Shilshole Blog

Welcome back and hope you all had a great summer!

Please tell us about your travels…what worked, what didn’t, where to go, what to avoid.   There are lots of new boat owners in our marina that are dreaming of places to go and things to do!  Everyone that has been out this summer has stories to tell.

Did you cruise South Sound or head north to the San Juan’s/Gulf Islands/Desolation Sound?  Was the Canadian fire smoke an issue for you? …and how would you avoid it next year?  Was water difficult to find?  How about cell coverage?  Tips for clearing Customs?  Share your thoughts and helpful internet links that will encourage others to get out and use their boat!

Start by going to Poulsbo for the 3rd of July Fireworks, then down the backside of Bainbridge, through Rich Passage and down Colvos Passage (W side of Vashon) to Quartermaster Harbor for a great 4th of July show.  Then its a quick run over to Gig Harbor to wait for favorable current to go through the Narrows. If you go direct from Shilshole, its about a 5 hour run to Gig Harbor (current always flows north in Colvos).

Time your southbound trip through the Narrows for a flooding current. Stay in the middle away from the bridge pylons to avoid the back eddies and get the most push.  You’ll be surprised at your speed over ground as you zip though and how quickly you cover the distance.  You pop out on the east end of Fox Island. Your cruising guides will list all possible anchorages to explore and their amenities.  Here is what we did last year… Continue Reading »

A beautiful harbor with easy anchorage and often overlooked as one hurries to Poulsbo, Manzanita Bay is just to port after the bridge as you go through Agate Pass.  You can go back to the quiet end of the bay or, as we like to do, stay out at the mouth for the sunsets.  Though there is no formal beach or dock for the boating public, there are a couple street ends (public right of way) that will get you onto the island for walking or biking the trails and nearby parks.

“In the month of July, search and rescue crews responded to an average of one unmanned-adrift paddlecraft in the Puget Sound region every day,” according to the Coast Guard. Read the article here on MYNorthwest.com…

Effective May 10th , 2018, Puget Sound has now been declared a No-Discharge Zone.

It has been illegal since the 1972 Clean Water Act to discharge untreated sewage (black water) into coastal waters.  Over the years, there have been a couple ways for boaters to legally treat raw sewage before discharging, but most boaters contain all their sewage in a holding tank (Type III) and utilize a pumpout station.

Now, all sewage must be contained and be pumped at a pumpout station.  If your boat has a toilet on board, you are required to have a marine sanitation device (MSD).  For further details, please see the Dept of Ecology’s site.

Gray water (sinks/showers) discharge is still allowed.