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Hello all! Been a while since I've posted anything here, so thought I'd give those of you interested in the cruising log of the Skagit Saratogan for the last eight months or so.
In January, I moved off San Juan Island where I lived for 18 years. Living there gave me daily access to the boat which was only a five minute walk from my residence. I left the Saratogan on San Juan while I moved to South Bend, 200 miles away.
April 1st, I moved the boat to covered moorage in Anacortes. Since then it's a 200 mile drive to use the boat, so I have to plan a bit for any boating activity.
In May, I spent a few days out in the islands, anchoring in Westsound and Jones Island. Seems I often begin or end my cruises out of Anacortes at Eagle Harbor, Cypress Island. There are about 20 mooring buoys supplied bu DNR in Eagle Harbor and they are no charge. Good protection from southerlies and westerlies there. Great views of Mt. Baker, too.
I hauled the boat out at Jensen's Shipyard in June and redid the antifouling coating. Had quite a collection of barnacles, so spent four of the ten days removing barnacle pads. The owner at Jensen's let me do the application of the two-part antifouling myself. That was good as it saved me a couple hundred bucks labor. The boat ran fast and smooth on launching, reaching a top speed of 26.5 knots, just 30 mph. That's as fast as she goes.
July spent a few days at Eagle Harbor. Next day went up to Clark Island, but weather was unstable and I was nervous about staying there. I finally moved around to the west side of Clark which was a mistake. Only two mooring buoys there and one was taken. The other had been dragged to within a boat length of the other. So I anchored about 30 feet off shore with a strong current running. In the morning, the wind had veered to the NW and I was about 20 feet from shore and in about four feet of water. Boat draws three feet. So I was in a hurry to get out of there. Ran down to Doe bay on Orcas where I made breakfast.
August, first night at Eagle Harbor and then went up to Sucia. I usually anchor in Fox Cove, but the winds blew from the west for all the days I was there so anchored way up in Fossil Bay. Spent four days there. On the last day, the San Juan County Sheriff's boat showed up at the dock. I checked out what was up. Had a couple Homeland Security guys in camo and packing side arms boarding all the boats on the dock. I was anchored out and wondering if I'd be paid a visit? Promptly at 5:30 they left the bay, guess dinner was waiting at home.
With the wild fires in Eastern Washington, there were some spectacular sunsets from Sucia. (See attached)
Snagged a crab pot on my leaving Sucia. The float had snagged on my center propeller and I didn't know it was there. Ran most of the way back to Anacortes at seven knots, so dragged that pot all the way. Five miles from Anacortes, fired up the other engine and ran up to 17 knots. That's when I realized the pot was there. Got lucky and on entering Cap Sante to pump the holding tank, the float popped up. I had thoughts of having to hire a diver to clear the thing. No crab!
First week in September I took my cousin and her daughter for a cruise around Shaw Island. Weather wasn't very cooperative, but had a good time anyway. I went on to cruise the islands for another ten days. Spent a few days in Aleck Bay, south end of Lopez. Good protection from norwesters and westerlies which were predicted. No protection from southerlies, so have to be careful there. Caught some crab. Finally ran out of food, water, coffee, TP, and money, so had to return home. Had a good time and actually got a few projects on the boat completed.
Cheers,
Tim aka McSkagit
In January, I moved off San Juan Island where I lived for 18 years. Living there gave me daily access to the boat which was only a five minute walk from my residence. I left the Saratogan on San Juan while I moved to South Bend, 200 miles away.
April 1st, I moved the boat to covered moorage in Anacortes. Since then it's a 200 mile drive to use the boat, so I have to plan a bit for any boating activity.
In May, I spent a few days out in the islands, anchoring in Westsound and Jones Island. Seems I often begin or end my cruises out of Anacortes at Eagle Harbor, Cypress Island. There are about 20 mooring buoys supplied bu DNR in Eagle Harbor and they are no charge. Good protection from southerlies and westerlies there. Great views of Mt. Baker, too.
I hauled the boat out at Jensen's Shipyard in June and redid the antifouling coating. Had quite a collection of barnacles, so spent four of the ten days removing barnacle pads. The owner at Jensen's let me do the application of the two-part antifouling myself. That was good as it saved me a couple hundred bucks labor. The boat ran fast and smooth on launching, reaching a top speed of 26.5 knots, just 30 mph. That's as fast as she goes.
July spent a few days at Eagle Harbor. Next day went up to Clark Island, but weather was unstable and I was nervous about staying there. I finally moved around to the west side of Clark which was a mistake. Only two mooring buoys there and one was taken. The other had been dragged to within a boat length of the other. So I anchored about 30 feet off shore with a strong current running. In the morning, the wind had veered to the NW and I was about 20 feet from shore and in about four feet of water. Boat draws three feet. So I was in a hurry to get out of there. Ran down to Doe bay on Orcas where I made breakfast.
August, first night at Eagle Harbor and then went up to Sucia. I usually anchor in Fox Cove, but the winds blew from the west for all the days I was there so anchored way up in Fossil Bay. Spent four days there. On the last day, the San Juan County Sheriff's boat showed up at the dock. I checked out what was up. Had a couple Homeland Security guys in camo and packing side arms boarding all the boats on the dock. I was anchored out and wondering if I'd be paid a visit? Promptly at 5:30 they left the bay, guess dinner was waiting at home.
With the wild fires in Eastern Washington, there were some spectacular sunsets from Sucia. (See attached)
Snagged a crab pot on my leaving Sucia. The float had snagged on my center propeller and I didn't know it was there. Ran most of the way back to Anacortes at seven knots, so dragged that pot all the way. Five miles from Anacortes, fired up the other engine and ran up to 17 knots. That's when I realized the pot was there. Got lucky and on entering Cap Sante to pump the holding tank, the float popped up. I had thoughts of having to hire a diver to clear the thing. No crab!
First week in September I took my cousin and her daughter for a cruise around Shaw Island. Weather wasn't very cooperative, but had a good time anyway. I went on to cruise the islands for another ten days. Spent a few days in Aleck Bay, south end of Lopez. Good protection from norwesters and westerlies which were predicted. No protection from southerlies, so have to be careful there. Caught some crab. Finally ran out of food, water, coffee, TP, and money, so had to return home. Had a good time and actually got a few projects on the boat completed.
Cheers,
Tim aka McSkagit
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