Where are the Public Boat Ramps in the San Juans - just the basics to get your boat in the water

    Where are the Boat ramps in the San Juan Islands?   

There are only three that I recommend.

• Cornet Bay in Deception Pass Park
• Washington Park in Anacortes
• Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham

Buried in this website are itineraries, helpful hints and everything you need to get going to the San Juans.

         And that's the problem, it's buried.

Some of us don't need anything but to be pointed to the boat ramp.


This post points the way.
BOAT RAMPS TO THE SAN JUANS   << hot link, clickety click!

Should you take your boat trailer on the ferry and get off somewhere? 

 NO! - I don't recommend it unless you are going to a resort that has a ramp and you plan to rent a cabin -- plan on spending substantial time waiting in  ferry lines.  Be forewarned, some so-called local ramps are simply sandy beaches with no docks. Plus the ferry rates for trailers - ouch.

If you carry kayaks on the roof, riding a ferry makes good sense.

  My #1 suggestion for kayakers that don't want to paddle across Rosario Strait -- go to Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, park your car and paddle two miles to Jones Island for a night or two camping.

Let's say you carry a kayak on the roof or trailer a day-sailer and plan on camping on shore, and you don't want to deal with ferries - do this.

  Drive to Washington Park in Anacortes, (campground and ramp) set up your camp, splash your boat and sail or paddle to either Pelican Beach on Cypress or Saddlebag Island.  Spend the night or come back each evening.  Using the currents, you can avoid difficult paddling or  fluky sailing if that's what works for you.

Hint, use the search box and search Saddlebag or Cypress or Pelican Beach or Deer Harbor, or Jones.

Public ramps with floats and parking open 24/7

What size boat is best in the San Juans? Bigger Boats - Smaller? Anything Goes

     Does boat size matter?     

Yes, but size affects each of us differently. Safety, food preparation, shore excursions, sleeping, comfort, and fuel expense.  The list is long.

   The difference in expense, crew requirements, and comfort are obvious, and if you drill down into the pros and cons of mega versus micro, each skipper will have a laundry list rationalizing and 
justifying their choices.             

Not every boat is ready for the San Juans!

  Sometimes I see micro yachts being paddled or sailed across straits and marvel at them just as much, if not more than the mega bruisers with the eight-foot freeboard.

                In the end, the boats most of us use in the San Juans are the ones we already have, it's as simple as that.  It's not a matter of what is appropriate or proper, it's a matter of making proper choices for the conditions, and your boat's ability to handle those conditions.

               From a 14 foot open fishing boat, kayak or canoe, to the Queen Mary, all have a time and place in the San Juans.

                The boats in the pictures below are likely to be found just about everywhere.

So if it floats -- get going.

Everything but the kitchen sink

And the kitchen sink

Too big to fit in picture (please remove shoes!)

Runabouts - ski boats - open boats
Common at Jones Island

Mega yacht won't be using any of the park facilities.
These guys anchor out and dinghy into the coves and floats
See the tender on top?

Another camper on a runabout

They may be using tents onshore at one of three campgrounds on James Island, or just a lunch stop.

Kayak  campers use campground at top of steps

At Jones Island, its a full float of  day-trippers.

This trailer sailer just rolled down the ramp

becalmed in a car-topper in Lopez Sound

This boater paddles the final feet to Pelican Beach

Here's a shot that captures mega to mini.
The sailboat is a 70's Catalina 22 towing an inflatable. The mega is 164' Eileen , built in Italy with an 31' beam.  If you look closely you can see the 35 foot center console dinghy attached crosswise at Eileens stern.
This was at Friday Harbor on the 4th of July 2016.

Click below to see satellite view of Obstruction Island