My favorite shallow-draft place is Little Skookum Inlet, in the far-southwestern reaches of South Puget Sound. Little Skookum is made for small boats, since it drains almost completely at low tide, so it’s best to wait for a rising tide near the entrance (Wildcat Cove), then row, paddle or motor your small boat 3 miles toward the far reaches of Little Skookum, arriving at about high tide. And don’t be afraid to do a slow meander into Skookum Creek, watching the bottom and avoiding sunken snags, before retreating as the tide begins to ebb. The narrow and shallow inlet is a bit like Willapa Bay (mentioned above by another reader), but in miniature. Just love the estuarial places for our small boats! (And finally, if you want to sample Little Skookum and other shallow-draft destinations in South Sound, the closest launch ramps to Skookum would be Boston Harbor, or Olympia, or the county ramp next to the Hartstene Island bridge.
A good sailing venue for our small craft is Humboldt Bay…Eureka, Calif….Launch at the Municipal Marina….nice ramps, nice docks for over nights, and good price. It is rarely crowded (unless the Salmon are running!!)….Sail to the north and you are in downtown “Old Town”….Sail to the south and one finds the entrance and “the Treacherous Humboldt Bar…not recommended in our small craft!…. Classic Old Coastguard Small Boat Station & Light House still in every day use are here also. Lots of wildlife, mud flats, “Funky Waterfront Buildings as well as new to be seen”….The Bay has an eclectic collection of commercial fishing boats, sail boats, motor boats, Research Vessels (belonging to Cal State University Humboldt) etc…the Bay is about 1/2 mile wide by approximately 6 miles long….sailable!!…if you include the 17,000 acres of water, mud flats, & marshes…the Bay could be called 6+ miles wide by 12 + miles wide!!….In that case bring your boots, kayak, canoe, John boat….because you will need them!!…I trailer my M15 up there from Fort Bragg 2 or 3 times a year…A great get away!
Marty…thanks for the tip…we May have to add Little Skookum Inlet to our Potter Yachters MessAbout XXII in Sept. 2025….we typically launch out of Olympia when doing Puget Sound….Regards, Dan Phy
One of my favorite day trips is to launch at the little used LaConner, WA boat ramp (just north of the bridge), motor/sail south on the Swinomish Slough to Goat Island where I stop to visit the abandoned Fort Whitman, then west and north to Hope Island State Park & Kukutali Preserve State Park (was Kiket Island). If time & the currents permit a quick look into Deception Pass & then back to the ramp. A full and pleasant day that can be shortened as needed. All in protected water. 14 miles round trip to Kukutali with lots of interesting cruising and beach walking.
Willapa Bay, in the S.W. corner of Washington State, is a worthwhile destination for the small boat sailor, rower, or paddler. It is formed by the Long Beach Peninsula, which acts as a barrier to the Pacific Ocean. Commercial oystering is the main economic activity, though there is some tourism. The put-in is at the ranger station on the east side of Long Island, though you probably could also put in at Nahcotta (about half way up the peninsula. Long Island has campsites, but be forewarned: At low tide the mud will suck the boots right off your feet.
David - Years ago, I used the ranger-station ramp to launch a 14-foot flatiron skiff into Willapa Bay…a place I’ve always been drawn to, in part because it isn’t well-known as a recreational-boating destination. (Like Josh, I’m fascinated by shallow backwaters where, as you say, the mud will suck boots off your feet…and there’s just something magical about Willapa Bay, maybe especially rowing, paddling or otherwise working your way slowly up one of the several rivers and streams that ease into Willapa Bay…where we felt complete peace while watching estuarial birds, river otters, beavers and other critters in total silence. I’m hoping that with the 20’ outboard cruiser we’re now building, that we’ll explore a lot more of Willapa Bay, and maybe event—on one of those incredibly calm days, venture out into the ocean before returning to the ramp.) - Marty
I can often be found sailing the Delaware Bay. It's a torrid body of water, predictably unpredictable, and prone to storms that sneak up on you unexpectedly and disappear just as fast. It's also full of history, intrigue, and has many nooks and crannies that are ripe for exploring.
In short it is a gunkholers paradise. Small streams and rivers wind their way through the marshes, deep into the least populated area of New Jersey, sneaking into places with evocative names like Greenwich, Bivalve, Shellpile, Dividing Creek, and Fortesque. Ghost towns too, dot the higher elevations along the shore, hinting at what was once New Jersey's richest area.
Best to bring a shallow drafted vessel you can beach. The tides run quick and the bottom is never far away. This keeps most people far away from this remote place that is right in the middle of everything.
When thinking of a nice small boat adventure one does not think of southern Indiana, but there is a very nice Army Corp reservoir near Bloomington that is an excellent sailing lake, Lake Monroe. It has several well-constructed boat ramps and a hotel. Summer weekends tend to be high-traffic power boating, though weekdays are usually pretty good. Fall foliage in the rolling hills of southern Indiana is spectacular and quite comparable to the beauty of New England, and by this time most of the power boats have been put up for the winter.
