FootballFan
Well-Known Member
First let give a shout out and big THANK YOU to those who provided input for our trip. Definitely enhanced the planning and the trip.
Got back this week from our Friday to Friday bare boat cruise in the San Juan Islands. You guys in the Pacific NW have a truly awesome cruising ground.
We visited Roche Harbor, Port of Friday Harbor, Rosario, and Victoria (not in that order). We cleared customs into Canada in Victoria Harbor. Back into the US at Roche Harbor. US return was more involved. Canada was just checking in on the phone at the customs dock. Both were easy and not at all complicated.
Water was calm all week. Some 2-3 swells crossing over to Victoria, but around the islands was like being on a lake. Deep water, rarely under 80-90 feet (just when headed into marina), most of the time 200-300 ft. Channel on the west side of San Juan Island was 800-1000.
Scenery was spectacular. There is something special being on the water and seeing snow covered mountains around you. Hard to describe.
We could not have designed better weather. This was our “escape from the Texas heat” trip, and it truly was an escape. High’s in the 70’s during the day. Not sure about the low temps – but it was so nice.
Majority of the time we ran the boat from the lower helm. Most of the time we went to the fly bridge we put our slickers on. Fly bridge did not have any Eisenglass - which was fine with me. I learned that if it was not comfortable on the Fly Bridge, then we just popped back downstairs to the lower helm. Guessing we ran from the lower helm 80% of the time. Admiral commented the lower helm was like cruising from your living room – I guess it actually was.
Everyone loves pictures so including a few. After all as I have heard here – no pic’s – it didn’t happen…
Thought this was a cool pic. Fairly open water, this is not a channel – but the current that this moving during a tide change. You could feel and see a 1-2 knot SOG depending on the tide status and direction.
Coming out of Port of Friday Harbor. Common sight, seaplane going out – ferry coming in. Pic taken out of the side door by the helm.
Much of the trip we saw snowcapped mountains. This is Baker, 12,000 ft.
Rosario. The boat we were on is the one in the center of the picture.
Victoria, BC. Docked in front of the Empress Hotel.
Chasing Orca’s. We found two pods. Was not superior nature knowledge. Saw the whale watching tour boats go by. Followed them on AIES till they stopped and stayed in one place, then joined them. Both pods were up next to shore, channel there is 1,000 ft deep. We were within a ½ mile of shore, whales were coming up between us and the shore.
Had to include this, loved the gunnels on this boat.
Recap of general observations.
If you have never cruised in the area – you should consider finding a way to experience it.
Very similar to Maine, the area from Penobscot Bay east. Yet different in a good unique way (snowcapped mountains).
Lots of seaplanes. More than I have ever seen. Some of the marinas have dedicated docks just for the coming and going of the planes. In Friday harbor sit for an hour – you will see a dozen sea plans land, change out passengers and take off.
Docking was different than what I have experienced on the East coast. On this trip was always a side tie. Even when we had a slip, turns out the slip would hold multiple boats. Tie was on one side only and there would be boats in front and back of you. At Roche Harbor we were at the front of the slip. Boat behind us decided to stay over, so they had to untie and let us out the morning we were leaving. They try to group boats by same day departure, but then people change their minds.
Vast majority of boats are Bow in. When you think about how the slips are – makes sense. We went into Roche harbor, I really preferred Starboard tie (had a door off the lower helm on the starboard side. Got to the slip, going in bow first would have meant port tie. I backed in stern first so I would have the starboard tie – lots of funny looks from my dock mates when I did that.
For the area and time we experienced only saw a small handful of Sea Rays. Maybe 1 or 2 fly bridges, 5-6 Dancers. Saw more Bayliners’ and Meridians than anything else. Tugs and trawlers were all over, lots of sail boats.
People we met were great. Super friendly, welcoming.
We chartered our boat from NW Explorations in Bellingham. We have done a significant amount of charters over the years – guessing we have dealt with 7-8 charter companies, some we returned multiple times for 2-3 years in a row. This company has its act together. Was very impressed through the entire process from initial setup through turn in and close out. Of all the charter companies we have dealt with, these guys were head and shoulder above anyone we have ever dealt with. I highly recommend them if you ever consider a bare boat in the PCNW. They are expensive compared to other charter trips we have taken in Maine and Chesapeake– but definitely worth the premium price. We were on a 2007 boat – was very pleased with the prep, condition, and equipment of the boat.
Would we go back? – yeah it will happen. I am still an East Coast boater but the summers are glorious there. NW Explorations runs a flotilla from Bellingham up to Alaska every year. We are planning on doing that trip either next summer or the summer after. Depends on how the timing of the boat buying process for our next boat turns out.
Wouldn’t that be fun – if we had a group of Club Sea Ray boaters fill up a flotilla to Alaska.
Fire away any questions. If they are about our trip - happy to answer and clarify. If they are about the area in general, several PCNW boaters on here that have more experience and knowledge of the area than I will ever have, hopefully they will chime in with answers.
