|
|
04-09-2017, 04:48 PM
|
#1
|
Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
|
Pre Positioning boat for trip to BC
Larry asked in another thread about going from Anacortes to Desolation.
This got me thinking about pre-positioning our boat from Gig Harbor to a convenient more Northerly marina before and then after our trip to save a few days of travel. During the summer, my biggest concern is the availability of slips to use.
I see the most likely option to be Anacortes, as they have a lot of inventory of slips and are a pretty good jumping off spot. I could take a weekend and take the boat to Anacortes and get my wife to pick me up and drive me back home. Then for our vacation, we could drive to Anacortes and leave from there. The weekend afterwards, just reverse the process and bring the boat back to Gig Harbor.
Anyone local to that area have any recommendations as to a marina to check with? It is tough as I am really only looking at 2 weeks of moorage separated by two weeks.
Any other spots other than Anacortes that would be worth looking at?
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 05:05 PM
|
#2
|
Veteran Member
City: Renton
Vessel Model: 1981 Hardin Sedan 42
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 90
|
You could also position to Friday harbor and take the clipper back to Seattle.
There a a couple marinas next to Friday harbor you could use.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 05:18 PM
|
#3
|
Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach_cat
You could also position to Friday harbor and take the clipper back to Seattle.
There a a couple marinas next to Friday harbor you could use.
|
Good suggestion, but the jump to Friday Harbor is very dependent on weather. Also, I'm not sure I want to spring for the Clipper. If my wife has to drive to Seattle to pick me up, she might as well drive to Anacortes.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 05:21 PM
|
#4
|
Guru
City: Puget Sound
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 631
|
If you need some work done, I would look at Sidney. Philbrooks is there and with the good exchange rate it's a good place to have it done. The marina there is as good as any and better than most... You can clear customs there and it's an easy trip using the Blackball out of PA. Leaving from there it's an easy two days to Desolation..
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 05:25 PM
|
#5
|
Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ka_sea_ta
If you need some work done, I would look at Sidney. Philbrooks is there and with the good exchange rate it's a good place to have it done. The marina there is as good as any and better than most... You can clear customs there and it's an easy trip using the Blackball out of PA. Leaving from there it's an easy two days to Desolation..
|
Great suggestion, but as I am still working Sydney is a bit too far to get to reliably in a weekend. I could do it, if the weather cooperates. But if the weather doesn't then I would be stuck short of the straits with no place to leave the boat.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 05:59 PM
|
#6
|
Guru
City: Port Townsend and La Paz
Vessel Name: Domino and Libra
Vessel Model: Malcom Tennant 20M and Noordzee Kotter 52
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 984
|
Probably more than you want from Gig, but Blaine generally has some room where I am. The fisherman's side is pretty sparse these days.
Probably a two day run from Gig to Blaine, but then you could make Sarah Point from Blaine in one 14 hour day up the East side of the strait when vacation starts. Not sure where you would clear customs though.
__________________
Bill
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 06:31 PM
|
#7
|
Guru
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,179
|
All so far are good suggestions. I'll toss in Port Townsend as well. Easy one day trip from there to Sidney. You went through this same agony last year. Flip a coin, make a reservation and power up.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 06:34 PM
|
#8
|
Guru
City: Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Vessel Name: Irene
Vessel Model: Nordhavn 40II
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,234
|
Sidney
John Wayne Marina in Sequim could be a bail out option for the Sidney plan...or just an option by itself. This would allow you to avoid driving through the center of the universe, Seattle.
If you do Sidney, you can take the bus to the ferry in Victoria and walk on for Port Angeles.
Jeff
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 06:35 PM
|
#9
|
Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by klee wyck
Probably more than you want from Gig, but Blaine generally has some room where I am. The fisherman's side is pretty sparse these days.
Probably a two day run from Gig to Blaine, but then you could make Sarah Point from Blaine in one 14 hour day up the East side of the strait when vacation starts. Not sure where you would clear customs though.
|
I hadn't thought of Blaine. It would be a least an 18 hour trip from Gig Harbor, through the Swinomish Channel then up to Blaine. I have never been there by boat. If the wind was coming down from the North, I would imagine that the Southern end of Georgia Strait could be a bit rough.
