Cruising to Alaska

[BaseCampAnne]

Hi,

I still have the itch to cruise to AK, and for Tugnuts who have made the trip, am wondering how often you anchored out? I am thinking sometimes it must be necessary to drop the anchor. Is it challenging to find good anchorages? I would imagine there are many beautiful spots to overnight but wonder about tidal exchanges and fjord -like challenges.

I expect to get another dog someday, and wonder about training the dog to use the swimstep, which seems very small, especially if the boat has the propane box. If you traveled with your dog was it trained to use the swim step or ? If not, then I expect it means going ashore several times a day, and in wilderness areas I think I would be concerned about that.

Questions and more questions while sitting in cozy Cascadia as the gentle rain moisturizes our earth...

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Hi,

I still have the itch to cruise to AK, and for Tugnuts who have made the trip, am wondering how often you anchored out? I am thinking sometimes it must be necessary to drop the anchor. Is it challenging to find good anchorages? I would imagine there are many beautiful spots to overnight but wonder about tidal exchanges and fjord-like challenges.

I expect to get another dog someday, and wonder about training the dog to use the swimstep, which seems very small, especially if the boat has the propane box. If you traveled with your dog was it trained to use the swim step or ? If not, then I expect it means going ashore several times a day, and in wilderness areas I think I would be concerned about that.

Questions and more questions while sitting in cozy Cascadia as the gentle rain moisturizes our earth...

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Anne:

There may be at least two RT owners at the Rendezvous next week that cruised up to Alaska this summer. I'm not sure about Russ and Toni (boat name I've forgotten) being in attendance but Rich and Cheryll on Roam are planning on being in Anacortes, fresh off their cruise up to Alaska and back. Introduce yourself to them or when I see them I'll drag them down to your boat and introduce you. I'd bet there are a number of folks who might have an interest.

Jim F

 

[Gin]

Hi Anne,

Oh, I so admire your spirit of adventure! I don't know if we will ever make it to Alaska (let alone if I will ever retire), but I like to dream about it a bit.

If you start with a pup, it seems like you would have lots of training possibilities. Are you a member of Active Captain? I'm attaching a link to a charming article about training a dog to a special mat on a boat. A fun article. Not sure if it is a members only article. Here is the link: https://activecaptain.com/articles/dogs/canineCrew.php

Bottom line: it seems do-able (or is that "doo" able) with a young enough dog.

I doubt we will be retired and ready to roam by the time you make your Alaska trip, but who knows. Maybe you and we or other Tugnuts can trek up together.

- Gini

 

[Favunclerich]

Anne,

As you note, tides in Southeast Alaska can exceed 23 feet and many anchorages are quite deep. This makes anchoring a challenge, but certainly not impossible, in reasonable weather. If you are not comfortable with your skills, I'd suggest that you get some individual training on your boat from an experienced cruiser or captain. You'll need to figure out where you are in the tidal cycle, calculate your scope at high tide, and then assure that your boat has adequate swinging room at low tide without going aground or hitting another boat. It takes some experience to judge the feel of an anchor line that is well set. Even experienced cruisers drag occasionally, so an app for your smart phone such as "Drag Queen" can alert you if the anchor drags.

Tying to docks, or sometimes, floats that aren't connected to land can certainly contribute to a good night's sleep. In most, but not all, areas of Southeast Alaska, you can find a dock or float within a day's travel. It's a stretch to call many of these facilities a "marina." While it's theoretically possible to cruise to Alaska without anchoring, I don't advise it. The floats are sometimes full in the summer and you'll be have no choice but to anchor. If the weather turns, you'll need to be prepared to find shelter quickly. Some of the highlights of the cruise such as Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm do not have any facilities other than anchoring. It's also nice sometimes to enjoy the solitude of a quiet anchorage.

If you decide to get another dog, you'll find that having a dog will certainly complicate the logistics, but we've seen lot's of dogs being dinghied to shore for their thrice daily expeditions.

Rich

 

[NewMoon]

Hi Anne,

With 11 SE Alaska trips under our belt so far (just got back home 2 days ago) we've anchored in a bunch of places, both in our C-Dory 22 Cruiser and our present 26-footer. We anchor 2/3 to 3/4 of the time - it's one of the great joys of the cruise to anchor in a beautiful cove, with eagles and bears and other critters around, Dungies to be caught, and sometimes not another boat.

We've built up a pretty considerable list of anchorages that work for us - I could email a copy if you like. The list is a handy way to quickly review anchorages that might be the destination for the day, or a place to bail out along the way if the weather gets snotty. I have one for SE Alaska, and two others for BC, north and south.

