Q & A's plus Ten things you need to know

• Water temp --The water is too cold to swim, but kids sometimes jump in anyway.
• PWC -- Jet Skis are outlawed in San Juan county.
• Wind -- Not much wind. The San Juans are not known for great sailing winds in July and August. Out in the straits (Haro, Rosario, Georgia, Juan De Fuca) you may get some decent sailing, but inside the islands, don't bet on it.
• Bathrooms -- All the parks have nice composting toilets, (each island mentioned for overnight is a park) the rangers service all parks on a regular basis. You will be pleasantly surprised at how clean the facilities are. Drinking water is available at only a few parks, bring your own!
• Pets -- Pets (dogs) must be on leash all the time, everywhere you go.
• Garbage service -- your kidding right? pack it in, pack it out. Most resorts/marinas have dumpsters, but zero at parks.
• Mooring fees -- .60 cents a foot at park floats, $10-12? for buoys, $.75- $1.75 per foot at resort slips.
• Emergency's -- Yes, call 911, call the Coast Guard on channel 16, call vessel assist services. Cell phone service is very good in most areas, but not at Rosario for some reason.
• Dumping -- Nothing over the side, period, and your not allowed to empty holding tanks into the water anywhere. Pump out stations are located at most resorts, ports and marinas, but not at any parks.
• Crowds -- Yes, No, ? It is very unlikely that anywhere you arrive will not be able to accommodate your boat because you will always be prepared to anchor and use your dinghy.
• Reservations -- If your cruise plan is to only go to resorts and you have no dinghy or intention to anchor out, then you should secure reservations before you go.  If you are flexible and able to bend a little then just go and let your cruise evolve before you.
• Insects-mosquitoes, never seen any, don't tell anyone. But some of the little bird reserve islands have flies a half mile offshore, you've been warned.
• Temperature -- Pretty moderate days and nights in the summer, but if you don't bring sunblock and warm foul weather gear, whose to blame.
• Orcas -- You will have to go look for them out in the straits, they don't come into the inner island areas.  You may get lucky and see them when your in their areas but probably not, sorry. Seals Porpoise, Dolphins, Eagles, Deer, Raccoon's, Otters are everywhere you go.
• Fires on shore --  yes, except on Matia Island.

Ok, maybe more than ten.

1.  Expenses:

DNR buoys are free (Cypress Island) State Park buoys are $10, many park floats are .60 cents a foot,  Marinas charge between 75 cents and $2 a foot. Gasoline is a little more expensive than on land, but not much more.  Food, groceries, ice are just a little more than the mainland but very fair priced overall.

2. How many days to plan:

You could do a weekend outing if you are in the area already, but I recommend  a minimum of four days, or up to two weeks depending on what you like to do. (I like to sit on the dock at Jones Island and read my book between naps and walks, then I make a campfire in an empty tent site and cook Kielbasa on a stick, followed by a glass of wine. Then retire to my boat for a good nights sleep.  The next day, I do it again, the days just zoom by) 
Tip: don't try to see and do everything, instead plan another trip just as soon as you can ,and another, and another.

3. Salt Water:

Salt water drys sticky and does not suds up well with soap, you will get it all over you and your boat, count on it.  After a week you will look forward to a shower.  Your boat will be covered with salt crystals.  Most marinas have little water and don't want you washing your boat.

Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham has boat and trailer fresh water wash down hoses in the parking lot.  You should use them each time you dunk your trailer.

4. Provisions:

For the most part you will want to provision before you leave on the boat.  Anacortes and Bellingham have all the big stores and each has a West Marine store.  All the resorts and towns have grocery stores, if you drive a fast boat, supply's may be only minutes away, putt putt's should work a store visit into your circuit.  I say circuit because most cruisers will follow a circle of some sort trying to hit many stops.  We find that ice needs renewing after three days, so a stop over at Friday Harbor, Deer Harbor, Roche Harbor, Blakelys, or Orcas landing fits the bill.  All these places have gas and showers.  Showers will cost a handful of quarters so be quick about it, or be poor. Cold showers brrr are free at many places.

5. Garbage:

All the parks are pack it in and pack it out, the marinas have dumpsters.  If you are new to boat camping you will find garbage to be a pain because you are not used to storing everything in your boat.  Little things like empty water bottles suddenly take space you don't have.  You must give careful thought to what your bringing, and the garbage it will generate.  We don't use disposable bottles, minimize pop consumption, and try to have campfires to burn burnable trash (not plastic).  It is against the law to toss anything, (even an apple core) in the water.

6. Animals: (pets)

Your dogs must be on a leash, period, everywhere.  Raccoon's are on all islands and will climb right into your boat or kayak in the day time if you let them.  Deer are all over too, but they shy away, except on Jones Island where you can hand feed them.

Otters live under most floats and docks, they will crawl all over your boat, get into things and make a mess.  Otters also will mark their territory by pooing on your stuff, dock lines are a favorite. I try to remind myself that the animals are full time residents, and we are simply visitors.

7. Bathrooms:

All the parks have nice composting toilets, (each island mentioned for overnight is a park) the rangers service all parks on a regular basis.  You will be pleasantly surprised at how clean the facilities are.

8. Where to go:

Your destination is simply that, its the journey getting there and the experiences on the way that make a trip a wonderful vacation. Try the links below for some Island Park descriptions.

Parks and Islands to visit  plus an itinerary for first timers. Four to six day suggested itinerary for first timers >>  or try this longer more detailed float plan.   Its very easy to go with no plan at all, just let your trip develop one day at a time.

9. Launching ramps:

Hands down first choice is Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, next consider Deception Pass at Cornet Bay, then Washington Park in Anacortes or the La Conner city ramp, last choice go to Twin Bridges on way to Anacortes.
These are all public ramps, there are many yards with travel lifts and light duty sling systems. There are ramps throughout the San Juans but that would require a ferry ride.

10. Emergency's: 

Here are some ideas.  Bring your cell phone and charger, have a hard copy list of numbers to call (don't save the list on your phone or laptop)  bring at least a portable handheld marine radio, bring basic first aid kit, for help call 911, call the Coast Guard on the phone or radio,  they can be there pretty fast, or arrange for vessel assist on your credit card, cruise with a friend with another boat, and stay together.