Sunrise on Fidalgo and Boating Next Steps

Sunrise

 As one who swims five-days a week, going on an RV trip can interrupt that routine.  As Laura sleeps, I step outside the Safari each morning and go for a brisk walk.

Looking across Fidalgo Bay.

 I love being next to the water at Fidalgo Bay RV Resort.  The Tommy Thompson Trail is great for walking and biking, and the water provides an endless palette on which to reflect the local beauty.

Walking back to the motorhome.

Boating Next Steps

Neither Laura's or my parents were boaters.  Sea Scouts and Mariners introduced us to boating.  My boating resume is an eclectic mix of powerboats, sailboats, and rowed boats.  During my seventeen years in Sea Scouts, I crewed and later commanded a 63' AVR twin diesel patrol boat, a 34' twin gas Chris Craft Sea Skiff, a variety of sailboats from dinghies to cruisers, and kayaks and canoes to rowboats and a 26' foot whaleboat propelled by eight oars and steered with a sweep oar.  Along the way, I got to cruise and make deliveries aboard the 63' AVR Sea Witch (ex-Northland), 65' Warden Johnston (ex-Alcatraz Prison boat), 65' US Army T-Boat Barclay Stephens, 50' converted Navy launch Cormorant (ex-Zarahemla), a 36' Gibson Houseboat, and a variety of sailboats from 21' daysailers to 45' bluewater cruisers.  My personal boat ownership started in 1987 when Laura and I bought our first boat, a 1987 Catalina 22 (new style).  Since then we've owned a 1996 Catalina 30 mkIII, 1978 Catalina 22 (old style), 1987 Bayliner 38, and a 1987 Catalina Capri 22.

As we've looked back on the boats we've owned, a boat in the 30-something foot range seems like the right fit.  Big enough for a couple to cruise, but not so big that washing and maintaining the boat is a chore.  Even before we were invited to cruise aboard our friend's Catalina 445, Laura and I had started thinking about acquiring a cruising boat again.  After a lot of online research, we settled on the Catalina 310.  The Catalina 310 was the shortest production run boat that Catalina ever built (300 boats produced between 1999-2008).  The reason is rumored to be that it was overbuilt for its size and Catalina could not charge enough to justify its production.  Catalina replaced the 310 with the 309, and later the 315.  Designed to be the perfect boat for a cruising couple, the boat features a large forward cabin with island queen berth with mattress. The L-shaped dinette with a pedestal table, complete galley, double aft berth, enclosed head, large cockpit, makes the boat perfect at 6 for drinks, 4 for dinner, and 2 for cruising.

During my research, I noticed that one of the folks on the C310 discussion forum was located in Anacortes.  After work, I headed over to the marina in the off chance it was berthed at Cap Sante.

A 2002 Catalina 310 at Cap Sante Marina.

Catalina 310 "Tess Too".

It had been a wonderful day.  It started off with a gorgeous walk in the calm of the morning, and it ended with a second walk on the docks of the marina in search of a Catalina 310.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much