Josh, May I ask what brought you to lake Monroe? We had a long standing tradition of a Small Boat Messabouts each Fall partnered with one on Rend Lake in Southern Illinois in the Spring. Both were attended by Jim Michalak and several other notables in the early days. Unfortunately, with diminishing attendance over the years, last year was the last of the Lake Monroe Messabouts. If there is a renewed interest, this Messabout can be revitalized. Perhaps SBA can help.
Marc, my wife is from Indy area and attended IU, so we've traipsed around the state and that area quite a bit. We do come back from time to time so would make an effort to attend if you had something going. Happy to spread the word in any case.
The Canadian North Channel. A cruise I have done many times is from Spanish to Little Current at the west end of the Whalesback Channel. Pristine islands, wild blueberries and raspberries (depending on the month), crystal clear drinkable water and rarely another boat. The passages between islands are anywhere from 100 yards to a mile or two depending on route. The prevailing winds are out of the west and so it's a downhill run all the way. Anchored out or shore camping makes this an ideal small craft venue. This cruise is but one of hundreds of routes one can take as the North Channel and Georgian Bay are so diverse. Another great cruise is Little Current to Bay Fine and back. Pink granite Cliffs, evergreens, many anchorages or camp sites makes for perfect small boat poking around.
As we approach completion date on Nereid, my lady love and I have been searching for a place to keep her. As mentioned in an earlier post, our Adirondack Packboat is currently stowed in a friend's crawlspace. We spent Saturday afternoon checking out three places in New Jersey, all of which are at places we have enjoyed over the years.
Raritan River Boat Club is, as the name implies, right on the river and has good storage for dry sailing and easy water access. We have canoed, rowed and paddled along the river, both for sheer pleasure and as part of events, most of which are not repeatable.
Two of the events were different versions of the Raritan River Float as safety/chase boat. The second of these had us taking the Pakboat from the launch point at the Rutgers Boathouse all the way down to South Amboy. During that one, we had to get a couple of Lookie Lous to leave an Osprey nesting area, as they were disturbing the birds.
In another, we participated in the [rainy] launching of a new okume strip planked canoe which had been built by student volunteers at a converted garage by the Raritan River Littoral Society.
The longest ago occurred when my friend Jim and I launched his 9 square metre boat at the park in Highland Park, sailed it down the River, around Staten Island and back up the river to our launch point for an easy retrieval after we got a new shear pin for the outboard.
In various other New Jersey outings, we have been to Round Valley Reservoir and Spruce Run Reservoirs. When we checked them out Saturday, both were very low, due to the current drought. In fact, Spruce Run is so low that the launch points are several feet above the current water level, making them unusable. Round Valley had access from both of their ramps and people were on the water, fishing, windsurfing and sailing.
One time, Hillary and I had my Thayer Whitehall out in Jamaica Bay for a New Year's row. [Start the year as you hope to continue it.] Someone in a car must have reported us to the Coast Guard. As we were returning to Paerdegat Inlet, just as we were approaching the Belt Parkway bridge, the Coasties came bustling up at full speed, with crew on deck and M-15's at high port. When we greeted them, they said that they just wanted to make sure we were wearing life jackets. Riight, this was 2003, when people were still very nervous after 9/11. We all smiled at each other and wished each other a good New Year.
At some point, we expect to do the full length of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers as well as other waters in our area.
We expect to take Nereid out on the Delaware, down to the Chesapeake and into New England. Her launching party will put her into the Hudson for her first row, off Pier 40.
Pier 40 is the home of Village Community Boathouse, descended from Floating the Apple. At one point, we had storage and launching access to the warehouses in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Erie Basin is the southern terminus of the Erie Canal and allowed us direct access to New York Harbor. We used our launch point there for Sunday morning rows across the Harbor and behind the Statue of Liberty, where my crew somehow managed to go overboard and take short swims. Despite the regulations, no one ever bothered us. We have also participated in the annual Row Around Manhattan.
One of my nicest little trips was completely within the city limits of MIlwaukee. I wanted to try out my boat and overnight rig before my first extended cruise. I launched at the county ramp at McKinley park, on the north side of Milwaukee harbor, sailed about 3 mi. south through the harbor and into the protected area behind the closer breakwall south of the main harbor. Threw the anchor over in about 10 feet of water, near the walking and bike path along the south shore, put up my dodger and tent and snuggled in for the night. This is all familiar territory to me, as a member of South Shore Yacht Club. In the morning, with light wind, I motored back north to McKinley. What a fine little trip.
