Shilshole Blog

Better to be registered and avoid the hassle, expense and embarrassment of family and friends some weekend when you are out boating…

As a resident of the State of Washington, YES, with one minor exception.  Rules in other states may be different, but in Washington, per Chapter 88.02.020 RCW Dispositions VESSEL REGISTRATION

(1) Except as provided in this chapter, a person may not own or operate any vessel, including a rented vessel, on the waters of this state unless the vessel has been registered and displays a registration number and a valid decal in accordance with this chapter. A vessel that has, or is required to have, a valid marine document as a vessel of the United States is only required to display a valid decal.

Exception for motorized vessels:

Seattle/Bremerton Area 10 Scheduled to open July 3 through Sept. 5, Sundays and Mondays only. Tuesdays through Saturdays will be closed.  A license is required and can be bought at Fred Meyer. Know the rules…Dept of Fish and Wildlife watch people and their catches and the fines can be hefty.

Crab seasons and areas | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

The free outdoor concerts resume this summer on the lawn at the Ballard Locks.  Bring your chair/blanket/picnic and enjoy local musicians on the weekend afternoons.

Hiram M. Chittenden-Ballard Locks

If your boat is documented with the US Dept of Homeland Security, (NVDC-National Vessel Documentation Center), then you have received in the past, a notice approximately 45 days prior to your documentation expiration.  The fee is $26 for a 1 yr renewal and can be done completely online.  NVDC is now also offering a multi-year renewal.  See their website for more details.

Last year, several boaters got a letter from a company (there are several) soliciting renewal prior to the regular letter they receive from the NVDC.  These companies’ fees were approx. $70 for 2 years.  Their paperwork and websites look very “official” and have caught many boaters off guard, including a neighbor of mine who had direct conversations with one of them.

These are 3rd party companies that have obtained the publicly available information on documented vessels and their owners.  They may be legit companies and are counting on us boaters to quickly make a decision or not verifying our GOOGLE search.  (Please read the NVDC site about 3rd party awareness information.)

If you want to remove yourself from any (non-political) solicitations, you can contact these opt out options posted on the Federal Trade Commission’s site.

Port Ludlow is a easy 3-4 hour trip (sailboat speed) from Shilshole.  Catch the outgoing tide north and cross the traffic lanes fairly perpendicular (as you should always do) to run up the Kitsap side.  Round Pt. No Point and head to Foulweather Bluff where you should arrive at slack water to avoid the major tide rips that occur near the bluff and buoy.  From there, it’s a 3.5 mile trip across the Hood Canal entrance to Pt Ludlow (stay clear of the Tala Point as it is shallow, rock strewn and full of kelp).  The harbor is large with easy anchorage in 25-35 ft of mud bottom.  (avoid the cable crossing area).  There is a dinghy dock at the marina for you to go and explore.  See more here…

Port Ludlow trail map