Dave (from Oregon), visit the web site of the Cascadian Sailing Association:
http://www.sailcascadia.org and ask your question again. This is a group of about two hundred sailors all over the northwest and there is a M.I.S.T.Y. group for the Columbia River.
If possible get Ralph (aka the River Rat) who has sailed the Columbia for years to give you some advice. Really a nice guy.
Others reading this if you want advice about the Pacific Northwest this is the group to ask. Although at the moment I suspect many of the members are in Desolation Sound or the Broughton Islands. A good group.