Thanks for making it through the long read,
Mark
Got back this week from our Friday to Friday bare boat cruise in the San Juan Islands. You guys in the Pacific NW have a truly awesome cruising ground.
We visited Roche Harbor, Port of Friday Harbor, Rosario, and Victoria (not in that order). We cleared customs into Canada in Victoria Harbor. Back into the US at Roche Harbor. US return was more involved. Canada was just checking in on the phone at the customs dock. Both were easy and not at all complicated.
Water was calm all week. Some 2-3 swells crossing over to Victoria, but around the islands was like being on a lake. Deep water, rarely under 80-90 feet (just when headed into marina), most of the time 200-300 ft. Channel on the west side of San Juan Island was 800-1000.
Scenery was spectacular. There is something special being on the water and seeing snow covered mountains around you. Hard to describe.
We could not have designed better weather. This was our “escape from the Texas heat” trip, and it truly was an escape. High’s in the 70’s during the day. Not sure about the low temps – but it was so nice.
Majority of the time we ran the boat from the lower helm. Most of the time we went to the fly bridge we put our slickers on. Fly bridge did not have any Eisenglass - which was fine with me. I learned that if it was not comfortable on the Fly Bridge, then we just popped back downstairs to the lower helm. Guessing we ran from the lower helm 80% of the time. Admiral commented the lower helm was like cruising from your living room – I guess it actually was.
Everyone loves pictures so including a few. After all as I have heard here – no pic’s – it didn’t happen…
Thought this was a cool pic. Fairly open water, this is not a channel – but the current that this moving during a tide change. You could feel and see a 1-2 knot SOG depending on the tide status and direction.
Coming out of Port of Friday Harbor. Common sight, seaplane going out – ferry coming in. Pic taken out of the side door by the helm.
Much of the trip we saw snowcapped mountains. This is Baker, 12,000 ft.
Rosario. The boat we were on is the one in the center of the picture.
Victoria, BC. Docked in front of the Empress Hotel.
Chasing Orca’s. We found two pods. Was not superior nature knowledge. Saw the whale watching tour boats go by. Followed them on AIES till they stopped and stayed in one place, then joined them. Both pods were up next to shore, channel there is 1,000 ft deep. We were within a ½ mile of shore, whales were coming up between us and the shore.
Had to include this, loved the gunnels on this boat.
Recap of general observations.
If you have never cruised in the area – you should consider finding a way to experience it.
Very similar to Maine, the area from Penobscot Bay east. Yet different in a good unique way (snowcapped mountains).
Lots of seaplanes. More than I have ever seen. Some of the marinas have dedicated docks just for the coming and going of the planes. In Friday harbor sit for an hour – you will see a dozen sea plans land, change out passengers and take off.
Docking was different than what I have experienced on the East coast. On this trip was always a side tie. Even when we had a slip, turns out the slip would hold multiple boats. Tie was on one side only and there would be boats in front and back of you. At Roche Harbor we were at the front of the slip. Boat behind us decided to stay over, so they had to untie and let us out the morning we were leaving. They try to group boats by same day departure, but then people change their minds.
Vast majority of boats are Bow in. When you think about how the slips are – makes sense. We went into Roche harbor, I really preferred Starboard tie (had a door off the lower helm on the starboard side. Got to the slip, going in bow first would have meant port tie. I backed in stern first so I would have the starboard tie – lots of funny looks from my dock mates when I did that.
For the area and time we experienced only saw a small handful of Sea Rays. Maybe 1 or 2 fly bridges, 5-6 Dancers. Saw more Bayliners’ and Meridians than anything else. Tugs and trawlers were all over, lots of sail boats.
People we met were great. Super friendly, welcoming.
We chartered our boat from NW Explorations in Bellingham. We have done a significant amount of charters over the years – guessing we have dealt with 7-8 charter companies, some we returned multiple times for 2-3 years in a row. This company has its act together. Was very impressed through the entire process from initial setup through turn in and close out. Of all the charter companies we have dealt with, these guys were head and shoulder above anyone we have ever dealt with. I highly recommend them if you ever consider a bare boat in the PCNW. They are expensive compared to other charter trips we have taken in Maine and Chesapeake– but definitely worth the premium price. We were on a 2007 boat – was very pleased with the prep, condition, and equipment of the boat.
Would we go back? – yeah it will happen. I am still an East Coast boater but the summers are glorious there. NW Explorations runs a flotilla from Bellingham up to Alaska every year. We are planning on doing that trip either next summer or the summer after. Depends on how the timing of the boat buying process for our next boat turns out.
Wouldn’t that be fun – if we had a group of Club Sea Ray boaters fill up a flotilla to Alaska.
Fire away any questions. If they are about our trip - happy to answer and clarify. If they are about the area in general, several PCNW boaters on here that have more experience and knowledge of the area than I will ever have, hopefully they will chime in with answers.
Thanks for making it through the long read,
Mark
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