Renting a sailboat in the San Juans

Les · Jan 12, 2009

Bellhaven Yacht Charters and Sales (360.733.6636) and San Juan Sailing and Yachting (360.671.4300) are both good companies that I have worked for as a charter skipper. They have good boats and excellent personnel to help you. Have a good time in the islands.

Ken Prichard · Jan 12, 2009

San Juan Sailing in Bellingham. Good boats & good people.

David in Sandusky · Jan 12, 2009

Anacortes Yacht Charters

We had an excellent experience with these guys.

http://www.ayc.com/

And the Catalina 30 we chartered was the best maintained of the 9 charters we have had.

CharlieCobra · Jan 13, 2009

May can be a great time of year. We had the best weather of the dry season in May last year with wind, 90's and blue skies. It never got quite that nice the rest of the year. Enjoy!

Rob2435 · Jan 13, 2009

I chartered from the Moorings a few years ago, they were teamed up with Anacortes Yacht charters. Everything worked out fine and the boat was in great shape. I would charter from them again.

paulj · Jan 13, 2009

dok
How many days have you available for sailing the San Jauns?
What size boat are you thinking about chartering?
Do you want to gunkhole overnite or stay at marinas at night?
Just wondering..........

paulj :troll:

Capt. Kermie · Jan 13, 2009

Kevin,
From the suggestions above choose the one within closest proximity of the San Juans. It is faster to drive to somewhere like Anacortes than it is to sail up that way. It can take more than a whole day just to get up to the San Juans from Seattle. There is ferry service to the San Juan Islands in that area also. I believe the ferry runs out of Anacortes. If time is of the essence get a charter as close to the islands as possible.

Stu Jackson · Apr 18, 2009

I would recommend the SJs for your time

frame. Seattle's environs are nice, but it's a whole different trip than the islands. Get Waggoner's Cruising Guide or The Bailey's Gunkholing the San Juans for places to go see in the islands, and avoid Friday Harbor - even if you're not crossing into and back from Canada, even being anywhere near that nasty a**hole US Customs guy in Friday Harbor is not my idea of fun!

He's so bad he's changing the course of international relations all by himself. someone oughta get his name...

Enjoy your trip. Go from Anacortes. Bellingham's too far away for your time frame to see some of the nicer quiet islands. Just check a chart or use this: http://demo.geogarage.com/noaa/

Tim C350 April IV · Apr 18, 2009

Sailing out of Seattle (instead of the SJ Islands)

Here's a recent thread that discusses some of the places to check out South of the SanJuan Islands - in Puget Sound.

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=106507&highlight=puget+sound

In the responses, note that the original poster asked about places with showers and watering holes, some of the later responses brought up some of the other options that don't have those things - still wonderful places.

In many ways, sailing out of Seattle might make more sense for someone flying in with limited time, as it takes a good chunk out of a day getting from SeaTac airport to either Anacortes or Bellingham, and then it's still a fair chunk of time from those places to the "destinations" in the islands. The trip from SeaTac (or whever the business meeting is) to Shilshole (where Windworks is based) is short, and you can be at several of the listed destinations in Puget Sound in a mere two hours sail.

Enjoy! Good Luck!
Tim Brogan
April IV C350 #68
Seattle

Stu Jackson · Apr 18, 2009

Very good point, Tim

I hadn't thought about that. If they want to see the SJs, then Seattle is out. But if they just wanna be on a boat in the great PNW, then your idea has great merit.

When I traveled to Seattle on business, I'd leave an extra afternoon and sail on Lake Union on a Catalina 22. It was a trashed boat but had working sails and a small engine. I used to cringe when I got on board, because someone had let this cute little boat fall to pieces down below, but the mechanical things still worked. Just, compared to our C22 at the time, it was a wreck. But I sure loved sailing around there, as limited as it was: I was ON a boat!

In fact, my last Zippo lighter is still chasing fish around just south of the Gas Works Park!

Stu Jackson · Apr 18, 2009

Glad to know we could help. One other teeny, tiny thing:

from Florida, you may not be aware that the Great PNW has what the rest of the country calls, hmmm, weather. Be warned.

