 week trip to Desolation Sound and the Gulf islands. No planned itinerary we decide each morning where to go that day. There are some photos of some of our trips in the link in my signature.
 
To do the inside passage it is too late as fog rolls in August. Locals call it Foggest and we have seen days where you could not see 10 feet in front of the boat. Golf Island and San Juans are nice and will be warm 22c or so this time of year.
In Canada there are some logs in the water. Easy to spot but watch for them. Fill up in US before entering Canada gas is $8 a gallon. Buy a book called the Wagener it will list and describe all the places you want to go and give you cell numbers to all the marinas. Your cell phone will work in all areas. Wind is light most of the time. Washington has a lot of state parks with dock and moring bouys. Canada has bouys also. When you get the Wagener look up Bouchard Gardens and Tod Inlet. Entering Canada the custom people will make you go to a dock and wait for them. We normally reenter Canada at Sidney. From the San Juans there is not much open water to cross. No apples, charies, potatos allowed from the US or going back to the US. By your beer in the US as it is less. You are allowed 24 cans per adult.
 
take your passports.....the border isn't like it used to be.....
 

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