Hello from Anacortes Washington State

[AnacortesSteve]

New to the forum but have read a lot of posts over the years. I have a Catalina 30 Std rig Universal Diesel.
I turn 62 in April so starting to look at retiring and cruising the PNW, Canada and Alaska in the near future, just depends on when.
I have had the 30 for a year now, had a 88 30 brand new back in the 80s and finally got one again, I had a 27 for 2 years but it was great for day sailing but a bit small for a 6' man.
Transmission is shot so I bought a new 9.9 Yamaha high thrust, works great, backs the boat up like a dream and will do 6 knts when it's pretty calm. This will make a great backup for single handed cruising when the engine alarm goes off en-route.
Would like to find other cruisers here in similar speed boat, live aboard on a 30', do you have storage or just chuck it all?
Steve

[redhead]

Hey Steve welcome to CF.

We're just up the road a piece (blaine) and went out last summer for a couple of months in preparation for the Alaska voyage. We're East Coasters so weren't prepared for the beauty of the San Juans and Gulf Is's. We got as far as Johnstone Strait before things started breaking and we turned south again. I look forward to seeing you out there. Have a ball!

[Diesel Bill]

Hi Steve, You are so lucky to sail out of one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Used to visit Anacortes often when we lived in Ferndale. Oysters and Dungeness crab as a bonus. What's not to like? Be aware of the tides in Deception Pass. Hope to read more of your sailing adventures in the future.

[AnacortesSteve]

Originally Posted by redhead

Hey Steve welcome to CF.

We're just up the road a piece (blaine) and went out last summer for a couple of months in preparation for the Alaska voyage. We're East Coasters so weren't prepared for the beauty of the San Juans and Gulf Is's. We got as far as Johnstone Strait before things started breaking and we turned south again. I look forward to seeing you out there. Have a ball!

Thanks for the welcome,
I have friends that have a huge boat that cruise the passage every year, they turned back early this year because they said the smoke was so bad.
I spent 3 days at Sucia, was really fun, the only problem is being alone I don't like the idea of being gone a month but maybe meet more people and it won't seem alone.
I'm just prepping the boat for the eventual break away of boat life for a few years, so you on the water!

[AnacortesSteve]

Originally Posted by Diesel Bill

Hi Steve, You are so lucky to sail out of one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Used to visit Anacortes often when we lived in Ferndale. Oysters and Dungeness crab as a bonus. What's not to like? Be aware of the tides in Deception Pass. Hope to read more of your sailing adventures in the future.

Thanks Bill,
I am lucky, I know Deception Pass well, I live almost in sight of it, attached is my kitchen window, I look at Hope and Whidby island, Deception is just around the corner to the left. Some times I park my boat across the street but it pulled one time because of the current so have to use a neighbors mooring.
I did get about 40 crab this year and 5 Silver Salmon so it was a good year, I moved here 5 years ago from Denver after being there 15 years, originally from So Cal but with family here been coming all my life.
I love Cap Sante Marina, was at Oak Harbor between Elliot Bay (which I loved) where I bought the boat but 550 a month was pricey.

[redhead]

Originally Posted by AnacortesSteve

Thanks for the welcome,
I have friends that have a huge boat that cruise the passage every year, they turned back early this year because they said the smoke was so bad.
I spent 3 days at Sucia, was really fun, the only problem is being alone I don't like the idea of being gone a month but maybe meet more people and it won't seem alone.
I'm just prepping the boat for the eventual break away of boat life for a few years, so you on the water!

Trust me you won't feel alone. Within 30 minutes of dropping anchor we were always approached by one or more dinghies for conversation, invites for sundowners and just chat in the cockpit. The anchorages we went to weren't crowded so newcomers were a welcome sight rather a PITA. We have more boat cards and phone numbers from this past summer than any other over 25 years. If you see us on Raincoast you're welcome to come by!

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by redhead

Trust me you won't feel alone. Within 30 minutes of dropping anchor we were always approached by one or more dinghies for conversation, invites for sundowners and just chat in the cockpit.

that does in part depend on when you go ... I just got back from 6 weeks cruising between Sidney and Port Hardy ... and all the way north and until I got back to desolation sound on my way south ... I didn't even see another cruising boat, never shared an anchorage, I even spent a night at Echo Bay marina, and was the only boat there!

of course the wilderness setting is a major part of the attraction of these places ... and it ain't wilderness any more if its crowded.

[newhaul]

steve welcome to our cruising world.
if you dont have heat on the boat install some .
some of the best cruising is to be had around here in the winter time.