From 2001 to 2004 I ran a 60 ft Sea Ray Express out of Seattle. It was a great chapter, and the kind of water that stays with you.
Taking a boat that size through the Ballard Locks takes patience, good line handling, and clear communication with the crew and the lock staff. You are moving between Lake Union and Puget Sound with commercial traffic around you, and there isn’t much room to be sloppy. Confined-water handling in the lake and on the harbor approaches was part of the ordinary work.
Then there are the San Juans: currents, fog, cold water, and some of the most beautiful cruising anywhere. It’s an area that rewards careful planning and respect for the conditions. Those same years included regular U.S. to Canada border crossings into Vancouver, British Columbia, on a recurring passage schedule.
I’d happily get back up there anytime. I’m based in West Palm Beach now, and I’m available for work in South Florida and the Pacific Northwest.