Victoria BC to Portland,OR

[GFC]

Staying in Sydney area for awhile is a good workaround to the WA tax thieves,

Tax thieves?? TAX THIEVES????

Aw c'mon man, we have the bestest gubmint that money can buy. They've worked hard, and are still working hard to earn that title. Please, Tom, say it with a tone of reverence in your voice.

After all, our gubnor is the nation's biggest loser. He holds the distinction of being the first one to leave the hordes of wanna be's who are running for Dumbocratic president. Even after many of the others have dropped out we still seem to have a hundred or so still in the running.

 

[bshillam]

If we are to store our boat in the South Puget waiting for weather to change and do a little exploring whats a good marina to moore at? Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to avoid spending more than say $300 a month - happy to pay a monthly moorage fee for the boat. Is that realistic?

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Tax thieves?? TAX THIEVES????

Aw c'mon man, we have the bestest gubmint that money can buy. They've worked hard, and are still working hard to earn that title. Please, Tom, say it with a tone of reverence in your voice.

After all, our gubnor is the nation's biggest loser. He holds the distinction of being the first one to leave the hordes of wanna be's who are running for Dumbocratic president. Even after many of the others have dropped out we still seem to have a hundred or so still in the running.

Now now now, least you forget those grubby hands in King County

 

[IRENE]

If we are to store our boat in the South Puget waiting for weather to change and do a little exploring whats a good marina to moore at? Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to avoid spending more than say $300 a month - happy to pay a monthly moorage fee for the boat. Is that realistic?

It’s not South Sound, but for your information a 50’ moorage in Port Angeles or Sequim will be around $500/month plus power.

Port Angeles Boat Haven 360-457-4505
John Wayne Marina (Sequim) 360-417-3440

I will offer that Sequim will be much cleaner and 30 minutes closer for you coming up the 101. They also have a very competitive fuel price.

 

[drb1025]

If we are to store our boat in the South Puget waiting for weather to change and do a little exploring whats a good marina to moore at? Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to avoid spending more than say $300 a month - happy to pay a monthly moorage fee for the boat. Is that realistic?

If the South Sound starts at the Tacoma Narrows, then the best bet for a marina is in Olympia. You would have many more options in the central Sound with Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Des Moines, Bremerton, Poulsbo, the big Seattle marinas, and others. You most likely will not find anything in the central or south sound for $300 or less.

 

[bshillam]

My point in being South is it would be a shorter drive and I don't want to have to drive up to Tacoma. Traffic is a real bummer, specially if you only have a few days to spend at the boat. I'd rather be on the boat than tarmac. Found one called Fiddlehead I'll be calling tomorrow. Olympia is probably the best bet. And I guess it is what it is for monthly fees, I'll just make sure to really enjoy the boat and consider it transportation/relocation expenses.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

The farthest south you can go in the Sound.

Swantown Marina & Boatworks | Port of Olympia, WA - Official Website

 

[GFC]

By chance are you a yacht club member? If so you might be able to arrange a longer than normal reciprocal moorage agreement with a club (or clubs) in the vicinity you're interested in.

 

[gsholz]

WA has a cruising permit that allows you to stay a year for $500-800 depending on size. I think the broker has to sell it to you. The down-side is after that you have to leave for at least 2 years. I.e. you could not even dock on the WA side of the Columbia river or go up the coast and duck into La Push or Neah Bay. That was a non-starter for me.

 

[Bill Blatchford]

Why move from beautiful cruising waters to the Columbia? We have been very happy having our GB42 in the Pudget Sound for the past 28 years. WE live in Bend Oregon but spend 2-3 months on the boat every summer between Seattle and Alaska. Still exploring the area.

 

[bshillam]

Why move from beautiful cruising waters to the Columbia? We have been very happy having our GB42 in the Pudget Sound for the past 28 years. WE live in Bend Oregon but spend 2-3 months on the boat every summer between Seattle and Alaska. Still exploring the area.

