Close to the Water: Small Boats, Big Influence
A 16-foot Jim Michalak-designed Scram Pram,…
Bill and a friend work on the boat in the…Close to the Water: Capsize!
Are You Ready to Self-Recover?
Fern swims towards the bow…
Bill rolls his boat down the gravel ramp…Close to the Water: The Old-Fashioned Way
Navigating the waters of the Pacific Northwest with simplicity and satisfaction
Close to the Water: Other Boats
My old college friend and I were eager to get away and forgot the daily details that usually preoccupy us. And as we slowly ghosted into Jones Island’s broad horseshoe-shaped cove, I knew we’d chosen the right spot. An…
The author does a test launch of his new Portage…Close to the Water: Looping the Island
At 20 miles around, Harstine Island could be circumnavigated with a powerboat in an hour. But freeway speeds yield freeway views: a blur of trees, missed inlets, and a flash of homes. A slower speed suits me better, one that…
Close to the Water: A Second Cruise with My Mate
A Second Cruise Brings Border Crossings, Uncertainty, and Lessons Learned.
Close to the Water: Cruising With My Mate
Sailing Luna westward through the San Juan Islands on…