Month: September 2018

Roche Harbor To La Conner Marina

September 13th To 18 th

Trip Length 35 nm

This is our last voyage for our 2018 PNW trip. We are laying water Dog up on the hard in La Conner at La Conner Maritime Services until May of 2019. Having the yard go over generator’s and clean raw water systems on mains. Like to get the raw water inter-coolers for main’s, genny’s, stabilizers and bow thruster cleaned and checked out every three years or so. I usually do this work myself but since we are not going to be near the boat until next year going to have the yard perform the work.

It was yet another easy cruise of 35 nm where we averaged 9 knots and arrived at La Conner Marina around 2 pm. We got a side tie on the inside of the dock to prevent getting hit by other boats fighting the current as happened at our last stop here.

We spent four day’s at the marina getting the boat ready to haul. Fresh water flushed out board engines, tied down covers, stowed fenders, changed oil in (2)mains and (2)genny’s etc over the four day’s. On the 18 th we moved the 100 ft or so over to the travel lift at La Conner Maritime Services and hauled Water Dog out.

  • Water Dog In Travel Lift
  • Water Dog Being Moved to Cleaning Station
  • water dog At Cleaning Station

The Micron-66 bottom paint on the hull looks pretty good after being applied at Bay Marine in San Francisco Bay in the summer of 2017 to Sep 2018.

  • Water Dog Micron-66 Bottom

There was quite a bit of growth on the metal raw water intakes which where also painted with Micron-66. Not sure why more growth than the hulls but suspect the metal screens provide a better structure for growth.

  • Growth On Raw Water Intakes

Surprisingly did not see a temp increase on the engines with this amount of growth.

  • Main Engine Raw Water Intake

Bow thruster also had quite a bit of growth. It would seem that you get more growth in the San Juan area than San Francisco Bay.

  • Bow Thruster Barnacles

Had prop speed applied on last haul out but was not happy with it’s performance which shown below is just 5 months. Last time had primer and bottom paint applied in Florida which worked much better. After to talking to yard will try the cheap zinc spray coating this time.

  • Growth On Props With Prop-Speed

The zinc’s on Water Dog where new when we left San Francisco Bay in May and where almost gone when we pulled her out in Sep, only 5 months. Zinc’s have easily lasted 2 years before so not sure why so much more worn for this trip. We did do around 1200 nm so zincs on rudders may just be water wear from props but does not explain hull zincs. Will need to checl galvanic isolators on shore ground when we get back next year. We have isolation transformers on AC hot/neutral so dont suspect them.

  • Rudder Zincs almost All Gone

Union Steamship To Roche Harbour (Via Poets Cove)

September 10th To 13 th

Trip Lengths:

      52 nm Union Steam Ship To Poets Cove Resort 

       10 nm Poets Cove To Roche Harbor US Customs

Got up early for a fairly long leg to head back to the US customs at Roche Harbor.  Stopped at Poets Cove in BC on the way so we could get in early in the morning at the customs dock in Roche Harbor.  We had overcast weather for our three day stay in Roche.  Pretty much had sunshine for the rest of the trip so this late in the season the weather may be starting to turn.

  • Union Steamship To Roche Via Poets Cove 

We ended up pulling in to a open spot at the US customs dock located on the outside of the marina at 10 am.  Got boarded and did get boat searched by officer but only took about 20 mins.  We then headed out and anchored out a few hundred yards in front of the marina. 

  • Water Dog Anchored At Roche Harbor Marina

We then went in to the dinghy dock on west side of the marina on the inside next to the general store and shops.

  • Patty And Holly at Roche Harbor General Store

You will find the old generator plant and coke ovens right above the marina that are worth a look.


  • Old Generator Plant 
  • Old Generator Plant Diesel Engine
  • Old Original Coke Ovens
  • Roche Lady Of Good Voyage Chapel

We then headed west of the marina down Reuben Memorial Drive to visit the Sculpture Park and Micmillin Mausoleum. The mausoleum is to the left of the Sculpture Park down Afterglow Drive where you can follow a number of small trails up to the right on Afterglow.

  • Sculpture Park Entrance
  • Roche Sculpture Park
  • Patty Working Sculpture Park Art

  • Sculpture Park Art

Beginning of trails on Afterglow Drive.

  • Micmillin Family Mausoleum Hike.

  • Mausoleum Gate

The mausoleum itself is cool with a missing collum designed in with Mcmillin  family ashes contained in the base of the concrete chairs circling the table in the middle.

  • Holly At Mausoleum 
  • Roche Harbor Cottages

The next day we hiked over to English Camp and then took the San Juan Bus shuttle back to the marina to cut the hike distance down.  We walked down the nice trail along Roche Harbor Road to Westcott Drive which runs along the bottom of Westcott Bay.  At the end of Westcott Drive you end up at Westcott Bay shellfish Company with the trail head in to English Camp on the left. 

