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Harney Channel Renamed Cayou Channel
The State Board of Natural Resources of Washington has approved the renaming of the waterway that runs between Shaw Island and Orcas Island, changing the name from Harney Channel to Cayou Channel. The name change is the result of a substantial community effort from...
WA Clean Vessel Act – More Options for Boaters
For the past two years, the pandemic has stimulated boat sales by 17.8% and increased boater activity on the waters in Washington State. With an increase in boating activity, the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act Program (CVA) is making it a priority to add...
“#MindTheZone” Campaign – Floatplane Zone in Seattle’s Lake Union
Kenmore Air and Harbor Air have resumed service to and from Canada so the floatplane zone on Lake Union will once again be busy with planes arriving and departing along the designated operations area. A vertical line of 5 lighted buoys extending north from the Museum...
NOAA’s ENC Chart Rescheming
In 2019 NOAA announced plans to end all production of Raster charts, both paper and digitized copies by January 2025. NOAA is ending support for Raster charts to focus their efforts on support and enhancement of their Electronic Navigation Charts or ENCs. In the...
Purchase of Lakebay Marina in Mayo Cove is Official
Boaters have much to celebrate with the successful purchase of the Lakebay Marina property in Mayo Cove on the Key Peninsula. Plans to purchase the 18-acre property were in play for over two years, while logistics were resolved and funds secured. Thanks to the...
Exploring the South Coast of British Columbia – Revised 4th Edition
The Exploring Series guidebooks by the late Don Douglass and the late Reanne Hemingway-Douglass have long been popular, best sellers among active boaters of the Pacific Northwest, who love to discover small, intimate coves and safe anchorages. The new 4th Edition...
Marine Electronic Visual Distress Signal Authorized by Canada
Transport Canada has announced that a two-color electronic visual distress signal for boaters of pleasure vessels can be used in place of marine flares and meets the legal requirement for distress signals. When carried with an approved smoke signal, Transport Canada...
Cruise the Rideau Canal with Le Boat in Beautiful Ontario, Canada
The Rideau Canal in northeastern Canada links Canada’s capital Ottawa and the charming city of Kingston via a set of lakes and canals, with quaint towns and interesting sights along the way. The Rideau Canal, built in the mid-1800’s, is a UNESCO World-Heritage Site,...
Keel Preserve – Announcement by San Juan Preservation Trust
The San Juan Preservation Trust recently acquired a 42-acre property located on the east side of Orcas Island, named Keel Preserve. Volunteers have begun building a trail spur that will connect Moran State Park’s trail system to a seasonal waterfall located on the...
106 Containers Lost Overboard Near the Entrance to Strait of Juan de Fuca
Waggoner received a report from the United States Coast Guard that 40 shipping containers were lost overboard, which was later revised to 106 containers lost, at approximately 48.28.18 North and 125.39.25 West. This position is about 25 miles off the entrance buoy to...
Solar Powered Boat – Record Setting Journey to Southeast Alaska
David and Alex Borton completed a 1,400-mile voyage to Alaska under 100 percent solar power, the very first recorded voyage of its kind. Their 27-foot Solar Sal boat, named Wayward Sun, has 1700 watts of Solbian solar panels on her roof, and six Torqeedo lithium...
Seattle Harbor Patrol in Jeopardy
Washington State Counties and Cities fund Marine Harbor Patrols, which work in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard, providing enforcement, search and rescue, and other services. Marine Patrols help investigate water-related accidents, ensure boater safety by...
Canadian Raster Charts Discontinued
Canadian Raster Charts Discontinued Canadian Hydrographic Services just announced plans to discontinue all of its digital Raster Navigational Charts (RNC) offered in BSB format. The process will be in progressive phases. The first phase will include West Coast charts...
Respectful Play, So We Can Stay in Andrews Bay
Lovely Andrews Bay on the southwest end of Lake Washington, adjacent to the Seward Park neighborhood, has long been one of the favored destinations on this 22-mile lake, situated between the cities of Kirkland and Bellevue on the eastern shore, and Seattle spanning...
New Ownership at Historic Shearwater Resort
Craig Widsten, founder of Shearwater Marine Group, announced that he has sold the assets of his marine business at historic Shearwater Resort. The Marine Division of Shearwater has been sold to Central Coast Marine Services Ltd., owned by Don McNeice. Don plans to...