Close to the Water: Small Boats, Big Influence

A 16-foot Jim Michalak-designed Scram Pram,…

Close to the Water: Boat in a Basement

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…

Close to the Water: Escape to the Lake

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…

Close to the Water: The Dock

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…