Of course, they throw in tides and currents that are a lot stronger than you're used to, as well as great coffee that'll keep you up for the entire length of your trip.

Guest · Apr 18, 2009

San Juan cruising

Hi Kevin, Bellingham offers several good boat charter companies. It also places you at the door step of the San Juan Islands. Three days limits how much to see, but a couple of recommendations offer some serene stopping points along the way.

Pelican Beach on the NE side of Cypress Island has six DNR (free) mooring balls close to shore of this large mostly uninhabited island (you will need a dinghy to row ashore). It has several excellent hiking trails, one of which takes you to Eagle Cliff, a breathtaking view of the San Juan archipelago. Duck Lake further up the trail is also well worth the hike.

The next day you can either sail through Peavine Pass and up East Sound to Rosario Resort for a very interesting tour of the old mansion, or head north to Rolfe Cove on Matia (pronounced Muhteeah) Island for another very serene stay. It has two mooring balls and a dock. The heavily forested island has an excellent well groomed hiking trail with lots of scenery along the way.

Just as a foot note, many of the San Juan Islands are State Parks with docks. State policy allows rafting up to three deep at these docks, so even if things look full, room is likely available.

Terry Cox

John Nantz · Apr 19, 2009

Hey STU! I totally agree with you - great post!

Stu Jackson said:
frame. ....... and avoid Friday Harbor - even if you're not crossing into and back from Canada, even being anywhere near that nasty a**hole US Customs guy in Friday Harbor is not my idea of fun!

He's so bad he's changing the course of international relations all by himself. someone oughta get his name...

I've been going past the San Juans for decades now and it's been partly due to the customs official(s?) there, oh, and lets not forget, their high fuel prices!

And I'd add the Roche Harbor Customs to the list too. I'm sure they're all part of the same crew.

Had a few experiences with them, both when I landed at Friday Harbor Airport (spring time and tall grass blocking the view of the sign saying where I should taxi and park - but not their problem!) and by boat at Roche, and just don't need any more like that. And that was before the Homeland Security days!

I liked to anchor at the south end of Lopez Island so we could make a quick trip across the Strait but now we leave from Cadboro Bay on Vancouver Island which adds an hour or two to the crossing. We clear now at Port Townsend on our return trips even if it is more difficult or costs me a day or two.

Les · Apr 19, 2009

Whoa, I'm sorta enjoying this thread. I live part time in Bellingham AND Friday Harbor. And I've been sailing in the San Juans and Gulf Islands for probably forty years. I think I remember meeting John Nantz at a Hunter roundup.

Don't take the customs people too seriously. Most live on San Juan and go between Rosaio and Friday Harbor so you're apt to get any of them from time to time. I figure they have to make a living one way or the other and if some of us didn't complain Washington, DC would think they weren't doing their job. I just smile at them--which seems to piss them off somedays.

And don't forget, the San Juans and the Gulf Islands have been the center of smuggling for years and years. It is still going on right now. After the British left Garrison Bay it became the center for wool from Vancouver Island where it was then carded and sent to Seattle. Big time industry. And there are several "Chinamen" Points or coves on each of the islands. Who knows what is coming through the islands today.

Just to give you the proper prospective on the situation with Customs. Nice people even when they are grouches.....

And don't knock my Friday Harbor. They really want to make it enjoyable for all of you. I can't help the fuel price--it is the same for those that live on the island. The cost raises because the Department of Transportation keeps rasing the ferry prices. We have meetings but Olympia doesn't listen to us. Trust me--the locals want your business. They try hard.

And there are good places in Friday Harbor. A couple of blocks up on the hill is the Garden Bistro, an Italian place that makes the best sauce anywheres--even in Seattle. It is outstanding. Tell Tom I sent you. And the Kings Market downtown.....if you buy too much to carry they will drive you and your groceries down to the marina.

This whole area of islands is beautiful cruising grounds. I just came back from Deer Harbor--they have a restaurant at the top of the hill that is outstanding. And it has been good for years. Don't overlook Deer Harbor--good anchoring as well.

I love the islands. I sincerely hope you enjoy yourselves. IF you have questions write me an e-mail.

Renting a sailboat in the San Juans

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