Jeez. Boating topics are really scarce.

Here's an item about one of our local marinas.

Some people might enjoy the description of the place, but there's a charming
story about an old man and a tugboat (about 1/3 of the way through) that might
have more universal appeal.

(no copyright laws violated.)

********************

Des Moines Marina

Sometimes what you see is less important than the way in which you see it.

Downtown Des Moines, Washington is seldom listed among the leading resort
communities of Puget Sound. The row of uninspired commercial buildings strung
along Marine View Drive is an eclectic mix of structures thrown up over several
decades, low to the ground and without an apparent unifying theme. It's
undoubtedly a very pleasant place to live, but not exactly a high profile
tourist destination. While there may not be an endless number of compelling
diversions ashore, Des Moines has a surprising number of attributes that create
a recommended option for a late summer or autumn weekend cruise.

The Des Moines Marina is an excellent facility, conveniently located in East
Passage within easy cruising distance of Seattle, Port Orchard, Edmonds,
Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and other major population centers of the central Sound.
The marina opened in 1970 to provide permanent moorage for 840 boats. Most of
the slips are covered. There is a waiting list for permanent moorage, with
relatively short waits for the numerous small slips, and all but eternal waits
for the rarely available longest. Des Moines Marina is the hub of the boating
community in the Sea Tac region. Scores of trailer boaters launch here any
weekend that the fish are biting, and there are 105 sheds for "kicker boats" up
to 20-feet in length.

The entrance channel begins just south of the extremely extended fishing pier,
(near 47.24.08 N and 122.20.06 W). Visiting boats will follow the channel
around the end of the breakwater. There is a large float for temporary moorage
off the port side, and then just beyond a shoreside bulkhead is the 1500-foot
guest dock. Moorage is on a first come, first serve, basis and designed to
accommodate vessels up to 65-feet. Boaters should check in with the fuel dock
upon arrival and receive a slip assignment. In 2004, guest moorage for a 36-40
foot boat is priced at $24, plus a $3 charge for shorepower.

Members of yacht clubs with reciprocal privileges may find moorage at the Des
Moines Yacht Club dock, at the southern end of the main marina fairway.

CSR Marina runs a boatyard here to undertake major repairs, and Southpaw Marine
is only a block away to handle outboard and mechanical issues.

Des Moines is the perfect location for a lazy afternoon nap in a fold-up lounge
on the flybridge or boat deck. When the tide is high enough to peer over the
top of the breakwater, the Point Robinson light on Maury Island can be seen
across East Passage. When the air is clean enough and the weather is clear, the
craggy Olympic Range defines the lower margin of the distant sky. In some
communities, the guest dock is a busy public promenade and fishing pier- but
not so in Des Moines. A siesta here will likely be interrupted only by the
fleeting shadows of wheeling gulls, aloft in crisp briny air fragrant with the
spices of the sea.

There is an interesting mix of friendly people at the Marina. Perhaps because
there are no tourist shops, ferry landings, or farmer's markets nearby, most of
the people you see or meet around the marina have an interest in boats. They
are a salty, gregarious bunch- typically more practical than pretentious.

If one strolls along the seawall, one will spy a humble little barge at the
base of a gangway. A fading wooden sign on the barge reads "Classic Yachts,"
and a small group of easy-going yacht brokers aboard it represent previously
owned powerboats. We ran into yacht broker Stan Wilkes, who related a story
that seems to perfectly reflect the depth of the genuine maritime tradition at
the marina.

"If you've got a minute," said Stan; "I'd like to show you our little tug
boat."

We walked about two-thirds of the way out a covered permanent moorage float,
and arrived at a small, clinker-built wooden tug in outstanding condition. We
asked, "Who built the boat?"

"The boat was hand made by an elderly gentleman," said Stan. "He enjoyed the
boat for some years while he lived nearby in the Wesley Gardens retirement
community. As he got older, the boat became more than he could care for and he
was slowly losing his eyesight."

"One day," continued Stan, "the gentleman called on me at the brokerage barge
to discuss his little tug. He had decided he could no longer maintain it."

As the conversation between Stan and the original owner of the boat progressed,
something must have passed between them.

