Attn. Puget Sound boaters :)

[magster65]

I'm bringing a boat back from Portland OR to Sidney BC... one option is to have it hauled from Portland to Olympia or Tacoma then cruise back through Puget Sound / San Juan islands / Gulf islands and viola'! Since I've never boated in Puget Sound... barring a storm is the it passable this time of year? How are the tides? I see some narrow passages in spots. Is there a lot of debris floating around?
Thanks and Seasons greetings!

 

[magster65]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Here's the boat... an '06 240 Sea Ray Sundancer / 5.7 mag mpi / bravo 3

 

[woodrat]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

sounds like a great trip!

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Yes, the sound and the straight are perfectly passable this time of year, and there's plenty of room.

I grew up there and don't live there anymore, but unless things have changed, there isn't a whole lot of debris, either. I was there last about 10 years ago.

 

[PW2]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Just keep track of the weather. There are times when it could get pretty bumpy this time of year ever for a boat that size.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Just keep track of the weather. There are times when it could get pretty bumpy this time of year ever for a boat that size.

Wise advice ^^^^.....
I would put in at as close to high tide as possible & ride the slack & out going tide as much as possible......
I was out a couple of weeks ago, & there was not alot of flotsam, but with all of the rain, it could have increased...
Visibility can be a big deal this time of year with fog....
You just need to keep your eyes open, especially around the points...
I'd pay special attention when in the Elliot Bay & West Point areas....
If you do see it, (flotsam), it does tend to congegate in packs....
I have never been much further south than the Tacoma Narrows, so I can't speak personally on how easy it is to navigate, but it can't be too bad if the visibility is good, because ocean going vessels do dock in Olympia.....

It is all deep water navigation, but from Tacoma to Jefferson Point you can take the route through Colvos passage & Agate Pass to keep ya off of some of the big open water & the shipping lanes if it is real rough......
But you will miss Emerald City if you take that route.....
Once back out into the shipping lane by Jefferson Head if you keep your heading NW, you will pass right through Admiralty Inlet & into the straight of Juan De Fuca......
That is alot of open water to cross, even to Lopez Island, (20 miles or so) & you really never know what the straight will be like......
To traverse straight from Admiralty Head to Victoria or Lime Kiln on SJI is quite a bit of open water, but doable if conditions are good.....
At least you won't get the wicked rip tides that the San Juans are known for.....
It takes about 4.5 hours from Tacoma to Lopez @ 35 mph if the water & visibility are good......
If it gets too ugly, the guest moorage is a buck a foot at Shilshole Marina this time of year.....
All in all, very doable if the weather cooperates....
Hope this helps.....
Stop at Shilshole & I'll buy ya a drink.....

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

I have never been much further south than the Tacoma Narrows, so I can't speak personally on how easy it is to navigate, but it can't be too bad if the visibility is good, because ocean going vessels do dock in Olympia.....

Zero problem here to the Narrows bridge. Have it delivered to "Swantown Boatyard". East Bay Marina (part of it) has a boat launch that can launch anything, or Swantown can swing it in if no trailer. Its a mile or so off I5, in downtown Olympia.
Once ya get out of a mile of no wake.(stick to the middle..pretty shallow on the right by Priest Park), nail it, straight run (well, some rights and lefts, and Island dodging) to the "Narrows". Just watch the weather. Plenty of places to hide though. Wet to Narrows probably 1-2 hours.
Most junk/ debris from storms collects and runs in the tidal currents..easy to spot..but you do have to keep an eye out

 

[magster65]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Yeah, that's great stuff thanks! The weather has to be similar to the Gulf Islands where I do most of my boating. I'm making a trip to Portland tomorrow to secure the 'deal'. I'm going to arrange storage for a couple weeks until I have my game plan. Too true with what's been said... the weather dictates the water pretty well. Today here is flat calm and warm... timing woulda' been great! Any advice on what I might need at customs when I bring it back (besides the original registration, bill of sale, copy of the brokerage agreement and a copy of the boat listing)?
Thanks guys!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Well, if driving, stop at the downtown/Olympia/Port of Olympia exit. About a mile or so down Plum Street, and 1/2 half block on your left past State Street, is Toms Outboards. Ya need to at least stop in there and besides the 100's of carcasses outside, his shop is a museum !...walk into the shop..50-60 old motors fer sale, and just look at the back wall..HUNDREDS stacked on the wall to the ceiling! Nice guy, and a real legend here...
From there, just keep going around the bend to Swantown Boatworks. They can do anything., and answer a lot of your questions. I think Olympia has more boats than cars. I would avoid Tacoma like the plague..to "city" for me".
My take is store it there (cheap), and take the trip in nice weather. March, we get some sort of weather break, sun back up, and its SUCH a great trip to the "Juans"...ya need to enjoy the ride!
Can't help ya on Canada Customs, but I would for sure look into it. They are real "sticklers"...and like all things government...need to justify thier job. Hope this helps..ask away for more info.

 

[magster65]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

I just came back from Portland to do the sea trial. It went well so it's mine I guess (gulp!). The weather was absolutely awful though... snow wind and heavy rain... wrong boat and the wrong time of year. I'll visit the sound during the summer!

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

I just came back from Portland to do the sea trial. It went well so it's mine I guess (gulp!). The weather was absolutely awful though... snow wind and heavy rain... wrong boat and the wrong time of year. I'll visit the sound during the summer!

Right, visit the sound during the summer, when you'll have the cold, the wind and the miserable light rain. That's why I moved as far away from there as I could afford to drive.

 

[magster65]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Which is where? Vancouver Washington? haha
'07 hasn't been a good boating year in these parts. I usually clock more than 250 hours but this year hasn't been more than 75 I bet. I'll make up for that in '08!!

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Kirkland (across lake washington from Seattle) is where I grew up... Tennessee is where I moved to... well at least that's where I am now. First I moved to San Diego (Marine Corps), then to TN, then to Manila (Phils), finally back to TN.

 

[PW2]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Right, visit the sound during the summer, when you'll have the cold, the wind and the miserable light rain. That's why I moved as far away from there as I could afford to drive.

I would suggest trailering it where you're going this time of year, and do the long range boat trips in the summer when weather is more predictable, and having fun is more likely.

There's an old saying in those parts "If you don't like the weather now, wait an hour--it'll get worse."

 

[magster65]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

There's an old saying in those parts "If you don't like the weather now, wait an hour--it'll get worse."

That's funny... we say the same thing here

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Here we say wait 10 minutes and it'll change.

We've had, calm, warm and sunny, cloudy, rainy, sleet, hail, snow and windy all in one day here.

 

[oops!]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

man i cant beleive all the west coasters on here

fantastic.

magster next time i come off the ferrie, im lookin 4 that boat!

oops

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

man i cant beleive all the west coasters on here

fantastic.

magster next time i come off the ferrie, im lookin 4 that boat!

oops

Well, the West is best......

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

I would suggest trailering it where you're going this time of year, and do the long range boat trips in the summer when weather is more predictable, and having fun is more likely.

There's an old saying in those parts "If you don't like the weather now, wait an hour--it'll get worse."

Methinks PW has a point here JR

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Attn. Puget Sound boaters

Hmmmmm......
I just noticed......
Cap'n Murky.....​