Bill we just don't have that kind of concentrated time to be able to use the boat for weeks/months at a time. In addition, I am going to be using the boat in my real estate business. A large portion of my business I have in floating homes and waterfront here in Portland. What better way to showcase homes for sale and those communities around Portland than by water!

 

[ksanders]

Re home porting in WA. Just be aware, as an out of state resident, 45 days after purchase you are liable for 9% sales/use tax.

My understanding and I’ve done this twice is it is 90 days, extendable by written application to 180 days

 

[bshillam]

Called the department of revenue today, it's 60 and by day 61 application needs to be made. I have the form and will be ready in the event it's that long. I am hopeful watching the weather a real nice window will open.

 

[Bill Blatchford]

That sounds like a great way to use your boat. make sure the boat dosen't look too nice they buy a boat instead of the floating home. Do you sell boats as well?

 

[bshillam]

That sounds like a great way to use your boat. make sure the boat dosen't look too nice they buy a boat instead of the floating home. Do you sell boats as well?

I know a great broker but the interesting thing is I am contemplating selling boats too. Between my experience, back ground and net work here it would make sense.

 

[Pau Hana]

Bill we just don't have that kind of concentrated time to be able to use the boat for weeks/months at a time. In addition, I am going to be using the boat in my real estate business. A large portion of my business I have in floating homes and waterfront here in Portland. What better way to showcase homes for sale and those communities around Portland than by water!

Make sure you have the proper endorsements/coverages for your proposed operations of showcasing homes- this falls outside the private pleasure tenets of a marine policy, and is definitely a commercial usage.

Without the endorsements, any claim that occurs while under this usage nullifies the policy.

 

[DDW]

Called the department of revenue today, it's 60 and by day 61 application needs to be made. I have the form and will be ready in the event it's that long. I am hopeful watching the weather a real nice window will open.

It is 60 days, extendable twice at 60 days each, application must be made in person (not online or by mail). After that you must leave the state for 180 days. Or simply take it over the Sidney, then you have 364 days.

 

[gsholz]

The boat has to leave within 45 days after purchase. Once you reenter you have 60 days total per year which can be extended.

-------------------------from WA DOR website--------
Vessel sales to nonresidents
Nonresidents of Washington may purchase vessels and take delivery in Washington without paying sales tax or use tax when the vessel is U.S. Coast Guard documented or pre-registered by the state or country where the vessel will be principally used after the sale and the vessel will be removed from Washington within 45 days of delivery.
---------------------------------------------------------

Don't take someone's word for it. Read the WA DOR rules. Too much money at stake.....

 

[bshillam]

I am not taking delivery of the boat in Washington state. I am taking it in BC. It’s just like a ore registered boat coming into the state.

 

[captjamied]

BC to Portland

I just made that trip a couple weeks ago...I (unfortunately) have quite a bit of experience making that passage both ways this time of year. Best advice is to keep your eyes on the forecasts, be prepared to boogy...as soon as the low has passed, it will usually take a few days to build back up. Once you round Cape Disappointment, you are all good, but you REALLY have to time your bar crossing to the slacks or risk the bar being closed even on a "good" day. Not too many places to hole-up on the way...Grays Harbor and Wilapa Bay are it...
...feel free to pm me for more info, I have a dock on the Columbia at Cathlamet.
Good Luck.

 

[Pacific Time]

I ran down and up a while back. On the way down we did a couple 24 hr runs. Bringing the 48 up we ran harbor to harbor during the day only. 10kts 95% of the trip up.
Good luck on the way south.

Dan

 

[bshillam]

Great information being shared. Still no plan right now on when I am leaving, just watching the weather.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Here are a few NOAA sites that can help you too:

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/marine/BarObs.php

https://www.weather.gov/pqr/barcams


Columbia Bar at 0726: 30ft at 16 sec!!!!

 

[sunchaser]

I am not taking delivery of the boat in Washington state. I am taking it in BC. It’s just like a ore registered boat coming into the state.