"We talked for a while," related Stan, "and the old gentleman eventually asked
me if I would be willing to take good care of his boat. I said I would, and
then he pulled the title out of his pocket and gave it to me as a gift! I was
shocked. He wasn't interested in any money, just wanted to know that somebody
was going to take care of his boat. That was a Friday or a Saturday, and the
following Wednesday he passed away. I've been keeping the boat up ever since,
just as he wanted. We have had some fun changing the paint colors a few times,
but the condition you find her in today is pretty indicative of the way the old
fellow took care of her from the day she was built."

If lounging around the boat or jawing with an interesting yacht broker seem
less alluring than an interesting walk, despair not. There's a wonderful stroll
available in a public park, immediately north of the marina.

Des Moines creek flows through the park before disappearing into the saltchuck
of East Passage. For thousands of years, Native Americans made a permanent camp
where the abundant supply of fresh water, access to fishing and seal hunting or
whaling, a salt marsh abundant with waterfowl, and a long gravel beach teeming
with shellfish allowed a life of relative luxury. The stable location and
plentiful larders afforded the original inhabitants an opportunity to create a
culture rich in spirit and tradition- a culture that was swept aside by the
arrival of settlers from Des Moines, Iowa, in the mid 1800's.

When the native village was gone, a sawmill appeared in its place and the
surrounding hills were stripped of the old growth cedars, hemlock, and Douglas
fir. All too soon the edge of the harvestable forest retreated to the point
where it became cheaper to build another mill than to transport the timber, and
the sawmill passed into history as well.

In the early 1930's, the Swedish Covenant Church converted the old mill site
into a summer bible study camp. Well "out of town" when established, the summer
camp must have seemed a magical retreat for city kids without regular access to
a wading creek, a wild and scenic beach, and a wooded hillside. The camp
operated here until 1986, and many of the original buildings remain. There is
often a bald eagle perched high in the naked skeleton of a dead madrona, just
atop the hill to the north. He posed majestically for a long-distance photo
during our recent visit to the park.

There are several good options for dining ashore. Anthony's has a HomePort
Restaurant at most major marinas in the Puget Sound area, including Des Moines.
Anthony's is always a safe choice, with typically reliable service and a good
variety of decent but somewhat predictable fare. The Red Robin chain operates a
restaurant just uptown at the south end of the marina, and there are Chinese,
Mexican, Pizza, and hot dog eateries within a block or two of the marina, along
the downtown strip.

My personal favorite is Breakers, near the guest dock at the north end of the
marina. If you want a unique seaside dining experience, there's no need to take
a step beyond the dark red door with the bronze portlight that will take you
into Breakers. The decor is a mixture of 1960's roadside diner and hokey
waterfront bar, but a family atmosphere prevails. It's fun to eat at Breakers.

For some reason I always seem to have the fish and chips here. During my last
visit to Breakers, I toyed with the idea of trying something else- if only for
the sake of variety.
As luck would have it, the cook was available nearby and I inquired, "Excuse
me, but I can't help noticing your apron, so I assume you must be the cook?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, then, let me ask what, in your opinion, is absolutely the finest thing
on the menu here?"

Without a split second's hesitation he replied, "The halibut and chips. We use
prime chunks of extremely fresh halibut. There are some other good items on the
menu, too, but we might have the best halibut and chips on the sound."

It was halibut and chips, once again. The fish is deep-fried, but not greasy.
The lightly breaded crust is as thin and crispy as a paper shell. I've paid $25
for baked halibut entrees that are less succulent than the $8 portion of fish
served with chips at Breakers. The fries are old-fashioned, genuine potato
fries done to burnished gold and just this side of crunchy. With a splash of
ketchup and malt vinegar, you'll not find better fish and chips in Piccadilly
Circus or Trafalgar Square. One could justify a cruise to Des Moines for the
fish and chips at Breakers alone- they just might be the best on the sound.

Boaters who perceive images of traffic stalled on Pacific Highway South or the
back-to-the-future gaggle of shops trailing along Marine View Drive when
somebody mentions "Des Moines" should consider arriving at this charming
destination by water. Sometimes what you see is less significant than the way
in which you see it.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Jeez. Boating topics are really scarce.

Here's an item about one of our local marinas.

