The day Kraken nearly sank at the ramp

   We began taking on water, and then panic set in. Why are we sinking?  

    It was the first boat trip of the year, following an unrelenting and bitterly cold winter. Kraken, our steadfast vessel, had endured the season on her trailer, tethered to shore power with two electric heaters standing guard against the frost. Eager to embark on the long-awaited adventure, I followed my usual launch routine. After backing her down the ramp, launching smoothly, and tying off to the float, I set to work.

First, I started the motor. Then, I flipped on all the switches, checked for water exiting the exhaust, and gave the manual bilge pump a couple of precautionary strokes.

 That’s when I noticed something unusual. Eight hearty pulls on the pump produced nearly half a gallon of water per stroke before it finally sucked air. "No big deal," I thought. "It’s probably just rainwater that collected in the bilge over the winter."

Reassured, I tidied the dash, switched on the sounder and radio, and prepared to enjoy the trip ahead. But curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to test the bilge pump one more time. To my horror, another eight to ten strokes brought forth a steady stream of water. My stomach dropped. This wasn’t residual rainwater—we were actively taking on water. Nearly ten gallons had already made its way in. The realization hit me like a cold wave: We’re sinking. Our trip was over before it even began.

I called out to Linda, my ever-steady partner, and told her to hold everything. “We’re taking on water. We need to get Kraken back on the trailer immediately.” 

Adrenaline coursing through me. I turned off the motor, grabbed the truck keys, and prepared to haul her out. In the sudden hush, Linda’s voice cut through: 

“I hear water running.”

Her words stopped me in my tracks. She opened the cabinet door beneath the sink, and there it was—water streaming down the inside of the hull. It was three or four feet above the waterline, an odd place for a leak to emerge. Something wasn’t adding up. Leaning closer, Linda pointed to the source: “It’s coming from the water filter.”

Without a moment’s hesitation,

 I flipped off the water pump switch, and just like that, the stream of water ceased. Relief washed over me as swiftly as the panic had set in. The trip wasn’t over after all—though we’d likely pumped all our fresh water overboard in the chaos.

Upon closer inspection, I discovered the culprit: the water filter canister under the sink had splintered at the bottom, likely a casualty of the winter freeze. With the fresh water tank now dry, our onboard supply was gone, but thankfully, we had an extra five-gallon container with us. We made do and carried on with our trip, albeit with a newfound appreciation for preparation.

When we returned home, I replaced the broken filter and vowed to prevent this from happening again. 

That winter, I installed a lightbulb beneath the sink to keep the chill at bay.

I’m not sharing this story to impart any profound message or lesson. It simply makes me chuckle now—how a seemingly routine launch escalated into a nerve-wracking ordeal before turning into a small adventure we’ll never forget. Sometimes, the scariest moments on the water make for the best tales once you’re safely ashore.

Click below to see a satellite view of   Obstruction Pass

Seven People - Seven Bicycles - One little boat for our 4th of July at Roche Harbor

Is it worth bringing bicycles to the San Juan Islands during busy times like the 4th of July?

Yes, bringing bicycles to the San Juan Islands is worth it, especially if biking is part of your trip. The boat is simply transportation, but limited space and crowded conditions require planning. With thoughtful packing and people coordination, bicycles can turn a good cruise into a great one.

Seven People - Seven Bicycles - Two Kayaks - One  Dinghy,
and it was raining lightly.
True our 26 foot trawler is bigger than a 16 foot ski boat but 7 bikes and riders filled us to the top.

       We just returned from a week long Canada cruise where we tied two bikes on the roof.  With only two of us on board, the bikes never got in the way.  Next we added two more bikes, two kayaks, and two more people for a Lopez and San Juan ride. We still managed to all find seats, but the bikes ended up on the front deck, and we looked through  handlebars and seats to steer. 

(the above pic is a coffee pit stop at Orcas Landing with everyone and everything and its raining)

         At Roche we add three more.  We have seven bikes now (four out front and three in the cockpit) For seating, we break out two folding chairs and fill the dinette.  Kraken seemed to list a little to starboard (the dinette side) but what the heck.  
This pic is at the end of the long dinghy dock at Roche Harbor.
Bicycling the San Juans by boat is alive and well.

• two crossed from  Spencer Spit to Lopez Village
• two pedaled from Roche Harbor to Lime Kiln and back
• three pedaled from Odlin Park, around Lopez and took a ferry ride back to Friday Harbor
• three pedaled from Smallpox Bay around San Juan Island
• thankfully, other than the skipper and mate, all slept on shore in campgrounds

Does anyone know an easy way to get off black tire marks?

Click below for a satellite view of Roche Harbor

Princess Louisa Inlet Cruise and Chatterbox Falls

          What is our trip to Princess Louisa Inlet like?         

 Our Princess Louisa Inlet Cruise was a great success.  Success to me means no breakdowns or major deviations from the plan.

 We cast off for this approximately 150-mile (one way) joy ride from our slip in La Conner at a little before noon on a sunny Saturday.  Our first stop was just a mile up Swinomish Channel, where we visited the fuel dock to top off our 70-gallon diesel tank. 

 Heading off with the tanks full, the fridge and cabinets crammed with ten to twelve days of very good eating, we headed north towards ominous-looking storm clouds and the forecast of gale-force winds.  

Yes, we are very apprehensive.  Many thoughts occupied our minds. The first was that we were making a mistake heading into bad weather.  The second was, would we get stuck somewhere and not be able to get back in time for our breakfast date with Linda's mother a week from Tuesday?

Chatterbox Falls from the park float

           Our first overnight stop is Patos Island.  Patos is as far north, not counting Point Roberts, as a boater can go before entering Canada. 

 We anchored with plenty of daylight left to walk out to the lighthouse and hike around.  The next morning, we got going early, before 7 am. With 40 miles to cover at 5-8 mph.

 False Creek in Vancouver may be an 8-hour run.  With no good options to duck and cover along the way, I was still a little apprehensive, to say the least.  The wind never really was a factor that day but about halfway to our check in at False Creek, we were about 5 miles offshore from the  Tsawwassen ferry terminal when a following swell began to overtake us and toss Kraken around like the little 26 Nordic Tug she is.

 Steering the wallowing boat became full-time work, and I found myself driving a zigzag course. I was zigging to make ourselves more comfy and then zagging back onto a course that would eventually get us to False Creek, where we would check into Canada and spend the night. 

 Linda got out the Dramamine, and I took one also, something I almost never do. About every fourth zigzag an extra big quartering swell would turn us sideways, causing severe rolling and much crashing sounds coming from all of Kraken's many stores and equipment. 

 At this point, we are seriously discussing changing course for Bedwell Harbor on South Pender Island. Bedwell was about the same distance, the waves would be more on our nose, and we could continue northward on the inside of the Gulf Islands affording ourselves much better protection, but then we would be on the wrong side of the Strait of Georgia, and north of Nanaimo was where the real gale winds were churning up the strait. 

 This is not how my Princess Louisa Trip was supposed to go.

Click below to read the rest of posting and see a few pictures along the way