We just got back last friday from our week long cruise. Our experience was very similar to yours. We chartered a 28' Bristol Channel Cutter
Sounds like you had a great time, and I should have looked harder for a Bristol Channel Cutter in Reid Harbor. We were on the other side at Prevost.
So how did you like the charter company? I've checked out their site more than once, and it's cool that that charter a Dana 24, the Bristol Channel Cutter, and a Baba 30. We considered the Baba for our two week charter next year, but I think it's more boat than needed.
It's also neat that you sailed every day, but we were happy to have a full day on Sucia and Stuart. Next year, we plan at least two nights at Sucia again. We have our reservation in for the Islander 28 for two weeks.
Thanks for the tale of the San Juan Islands, it brings back some great memories I spent my summers at a YMCA camp on the north side on Orcas Island. One year we cirmumnavigated Orcas in a 18' Old Town War Canoe, 8 Kids & 2 camp counselors.
Wow, that sounds like an adventure. Given the currents we hit during the week, I'd be concerned about being too far out on a canoe or kayak. However, it was great to see campgrounds that were only for "human-powered craft," and they were active when we were there.
I got to kayak on the Oregon Coast this week (fresh water lakes, not the ocean) when we spent time there at a beach house. In a week or two, I hope to go back and kayak Nehalem Bay and the Nehalem River.
I've yet to see a short list of other boats that can do the same, but I'd sure like to know of them.
It was a very easy boat to sail, and I look forward to taking it out again. It's not without tricks, however. For backing, we had to "scull" with the tiller to keep her going in straight line. When my wife set the anchor for the first time, the boat immediately when 90 degrees from the anchor because of prop walk. I feel lucky that our C&C 27 has an off-set prop and backs straight.
As for balanced boats, is it more common in newer designs and spade rudders? We could also do it with a basic Catalina 350 we had a class on (but it wasn't as effortless as the Islander 28). Ketches are supposted to be easy to balance as well, given the mizzen (as Slocum would attest).
Jim-
"As for balanced boats, is it more common in " AFAIK, it is simply Just Plain Rare. In order to balance well across a wide range of conditions, the hull also needs to present symetric or at least balanced lines while heeled through some range as well. That puts limits on hull designs. And until recently (pre 3d CAD design for the non-megabuck user) it meant that if a designed wanted to do iterative designs and change the various centers on the boat so it would balance under more conditions...they had to do an awful lot of handwork an awful lot of times. Then I'm guessing that, like in any industry, some decisions were made about costs and using "standard" masts, or modifying existing molds rather than making new ones, etc, so balance wasn't always a priority. I mean, there's just no way a buyer can see or appreciate it--unless they know what it is and experience it on the water. Can't sell boats in a showroom that way.
I enjoyed reading about your trip. My wife and are headed up there middle of September and chartering a boat from San Juan sailing. So it was nice to hear good things about them. We used to own a Catalina 25 that we would trailer up to Anacortes from Portland with our two kids. We are really looking forward to just driving up there and getting on a boat. Thanks for the heads up about Friday evening traffic it is just the two of us so maybe we will just spend another day in Bellingham. The one place we always intended to go when we where in the Islands and never made it due to weather or some other snag was Victoria. My wife wants to spend some time moored in front of the Empress. So we are going to check that out this trip.
My wife wants to spend some time moored in front of the Empress. So we are going to check that out this trip.
Have a great trip in September-- I'm envious because once school starts we're pinned down (except for weekend cruises).
Next year our plan is to do three nights in Victoria, in front of the Empress, and then move on to at least two of the Gulf Islands. We've budgeted two weeks for that trip, so we can also see Sucia again, and still have time for the travel two and from Bellingham. I've also been warned that it's going to cost around $100 each for Passports for all four of us (with photos, etc), and that checking back into the US is now more time consuming than ever. We'll probably check back in at Roche Harbor.
It's cool that you once trailered a Catalina 25 up north. We met a happy couple who does that once a year. I've thought often of what it would be like to trailer a boat up for us, or have our boat trailered up, but overall it seems like the time and effort with a larger boat is too much. The idea of three lifts, and two complete de- rigging and re- riggings is a bit much. Now, if it was just two of us, with the right boat, maybe.
Anyway, have a great trip. Which boat are you chartering?
Trailering a 25' fixed keel boat up and back was always interesting. We never had problem one on the road on any of our trips. The trailer worked great but one can never relax when you have that much weight following you down the road. My wife and I had a good system for getting the mast stepped and the boat rigged after we got it slung in at Anacortes but it was a full day none the less. It was always worth it. We always had a great time up in the islands. Even on the first trip that turned out allot wetter and with more challenges then we would have liked. Including a boat dragging anchor in the wind that came up at 2:00am at Jones island and hitting us. It was the first time we had anchored out and at first I thought we where dragging. Luckily we where holding and no damage to either boat. It was an early summer trip and there was a weather pattern where you would have a sunny day with some of the most fantastic sailing I have ever experienced. Then a storm would roll in at night and it would rain all the next day followed by another sunny day. I quickly realized before we came back we needed a dodger for the boat. We had one made before our next trip and it was worth every penny I paid for it and then some. Our other trips where later in the summer and although the weather was much nicer. The boat motor got a good work out.
We are splurging and chartering the Catalina 310. Looking forward to sailing a boat with a wheel we have never done that before.
"but if you had a 27' boat of your own, why'd you spend the $$$$ on a charter instead of using yours?"
You mean, why charter a boat in the Pacific Northwest, when you could just as easily ship over your own FROM THE UK and then not need to charter one?
[rhetorical question]
"but if you had a 27' boat of your own, why'd you spend the $$$$ on a charter instead of using yours?"
You mean, why charter a boat in the Pacific Northwest, when you could just as easily ship over your own FROM THE UK and then not need to charter one?
[rhetorical question]
He wrote:
Quote:
I have some more time off this week, and we're planning a 2-3 night local trip on our C&C 27 on the Columbia River.
Last I checked, the Columbia was the border between WA and OR, so I presumed that the location of London wasn't currently accurate.