Some people might enjoy the description of the place, but there's a
charming
story about an old man and a tugboat (about 1/3 of the way through) that
might
have more universal appeal.

(no copyright laws violated.)

********************

Des Moines Marina

Sometimes what you see is less important than the way in which you see it.

Downtown Des Moines, Washington is seldom listed among the leading resort
communities of Puget Sound. The row of uninspired commercial buildings
strung
along Marine View Drive is an eclectic mix of structures thrown up over
several
decades, low to the ground and without an apparent unifying theme. It's
undoubtedly a very pleasant place to live, but not exactly a high profile
tourist destination. While there may not be an endless number of
compelling
diversions ashore, Des Moines has a surprising number of attributes that
create
a recommended option for a late summer or autumn weekend cruise.

The Des Moines Marina is an excellent facility, conveniently located in
East
Passage within easy cruising distance of Seattle, Port Orchard, Edmonds,
Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and other major population centers of the central
Sound.
The marina opened in 1970 to provide permanent moorage for 840 boats. Most
of
the slips are covered. There is a waiting list for permanent moorage, with
relatively short waits for the numerous small slips, and all but eternal
waits
for the rarely available longest. Des Moines Marina is the hub of the
boating
community in the Sea Tac region. Scores of trailer boaters launch here any
weekend that the fish are biting, and there are 105 sheds for "kicker
boats" up
to 20-feet in length.

The entrance channel begins just south of the extremely extended fishing
pier,
(near 47.24.08 N and 122.20.06 W). Visiting boats will follow the channel
around the end of the breakwater. There is a large float for temporary
moorage
off the port side, and then just beyond a shoreside bulkhead is the
1500-foot
guest dock. Moorage is on a first come, first serve, basis and designed to
accommodate vessels up to 65-feet. Boaters should check in with the fuel
dock
upon arrival and receive a slip assignment. In 2004, guest moorage for a
36-40
foot boat is priced at $24, plus a $3 charge for shorepower.

Members of yacht clubs with reciprocal privileges may find moorage at the
Des
Moines Yacht Club dock, at the southern end of the main marina fairway.

CSR Marina runs a boatyard here to undertake major repairs, and Southpaw
Marine
is only a block away to handle outboard and mechanical issues.

Des Moines is the perfect location for a lazy afternoon nap in a fold-up
lounge
on the flybridge or boat deck. When the tide is high enough to peer over
the
top of the breakwater, the Point Robinson light on Maury Island can be
seen
across East Passage. When the air is clean enough and the weather is
clear, the
craggy Olympic Range defines the lower margin of the distant sky. In some
communities, the guest dock is a busy public promenade and fishing pier-
but
not so in Des Moines. A siesta here will likely be interrupted only by the
fleeting shadows of wheeling gulls, aloft in crisp briny air fragrant with
the
spices of the sea.

There is an interesting mix of friendly people at the Marina. Perhaps
because
there are no tourist shops, ferry landings, or farmer's markets nearby,
most of
the people you see or meet around the marina have an interest in boats.
They
are a salty, gregarious bunch- typically more practical than pretentious.

If one strolls along the seawall, one will spy a humble little barge at
the
base of a gangway. A fading wooden sign on the barge reads "Classic
Yachts,"
and a small group of easy-going yacht brokers aboard it represent
previously
owned powerboats. We ran into yacht broker Stan Wilkes, who related a
story
that seems to perfectly reflect the depth of the genuine maritime
tradition at
the marina.

"If you've got a minute," said Stan; "I'd like to show you our little tug
boat."

We walked about two-thirds of the way out a covered permanent moorage
float,
and arrived at a small, clinker-built wooden tug in outstanding condition.
We
asked, "Who built the boat?"

"The boat was hand made by an elderly gentleman," said Stan. "He enjoyed
the
boat for some years while he lived nearby in the Wesley Gardens retirement
community. As he got older, the boat became more than he could care for
and he
was slowly losing his eyesight."

"One day," continued Stan, "the gentleman called on me at the brokerage
barge
to discuss his little tug. He had decided he could no longer maintain it."

As the conversation between Stan and the original owner of the boat
progressed,
something must have passed between them.