I'd also recommend you get the Douglass cruising guide Exploring Southeast Alaska. It's quite good at pointing out and describing anchorages.

http://www.fineedge.com/NAUTICAL%20BOOKS/sealaska.html

If you're not yet comfortable anchoring, it's something you can learn fairly easily - practice makes perfect. Do a number of overnights until you get comfortable before taking off for the north - it's an essential skill for the north coast of BC and SE Alaska. There's a pretty good introductory discussion on anchoring equipment and technique in my book.

Our dog pees and poops in the cockpit, on a "puppy pee pad" we made. Take a faux-grass "astroturf" door mat, cut it to fit inside the lid of a fairly large rubbermaid tub turned upside down, and attach it to the tub lid at one end with a couple of zip ties. Easy to dump and rinse overboard, and the mess is minimized.

 

[sportner]

Anne,

All good advice above. We anchored out about half the time while we were in Alaska for 9-10 weeks this summer. We trailered to Prince Rupert and stored our truck and trailer before continuing north. The Hemingway-Douglass cruising guide is a valuable resource for finding safe anchorages, we used it all the time. I think its possible to either stay at marinas, public floats, or safe/easy anchorages everyday if you plan well. When single handing, many times you could ask the Harbor Master for help at your slip and at public floats you may find help docking from fellow boaters. Good luck in your research and planning.

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Thanks Russ, and Toni, for the stories and photos you shared this summer during your trip up north!

It is great how you trailer your boat to so many places! Trailering is not something I do, but I can see real advantages, including having more time in Alaska.

I continue to read and will add the Hemingway-Douglass cruising guide to my list. It is great fun to read about options for such a journey and also to read other's stories.

I love to anchor out, although this summer I learned the importance of being able to manually retrieve the rode when the windlass loses power due to a wire breaking in the locker. I had been wishing I had ordered 100 ft of chain and had gotten the Rocna 15 (33 lbs) rather than the 10 (22 lbs) I had from my previous Ranger, but it would have been tougher with that much more weight. As usual, I found that adrenalin is very useful, including when the wind is blowing the boat towards a rocky shore 🙂

I will definitely be practicing more and working to learn more about how the scope actually works. Knowing the recommended ratios is one thing, but I would like to experiment with others to see how it actually works in varied situations.

And docking, always a learning opportunity. i love it when there is someone nearby on the dock! Other boaters are especially helpful, thank goodness.

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Richard of New Moon,

Many thanks for your comments. You certainly have a wealth of knowledge after 11 trips to Alaska! I appreciate the specific suggestion of how you secure the dog "pee-pad." Since realizing the swim step seems too small, I have been wondering about how to secure the pad so it is not sliding around the cockpit. Also, since there are 3 compartments in the floor, I am concerned about where liquids and dog hair end up. I have friends in San Diego with a 38' trawler who have trained their small dog to use the bow, but it is very easy, given the wide beam, for the dog to walk out there.

I am realizing it will take a very well-trained dog to be able to count on not needing to always go to shore. I expect wind and rain are common in exposed areas and along the coastlines of the rain forests of Alaska. More to consider...

I was not aware of your book "Cruising in a Big Way." I look forward to reading it now, and am also interested in anchorages that you enjoy.

Thanks,

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Thanks Jim, of Kismet, for the suggestion to look for Rich and Cheryll on Roam.

I will keep an eye out for them and for you and Lisa. It will be a great opportunity to learn from folks like you!

I am guessing there are a number of Tugnuts who are interested in going to Alaska, and as I think about it, we probably have a couple of dozen folks who would enjoy hearing from others who have made the trip that many of us dream about 🙂

Looking forward to seeing you next week at the Rendezvous!

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Gini,

Thanks for the Active Captain reference. I may add that site to others I check as time allows.

Cruising to Alaska seems like a natural topic for Tugnuts, and worth reading and dreaming about 🙂 Our boats seem well-designed for such an adventure!

If something becomes a dream, then a goal, that focus can lead to brainstorming and the dream just might someday become a possibility!

Let's dream!

 

[BaseCampAnne]

Rich,

The information about anchoring and suggestions to learn more are very helpful, as is learning that there are potential anchorages most of the time along the way. I was also happy to learn that there are docks available in spots, even if nothing else nearby.

I will definitely do more reading and research about places to overnight, or tie-up and ride out the weather.

I look forward to meeting you and Cheryll and hearing about your trip when you return to Anacortes!