  • Roche Trail Map To English Camp
  • English Camp Trail Map
  • Roche English Camp Hike Start In Roche
  • Roche Black Berry’s, Yum
  • Trail Head At ShellFish Company
  • Bell Point Trail
  • Bell Point Trail Old Stump Natural Art Work
  • Entering English Camp From Bell Point Trail
  • English Camp Sign
  • English Camp Garden

Above English Camp across West Valley Road there are some more nice trails along with a small cemetery containing a few graves of some of the original english soldiers.


  • Royal Marine Cemetery at English Camp

That night we finally got to see the famous changing of the guard at the grassy point in the middle of the marina.  The marina dock guy’s put the show on and do a great job of playing tap’s and lowering the flag.

  • Roche Harbor Changing Of The Guard

Smugglers Cove To Union Steamship Marina (Krogen Rendevous)

Trip Length 31 nm

September 5 th To 11 th

Our PNW 2018 trip is coming to a close as we arrive at the Union Steamship Marina for the 2018 Kadey Krogen PNW Rendevous.  The rendevous is from the 7 th to 9th and we are due in Laconner WA to put Water Dog on the hard on the 18 th.

  • Smugglers Cove To Union Steamship Marina

Union is a very nice family run marina and we will be stopping by again when we get a chance.

  • Union Steamship Marina

On Patty’s birthday we got to go out to dinner at the marina restaurant with Wayne and Linda whom where there for the rendevous also on Tribute a Krogen 36.

  • Wayne, Linda, Patty and Alex at Union Steamship
  • Patty Getting Kiss  From Alex For Her Birthday

The next day we walked above the marina cutting through Bowen uptown on  Prometheus Pl.   Where Prometheus intersects Grafton Rd we found a cut through to Carter Rd where the trail starts.

  • Grafton Lake Trail Map
  • Passing Uptown 
  • Trail To Grafton Lake
  • Grafton Lake
  • Trail Back At Grafton Lake

The next day we took a walk with a bunch of the Krogen guy’s to Kellarney Lake.  The trail start system for this hike starts right across from the marina on Union road right past the Bowen Island Visitor center.

  • Krogen Group Lake Kellarney Hike
  • Patty and Dogs Lake Kellarney

All the Krogen 42’s, around a dozen of them, stern tied on the inside of A dock.  There also where a Krogen 55, 52, a few 48’s along with Wayne and Linda’s 36 docked scattered through out the rest of the marina.

  • Krogen 42’s at Rendevous

    Jedediah Island To Smugglers Cove

    September 2 nd to 4 th 2018

    Trip Length 9 nm

    Very short trip from Jedediah to Smugglers Cove anchorage we arrived around 11 am.  

    Smugglers Cove is a small all-weather anchorage on the south side of Sechelt Peninsula. Their is access to it by land where you can hike in 4 km from a parking lot off Hwy 101.  

    • Jedediah To Smugglers Cove

    The entrance is narrow and we ended up stern tying on the north shore at the first location along the bank that had a stern tie chain bolted to the rocks.  Stern tie chains are located in the first cove we anchored in along all side of the small cove.  Further in past south of France Inlet are even more anchoring spots available.  The walls are steep so you can stern tie up very close to the shore.  We did have a good south west wind pick up that came in over Capri Isle over night so did go ahead and run a second shoreline to back up the 3/8″ poly line.  We are now upgrading to 600′ of 5/8″ poly for next year to sleep better in high winds.  
    The park has some nice hiking trails with views accessed at the sound end of the inner cove via dinghy.

    • Smugglers cove Anchorage Map
    • Smugglers Cove Entrance

    Water Dog stern tied to shore just inside entrance on north shore.  The stern tie rings go from out location in along the entire edge of the main cove.  Also more rings on the inside coves.

    • Water Dog Anchored In Smugglers Cove
    • Smugglers Cove Inner Harbour

    The first day we went to the dinghy landing on the south side of the inner cove and walked the trail to the right which takes you to the entrance to the cove on the south side.

    • Holly On Hiking Trail To Cove Entrance
    • Alex and Terra smugglers Cove Entrance

    The next day we went to the left at the dinghy landing and walked over the board walk out to the road access point for the park.  The trail utilizes a board to walk over a large marshy area which contained multiple beaver dams.

    • Terra, Holly and Patty  Board Walk Hike
    • smuggler Cove Board Walk
    • Patty and Terra Smuggler Cove Board Walk

    The beaver dams are hard to spot but each one seems to have a drainage pipe installed by the park to let some water by the dam to provide water further down?  Beaver dam below with irrigation cage/pipe in front of it.

    • Smuggler Cove Beaver Dam