My favorite shallow-draft place is Little Skookum Inlet, in the far-southwestern reaches of South Puget Sound. Little Skookum is made for small boats, since it drains almost completely at low tide, so it’s best to wait for a rising tide near the entrance (Wildcat Cove), then row, paddle or motor your small boat 3 miles toward the far reaches of Little Skookum, arriving at about high tide. And don’t be afraid to do a slow meander into Skookum Creek, watching the bottom and avoiding sunken snags, before retreating as the tide begins to ebb. The narrow and shallow inlet is a bit like Willapa Bay (mentioned above by another reader), but in miniature. Just love the estuarial places for our small boats! (And finally, if you want to sample Little Skookum and other shallow-draft destinations in South Sound, the closest launch ramps to Skookum would be Boston Harbor, or Olympia, or the county ramp next to the Hartstene Island bridge.
A good sailing venue for our small craft is Humboldt Bay…Eureka, Calif….Launch at the Municipal Marina….nice ramps, nice docks for over nights, and good price. It is rarely crowded (unless the Salmon are running!!)….Sail to the north and you are in downtown “Old Town”….Sail to the south and one finds the entrance and “the Treacherous Humboldt Bar…not recommended in our small craft!…. Classic Old Coastguard Small Boat Station & Light House still in every day use are here also. Lots of wildlife, mud flats, “Funky Waterfront Buildings as well as new to be seen”….The Bay has an eclectic collection of commercial fishing boats, sail boats, motor boats, Research Vessels (belonging to Cal State University Humboldt) etc…the Bay is about 1/2 mile wide by approximately 6 miles long….sailable!!…if you include the 17,000 acres of water, mud flats, & marshes…the Bay could be called 6+ miles wide by 12 + miles wide!!….In that case bring your boots, kayak, canoe, John boat….because you will need them!!…I trailer my M15 up there from Fort Bragg 2 or 3 times a year…A great get away!
Marty…thanks for the tip…we May have to add Little Skookum Inlet to our Potter Yachters MessAbout XXII in Sept. 2025….we typically launch out of Olympia when doing Puget Sound….Regards, Dan Phy
One of my favorite day trips is to launch at the little used LaConner, WA boat ramp (just north of the bridge), motor/sail south on the Swinomish Slough to Goat Island where I stop to visit the abandoned Fort Whitman, then west and north to Hope Island State Park & Kukutali Preserve State Park (was Kiket Island). If time & the currents permit a quick look into Deception Pass & then back to the ramp. A full and pleasant day that can be shortened as needed. All in protected water. 14 miles round trip to Kukutali with lots of interesting cruising and beach walking.
Willapa Bay, in the S.W. corner of Washington State, is a worthwhile destination for the small boat sailor, rower, or paddler. It is formed by the Long Beach Peninsula, which acts as a barrier to the Pacific Ocean. Commercial oystering is the main economic activity, though there is some tourism. The put-in is at the ranger station on the east side of Long Island, though you probably could also put in at Nahcotta (about half way up the peninsula. Long Island has campsites, but be forewarned: At low tide the mud will suck the boots right off your feet.
David - Years ago, I used the ranger-station ramp to launch a 14-foot flatiron skiff into Willapa Bay…a place I’ve always been drawn to, in part because it isn’t well-known as a recreational-boating destination. (Like Josh, I’m fascinated by shallow backwaters where, as you say, the mud will suck boots off your feet…and there’s just something magical about Willapa Bay, maybe especially rowing, paddling or otherwise working your way slowly up one of the several rivers and streams that ease into Willapa Bay…where we felt complete peace while watching estuarial birds, river otters, beavers and other critters in total silence. I’m hoping that with the 20’ outboard cruiser we’re now building, that we’ll explore a lot more of Willapa Bay, and maybe event—on one of those incredibly calm days, venture out into the ocean before returning to the ramp.) - Marty
The navigation chart is #18504
David - I was going through a lot of old charts last week, and set that one aside for use in the not-distant future. What a place!
One place that's been on my list for so long...
I can often be found sailing the Delaware Bay. It's a torrid body of water, predictably unpredictable, and prone to storms that sneak up on you unexpectedly and disappear just as fast. It's also full of history, intrigue, and has many nooks and crannies that are ripe for exploring.
In short it is a gunkholers paradise. Small streams and rivers wind their way through the marshes, deep into the least populated area of New Jersey, sneaking into places with evocative names like Greenwich, Bivalve, Shellpile, Dividing Creek, and Fortesque. Ghost towns too, dot the higher elevations along the shore, hinting at what was once New Jersey's richest area.
Best to bring a shallow drafted vessel you can beach. The tides run quick and the bottom is never far away. This keeps most people far away from this remote place that is right in the middle of everything.