Whether you take possession in WA or BC the time limitations in WA remain the same.

 

[sunchaser]

Here are a few NOAA sites that can help you too:

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/marine/BarObs.php

https://www.weather.gov/pqr/barcams

Those are frightful current conditions especially LaPush

 

[Portage_Bay]

I just made that trip a couple weeks ago...I (unfortunately) have quite a bit of experience making that passage both ways this time of year. Best advice is to keep your eyes on the forecasts, be prepared to boogy...as soon as the low has passed, it will usually take a few days to build back up. Once you round Cape Disappointment, you are all good, but you REALLY have to time your bar crossing to the slacks or risk the bar being closed even on a "good" day. Not too many places to hole-up on the way...Grays Harbor and Wilapa Bay are it...
...feel free to pm me for more info, I have a dock on the Columbia at Cathlamet.
Good Luck.

What is your recent experience on Willapa like? I was there many years ago for 2 weeks of work in late spring and the entrance channel was no where near the charted channel. 2 weeks later on departure it had moved yet again requiring a dog leg south to find deep enough water to exit. Being an undredged channel fed by an uncontrolled river the channels and sand bars shifted with each heavy rain or wind event. Perhaps things have changed since I worked there. But based on that experience I consider it a very dangerous bar.

I note in the link ASD provides for bar reports that Willapa is not listed.

 

[bshillam]

Whether you take possession in WA or BC the time limitations in WA remain the same.

Honestly I find it to be a bit confusing but there appears to be a definite difference between residents and non-residents and the locations of purchase. As well as the time allowed to remain in the state. I believe they treat purchases in Washington but non-residences 45 days to remove. Boats entering from previous purchase are treated differently. This is to avoid people living in Washington evading taxes.

https://dor.wa.gov/doing-business/business-types/industry-guides/vessel-brokers-and-dealers/use-permits-vessels-owned-nonresident-individuals

and

https://dor.wa.gov/get-form-or-publication/publications-subject/tax-topics/purchase-and-use-vessels-nonresidents

Purchases of vessels in Washington by nonresidents – Sales tax chapter 82.08 RCW
Use of vessels in Washington by nonresidents – Use tax chapter 82.12 RCW

What is clear to me through reading is that Washington treats purchases in state and use differently. I believe this is because they don't want to discourage people from visiting and simulating the economy through their travel dollars. When in doubt call the Department of Revenue. I did and confirmed with them what form would need to be filled out and where it would need to be delivered in person. (No mailing allowed). The vessel was purchased out of the state of Washington, thus it is a visiting vessel which is treated under 82.12 RCW. 60 days out or deliver the permit form.

 

[sunchaser]

bshillam
You are correct in your assessment of where the boat was purchased, technically. Is the vessel Documented? If you are able to obtain OR registration and place it on boat while it sits in WA that would be good but not necessarily a guarantee.

But an undocumented and unregistered vessel sitting at a WA marina could be a red flag. The WA state dock walkers are not friendly towards what they view as scofflaws. They likely don't care about the weather. So your best hope is your vessel goes unnoticed for a month or two while sitting in WA.

If they notice you, you will likely be OK provided you have some sort of official window posting. But the paperwork and hassle may prove a challenge.

 

[rochepoint]

bshillam
It looks like you could just leave the boat in Sidney for up to 12 months, see https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/fv-be/menu-eng.html. I know you would like it closer to home but it might be a good alternative while you wait for a weather window to move it home in the spring.

 

[bshillam]

bshillam
It looks like you could just leave the boat in Sidney for up to 12 months, see https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/fv-be/menu-eng.html. I know you would like it closer to home but it might be a good alternative while you wait for a weather window to move it home in the spring.

Now hold the phone, I'll be looking into this in more detail. Might be kind of fun to leave it there and enjoy a few times. Victoria could be fun to visit a few times waiting for the weather to change.