Shoal Draft Cruiser in PNW

[sailingdog]

Rusty-

If you want to convince your wife, take her on a bareboat or crewed charter in the Caribbean. Also, send her to sailing school too... she should be able to single hand the boat if she'll be cruising with you normally.

[Faster]

While I'm certainly all for taking her to the Carib for a cruise, that's not really going to prepare her for year round cruising in the PNW... You do have to get used to rain, cold, and perhaps fog.

Seriously though, Rusty, it sounds like you have a good plan. Though living 5 hours from the boat would be tough for me. I like to check her at least twice a week.

Getting the better half fully on board (no pun intended) is definitely a good Plan A. Good Luck.

[sailingdog]

No, but you have to get permission for the boat... so the trip to the Caribbean is probably going to be more effective than sailing in the fog of the PNW.

[Moonfish]

What fog? Rain, yes. Fog... not a huge deal around here. It does happen, and I'm glad I have radar, but encountered thick fog only once since last July. 'Course I'm not out every day...

[Plumper]

When you say shoal draft, what is that? How much does a shoal draft boat draw?
I cruise in the PNW and there are a few places where you can put a really deep boat in the sand but not many. Specifically, the Comox Bar, around the islands in the north end of Georgia Strait and at the mouth of the Fraser. Anything that draws less than ten feet is pretty much a free runner here. I had a boat with a 10 foot draft and I sometimes had to wait for the right tide in Comox or Port Townsend. Most of the places there was lots of water. I currently sail in a 5' draft boat and often anchor with one end of the boat tied to shore (as most folks around here do).
Fog, yes there is lots of fog in August and September off the west coast of the island and to the north. Check the pilot charts. The inside is fog free most of the time, particularly summer but it is also wind free. Warm air over cold water equals fog everywhere off the west coast. They call it fogust here.

[Rustyf]

The "shoal" draft boats that I have seen advertised have drafts around five feet. A Caribbean cruise would be fun but I have to convince my wife that sailing the PNW would be fun. Hence I will likely take her out on a boat run by a charter company in early summer. I have my eye on a couple of boats but with the economy as it is I think that time is on my side. Again thanks to all for the good responses. I will keep the site updated as this matter moves along.