Portland...maybe

AKBASSKING

AKBASSKING

Active Member
Apr 13, 2008
4,649
SE Alaska Summer/Columbia River winter
Boat Info
1988 Yacht Fisher
Engines
Twin 375hp Cat 3208 T/A
I may be towing the tub closer to home this spring to portland OR. Any advice? I have heard horror stories about the mouth of the Columbia. Looked at the lock at Bonniville. How is the river?
 
Nehalennia said:
Where is it now?
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I have the tub in NC. I plan to tow it to the family farm in Missouri until the snow and roads improve later this spring. Will most likely be in the Portland area for a year, so I plan to do some exploring and get this thing splashed later this summer.

I can tow it a lot cheaper than paying someone to do it.
 
I must of missed the thread where you bought a new boat and it's not in AK.
 
AKBASSKING said:
Thanks Chris.

Anyone gone out of the Columbia out in the "big swimming pool?"
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Not here. I have a guy that used to work for me that now lives in Salem. His boat (Grady White) is still in Olympia. He's coming up tomorrow to haul it back. I'll see if he plans to splash it in the Columbia and let you know if he does and what he finds out.
 
Nehalennia said:
I must of missed the thread where you bought a new boat and it's not in AK.
Click to expand...

I live in Alaska and have had the boat at my parents house. I bought it in Jacksonville FL. The plans are to finish it and run the inside passage and take it home in a year or two. There are very few, if any SR in Alaska. I may have the only sedan. Most folks have Uniflites, Chris Crafts or Bayl......(can finish that name).
 
AKBASSKING said:
I live in Alaska and have had the boat at my parents house. I bought it in Jacksonville FL. The plans are to finish it and run the inside passage and take it home in a year or two. There are very few, if any SR in Alaska. I may have the only sedan. Most folks have Uniflites, Chris Crafts or Bayl......(can finish that name).
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Very Cool. The inside passage trip is a dream of mine. Someday. My Uncle's done it 15 summers ago in a 17' SeaRay believe it or not. He got into some really sh*tty conditions in the Queen Charlottes, but otherwise had a great trip with one of his insane friends. I'm not sure I'd do it in a 17'er but I'd do it in mine.
Keep us posted.
 
Tom-
You are talking about my "playground". I keep my boat on the Columbia River and have had it here for 4 years. This is some wonderful boating. There are many open marinas and a few covered. Please feel free to PM me for more info.

I have gone as far East as the Bonneville Dam and as far West as Cathlamet, WA. I have never crossed "The Bar". This is some of the most dangerous water in America....
 
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We keep our boat on the Columbai too. We bought it last summer and only made it down river as far as St Helens. Great boating around here, year round too! We also head downtown on the Willamette. There are lots of destinations. We're hoping to make it to Astoria this summer. Not across the bar though, no way!
 
Thanks everyone. It looks like I will be in Portland around the 1st of April. Arranging for permits to tow it to Missouri. I am figuring mid to end of May to tow it all the way to Portland.

I will be stay in touch so you all can give me some tips.
 
Sounds great Tom! Let me know if you need a hand in anyway. Always willing to help a fellow Sea Ray owner!
 
Have you thought about bringing it to the Puget Sound? You won't have to worry about the bar and there are tons of places to keep it, protected waters and unlimited destinations.
 
Thanks Carpedmman, I will.

Nehalennia, yep and we have been discussing it. Have been doing a lot of reading on the sound and the San Juan Islands. Puget Sound is a definite consideration.

Exploring the Columbia will also be fun. I had to explain to the Admiral that the big pond is over 100 river miles from Portland. I have never been in any locks, so that will be an adventure all its own............
 
The big pond is 100 miles from Portland, however you can go up river a 100 miles also. The bar on the Columibia has a reputation but it can be fine if you plan your crossing, there can be no challenges and flat!. Many times during the summer there are 100's of small boats sitting on the bar looking for salmon.

We plan on a trip to Astoria this summer with a possilbe crossing and short trip up the coast as well. Quite a few awesome marinia's in the Portland area that are totally sheltered with great people.
 
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AKBASSKING said:
Thanks Carpedmman, I will.

Nehalennia, yep and we have been discussing it. Have been doing a lot of reading on the sound and the San Juan Islands. Puget Sound is a definite consideration.

Exploring the Columbia will also be fun. I had to explain to the Admiral that the big pond is over 100 river miles from Portland. I have never been in any locks, so that will be an adventure all its own............
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I'll keep watching your thread to see how you do. Let me know if you want to venture this way.
 
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