Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

[kdmiller8251]

Hello All:<br /><br />I am moving to Whidbey Island in January. Are there any boaters from up that way that can tell me what the waters are like around Whidbey. Mostly in the sound. Are they rough, deep etc??<br /><br />Thanks All help greatly appreciated.<br /><br />T

 

[artburr]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Your only concern at Whidby Island would be weather. It is distinctly colder and wetter than New Orleans. Otherwise, it is a boater's paradise. Buy marine charts and learn the water.

 

[artburr]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

tallman: You may wonder why I responded to this since I live in Oregon. For one thing, I find that there is very little interest in the Northwest on iboats. The other is that I do have some experience with boating in the Puget Sound area having lived for some time in Seattle and on Vashon Island. Puget Sound and, particularly, the San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands, are fantastic boating. But you need to have good charts and learn the waters. Deception Pass at the north end of Whidbey Island must be traversed only at slack tide. Also, there are a number of barely submerged rocks in places so you need to be aware of where you are at all times. Fog can also present a hazzard. But these are all things that you can learn to handle. Good luck.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Be prepared for cold! water in the summer & winter.....The water is deep for the most part....The San Juans are awesome....Fog & wind can get ugly at times....The best you can do is check the forecast, make sure you have your rig in good running condition, have a vhf, gps & some charts, there are some rocks closer in...Hood Canal is pretty coll....Good fishing & crabbing out here....You Navy?......JK

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Thanks for the input you two. I am very excited about heading up there, only thing that does not thrill me is the cold water part. But the scenery looks great! I have a 21ft Cuddy, so it should work out pretty swell up there as long as the seas dont get too rough.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />T

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Deception Pass at the north end of Whidbey Island must be traversed only at slack tide.

I've done it in all kinds of tide's going both ways. Some very strong currents but they can be powered through no problem. Lots of fun and some of the most beautiful scenery ever!

 

[CaptAlfex]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

ebsworj,<br /><br /> I am curious about what type of boat and HP you had when going through Deception Pass?

 

[Lowranger]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Welcome to Washington,T. Although I live in Vancouver I cruise the sound. Sounds like your naval aviation. So was my dad. You'll find this helpful. http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/ helpful.

 

[Lowranger]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Here is some more http://www.boatwashington.org/ http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/ http://www.rbaw.org/ http://www.parks.wa.gov/boating.asp http://experiencewashington.com/TTD_Activity_T21.html

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Thanks Lowranger!<br /><br />Yep Naval Aviator. P-3 Flight Engineer... Looking forward to all the boating in the sound, all though I have heard some scary stories about debris and such floating out there... But It will be fun none the less!

 

[Lowranger]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

heard some scary stories about debris and such

Don't sweat it at all. You're about to move to boating heaven. I run from Olympia to Desolation Sound, B.C. in a 22' C-Dory C-Dory No problems. I hope you like fishing and crabbing. The marina @ Oak Harbor is one of the best. Go online and "google" Swinomish Channel, La Connor, Deception Pass, and San Juan Islands. Also pick up a copy of "The Waggoner" and "Northwest Boat Travel". These are boating travel guides that cover Olympia to Alaska. I think you can investigate them online. This is going to be a GREAT move. Welcome!

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

I am curious about what type of boat and HP you had when going through Deception Pass?

I'm a little late on this reply but here goes. I've gone through in a few types, my friends 30hp 16' Jon-boat and my 120hp 18' runabout most recently. My boat can obviously beat the current but the jon-boat will barely move if the current is at its strongest. Its fun to reverse course and haul arse with the current.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

One huge tip to TallMan is if your near Swinomish Channel, or La Conner STAY IN THE MARKED CHANNELS unless your in a jetboat or know what tide you are in. The Skagit river dumps into the ocean next to Laconner and fill the area with silt. You can be miles from islands and hit bottom. Its mostly just sand... some logs though. I've done it and had to use a oar to get off. The channels are well marked and if you use google maps you can see an arial view of what i mean, the channels are blue and the rest is brown.<br /><br />Such a nice area though... only a few spots to be aware of. If you have a shallow draft boat you can cruise right through the breakwater there called "hole in the wall" and go up the Skagit river to Mt. Vernon and a few other towns. Good times!<br /><br />

<br />This pic is taken at Rosario beach at end of the yellow line in the below photo.<br /><br />

<br /> <br />The below photo is a seperate trip. (near seattle not Laconner)<br /><br />

<br />The pirates have landed at Blakely Island (the whole island is a state park off of seattle) We camped there and when i woke up the boat was beached about 50 feet from the water.... very funny at the time. The only thing to do was to open a few cold ones to wait out the tide!

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

ebsworj:<br /><br />Wow sounds great, Thanks for the sweet photos.. Are there any good places to stop in the areas for Drinks?

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Your talking to the right guy about drinks! Near Deception pass is a small community and fuel dock and drink store, i forget the name. Then there's the quaint fishing/touristy village called Laconner, the channel in the sattalite photo runs right through the middle of the town. (its the town in the background of this photo... sorry about the bare arse) picture <br /><br />

<br />We saw this from the launch when we put in. Looks like sombodys party boat when down in the outer part of the channel.<br /><br />Here's some pics of Blake Island near Seattle, check out the seals on the bouys on page 5. I thought they were going to hop in our boat, we got WAY too close at my friends request.<br /><br /> Blake Island Gallery <br /><br />

<br /><br />Ok I probably showed you guys way too many pics. Welcome to the northwest, its a great place to boat in teh spring and summer. If I had a cabin on a boat I'd boat all year!<br /><br />Anyone have any pics to show?

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

yeah I figured you were the guy to talk too.. HA HA I checked out some of your other pictures on your website and figured you would know. The pictures are great. I appreciate all the info.<br /><br />All those places that you boat, do you trailer there or can you get to them from the sound?

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

You can get to all of the places I've talked about and shown from the sound. I trailer my boat as close as possible usually to save on fuel and becauase I have a smaller boat. I recomend going to google maps to do some satallite recon of your area around whidbey island. Its free and you can get a instant idea of places to go. Goggle map of whidbey Island

 

[cntrydude]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

We traveled to the San Juans this past summer. It was our first time and we had a blast! We are planning our return this summer. Below is a link to some photos.<br /> web page

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

Wow, Once again some great photos. I am very anxious to get up that way and see the country. 2 weeks from now I will be on the road! Wahooo!

 

[CaptAlfex]

Re: Oak Harbor / whidbey / Puget Sound Boating?

ebsworj,<br /><br /> quote: I'm a little late on this reply but here goes. I've gone through in a few types, my friends 30hp 16' Jon-boat and my 120hp 18' runabout most recently. My boat can obviously beat the current but the jon-boat will barely move if the current is at its strongest. Its fun to reverse course and haul arse with the current.<br />end quote<br /><br />Thanks for this info. Just what I needed to help me decide what to buy and how to make a run through the pass. Rasario Straight will be a different animal depending on wind and currents. I still can't believe you went around Vancouver Island in a 21'/90 HP Runabout? Amazing. Can't wait to test my boat.