Need Deception Pass advice

[Mastercraft]

I would like Deception Pass advice:
- do I go by tides at Bowman Bay or Yokeko Point? Those are the closest that show on Garmin. There is significant difference in tide levels between the two,
- is high or low tide easier?
- tolerance of time for passing thru on tide extremes?
- easier to go east or west?
- any other advice?

 

[dbsea]

Stan, you should have no trouble going through deception pass at most any current (except maybe extreme ebb or flood peaks) if at planing / cruising fast speed (12+kn). If you are running at slow cruise, you'll need to mind the tides and currents more carefully.

 

[gswearin]

I have an R29 and wouldn't vary too far from the slack currents. I've made errors on when slack current is and it gets pretty squirrely with even a 4 or 5 knot current. Was I safe? Yes, was I comfortable, not when the boat is moving in ways you don't want it to. Powering up does help but our boats don't really get on plane, just mostly plane.

Also note that tides and currents aren't necessarily in sync and the slack current can differ from slack tide.

 

[Submariner]

Any Ranger Tug (or Cutwater) should be able able to easily run Deception Pass with 4 knots or less of current. This widens the window of opportunity to cross.

We run Deception pass a lot each season. It's our primary course to get to the San Juan Islands.

Also note, tides and currents are different. Do not assume that high tide is slack water. At Deception Pass, they are not the same. Slack occurs before or after high or low tide (depending on which way you're headed).

Start at the 5:20 timestamp in this video for an illustration of how to read Deception Pass.
https://youtu.be/OShrTz0sYok?t=322

This video is pretty good as well, as it compares Deception Pass vs Admiralty Inlet, vs the Swinomish Channel.
https://youtu.be/fpVO9Hy71pY

I will always run Deception Pass when it's 4 knots or less, in either direction, without hesitation. When It goes above 4 knots, it changes... and fast. I have gone through Deception with 7 knots with the current, and 6.5 knots against the current. It's way different at those speeds. 4 knots or less is easy and the Admiral on board approves. 🙂

Another note.. and I should probably do a video on this... Once you cross Deception heading North... don't run to Thatcher Pass... Run over to Lopez Pass. It's a shorter crossing over Rosaro, you will avoid running near Belle Rock (it's always rough/bumpy around there), and you'll avoid all the ferry traffic that runs through Thatcher pass. Lopez Pass also gets you into protected water quicker than running up to Thatcher.

 

[Hamster]

NOAA current predictions for Deception Pass can be researched here. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaac ... PUG1701_18 In my experience, the roughest water there is if the winds stack up against the current. Avoid strong winds out of the west with an outgoing tide.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

Ive been through at 7 knots. not the most fun but doable and you really need to make sure you are the only boat at the narrow point. also watch for logs.

I use the navionics app on the iPad and select the current flow icon at deception pass and drag the timeline to see what the current will do at my forecasted arrival time. gives a simple way to predict the flow.

 

[Rocky]

Hi there -
I have an R29s - as you know- and I transit Deception Pass somewhat regularly....
I use the Aye Tides app. It has always been accurate as far as I can tell. It shows a current page for Deception pass. My Rule of thumb is 3 knots... If it shows below 3 knots...Just go...not an issue either way. If my arrival time is going to be over 3 knots, I may hurry (or slow) a bit to get closer. I have been through going against a 4+ knot current... I survived. 🙂 It wasn't horrible but a lot "Driving" vs "Cruising" through.

I prefer to "with thr current" mostly because it is fun to see the MPG numbers go up, but with my 3 knot rule of thumb, it really doesn't matter.

I hope that helps...

Rocky

 

[SJI Sailor]

I wouldn't use a tide forecast but a current forecast. I've been through at almost all conditions (up to 7kts current) but strongly agree to try for 3kts or less. That is typically within 1 hour of slack as a good approximation.

Tide Now WA (android) and XL Tide (Apple) have the current forecast. Not sure about Garmin.

3kts limit is partly for control in the swirls, and for time to react if anything goes wrong. But even more, I worry about a log being thrown around in one of the whirlpools at high speed (adding my vessel speed) and not visible until the last second.

Agreed about avoiding wind against the current direction. It can be dangerous with an ebb tide against west wind funneling in.

Overall, I think the worries about the pass are somewhat exaggerated for our boats and their speed. Just don't get overconfident, especially about wind and logs.

 

[Rebel112r]

I have found the biggest worry is other boaters.

