Ship Canal Transit Time to Sail Sand Point form Shilshole.

[Eric 1207]

This is in reply to Vince's query but I thought the club might want to know too.

To transit the Ship Canal from Shilshole to Sail Sand Point, (near my house where I moored my F31) usually takes ~3 hours because of the bridge openings required with a >43' bridge clearance  If you are under 43' I think you are safe for all but the Freemont Bridge so subtract 10 or 30 minutes, (this was a serious consideration for me deciding an F28 vs F31).  The railroad bridge is a wild card as the clearance depends on the tide.  Very low tide the F31 would be ok at 47' clearance.  High tide it will be touchy for a high/mid 30's mast.  There is a tide/foot scale prominently posted on the bridge with clearance for the existing tide level.  

We've done the whole transit from our house (close to SSP) in a little more than 2.5 hours when we've gotten lucky.  4 hours should cover all contingencies, (see below), but we've never needed that much time.  Be aware that the bridges do not open during am & pm rush hours so google that.  Also the Montlake bridge is owned and run by the state (vs the city for all others).  The state will only open it on the hour and half hour, so if you are late you might have to do donuts in the canal for a half hour, (if there's much traffic I turn around and go out the cut to wait, in order to get out of the maelstrom of waves).   Once or twice they wouldn't open because I got there "just in time" or a minute or two late, even tho they see me coming and blowing the signal before the prescribed time.   I think later at night or very early Montlake opens on demand.  Occasionally the operators are doing maintenance or on the JOHN? and they are slow to respond.  Patience grasshopper.  I usually give them 5 or 10 minutes then toot the signal again, (one long and one short horn signal for all bridges)  5 blasts in reply means they can't open just now but will do so when they can.  I've never waited more than 10 or 15 minutes for this rare situation.  The rail road bridge is always open unless a train is coming.  However, I've waited there for a half hour + after one train passed because another one was scheduled to come and they left the bridge closed the whole intervening time.  Also if you are diverted into the large locks it can take a long time to fill and empty, (20-30 minutes & longer on a sunny summer weekend).  Also if commercial traffic (fishing or tour boats etc...) are coming they go to the head of the line in the small locks and no one else is admitted and that adds a ~half hour+.  This is motoring the whole way at 6-7 knots.  If you are slower or sail on the lake, add some more time unless you set and douse sails quickly in screaming reach conditions.

Its a fun thing to do once in a while, especially with friends who have never done it before, (invite them!).  It gets old much more than that.

Also FYI you can moor on my bouy overnight if you want for the SSP event, or anytime really.   Just let me know.  I have dinghys, dock, deck and a head for you to borrow, too. 

Eric 

[Vincent DePillis]

This is great info!!

[Eric 1207]

A couple more things:

When coming from the Sound I always duck under the railroad bridge asap because you never know when they will close and that could cost you a cycle or two in the locks.  There is plenty of room and depth to do donuts or just drift and wait up near the dam/spillway where it widens out.  I does shallow a bit on the very SW part, which dries out at low tide, keep an eye on that.  There's a wall on the south side where you can side tie, (either side) and wait if there's room and its highish tide.  Most of the small yellow bollards are ripped out so be careful tying to the wood beams as there are spots of gooey tar.  Use your old black lines.  At low tide it's full of barnacles and I avoid tying there and just do the donuts..

The small locks seem to be about 28' wide so our F31 had just a couple feet on either side.  If you are 26' or wider you might be diverted to the large locks.  

When entering from the Sound the current is against you so bump up the throttle or it will take you longer than needed to enter, plus it gives you better steerage.  Conversely, when exiting the locks toward Shilshole don't be fooled by the current pushing you along at a knot or three, thinking you have steerage at that speed.  You don't, so be cognizant of having enough throttle (steerage) to not be pin balling off the walls.  It's exciting because your ground speed, as seen by the lock walls whizzing by you, will be 4-5 knots!  This is especially noticeable if you are the first boat to exit:  Heads up, and be ready with the throttle to give you a couple knots of through-the-water speed!  Going in and out, my head is on a swivel, constantly looking side to side at the lock walls to keep me in the center.  After probably 30 or 40 transits I haven't hit anything yet.  

The locks do have green and red lights for when to enter or stand by.  Look for those at the very end of the jetties.  Sometimes the empty lock will have a red light.  Lucky you, there is probably a commercial boat coming up behind and will take (your) spot for the next ~30 minute cycle.  Do keep an eye on the light, though, because they might turn green without warning and someone may scoot in ahead of you.  However, my experience is that every boater is aware of their place in line and will give you the opportunity to go in your order (of arrival).  Be ready to go though, as everyone is anxious to get into and out of there.

When you approach the locks they may hail you on a loudspeaker.  Usually I can't understand what they are saying and just continue to putt putt in til I hear otherwise.  On the Shilshole side they will often have a guy standing high on the wall giving hand or voice signals where to go, so look for that.   

The book says you need to have four 50' lines but usually you don't need them.  I do have them tied to my cleats on all four corners and flaked out.  I also have my normal ~25' mooring lines as they are usually handier to work with if I'm diverted into the large locks where you'll likely be rafting to a bigger boat.  But be ready to use the long ones if the lockmaster asks for you line.  The lock employees are very helpful and friendly and will often take and cast off your lines, making it easier.   I've single handed many times thru the locks so it can be done.   I put out 3 fenders a side with 2 extras handy, one on either side, in case they are needed in a hurry at a specific spot.

Eric 

[Jeff Oaklief]

I agree with Erics summary 100%.  I would add that monitoring channel 13 is helpful as this lets you know about commercial traffic and if the attendants are trying to get you in first (sometimes they like to tuck you into the gates... sometimes it just makes their packing plan easier).

Jeff

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