Sailboat for san juan islands washington

[Geoduck]

West sound marina has the best facilities on Orcas. Friendly folks, haul out, supplies, fuel, etc. Good place to moor a boat. Deer Harbor also good but rough in winter and high priced in summer. Your best bet is West Sound for year round moorage. I was there for a year or so but got fed up with ferry travel - you will too - I moved to Skyline and love it!
A hard dodger/wheelhouse is the way to go but you already know that, coming out of Kodiak. A good heater is also necessary.
If you are into a project, I know of a Cheoy Lee Lion for sale cheap - Fglass hull, rig complete but needs a new motor. Been in a barn for restoration - divorce ended that and now he has to get rid of it - 10k or so buys it.

[Capt Steve Stories]

In May I, along with my wife and another couple, sailed for four days in the San Juans aboard a 36' Jenneau sloop. It was an ideal size for the islands, able to navigate the narrow Mosquito Pass and plenty of boat for the larger straits. I have a few photos on my website: The Navigator | Book links. But my complete article on this trip will come out in "Ocean Navigator" magazine in the fall.

[GreatDanesrule]

Nice to hear we have good marinas on orcas. The place i am moving is in crow valley about 1 mile from westsound marina. But all the marinas are close on orcas island! The cheoy lee in this class are nice boats. Your friend can send me info on the boat but i must say the delamination issues of these teak decks and the rehab work to get these boats up to speed is a major undertaking. The final result is one nice sailboat that i hear handles pretty well. I just finished motor overhaul in my fishing boat so engines are not to big a deal. Always nice to see classic boats and i even have a barn for a boat shop too! Thanks for your response geoduck

[Cavalier MK2]

Check into the Tanzer 10.5 pilot house....Any good sailboat works up here but I'd stay away from the heavy cruisers like Babas etc...because if you want to sail a boat that moves in moderate conditions will get sailed more often and a lighter boat will motor better too. I've sailed through the San Juans without an engine in several boats, using the current and having light weather sails can keep you moving. I used to fish in Alaska, think SE and you'll know what to expect.

[GreatDanesrule]

I will look into it. I do not anything about the Tanzer. I have had some wonderful suggestion on this thread alone regarding boats etc and I am leaning to those pilothouses just for the creature comforts. Does the tanzer handle pretty well single handed, and work well in light winds if needed. Your description of think Southeast AK makes me laugh. I spent a month in the juneau area once and never saw the sun. Where did you fish in AK?

[Cavalier MK2]

i went through SE, the Aleutians, Kodiak Is., Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea processing then purse seined out of SE as well as Northern Puget Sound..... The Tanzers were well made in Canada for our kind of weather. Any boat can be set up singlehanded. Our trimaran has a pilot house/hard dodger and I couldn't believe the difference it made especially at the higher speeds it can go. Just stepping out to work the winches on the tacks and staying dry can improve passages on a soggy day. The downside is perhaps sailing a little more sloppy as you revel in the creature comforts....

[Cheechako]

I always loved that Tanzer design from afar. Never ever saw one though, I think they folded just after starting production on that bigger boat. Did they produce more than a few?

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Cavalier MK2

The downside is perhaps sailing a little more sloppy as you revel in the creature comforts....

A couple of weeks ago I was out, the temperature had dropped to 14C and it was raining but I had some long tacks and the pilothouse to steer from so on I went. I sure wasn't going to hang out in the cockpit, bimini or no bimini!

People sometimes ask about visibility from the pilothouse. I can actually see forward better because I'm looking under the sails. Off either beam there are great windows to look out, leaving only the stern which requires popping a head out from time to time.

[Cheechako]

Can you see the shape of your mainsail?

[Cavalier MK2]

Here is a link TANZER 10.5 sailboat specifications and details on sailboatdata.com

[Cheechako]

Yeah, with the big swing keel and the retractable rudder. Also designed it with fixed keel I think. Have you ever seen one? Did they produce any?

I guess they did, I see one for sale in Ontario...

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Can you see the shape of your mainsail?

Not really but when the option is getting wet and cold, dropping the sails and motoring or as Cavalier MKII says, sailing a little sloppy, it's a good alternative.

[Cavalier MK2]

With your main trimmed watching the jib luff will tell you what the wind is doing. Check that stuff out when its dry so you don't have to get wet......

[GreatDanesrule]

I saw that vessel for sale in Ontario. I will have to check more on the specs but this looks interesting. I like the pilot houses but in some the visibility limitations drives me crazy. Cavalier, thanks for the spec sheet, i spent a little time near adak during some storms once. Bristol bay is getting going for the season but not sure on the prjected red numbers.

[GreatDanesrule]

What do you veterans think of this swing keel concept? I assume it works fine however I have never seen one here in Alaska.