Sucia

[kirkster5]

My wie and I are going to the San Juans on monday for 8 days(yeah). Our itinerary puts us to Sucia on Friday. What do you all think the chances of finding one of the 48 Bouys open on a Friday in July??

[kirkster5]

Make that my WIFE

[boating777]

As long as you are there by early afternoon I think you have a good shot, they also have the new rope/piling type tie ups which are a little harder for some folks to tie to, I have tied up on these and actually liked the new system.


777

[bradvo]

I did that new floating rope , dock , what ever it is called at Reed Harbor. not bad, our friends pulled up on oposite side of us so we were able to jack our jaws at each other. It was a bit tricky on tying up , might have to get on one of those again just to figure out a better method.
have fun!
Brad

I tried one of these new moorings last year. I came alongside, the Admiral looped a stern line through a ring, and cleated it back on the boat. After this, I shifted into forward and held the bow close to the rope with a bit of power. She walked forward and tied a bow line to a ring. This technique seemed to work pretty well.

I've got mixed feelings about them. According to our parks folks they cost less on the long run than a number of mooring buoys. I prefer a buoy when I want privacy. A also prefer a float or rafting if I want to be with others.

Raul

[3788sam]

Are these set up like the log booms on Lk Washington?

I can't find any photos on the web so here's my description.

Imagine a couple of large diameter (3') steel pilings sticking out vertically out of the water. String a large diameter rope from one piling to the next, on both sides. The rope is 2-4 ft. above sea level. Attach large, round rings to the rope every few feet.

You tie up alongside the rope to the rings.

Raul

[3788sam]

Thanks Raul - Got the mental image. We haven't been up in a couple years but getting into Sucia and getting a bouy was always a concern.
Sounds like you can get a few more in there now!

[boating777]

I like to get a buoy also, it is nice to have some privacy, the problem is I am hearing they are going to try and stop people from dropping the hook at Saucia :roll: They are saying the eel grass is getting torn up, and they are trying to figure out how to accommodate more boats so there is less anchoring. so it looks like they may be putting more of this type of system in place.There was a article in Northwesting Mag a month or so ago about this.

777

[coolchange]

visualize (in as much detail as possible) a bouy that will be yours as you approach and the chances are excellent you will get one....works for me on both parking spaces and tie-ups. :P

[beyond kelp]

Hmmmmmmm Hmmmmmmmm Hmmmmmm Im visualizing this : Having to go to another anchorage because my Hmmmmmmm isnt working... :|

[Kuredu]

I was in Fossil Bay last year July and saw a boat get tangled up in one of the bouy's chains. Nasty stuff - they had to get a diver to untangle them....

[Go Aweigh2452]

I'vee been up at Sucia several times and only once did I decide to use the buoys. I anchor each time. The waters are shallow and there is plenty of swing room all around the island at the achorages. I like Shallow bay due to the ability to see the sunsets. Same for the west end of Echo Bay but less boats at that point due to being a bit exposed to open water.