I've also never been up the East side of Georgia Strait. Looks like a nice strait shot but exposed.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 06:45 PM
|
#10
|
Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by IRENE
John Wayne Marina in Sequim could be a bail out option for the Sidney plan...or just an option by itself. This would allow you to avoid driving through the center of the universe, Seattle.
If you do Sidney, you can take the bus to the ferry in Victoria and walk on for Port Angeles.
Jeff
|
Another place I've never been. I have never been West of Protection Island. It is about the same distance as Anacortes from me, but doesn't get me quite as far North. The advantage is that it is a much quicker drive from home. A lot may come down to availability of moorage for a couple of weeks during the summer months.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 06:55 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
City: Tsawwassen BC
Vessel Name: Tolly Roger
Vessel Model: Tollycraft 34 SC
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 116
|
You will be 100% guaranteed a slip at POINT ROBERTS MARINA!
They are about 50% full now with the US/CDN dollar and other factors.
I am sure they would give you a deal for a short term stay.
2 Things to consider:
1. Its a bit harder to get back to the rest of WA State. but not impossible
and
2. Its a bit harder to clear into Canada from here once you want to head North, but there are options. (We do it a few times a year albeit with NEXUS)
Let me know if you want more info!
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 06:59 PM
|
#12
|
Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,971
|
Bellingham usually has transient slips in the summer. Many boats heading for Alaska allow their slips to be used for visitors. We do this each year when we're gone.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 07:03 PM
|
#13
|
Member
City: Portland
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
|
Dave
I made the same trip last year from Olympia. I don't know your speed but I have a slow boat, a very slow boat. I stayed in Anacortes. There they think highly of their slips there ($$$) even on the empty commercial dock! Call La Conner or Oak Harbor as alternatives.
The challenge is where to go next. I spent a very nice night in Point Roberts and then into Vancouver BC. From there to Secret Cove and then to Lund. You can skip Vancouver if your wife will let you.
You don't need a Port of Entry you can clear Canadian Customs by phone.
Don't miss the cinnamon rolls in Lund
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 07:20 PM
|
#14
|
Guru
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,738
|
LaConner is considerably cheaper.
__________________
Eric
North Western Washington State USA
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 07:54 PM
|
#15
|
Guru
City: Birch bay wa
Vessel Name: Rogue
Vessel Model: North Pacific 42
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 648
|
Bellingham Blaine or Point Roberts all good. It was crowded in Point Roberts last time I was there, 4 years ago. Customs can be done at White Rock, which I have done the last 3 years. Brought boat home from Port Townsend, yesterday, 6.5 hour trip to Birch Bay. So Bellingham would be shorter and Blaine about 45 minutes longer, at our boat speeds. It is a long day from Blaine up the east side. I have done home port, to customs at White Rock, and then on to Smugglers Cove in a day. Stops at Snug Hbr or Gibsons would add a day, but good stops.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 08:15 PM
|
#16
|
Member
City: Portland
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
|
TRS for Canadian Border Control
Another slick trick is to preregister with the telephone reporting system in advance. Then you can call in as soon as you enter Canadian waters via cell. Much more flexible and not port specific.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 08:24 PM
|
#17
|
Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
|
I think Cap Sante in Anacortes would be good, but Bellingham certainly gets you positioned further up the route. I am a fan of repositioning. Before we started the loop, we quickly ran the boat to NYC so then we could start from there.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 08:43 PM
|
#18
|
Guru
City: Bayview
Vessel Name: Puffin
Vessel Model: Willard Vega 30
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,443
|
Bellingham is a great spot to jump off from.
__________________
What kind of boat is that?
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 08:53 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
City: Anacortes
Vessel Name: Selah
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 40
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 315
|
We use Cap Sante in Anacortes for prepositioning since long-term parking is easy and options from Gig Harbor include car, train, and Bell-Air shuttle between Cap Sante and Sea-Tac. As you say, it saves 2 days and is easy to get to.
|
|
|
04-09-2017, 08:56 PM
|
#20
|
Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,971
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dennisspain
Another slick trick is to preregister with the telephone reporting system in advance. Then you can call in as soon as you enter Canadian waters via cell. Much more flexible and not port specific.
|
Dennis, could you elaborate on preregistration? Is this a new program and does it have a name? Both Nexus and Canpass are 'port specific'.....Canada wants to know your first port of call so they can meet you after the phone clearance if they choose to.
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Trawler Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|