Traveling to Oak Harbor typically requires 2 days of travel. Where the first day travel is from Leschi to Edmonds. And the 2nd day travel is from Edmonds to Oak Harbor.  

Planning for the tides and current in Saratoga Passage is critical to minimize the transit time. Good planning can easily reduce the transit time by at least 1.5 hours.

A VHF radio is essnetial for on the water communications. We usually select VHF channel 68. And VHF channel 72 as an alternate.  

NOTE: The authors of this information assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.    

The mast height of the SJ24 above the waterline is at least 34 feet. It may be higher if you have tall windvane or other equipment at the top of the mast. The Fremont bridge has a clearance of only 30 ft.  

The Fremont bridge is closed to boat traffic on weekdays from 7 to 9 am and 4 to 6 pm. 

When requesting a bridge opening from 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM vessels should use a horn signal - one long blast, one short blast. From 11PM to 7AM, the request to open the bridge may be made by calling 206-386-4251 at least 1 hour in advance.

Locally referred to as the "Ballard Locks".

The locks and associated facilities move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa.

The complex includes two locks, a small lock and a large lock. The complex also includes a spillway with gates to assist in water-level control. 

Edmonds Marina Phone Number: 425-775-4588  

Edmonds Marina Website Link

Going into the marina, watch depth sounder display, keep the red buoy on your right (starboard) and the green buoy on your left (port). The entrance is very tight. Watch for commercial or larger boats leaving the marina. 

See magenta line on map for the suggested route. The main guest dock has the walkway ramp descending from shore. You may tie up anywhere on the main guest dock or the 4 finger piers of the guest dock, except where “reserved” signs are posted.  Contact the Edmonds marina staff to make a reservation or answer any questions.    

Oak Harbor Marina Phone Number:  360-279-4575 

Oak Harbor Marina Website

Watch depth sounder display going into the marina and keep out of shallow water. When going into the marina, keep the red buoys on your right (starboard) and the green buoys on your left (port). Stay in the center in the main channel and about 3 boat lengths away from any of the navigation marker buoys.  

When leaving the marina, keep the red channel marker buoys to your left (port), stay close to them and watch depth sounder display. The soundings in feet on the map below are at Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW).  

See magenta line on map below for the suggested safe route. 

Note shallow water warning next to Guest moorage dock. 

Going into the marina, watch depth sounder display, keep the red buoys on your right (starboard) and the green buoys on your left (port). 

At the marina, navigate to the Fuel/Guest dock at pier “H”. If space is available, tie the boat up on the leward side of the pier. Use any available space along the entire “H” pier that doesn’t have a “reserved” sign on it. 

See magenta line on map below for the suggested route. 

Shilshole Bay Marina Phone Number: (Office) 206-787-3006    (24 hour) 206-601-4089

Shilshole Bay Marina Website

For the return trip in 2014, Fancy and Snappy Tom decided to take advantage of a 12 foot tide drop on Monday 6/23/2014. 

Unfortunately, the high tide was predicted at 2:00am. The best time to leave Oak Harbor is about 1 hour after the high tide to gain the most favor from the current while heading South in Saratoga Passage.      

Departed Oak Harbor 1 hour after peak high tide as measured at tide station 9447130 in Elliot Bay. Calculated optimal outbound time to insure favorable current in Saratoga passage as provided in Puget Sound Tidal Flow Maps document. 

Maximized favorable tidal current to increase Speed Over Ground (SOG) in Saratoga Passage. Up to 7.3 knots!      

Plot below shows log of logged GPS boat speed-over-ground (SOG) in knots versus distance returning from Oak Harbor on 6/23/2014. 

• Exited Oak Harbor marina at 3:20am and arrived at entrance to Ballard locks at 10:04 AM. 

• Passed thru and exited Ballard Locks at 10:43 AM.  

• Arrived at Fremont Bridge at 11:05 AM. Fremont Bridge opened at 11:12 AM. 

• Arrived at Leschi Marina at 12:20 pm (noon).   

Total Time = 9 hours

Normal SJ24 Boat Speed Over Ground (SOG) = 5.4 knots

Average Boat Speed with favorable current =  6.3 knots   

Orignally published in 1977 by the Division of Marine Resource/University of Washington. The data in the charts was constructed in 1950. 

This Book compiles Current Charts and Tide Prints for Puget Sound. Current Charts show the values of the currents at each reference station. There is one chart for every hour throughout the cycle. They are indexed to the tidal current at Admiralty Inlet (tide station 9447130 in Elliot Bay). Tide Prints show the flow patterns and how they evolve throughout the current cycle. There is one print for every 3 hours throughout the cycle. They are indexed to the tide height in Seattle. Comparing Tide Prints and Current Charts shows the locations of eddies and bands of current, and how these bands and eddies move and interact as the current cycle evolves. These are both perpetual publications, good for any year. 

ISBN-10: 0914025163

ISBN-13: 978-0914025160

Get a hardcopy of the book from your favorite bookseller or borrow a copy from a library. 

These charts or "tide prints" portray the surface currents in Puget Sound at eight stages during a tidal day and all are referenced to the tide station 9447130 in Elliot Bay. Absolute or true speeds are not shown because of the strong dependence of currents on tide range and height, although the portrayal is designed to indicate approximate relative speeds and flow directions.