 

[glider4]

Haven’t ever done Deception Pass so I can’t comment about the specifics of that pass. Seen it from the road bridge at full current so I have lots of respect for that pass.
A few things I wish to add to the discussion.
1. With the exception of Malibu Rapids, I never found a Pass or Narrows I wouldn’t feel comfortable navigating with or against a 3 knot current in my R-25 Classic - which had a top speed of 14 knots. It’s much easier in the C-28 with it’s higher top speed!
2. Look out for logs! Other boaters can be just as much of a hazard but are much easier to see than logs! Logs are extra common at Dodds Narrows, Gabriella Pass and Porlier Pass.
3. High slack is almost always much easier to deal with than at low slack. Passes are wider and at the same current seem gentler at high slack. Malibu Rapids is extremely challenging at low tide slack but is a piece of cake at a high tide slack. Another example of that is Pole Pass on the south side of Orcas. I avoid Pole Pass at negative tide slack and use close by Wasp Pass instead.
4. I use Ports and Passes for my tide info and my Garmin Chartplotter for currents. The combo has always worked well for me. Just received my 2024 copy of Ports and Passes this week.
5. If a sailboat goes into a Pass or Narrows ahead of me, and is successful, I’m pretty sure that following its track I can make it too!
Safe cruising!

 

[Bruce Moore]

Lots of good advice on currents and high vs.low tide. Especially W winds against outbound tide. One thing I'd add is to be aware of summer/fall fog conditions on the outside. We've run up a perfectly clear Saratoga Passage and hit a wall of fog at the bridge and no visibility going through. And, the bridge will really mess with radar targeting. Others here may have advice about radar settings for those conditions.

 

[Submariner]

Lots of good advice on currents and high vs.low tide. Especially W winds against outbound tide. One thing I'd add is to be aware of summer/fall fog conditions on the outside. We've run up a perfectly clear Saratoga Passage and hit a wall of fog at the bridge and no visibility going through. And, the bridge will really mess with radar targeting. Others here may have advice about radar settings for those conditions.

On our return from SE Alaska, we hit Deception on the west side, heading east, with the worst fog we've ever had going through Deception. AIS was essential, and Radar I usually turn off going through Deception, but had to leave it running as the fog was so thick. I'd timed going through Deception with 2.0 knots of current.

We've ran Deception many times before in the fog, but this day was the worst, and there was a lot of boat traffic as it was July. Whenever we've encountered fog at Deception, it's always been clear on the east side (Saratoga) and foggy on the west side (Rosario Strait). So rather than avoid Deception due to the fog, we go through it as it's been clear blue skies "on the other side".

 

[dan57.butler]

Huge thanks to this thread found in a search as I was obsessing with planning my first trip through Deception Pass this week. We had an uneventful experience. Best takeaway was buried in a link to a YouTube: the iPhone app “AyeTides”. Strong 5x5 recomendation. I generally don’t buy apps so I was hesitant. Best $7.99 I could have spent for peace of mind.

I can’t count the number of times I have crossed the bridge and looked down with wonder at the swirling 8kt currents as well as the number of times I’ve watched with envy a boat transiting the pass in calmer currents. On Tuesday my grandson and I got to be “those guys” that others looked down to envy as we calmly made our way at perfectly timed slack in our R29S.

Thank you TugNut community!


ps. Bowman Bay on the northwest side of the pass is a wonderful spot to take a break and explore.

 

[Jesperjo]

If you have one of the Garmin GPS units in your boat, which I don’t know if the 2017s do, then click the button at the bottom for the top and bottom bars. Then click “Current”. As long as you are within 10 miles or so of Deception Pass you will see the current station for Deception Pass in the list. Just pin that to the top or bottom of your screen. Once you’ve done it you can remove the bar and re-add it from anywhere as long as you don’t select another current station in the meantime. The one that’s listed there is the one inside the pass and it is very accurate. I don’t have a picture but reply if you need one and I’ll get one next time I get to the boat.

As Dan57.butler said, you can also use Aye Tides on your phone. It also shows the Deception Pass current station and it’s a little easier to find there than on the Garmin. See picture.



Like Submariner said, anything below 4 knots is no problem at all. We’ve done it in 5 and that wasn’t really any issues either. The rule of thumb is that the boat needs to be able to move at 2x the current. Even at 5 or a little over you will find the boat being buffeted a bit, but not much more than that. The whirlpools are interesting. They will suck you sideways in a 5 knot or so current, but like Submariner said, 4 or below is barely noticeable.