Sorry, I have been out of touch with the group for the past 18 months.
Moved to Grays Hbr Co. near Aberdeen. You know how it goes when you sell one
home and purchase another and if your a
Boatbuilter/Carjunky/WannabeMachinist/etc. like me you can multiply the
Pack-Move-Setup problems by 10. I moved from a 12'X20' work shop to 24'X110'
shop so of course I had to gather enough toys to fill it until it is over
flowing with toys and projects to be done.

I moved Good Intentions to Shelton Marina. I had been on their waiting list
for over 6 years and I must have ****ed someone off, because they have my 45
oal in a 30 ft slip. The wind was strong this winter and mostly on the Stbd
bow to full on the beam. I suffered some gel coat damage on the dockside
midship and some glass damage on the rudder from bolts sticking out of the
dock astern. This is a public marina that has been operated by the yacht
club for many years. The Port of Shelton has taken over, as last month. I
hope things will improve (soon).

So the only boating/sailing (hah) I have done in the past 18 month is the
move of the boat from Hood Canal to Shelton. That is always and interesting
trip. The July fog off Vashon Is., the running the Tacoma Narrows (watch the
new bridge grow) and then the tricky passage through Hammersly Inlet. (if
you haven't done it a few times you really need to watch your chart plotter)
If you don't have a chart plotter then the next best Nav Aid (chart) is a
Shelton Yacht Club place mat chart/sketch, really).

For this summer I plan to go to Barkley Sound for a month or so. Still
looking for a crew (who looks good in Shorts).

Nice to read some of the posts by the old gang.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions
http://home.centurytel.net/Ingrid38/

The web site is just barely up and running. I work on it when I have a
chance. I'm going to register the domain so I can move it around, as need be
and it can still be found.


"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...

Hello Steve:

How are you? I was asking about your where abouts last week. I hope
your absents was due to fun and interesting adventures.

About the Columbia River..................... I have run that part of
the river about six times (12RT). There are a few major, "oh ****",
parts that only a full keel sailboat can understand. But nothing major
for someone with your experience.

On Feb 1, 9:32 am, "Steve" wrote:
I'm looking into the prospects of going up the Columbia River and into
Lake
Celilo/Umatille.
I see there is a dam with locks at about the Dalles but don't know it
there
are any other navigation considerations along the way.

First get a crusing guide.
Second, get USCG Pilot # 7
Those are "required."

Bonneville Dam is your first upstream lock through. Also, each lock
has an up/down stream lock schedule for rec vessels. There is a nice
spot I tie up for the night before getting an early start to make the
noon lock through. If you leave PDX you'll have a very late day and
may miss the last upstream lock.

Everything on the river is ho hum till ya get about 3 miles below the
lock. Then you face an up hill swim with a current that ranges 3 - 5.5
knots. I have a Freya, reasonable similar to your wonderful Ingrid,
with a 3QM30. I have a 3 bland work prop. I can usually get through
the "rapids" at about 1.2 to 0.6 knots ground speed. If you lose power
you have two choices: 1) a rock cliff or 2) a rock beach. I dont think
I could manouver a 180 without power or deploy an anchor. Most liklely
if I dropped anchor it would not hold or when it did catch would rip
out any deck attachment.

Then there is the down stream barge trafic. The channel is about 40
yards wide in a few places. Of course that is at the rock cliff and
the rock beach. The barges can not manouver because of the current. So
always best to check with the lock master to see if anybody is heading
down stream. Most everyone uses a roller furling jib for that much
need HP to get through the fast water.... That is, if the wind is with
you.

After that, I am usually ready to park at Cascade Locks about 2 miles
from the lock and have a BIG beer. The entrace is about a boat length
wide. Cozy, but doable.

Okay, now that you have manouvered the easy part its time to head to
The Dalles Dam and then the John Day Dam (maybe the world's 2nd
highest lift???) and then smooth sailing till ya get to Umitilla Dam.

I have a 38' Ingrid sail boat that draws 6' and mast clearance of 54'.

No problem with either draft or mast clearance. ALthough u will have
to call a couple bridge tenders and have a couple bridges opened for
you.

I know I will have to motor most of the way and can handle several knot
of
current for brief period.

The "pools" have about a 1 knot down stream current or less. WInd???
now that can be a real bitch. Weather? in the summer east of The
Dalles your talking 90 to 100 degrees, zero or 30K wind that blows to
the west. Now for winter, burrrrrrr. East of The Dalles 0 to 40
degrees with a howling wind from the east.

Now for the locks. You WILL need the biggest king crab pot bouys made
and use them as fenders. I use two about 3.5 ' in diamater. Power
boats have no problems. A full keel boat gets slammed into the
concrete wall inside the lock while locking up. The water boils around
and a masive force pushing against your full keel. So you look up at
your spreaders and realize you got 2-3 inches between your spreader
and the concrete wall. Please god........ dont let it catch. "Quick,
everybody to the rail!" Oh, I forgot, ITS JUST ME!

If you want the full story email and I'll give the rest of the fun.
freya2goATyahoo.com

Bob

Just what is the river current in some of the
narrow passages.

(To tell the truth, I always though crossing the bar and the enterance of
the Columbia was the major hurtle.)

Nope.


Commnents and recommendations appreciated.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions