ASD 2019 Alaska Cruise

[sunchaser]

A trip from St Louis up the Mississippi to Keokuk Iowa and beyond will test your locking patience and skills. Especially during heavy run off. The seeming chaos at Ballard during peak periods seems quite orderly, as noted by regulars, in comparison.

ASD, when traversing the Mississippi locks we had one set of fenders dedicated for the wall and used nowhere else.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

ASD, when traversing the Mississippi locks we had one set of fenders dedicated for the wall and used nowhere else.

We did too when we did the Columbia. This set of fenders may become the "Lock" set. When talking about the Ballard Locks the "Large" locks are the issue.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

So I am watching the locks unload all afternoon. It turned dark around 8:15. Only about half have running lights on. A third of what's left only has their anchor lights on. Dear Lord get me fixed quickly.

 

[Ken E.]

What's your ETD for outa there and back to the sanity of home?

 

[IRENE]

So I am watching the locks unload all afternoon. It turned dark around 8:15. Only about half have running lights on. A third of what's left only has their anchor lights on. Dear Lord get me fixed quickly.

I was in Shilshole last week for a quick overnighter. There was an entire gaggle of sailboats returning from doing their sailboat imitations. I saw ONE with the proper navigation lights!

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

What's your ETD for outa there and back to the sanity of home?

Not sure. My official start date for work is today. Should know more later today.

I was in Shilshole last week for a quick overnighter. There was an entire gaggle of sailboats returning from doing their sailboat imitations. I saw ONE with the proper navigation lights!

You stayed in Shilshole and still have money in your pocket?

Kinda scary that some of these folks have boats....

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Left Seattle this morning using the small locks. A lot nicer. The run to Port Angeles was a nice, yet cool run. We did run into a sub being escorted into the sound. Guard boats and aircraft came over to check us out with BIG guns.

Fueled up and then visited with Jeff (Irene). Heading to Neah bay tomorrow then down the coast on Friday.

 

[Crusty Chief]

Weather looks pretty good for the run down the coast. 2-3 ft NW swell at 10 sec. Good luck and safe travels.
Life will be good with 2 working heaters this winter.
Cheers!

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Weather looks pretty good for the run down the coast. 2-3 ft NW swell at 10 sec. Good luck and safe travels.
Life will be good with 2 working heaters this winter.
Cheers!

Yes it will.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Heading to Neah Bay, then down the coast tomorrow.

 

[GFC]

Tom, you sure picked a good day to cruise that. When Doug and I helped take that 57' Bayliner from Seattle to Stockton and went through there we had 6'-8' waves with a wind chop on top. No photos of that because I was trying to hang onto breakfast.


Fingers are crossed for the two of you as you head out around the corner and down the coast that you have similar weather.


Don't forget about that shortcut at Tatoosh Island that saves you from having to go all the way out around the island.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Tom, you sure picked a good day to cruise that. When Doug and I helped take that 57' Bayliner from Seattle to Stockton and went through there we had 6'-8' waves with a wind chop on top. No photos of that because I was trying to hang onto breakfast.


Fingers are crossed for the two of you as you head out around the corner and down the coast that you have similar weather.


Don't forget about that shortcut at Tatoosh Island that saves you from having to go all the way out around the island.

In that weather, we would have stayed in Port Angeles. We did make it to Neah Bay. All anchored in.

Yea I am not comfortable with the "Shortcut" especially in the dark. The time saved is maybe 20-30 minutes for me.

187 miles from Neah Bay to Astoria. Low tide is at 12:36 PM and High at 6:43 PM, so entering on a flood.

Weather tomorrow:

Fri: SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

 

[GFC]

If you need fuel, since Neah Bay is an Indian reservation their prices don't include some of the state and federal taxes.


I wouldn't do that shortcut in the dark either. It's just not worth it because it's fairly narrow. Here's what it looks like in the daytime.

IIRC the shortcut is just on this side of the low island you can see in the foreground of this pic.


Looks like you'll have pretty good water for your trip to Astoria. That's a good thing.


Travel Safe, my friend, and take care of that fish catchin' lady you're married to.

 

[Crusty Chief]

Good friends and well wish’s for a safe travel.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Not bad out here. Have the kitty cats dialed in at 2100 rpm at 13.7kts. West swells 3 ft. South wind woth wind ripples.

 

[sunchaser]

Good conditions Tom, smart planning. At what stage of flood will you cross the C Bar? As I remember the last hour or so of flood is pretty good, provided there's not an easterly. Safe travels.

 

[MartySchwartz]

Hey Tom


Great timing on those conditions. Have a safe enjoyable trip home.


Fair winds and following seas.



Marty......................

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Good conditions Tom, smart planning. At what stage of flood will you cross the C Bar? As I remember the last hour or so of flood is pretty good, provided there's not an easterly. Safe travels.

We try for the last half

 

[Ken E.]

Tom, hope you got across the bar and home ok. On your heating system that was repaired in Seattle, what did the problem turn out to be?

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

The Bar crossing was smooth and kind. One more stop for the night and 2019 ASD Alaskan adventure will have concluded.

 

[dhays]

The Bar crossing was smooth and kind. One more stop for the night and 2019 ASD Alaskan adventure will have concluded.

Great 4+ month adventure. Sure fun to follow you.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Tom, hope you got across the bar and home ok. On your heating system that was repaired in Seattle, what did the problem turn out to be?

The soft start failed. Disconnected it and A/C unit ran great on shore power. New one on order and I will install it. Without the soft start, the unit cannot run on the generator.

 

[rochepoint]

Tom & Kay
Thanks for taking us along on your trip, great photos and blog.
Glad your trip home was a smooth one.

 

[Crusty Chief]

Cheers Tom & Kay! Glad to hear your back in home waters. Tracey and I are on the cockpit here in Channel Islands Marina toasting another successful trip north for ASD.

Hope the weeds and animal droppings on your home dock aren’t too bad.

Cheers Bud

 

[fractalphreak]

Cheers to you and Kay. Nice meeting you along the way, hope to meet up with you again further north than the lower Gulf Islands.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Thanks everyone. I will do numbers post once we get fuel. These CATs sure like running at 2100rpms...

 

[GFC]

Tom, welcome back to the Columbia River. Nice trip and great photos.


Your Cats must have a much higher rpm range. My WOT is only 2150 so my cruise rpm is more like 1200-1700 on plane. About 950 rpm's gets us 10kts.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Tom, welcome back to the Columbia River. Nice trip and great photos.


Your Cats must have a much higher rpm range. My WOT is only 2150 so my cruise rpm is more like 1200-1700 on plane. About 950 rpm's gets us 10kts.

2800 is my WOT and Cat recommends running them at 80% of WOT.

 

[GFC]

I try to run mine at 80% (1700 rpm's) about 20% of the time just to get them into a normal operating range on the temp gauges. After cruising at cocktail speed it's kinda fun to open them up.


A few years ago our club was headed up the Snake. The smaller boats took off and ran ahead of me. I figured it was time to let the Cats run for awhile so I snuck up behind the last boat in line and when I was about 100 yards behind him I gave him a little blast of the air horn. He told me later it shocked him and he was really surprised/impressed to see Beachcomber running up behind him on plane.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Approaching winter dock.....

2019 ASD Alaska Trip is now complete. Numbers and closing will come later.