Shilshole Blog

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 »

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.

Elsie Hulsizer took a series of photos during the eclipse that showed the true effect of the darkness.  Check out her Flickr photos

August is the month our docks are empty and everyone seems to be up north!  Did you go?  Do you want to and have questions?  Post your stories here…

The San Juans, the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Barkley Sound, the Broughtons, and beyond are all common destinations of local boaters for the month of August.  The weather is great, the days are still long and you have time to get back home before school starts or the fog sets in.

This isn’t something you do in a weekend…it can take a week or longer  to get there (depending on how far you go) and the same back, so time allotted is important.  Don’t try to do too much at once.  It can be crowded at times (it’s popular), but the views/scenery/experience is absolutely unbelievable.  World cruisers say that the best cruising grounds are right here in our own backyard!

Puget Sound cruising is commonly divided into South-Sound (south of the Tacoma Narrows), Mid-Sound (Gig Harbor/Tacoma to Kingston/Edmonds) and North Sound (up to Port Townsend or Oak Harbor). There are great cruising, anchoring, crabbing and fishing areas in all three.

If you have some thoughts, experiences or suggestions for those looking to venture out, especially those new to boating, please share with us on this blog. For example…

SouthSound