Columbia River Cruises

[Phil Bransom]

Hello.... fairly new as a member.

Trailering my 2000 Sea Ray 340 from Seattle to Portland this Wednesday. Excited to finally get it on the water. We live on a Floating Home on the Columbia River so it is parked right out front.

My wife and I want to take some extended trips up and down the Columbia River. To Astoria to the West and through a few Locks to the East.

Has anyone taken any trips and any tips?

Thanks.... Phil

 

[jmcdboater]

I don’t know that area, but my wife and I lived on our Sea Ray in Benicia, CA, and absolutely loved it. Your living arrangements sound like Heaven to me! Good luck with your day trips, and BTW, welcome to the cult! Lots of great ideas, opinions and suggestions here. Invaluable experience to draw from.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Phil, welcome to cruising on the Columbia. Over the years I have cruised from the navigable upstream end of the Columbia at Richland and down to the mouth of the river at Ilwaco, and up the Snake River to Lewiston, ID. There are some mighty find river miles between those points.

I would suggest you pick up a copy of River Cruising Atlas from Evergreen Pacific Publishing. It's a very complete river cruising guide that has charts of the rivers in the Columbia River system. I had mine for decades and gave it to another boater when health issues forced us to sell our boat.

Also, if you want a copy of my Excel file that has mileages between ports on the entire river system, just PM me with your email address and I'll send you one. I found it useful to have whenever we were planning a trip.

PS. Here's a shot of Ice Harbor lock heading upstream. The locks are huge but don't let them overwhelm you. They're fun, in a weird sort of way.

Mike

 

[Fill Ess]

Wow Phil -- trailering the 340 is adventurous! Sounds like a fun trip you have planned.

 

[JHornsby3]

Welcome to the cult!

Mike is a great source of knowledge, when it comes to the Columbia. And he is old enough to take his word as gospel.

We have wanted to pull our 300DA the 70 miles and cruise the Columbia. But with a lack of secure parking for a pick up and long trailer, we havent. And with the re-opening of Fred's Marina, we might be able to get the chance this year. Still need to drive over and check it out. Seriously looking at trying to be able to make it out and cruise the river from Astoria into Portland with the Rose Festival Fleet. Should make for some great photos.

Mike, I never got the file from you. At least I can't find it in my "Boat Files". You can sent it to me at johnhornsbyiiiphotography (at) gmail (dot) com.

 

[Phil Bransom]

Phil, welcome to cruising on the Columbia. Over the years I have cruised from the navigable upstream end of the Columbia at Richland and down to the mouth of the river at Ilwaco, and up the Snake River to Lewiston, ID. There are some mighty find river miles between those points.

I would suggest you pick up a copy of River Cruising Atlas from Evergreen Pacific Publishing. It's a very complete river cruising guide that has charts of the rivers in the Columbia River system. I had mine for decades and gave it to another boater when health issues forced us to sell our boat.

Also, if you want a copy of my Excel file that has mileages between ports on the entire river system, just PM me with your email address and I'll send you one. I found it useful to have whenever we were planning a trip.

PS. Here's a shot of Ice Harbor lock heading upstream. The locks are huge but don't let them overwhelm you. They're fun, in a weird sort of way.

Mike

We just did a four day cruise from Portland up to Kalama, and back to St Helens. It was a wonderful four days and we took lots of notes.

 

[Phil Bransom]

Welcome to the cult!

Mike is a great source of knowledge, when it comes to the Columbia. And he is old enough to take his word as gospel.

We have wanted to pull our 300DA the 70 miles and cruise the Columbia. But with a lack of secure parking for a pick up and long trailer, we havent. And with the re-opening of Fred's Marina, we might be able to get the chance this year. Still need to drive over and check it out. Seriously looking at trying to be able to make it out and cruise the river from Astoria into Portland with the Rose Festival Fleet. Should make for some great photos.

Mike, I never got the file from you. At least I can't find it in my "Boat Files". You can sent it to me at johnhornsbyiiiphotography (at) gmail (dot) com.

we just got back from two days in Kalama and two days in St Helens. We had a wonderful time and we took lots of notes for next time. Our next trip we want to go all the way to Astoria on about a seven day cruise.

 

[Gofirstclass]

If you're going as far as Astoria, consider hopping across the river to Ilwaco. From there you could hop out over the Columbia River Bar and cross that off your bucket list.

Here's a photo of us going over the bar. Nice and calm, no wind, chilly but not horrible. See, it's not always rough.

 

[JHornsby3]

Astoria to Portland (down town) is only 120 miles. Easy enough to do in a day, if you wanted to.

Crossing the bar isn't that bad. Finding out that that 4' swell is actually 4'-9' is the hard part. A 300DA can really rock in those kinds of swells.

 

[Phil Bransom]

If you're going as far as Astoria, consider hopping across the river to Ilwaco. From there you could hop out over the Columbia River Bar and cross that off your bucket list.

Here's a photo of us going over the bar. Nice and calm, no wind, chilly but not horrible. See, it's not always rough.

View attachment 151805

Not sure if I could convince my wife to do the bar…. Might have to go with some friends. She has said she never wants to do it but maybe I could change her mind.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Not sure if I could convince my wife to do the bar…. Might have to go with some friends. She has said she never wants to do it but maybe I could change her mind.

Phil, just don't show her the videos of the USCG boats doing their training on the bar.

She may never get on a boat again.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Phil, point your boat upstream and head for the Tri-Cities. It's about a 3-day run, passing through Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and McNary dams.

C'mon up next summer and spend a few days in this area.

 

[Phil Bransom]

Phil, point your boat upstream and head for the Tri-Cities. It's about a 3-day run, passing through Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and McNary dams.

C'mon up next summer and spend a few days in this area.

Thanks!! That is something we definitely want to do. Sounds like an amazing trip. We have not yet gone through the locks so we’re looking forward to that challenge!

 

[Phil Bransom]

Phil, just don't show her the videos of the USCG boats doing their training on the bar.

She may never get on a boat again.

Haha

 

[JHornsby3]

Phil, just don't show her the videos of the USCG boats doing their training on the bar.

She may never get on a boat again.

Oh, the CG47's and their fun.


They have been out for the last few days. South Beach is their hard training grounds. BTW, yes the F/V Judy is still there after almost two weeks. Went to tow ours home and had to dodge a couple boats on the ramp upside down. I thought I was going to get beat up when I asked if they were easier to load that way.