I’m considering relocating my boat vs. selling. I have a few tire kickers scheduled to look at my boat when I splash her later this month. Doesn’t seem like any are keenly interested but who knows. I haven’t officially listed it or advertised it so just word of mouth thus far. I’m toying with the idea of relocating it rather than sell it. I love the boating and fishing in Ketchikan but the season is just too short. And my business relationships there are ending so it becomes less appealing. The two options I’m exploring are either Puget Sound area or La Paz, Mexico. Does anyone have input on either of these? I’m pretty familiar with Puget Sound having lived there and in the PacNW. It would be good as I’m about a 2.5 hour drive away. But just cruising the San Juan’s and around the Sound seems like it would get old pretty quickly. What else is there in the Sound? I have a colleague who has a house in La Paz and loves it. It’s much smaller and sleepier than Cabo which is just fine with me. Anyone have experience down there? What are typical sea conditions? I believe fishing is pretty decent? Much warmer weather is appealing, especially to my wife. I did a quick google search on moorage but only found general info. I’m not sure if slips are available or long waiting lists? I’m not interested in So Cal or Bay Area. Fantastic weather but the destinations don’t appeal to me and costs are outrageous. Anything else I should consider? I briefly thought about moving it to Florida but I don’t think that scene is for me.
Don't drop Coastal Georgia or N/E Florida yet. We have nothing to do with central, south or the whole left coast of Florida. Two RingPower shops close by.
2 1/2 hours away from where exactly? Most folks like to keep boats further north than Seattle as the trip to San Juans is quicker for sure. I ask because I am 4 hours away from downtown Seattle and I am keeping a boat there for the summer as I decide what to do with other boats. I agree that San Juans will get old pretty quickly. Vancouver Island, Sunshine coast, The Broughtons, there is way more to do and to fish. Halibut and Salmon are your thing. I look forward to learning to salmon fish and spot prawn trap this summer. I will not go below SoCal as I don't like hot air temps, at all, so I hope others will talk about Mexico options for you. I do know a guy who keeps a sport fish in Mexico and travels there and loves having his boat there. It is a full time captain boat though so not like he has to worry about day to day operation and maintenance. Who knows you may have an offer you can't refuse.
I’m in the Portland area. I would need to stay south of Seattle or more likely the Kitsap side. Traffic to the north side of Seattle is a non-starter for me. Gig Harbor is likely my preferred if I move it to the Sound. I can cruise at 30 knots so being a bit farther South isn’t too much of an issue. If I move it to Mexico I would likely hire a full-time caretaker.
For a nicer drive head up the Hood Canal and look at maybe Brinnon there is a nice marina there I think Pleasant Harbor. We had a friend there as a home base for all sorts of NOAA and US Navy support research. Well under $1K monthly slip fee. Easy to get to the sound, and Hood Canal is a super nice weekend cruising water. Here fishy fishy.
That's not out of the question. I lived in Gig Harbor for 5+ years so I'm pretty familiar with the region as a whole. I'm really not including fishing quality in the Sound in my assessment. Compared to my 25+ years of fishing in Alaska it will be dismal n comparison.
There were some boats like yours at Marina Puerto Escondido, near Loreto, where we boated last winter. Seemed like all/most had a local “captain” keeping the boat up and managing contractors. Owners would arrive to use the boat for some days, say with guests or for a tournament, then depart. This is from my interactions with the locals and observations on the docks. The locals in Baja California and Baja California Sur were quite wonderful and we miss them. We found the lower Sea in the winter to be cooler than expected, too cold to get in the water. The wind was very shifty and would last for days sometimes, making trip planning and anchoring somewhat of a headache (this is our game vs. marinas). The marinas from Cabo San Lucas to Santa Rosalia were fairly to very busy, but we were able to moor every time we wanted to (with our little boat). The trip down the coast from Puget Sound was mostly wonderful. The portion from Ensenada to Cabo was exceptionally interesting for us, and beautiful. It sounds like you know the lower Sea of Cortez area better than we did. I feel that a reconnaissance trip to Baha California Sur would have been most beneficial for our planning and expectation management, yet we were finishing careers and preparing the boat and did NOT go take a look first. There are charters and pangas readily available from LaPaz, Loreto, and Puerto Escondido that can quickly or leisurely show you the area and inform your decision. Best Wishes
Excellent info -thank you. I would likely hire a Capt or at least a caretaker. According to my colleague that has a house there he said it is fairly inexpensive to do that. I also just talked to a friend who has fished out of Loreto a dozen times and said that is a great area too. I’ve been researching the weather and sea conditions as well as marine options. I’m starting to get excited about this prospect. Only thing that doesn’t excite me is the slip fees are high. I’ve been spoiled by very inexpensive slip rates in Ketchikan. But the prospect of being able to use the boat virtually any time through the year sounds fantastic! I’m seeing a recon trip to the area in my near future