When thinking of a nice small boat adventure one does not think of southern Indiana, but there is a very nice Army Corp reservoir near Bloomington that is an excellent sailing lake, Lake Monroe. It has several well-constructed boat ramps and a hotel. Summer weekends tend to be high-traffic power boating, though weekdays are usually pretty good. Fall foliage in the rolling hills of southern Indiana is spectacular and quite comparable to the beauty of New England, and by this time most of the power boats have been put up for the winter.
Have been to Monroe once. Nice spot.
Josh, May I ask what brought you to lake Monroe? We had a long standing tradition of a Small Boat Messabouts each Fall partnered with one on Rend Lake in Southern Illinois in the Spring. Both were attended by Jim Michalak and several other notables in the early days. Unfortunately, with diminishing attendance over the years, last year was the last of the Lake Monroe Messabouts. If there is a renewed interest, this Messabout can be revitalized. Perhaps SBA can help.
Marc, my wife is from Indy area and attended IU, so we've traipsed around the state and that area quite a bit. We do come back from time to time so would make an effort to attend if you had something going. Happy to spread the word in any case.
The Canadian North Channel. A cruise I have done many times is from Spanish to Little Current at the west end of the Whalesback Channel. Pristine islands, wild blueberries and raspberries (depending on the month), crystal clear drinkable water and rarely another boat. The passages between islands are anywhere from 100 yards to a mile or two depending on route. The prevailing winds are out of the west and so it's a downhill run all the way. Anchored out or shore camping makes this an ideal small craft venue. This cruise is but one of hundreds of routes one can take as the North Channel and Georgian Bay are so diverse. Another great cruise is Little Current to Bay Fine and back. Pink granite Cliffs, evergreens, many anchorages or camp sites makes for perfect small boat poking around.
As we approach completion date on Nereid, my lady love and I have been searching for a place to keep her. As mentioned in an earlier post, our Adirondack Packboat is currently stowed in a friend's crawlspace. We spent Saturday afternoon checking out three places in New Jersey, all of which are at places we have enjoyed over the years.
Raritan River Boat Club is, as the name implies, right on the river and has good storage for dry sailing and easy water access. We have canoed, rowed and paddled along the river, both for sheer pleasure and as part of events, most of which are not repeatable.
Two of the events were different versions of the Raritan River Float as safety/chase boat. The second of these had us taking the Pakboat from the launch point at the Rutgers Boathouse all the way down to South Amboy. During that one, we had to get a couple of Lookie Lous to leave an Osprey nesting area, as they were disturbing the birds.
In another, we participated in the [rainy] launching of a new okume strip planked canoe which had been built by student volunteers at a converted garage by the Raritan River Littoral Society.
The longest ago occurred when my friend Jim and I launched his 9 square metre boat at the park in Highland Park, sailed it down the River, around Staten Island and back up the river to our launch point for an easy retrieval after we got a new shear pin for the outboard.
In various other New Jersey outings, we have been to Round Valley Reservoir and Spruce Run Reservoirs. When we checked them out Saturday, both were very low, due to the current drought. In fact, Spruce Run is so low that the launch points are several feet above the current water level, making them unusable. Round Valley had access from both of their ramps and people were on the water, fishing, windsurfing and sailing.
One time, Hillary and I had my Thayer Whitehall out in Jamaica Bay for a New Year's row. [Start the year as you hope to continue it.] Someone in a car must have reported us to the Coast Guard. As we were returning to Paerdegat Inlet, just as we were approaching the Belt Parkway bridge, the Coasties came bustling up at full speed, with crew on deck and M-15's at high port. When we greeted them, they said that they just wanted to make sure we were wearing life jackets. Riight, this was 2003, when people were still very nervous after 9/11. We all smiled at each other and wished each other a good New Year.
At some point, we expect to do the full length of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers as well as other waters in our area.
We expect to take Nereid out on the Delaware, down to the Chesapeake and into New England. Her launching party will put her into the Hudson for her first row, off Pier 40.
Pier 40 is the home of Village Community Boathouse, descended from Floating the Apple. At one point, we had storage and launching access to the warehouses in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Erie Basin is the southern terminus of the Erie Canal and allowed us direct access to New York Harbor. We used our launch point there for Sunday morning rows across the Harbor and behind the Statue of Liberty, where my crew somehow managed to go overboard and take short swims. Despite the regulations, no one ever bothered us. We have also participated in the annual Row Around Manhattan.
One of my nicest little trips was completely within the city limits of MIlwaukee. I wanted to try out my boat and overnight rig before my first extended cruise. I launched at the county ramp at McKinley park, on the north side of Milwaukee harbor, sailed about 3 mi. south through the harbor and into the protected area behind the closer breakwall south of the main harbor. Threw the anchor over in about 10 feet of water, near the walking and bike path along the south shore, put up my dodger and tent and snuggled in for the night. This is all familiar territory to me, as a member of South Shore Yacht Club. In the morning, with light wind, I motored back north to McKinley. What a fine little trip.