Somebody talk me out of this.

[malarson]

I have a week off this summer and I'm thinking about taking a boat trip to see a friend in Tacoma, WA (Gig harbor). Of course driving a car would be easier but what fun would that be?

I would travel down the Snake River to the Columbia river down past Portland to the Pacific Ocean up the Washington coast to the Puget Sound.

Is this something that is remotely feasible or just plain crazy? I have a 2006 22v.

[Dave S]

Just crazy, don't they have like 8-10 foot swells in the ocean there? I don't think these boats can handle waves that high? Maybe trailer it to Portland and go from there?

[da.bell]

My concern would be access to a gas station and the ocean itself. There are people in Florida running their Tige's in the Gulf but not entirely sure how big the swells would be.

[MoneyPity]

I think that although the trip would be neat on the river portion I think thst the river and barge traffic and locks and damn would potentially be an issue especially if barge or larger traffic uses the river. We have gone downstate a couple of times with an open bow 23 footer and having to deal with large wakes and long barges was not fun. Going into locks that serve barge and large boat traffic also presented issues trying not to become bottom fodder.

Taking the 22v out in the Pacific would be dangerous due to sudden weather.

Even with a Marine radio I would not reccomend.

The cost of fuel going that distance on the water would also be expensive compared to towing.

I would not reccomend the trip useing waterways.

[River Runner]

I guess your not familiar with Cape Disapointment.

This should change your mind.

[da.bell]

^^^ I think that just answered your concerns. Those are 40-50 foot boats rocking and rolling around there.

[goose69]

I was in the coast guard and trained there for 6 months. I have my 6 pack captains license, have piloted fishing boats sucessfully though hurricanes. I wouldn't do it in your boat.

[Thomas Hohl]

I took a ride like that one time on Jet Skis. I went about 150 miles on a river in Texas. What I didn't count on was the fact that 150 miles on a winding river is really 300 miles worth of river. It took WAY longer than we had planned and we got to our destination after dark (which was really scary on a Jet Ski needless to say). We had to stop for gas in small towns along the river like 4 times. I will say it was a cool adventure but there was alot of unexpected things that happened. The scariest was riding the last 20 miles in pitch black darkness on a river with NO LIGHTS.

[chadster2]

I hit a log 15-20 miles from town.... as it turned out the vibration was a hunk of wood the size of a finger stuck to the prop... It would have been a much different trip going down stream with no power with a barge pressing down on us... I'd do it again but it put a good bit of fear in my heart... I would not take my 22 ft out in the open ocean with a single motor and prop. The fear I have of the ocean is the wave after wave after wave. One problem and that's it... (You could hit a fish) one of my best days was letting my 13 y-o daughter feed wild dolphin.

[chpthril]

I'd definitely be up to an adventure like that, just not sure a wakeboard boat is the right choice. How far do you think it is one way? looks like it would take a week just to get there.

[Bakes5]

Crazzzy in an open ski boat. You will definitely sink it. Get a jetski and do it.

[Carter13]

April fools day isn't for another five weeks.

[malarson]

OK, OK, You guys and the wife talked me out of the ocean part. However, a long-ish boat ride is still in my blood. I think a trip through the 4 lower Snake River dams down to Kennewick/Pasco is definatly doable. What is the effective range of my boat on one tank of gas? There is gas at Boyer park but from there I'm not sure. The drive by land takes 2.5 hours. I figure 7.5 hours plus time to get through the locks. Does that sound right?

[MoneyPity]

Call me chicken but if that river has lots of barge traffic tand locks you are still going to have to ride out some of the large waves that could easily crest over the bow. Even with cockpit cover being on water will still come into the boat. at a minimum if I was going to go on a long river trip I would carry two spare props, marine radio,a cell phone flares, spot light etc.

We used to go from ST Loius to DuQuois Iowa in a 23ft deep V and getting between barges is no fun. You either run like a bat out of h8ll to pass the barge you are following or wait for barge going down the other way passes your barge and check to see if another barge is coming your way. If not go like heck. Like passing a dual trailer truck rigs during the day. It is hard to deternine how much it adds up. Remember barges don't have brakes and if you are in their way you loose. I also remember dealing with the locks and we needed at least3-4 sets of hands and a lot of cushions. If I was to attempt what you were planning I would do a short trip to get a feel for it. We made these trips in the fall to enjoy the color changes and once we got used to dealing with barge traffic we were ok

Would I do them again and I would only do it if I beefed up the horn. Beefed up the bilge pump, just in case and head to lessor # of active barges. This is one place I wish I had a 55+mph go fast boat

[wakemaker01]

do it can i take a policy out on you?