Anacortes and the San Juan Islands

[markm]

I am planning on driving our boat over this summer from Spokane and sailing the waters from Anacortes and making my way over to the San Juans. Can anyone recommend places that you can dock the boat near towns.

Thanks

Mark

 

[Trinity]

Actually, Anacortes is one of our favorite places to stop when need a shower and to stock up on groceries. Cap Sante is right next to a Safeway, close to a West Marine, and within a few blocks of downtown. There is also a farmers Market close by on the weekends. Another favorite stop is Friday Harbor, but we have never been there.

Nancy

 

[Stella Maris]

Mark,
When do you plan to do this. My wife and I are bringing our R-25 up from Las Vegas. We plan to start in Bremerton and work our way to the San Juans. We are planning to do this the weeks of September 12th through the 27th. The weather should be good, the crowds should be gone at this time of year.
David

 

[Dene]

We make the trip from Bremerton to Friday Harbor twice a year. One overnight stop we always enjoy is LaConner.

-Greg

 

[Stella Maris]

Greg,
Do you moor full time in Bremerton?

How much time do you take when going to Friday Harbor? We plan to stop in places such as Poulsbo, Port Townsend, etc along the way. We will have our bicycles for getting around these little towns. We are planning to stay in Marinas on this trip to enable us to visit the small towns. We plan to travel for two to four hours per day and then spend the afternoon exploring by bicycle.

Our plan is to start in Bremerton and pull out in another location so we do not have to backtrack all the way to Bremerton. Can you suggest a place that we could leave the trailer and truck for three weeks? I would prefer to use a travel lift for launching and retrieving to keep the trailer and truck out of the salt water.

Any other info you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
David

 

[Dene]

Greg,
Do you moor full time in Bremerton?

How much time do you take when going to Friday Harbor? We plan to stop in places such as Poulsbo, Port Townsend, etc along the way. We will have our bicycles for getting around these little towns. We are planning to stay in Marinas on this trip to enable us to visit the small towns. We plan to travel for two to four hours per day and then spend the afternoon exploring by bicycle.

Our plan is to start in Bremerton and pull out in another location so we do not have to backtrack all the way to Bremerton. Can you suggest a place that we could leave the trailer and truck for three weeks? I would prefer to use a travel lift for launching and retrieving to keep the trailer and truck out of the salt water.

Any other info you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
David

Actually, we winter moor in Brownsville, just north of Bremerton. I highly recommend this marina. Good boat launch, store, helpful staff, and the cheapest gas of all the marinas. It should be no problem to put your truck n trailer there for three weeks. They have a huge parking lot. Called the marina and ask for Jerry Rowland.

It's just six miles from Poulsbo and it's on your way north. Do stop there. I've never boated to Port Townsend. Instead, we stop at Edmonds or Everett and go the protected way, which leads us either through Desolation pass or LaConner. Both are worth seeing, but if you have to make a choice, I'd go with LaConner. They have a brewery that has the best pizza and beer on the planet. Also, if you/your better half like interesting shops, then LaConner is another reason to stop. Additionally, you may want to stop at Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island and Anacortes. Friday Harbor is a wonderful destination too. You're going to want to spend some time there. People rave about Roche Harbor too, but I prefer Sydney, B.C.

As for time frame, we've made the trip with one overnight. However, that was in a 30' Carver that cruised 15 knots. My Devlin goes 6 knots, so we're anticipating a 3 night journey.

 

[Auklet]

Mark ---

All good info, but one thing needs to be added. Your library on board. What charts or chart books do you have? There are many good guide books that will answer most of your questions.

On our boat we have the following books: Maptech waterproof chart books of San Juans and Puget Sound, The Burgee by David Kutz, and Captn Jack's Puget Sound tide and currents. Other books I would recommend are the Gunkholing books by Bailey and Nyberg, that give the character and history of the islands. There are many other guides that are just as good but these are the ones that I am used to.

Even better is a little "local knowlege". If you would like, when you get to Anacortes, we can get together and talk over your plans. Let us know.