"We talked for a while," related Stan, "and the old gentleman eventually
asked
me if I would be willing to take good care of his boat. I said I would,
and
then he pulled the title out of his pocket and gave it to me as a gift! I
was
shocked. He wasn't interested in any money, just wanted to know that
somebody
was going to take care of his boat. That was a Friday or a Saturday, and
the
following Wednesday he passed away. I've been keeping the boat up ever
since,
just as he wanted. We have had some fun changing the paint colors a few
times,
but the condition you find her in today is pretty indicative of the way
the old
fellow took care of her from the day she was built."

If lounging around the boat or jawing with an interesting yacht broker
seem
less alluring than an interesting walk, despair not. There's a wonderful
stroll
available in a public park, immediately north of the marina.

Des Moines creek flows through the park before disappearing into the
saltchuck
of East Passage. For thousands of years, Native Americans made a permanent
camp
where the abundant supply of fresh water, access to fishing and seal
hunting or
whaling, a salt marsh abundant with waterfowl, and a long gravel beach
teeming
with shellfish allowed a life of relative luxury. The stable location and
plentiful larders afforded the original inhabitants an opportunity to
create a
culture rich in spirit and tradition- a culture that was swept aside by
the
arrival of settlers from Des Moines, Iowa, in the mid 1800's.

When the native village was gone, a sawmill appeared in its place and the
surrounding hills were stripped of the old growth cedars, hemlock, and
Douglas
fir. All too soon the edge of the harvestable forest retreated to the
point
where it became cheaper to build another mill than to transport the
timber, and
the sawmill passed into history as well.

In the early 1930's, the Swedish Covenant Church converted the old mill
site
into a summer bible study camp. Well "out of town" when established, the
summer
camp must have seemed a magical retreat for city kids without regular
access to
a wading creek, a wild and scenic beach, and a wooded hillside. The camp
operated here until 1986, and many of the original buildings remain. There
is
often a bald eagle perched high in the naked skeleton of a dead madrona,
just
atop the hill to the north. He posed majestically for a long-distance
photo
during our recent visit to the park.

There are several good options for dining ashore. Anthony's has a HomePort
Restaurant at most major marinas in the Puget Sound area, including Des
Moines.
Anthony's is always a safe choice, with typically reliable service and a
good
variety of decent but somewhat predictable fare. The Red Robin chain
operates a
restaurant just uptown at the south end of the marina, and there are
Chinese,
Mexican, Pizza, and hot dog eateries within a block or two of the marina,
along
the downtown strip.

My personal favorite is Breakers, near the guest dock at the north end of
the
marina. If you want a unique seaside dining experience, there's no need to
take
a step beyond the dark red door with the bronze portlight that will take
you
into Breakers. The decor is a mixture of 1960's roadside diner and hokey
waterfront bar, but a family atmosphere prevails. It's fun to eat at
Breakers.

For some reason I always seem to have the fish and chips here. During my
last
visit to Breakers, I toyed with the idea of trying something else- if only
for
the sake of variety.
As luck would have it, the cook was available nearby and I inquired,
"Excuse
me, but I can't help noticing your apron, so I assume you must be the
cook?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, then, let me ask what, in your opinion, is absolutely the finest
thing
on the menu here?"

Without a split second's hesitation he replied, "The halibut and chips. We
use
prime chunks of extremely fresh halibut. There are some other good items
on the
menu, too, but we might have the best halibut and chips on the sound."

It was halibut and chips, once again. The fish is deep-fried, but not
greasy.
The lightly breaded crust is as thin and crispy as a paper shell. I've
paid $25
for baked halibut entrees that are less succulent than the $8 portion of
fish
served with chips at Breakers. The fries are old-fashioned, genuine potato
fries done to burnished gold and just this side of crunchy. With a splash
of
ketchup and malt vinegar, you'll not find better fish and chips in
Piccadilly
Circus or Trafalgar Square. One could justify a cruise to Des Moines for
the
fish and chips at Breakers alone- they just might be the best on the
sound.

Boaters who perceive images of traffic stalled on Pacific Highway South or
the
back-to-the-future gaggle of shops trailing along Marine View Drive when
somebody mentions "Des Moines" should consider arriving at this charming
destination by water. Sometimes what you see is less significant than the
way
in which you see it.



You will see weeping and smell the gas.