Mark in Utah
New Member
- Apr 30, 2018
- 7
- Boat Info
- 18' Gulfstream, 85 hp outboard. The "Little Rubber Ducky." Tow with Chevy Silverado 2500.
- Engines
- 85 hp Johnson.
Has anyone here made the Inside Passage trip, from Tacoma to Juneau? I've been wanting to do this when I retire in a few years, but I haven't heard of many people doing this. I grew up in the PNW fishing for salmon out of Ilwaco every summer. Made lots of trips over the bar. Even surfed my uncle's 27' CC back in one day when the tide turned against us. Rough water doesn't scare me, but I highly respect it. Want to make this more of a comfortable, leisurely trip. This would partly be getting back to my roots.
Rough plans:
310 to 340 Sundancer. Would like the 8.1 engines for more umph if I need it. V-drive.
At least a 175 mile range, preferrable 200 miles. Conflict with the above. Options for the longer legs?
Have a small dinghy on the back.
The wife and I, with another couple or grandkids sharing part of the trip.
Early to mid June to early September.
Hopping from village to village, cove to cove up and back. Subsistence fishing/crabbing along the way.
Longest hop would probably be from Campbell River to Port Hardy, 127 miles. It's another 120 miles to Bella Bella, the next reasonable stop.
Probably travel 2600 miles during the entire summer. Burn tons of gas.
Really get "work" out of my mind.
Complications:
Trailering. Long term, need to haul whatever boat I get from Utah to Tacoma, and then back to Utah, and eventually the gulf. Ya, it's going to be a beast no matter what I get.
Would like to use a smaller boat (save gas & trailering), however a smaller boat would not be as liveable, nor would it handle the rough water as well. My sweet wife is adverse to rough water, even though she grew up on the gulf.
Thoughts? Experiences?
Rough plans:
310 to 340 Sundancer. Would like the 8.1 engines for more umph if I need it. V-drive.
At least a 175 mile range, preferrable 200 miles. Conflict with the above. Options for the longer legs?
Have a small dinghy on the back.
The wife and I, with another couple or grandkids sharing part of the trip.
Early to mid June to early September.
Hopping from village to village, cove to cove up and back. Subsistence fishing/crabbing along the way.
Longest hop would probably be from Campbell River to Port Hardy, 127 miles. It's another 120 miles to Bella Bella, the next reasonable stop.
Probably travel 2600 miles during the entire summer. Burn tons of gas.
Really get "work" out of my mind.
Complications:
Trailering. Long term, need to haul whatever boat I get from Utah to Tacoma, and then back to Utah, and eventually the gulf. Ya, it's going to be a beast no matter what I get.
Would like to use a smaller boat (save gas & trailering), however a smaller boat would not be as liveable, nor would it handle the rough water as well. My sweet wife is adverse to rough water, even though she grew up on the gulf.
Thoughts? Experiences?