--- Cary

 

[Stella Maris]

Cary,
I currently have the Waggoner Cruising Guide as well as the "Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands" Olympia to Port Angeles. I have the Maptech Chart Kit for the Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.
This is supplemented with charts number 18445 Puget Sound, Possession Sound to Olympia including the Hood Canal as well as chart 18440, the larger overview of the sound. Once we get closer to September, I will contact you to see if we can arrange to meet. I figured I would pick up the tide book once we get a little closer to September.

Thanks for all the info,
David

 

[markm]

Thanks to all for the replys.

We are thinking mid July. I teach and coach football so some summer weeks are dedicated to football camp and we are running hard in August and school is back Labor Day.

I have been to Anacortes several times for baseball tournaments, but not to boat. It is very much a great port of call.

As far as books, I don't have any for the Puget Sound, but several mentioned are on my purchase list.

Mark

 

[Auklet]

David ---

That's a great collection. You're off to an early start and asking the right questions. You won't have any problems. I wish more boaters were like you.

Just for planning purposes. From Bremerton or Brownsville to Poulsbo is about a little over and hour. From Poulsbo to Port Townsend takes four and a half to six hours depending on current in PT Canal. There are two marinas in PT, both good, but I prefer Pt Hudson.

More later --- Cary

 

[Stella Maris]

Cary,
My wife laughs at me. I have charts for most of the USA. Anything from the Great Lakes to either coast. Sometimes a "trip in the mind" can be as good as one on the boat. We considered doing the San Juans when we picked the boat up in Seattle. However since we were not familiar with the handling characteristics of this type of vessel, we chose to bring it home and experiment on the many lakes that we have visited. We are ready for a true adventure therefore we have chosen the San Juans. We are also considering a weekend trip over to Catalina Island this summer. Catalina does not have the currents or tides that the PNW has though.

We appreciate the advise that you have given us as well as that of the others. This is what makes boating a great hobby. You get to meet people from all walks of life that have the same hobby as you. We hope to meet up with the many R-21 and R-25 owners in the PNW on our adventure this September.

Thanks,
David

 

[markm]

Can anyone tell me how long it woudl take to go from Anacortes to Bellingham in my R-21 at eight knots?

Thanks

Mark

 

[Auklet]

Mark ---

About two hours.

--- Cary

 

[ron cowan]

Mark, You said that you have a 20 HP in your 21', Does this mean that you have a pre-EC tug? The pre-EC is a full displacement hull and from better than 2 years cruising in mine, you will be very lucky if you can sustain 8 knots. My GPS shows a consistent 7.3 MPH at 3100 RPM I know the WOT is rated at 3600 RPM but not reccomended to sustain that RPM. On the displacement hull the stern just digs in and the fuel burn goes way up. I find myself not pushing it for such a small increase in speed and huge increase in fuel burn. All ECs have the 30 HP and the modified hull so they do a little better on speed. I only bring this up because you are planning some great cruising and I did not want you to be off on the planning. It sounds like a mile or so an hour is not much but it is a significant percentage. 8 knots is about 9.2 MPH and I am seeing about 7.3 MPH at a good clip. At 6.0 MPH I burn about 1/3 GPH and at 7.3 MPH I burn about 1.3 GPH. About 4 times the fuel for 1.3 MPH increase. Play with your boat before the trips and find your sweet spot. You are in for some fun times and good luck with your tug
Ron

 

[markm]

Ron,

Yes I have one of the last original models before the EC came along. I have never carefully calculated speed and fuel consumption, but I know I am around a quart per hour. I am tying to guage times vs distances in the San Juans. I am not a speed demon, I want to take in the views and enjoy the ride. It is why we all purchased a Ranger Tug. I really appreciate all the helpful advice that I am getting here at TugNuts. Thanks to you Ron and all who answer my many questions.

