Thanks in advance.
Ballast
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Rick Mathews
- Deckhand
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 11:48 am
- Location: Portland, Oregon
We motored through Swinomish Channel and LaConner last summer, and I don't recall anyplace that would require that the ballast tank be filled, unless you intend to sail through the channel. It's very narrow, so sailing would not seem to me to be a good idea. Keep in mind that we have only been through there once, on a calm day.
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Graham Carr
- First Officer
- Posts: 258
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 9:19 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Sedro-Woolley WA, 2002 26X , Mercury 50hp 4 Stroke Bigfoot "Pauka2"
I have spent the last two summers in the San Juan Island with my boat. My Mother-in-law lives 15 minuets from Swinomish Channel. So I put my boat in at the Swinomish Channel boat ramp. Based on my experience the channel does not get rough, but the current can be strong. I have watched three sail boat sail down the channel heading south. The channel is fairly straight from the North entrance until you get to LaConner. If timing allowed I would sail south for awhile but due to wind, current and usually just having to get some where. I havent done this yet. When I go through its going or coming from the ramp. I prefer to haul out on a high tide. I have done this with a full and empty ballast tank. It just depends on what is happening out in Padilla Bay (North entrance) or Skagit Bay (South entrance). If its rough out there I will fill before leaving. But most of the time I run empty.
Here is some other info
The channel is fun place to visit. Go real slow so you can see the sites. Dont worry about the other boats they can and will pass you. You can stop at the public docks along side LaConner and have lunch or dinner. You will find a fuel dock on the north side of LaConner. If you stop for fuel, look at the office on the dock for the arrow that shows current direction. Some times its not so apparent. They want you to pull in bow facing current. The dock attend told me the current does not all ways follow the ebb and flood. ????????? It can go either way.
Watch out for the mud flats at both entrances. I saw one fishing boat and two sail boats go aground. North entrance stay between the markers once you pass the train track bridge (heading north to Padilla Bay) and do not turn west until you reach the Red buoy (R2 fl 4s 18 5m) South entrance stay between the markers once you pass (heading to Skagit Bay) hole in the wall. Marker, QG #13. This will be a hard turn to starboard. At this point you can see the range marker of in the distance. The west side is a mud flat; the east side is large rock break water and it is covered at high tide. The end of the channel is marked with the buoy R 2 FL R. 2.5s. I you would like to see any photos of the area let me know and I can email you. I will be heading this Friday 7/30 so Ill be off line for two days
Have fun, I think youll like the channel.
Here is some other info
The channel is fun place to visit. Go real slow so you can see the sites. Dont worry about the other boats they can and will pass you. You can stop at the public docks along side LaConner and have lunch or dinner. You will find a fuel dock on the north side of LaConner. If you stop for fuel, look at the office on the dock for the arrow that shows current direction. Some times its not so apparent. They want you to pull in bow facing current. The dock attend told me the current does not all ways follow the ebb and flood. ????????? It can go either way.
Watch out for the mud flats at both entrances. I saw one fishing boat and two sail boats go aground. North entrance stay between the markers once you pass the train track bridge (heading north to Padilla Bay) and do not turn west until you reach the Red buoy (R2 fl 4s 18 5m) South entrance stay between the markers once you pass (heading to Skagit Bay) hole in the wall. Marker, QG #13. This will be a hard turn to starboard. At this point you can see the range marker of in the distance. The west side is a mud flat; the east side is large rock break water and it is covered at high tide. The end of the channel is marked with the buoy R 2 FL R. 2.5s. I you would like to see any photos of the area let me know and I can email you. I will be heading this Friday 7/30 so Ill be off line for two days
Have fun, I think youll like the channel.
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Graham Carr
- First Officer
- Posts: 258
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 9:19 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Sedro-Woolley WA, 2002 26X , Mercury 50hp 4 Stroke Bigfoot "Pauka2"
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Duane Dunn, Allegro
- Admiral
- Posts: 2459
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:41 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Bellevue, Wa '96 26x, Tohatsu 90 TLDI and Plug In Hybrid Electric drive
- Contact:
We have traveled most everywhere in the San Juans with out ballast. We only put it in if we are going to sail or there are small craft advisories. When we crossed the Strait of Juan de fu@ on our recent trip there were SCA so I filled it but we dumped it halfway across because we found it unnecessary and it slowed us down.
On our recent trip we went through the following 'Gates' as their known up here, all without any ballast. 1. Locks 2. Strait of Juan de fu@ 3. Dodd Narrows 4. Strait of Georgia (twice) 5. Malibu Rapids.
You won't need ballast in the Swinomish at all. Just put down a bit of centerboard and a rudder and cruise at 7 knots.
Places to watch however depending on where you are coming from.
Admiralty Inlet from Point No Point to Hood Canal entrance along the northern part of Bainbridge Island. Consistantly we have hit our roughest water in the Sound here.
If you are going up the inside through Saratoga Passage pay attention to the weather on the other side in the Strait. If there is a west wind in the Strait you will find it can get rough in the Penn Cove area just south of Oak Harbor. The area between Penn Cove and Camano Island can build as it is fairly open. Stay to the Camano side.
Rosario Strait can also be rough coming out of Guemes Channel and into Thatcher Pass. Watch for a situation where the wind is against the current. This can build steep seas and because of your heading they usually end up on the beam. Sometimes going more north to Peavine Pass can make the crossing easier. Don't get to worried though, we crossed Rosario a couple weeks ago and it was like glass. As soon as we exited out Lopez Pass the wind we had inside the islands stopped and the sea went dead calm.
Don't count out Deception Pass from your plans. We have been through 3 times now and it can save you 15 miles over a trip through the Swinomish. We have gone through at slack, Easy; an hour before slack, Simple as well; and at peak 7 knot flood, quite a ride and a bit of steering work but still not difficult. The kids loved seeing the big whirlpools.
Check out the Boating section of my web site for much more info on our trips up that way.
On our recent trip we went through the following 'Gates' as their known up here, all without any ballast. 1. Locks 2. Strait of Juan de fu@ 3. Dodd Narrows 4. Strait of Georgia (twice) 5. Malibu Rapids.
You won't need ballast in the Swinomish at all. Just put down a bit of centerboard and a rudder and cruise at 7 knots.
Places to watch however depending on where you are coming from.
Admiralty Inlet from Point No Point to Hood Canal entrance along the northern part of Bainbridge Island. Consistantly we have hit our roughest water in the Sound here.
If you are going up the inside through Saratoga Passage pay attention to the weather on the other side in the Strait. If there is a west wind in the Strait you will find it can get rough in the Penn Cove area just south of Oak Harbor. The area between Penn Cove and Camano Island can build as it is fairly open. Stay to the Camano side.
Rosario Strait can also be rough coming out of Guemes Channel and into Thatcher Pass. Watch for a situation where the wind is against the current. This can build steep seas and because of your heading they usually end up on the beam. Sometimes going more north to Peavine Pass can make the crossing easier. Don't get to worried though, we crossed Rosario a couple weeks ago and it was like glass. As soon as we exited out Lopez Pass the wind we had inside the islands stopped and the sea went dead calm.
Don't count out Deception Pass from your plans. We have been through 3 times now and it can save you 15 miles over a trip through the Swinomish. We have gone through at slack, Easy; an hour before slack, Simple as well; and at peak 7 knot flood, quite a ride and a bit of steering work but still not difficult. The kids loved seeing the big whirlpools.
Check out the Boating section of my web site for much more info on our trips up that way.