Mark

 

[j&lgray]

Mark,
This thread has been a great source of information. I have two other options for you to think about since you are trailering and these are ones that we are doing now, after 20 years of cruising this area:
1. Launch at Cornet Bay which is at Deception Pass State Park. The launch is very nice with a huge dock and a nearby float. This is on the east side of the Deception Pass bridge. There is no power at state park docks in Washington. There is a nearby store and small marina for fuel and such and they have slips to rent out. We like this because it is very scenic and off the beaten path for the "plug-in" cruisers. Go through Deception Pass at slack tide. It something like a right of passage for northwest boaters, you have to do at least once and at slack tide it is safe and enjoyable. Then after a crossing the strait, you are in the San Juans. Go into Lopez Bay and anchor or take a mooring buoy at Spencer Spit State Park. You can also go on the west side of Lopez Island to Fisherman's Bay that has marinas and great anchorage. Lopez Village is an easy walk.

2. Launch in Bellingham at Squalicum Harbor. Nice boat launch, cheap parking rates, and lots of transient moorage. The big plus: a short day on the water puts you at the crown jewel of the San Juan Islands: Sucia Island. You can spend several days there easily.

 

[bluebayou]

Greeting from deep within the San Juan Islands !!!
Currently, I am "on the hook" in Blind Bay, on the North side of Shaw Island, just south of Orcas Island. It is my second time anchoring here, in a very protected little bay. I launched Blue Bayou in Bellingham on April 30, after a 900 mile ride from the California Delta, and we are.....doing the San Juan Islands. We have already been to Sidney, BC, and Victoria as well.
Spent last weekend in Anacortes (Cap Sante marina) with the C-Brats. You have to pay at least $50. there to launch with a sling, i.e. no ramp. There is a ramp about 4 miles west of Anacortes, at Washington Park, but very limited, and no place to leave your truck and trailer. With an R-25, truck and trailer, leaving the wheeled vehicles behind is THE paramont issue.
I researched this question pretty hard from California, and Bellingham offers free parking for your truck and trailer for a minimum of 5 days. I was able to get a month for free, just by asking for it. My pickup and trailer are sleeping in the Squalicum parking lot, and they have a signed permit in the windshield. The staff at Squalicum Harbor is excellent, and always helpful. Both Bellingham and Anacortes are just 1-2 hours from the inner San Juan Islands. I think they are the two best launching points, if you really want to do the San Juan Islands.
Bremerton is a whole other kettle of fish. Nowhere near the San Juan Islands. Unless you want to study the whole of Greater Puget Sound, I suggest either Bellingham or Anacortes.
As for going between the islands, they are all relatively close, and distances are not too far. Usually 1-3 hours will get you anywhere. The trick is to get to the right mooring for the night, and that's partly a matter of taste. Friday Harbor can't be beat, and is the County Seat, at the center. Get the chart books and Waggoner's, and also Ports and Passes (available at any Marine Supply store in Bellingham or Anacortes). It has all the tides and currents. Keep checking the weather reports for wind direction and speed.
Have a Safe Passage and a Great Time.

 

[j&lgray]

As long-time boaters in the Puget Sound and San Juans and the Canadian Gulf Islands, we are glad you are experiencing these treasures. To add our comments to the last posting, Bellingham is a great place to launch and is one of our favorites because they understand boaters and the islands are "right there." Near Anacortes, is Washington County Park and it has a large parking lot for truck and trailer but the dock is more subject to having the right tides. We have put in at Deception Pass State Park at Cornet Bay because they have a new ramp, lots of docks and an expanded parking lot but their $5 a day parking is a bit steep if you are doing more than a few days. We have known boaters that have "slung-in" in LaConner as an alternative to the Anacortes Marina. We do most of our launching at the Port of Everett Marina with its huge lot, 8 lanes and easy proximity to north and central Puget Sound. With the Ranger 25, the rest of the Sound and the islands are only a few hours a way anyway.

In the San Juans, our favorite places are Sucia Island, Stuart Island, Jones Island and Fisherman Bay on Lopez Island. The former three are state parks. If you get a pass, it pays for itself with the first seven nights which we do easily every year. Mooring Buoys are $10 and dock space is about $13 for the Ranger 25. Anchorage, of course, is no charge. Get the pass online and it is mailed to you. Good sailing!