Shilshole Blog

Folks, get used to the big target that’s permanently painted on our backs. It’s just too easy to pick on us. This time, it’s our brothers and sisters at Fishermen’s Terminal who are getting scapegoated.

Live-aboards fight to stay afloat – Seattle Post-Intelligencer (4-27-06)

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Here is an interesting piece on what the Port of Seattle really is, and how it operates:

Building a Bigger Trough — Eat the State (4/13/06)

You might not agree with the publication’s general ideas, but there are some interesting facts in this article. And I can certainly attest to the conjecture that Alec Fisken would not have rolled over, if Creighton had made his proposal with Fisken in attendance.

I haven’t been near an internet cafe for almost a month. For that matter, its been almost two weeks since I’ve been on land at all. Right now we’re anchored in Pearl Bay. Its on the mainland but you have to go through some reefs to get in to it. Very beautiful. No sign of human habitation, not even a navigation sign. Tomorrow its off to Hunter Island and the start of croc territory. The Aussies call the crocs “salties” and some salties get up to 15 feet or so. They love to eat people and will even make a lunch of an inflatable dinghy. Hope I see one at a distance…

Finally it arrived, the new slip assignment notice. Soon we are going to cast off, and by May 22 we will call M-28 our new slip.

Before that time comes, I want to reminisce a bit, Continue Reading »

Hello everyone! We’ll be up in Seattle on Tuesday with our newest crewmember in tow. During the day Michael will be at a class but Leah and I will be roaming around the marina so watch out for us.

For the evening’s fun, I propose a MAD COW REVIVIAL! Want to meet at Hales at say 6 pm or thereabouts? [Ha ha! I remember when we hated Hales because of all the kids running around.....] Hope to see all you old Mad Cows!

My neighbor Wes told me that a few weeks ago, while walking to M-2, he heard this loud ratcheting noise, which he could not locate. On his way back, the noise was still there, and he wondered who might be working on a boat, climbing the mast. Looking around, he finally identified the source of the strange sound. On one of my spreaders he saw a woodpecker, happily pecking away at the aluminum, producing a noise that was loud enough to reverberate over the entire marina, thanks to the resonance chamber provided by the mast. Apparently, the guy was just thrilled to have found such a powerful amplifier for his mating call – since I doubt he was stupid enough to insist trying to find insects embedded in the aluminum spreader.

Ok, it hasn’t come to that, yet. But while carpet-bombing the marina the other day with signs for the demolition party, I saw this letter posted on the bulletin board at K dock.

Dear Sharon,

I am writing to express the Liveaboard Association’s concern with a proposal to eliminate the graveyard shift of the port staff at Shilshole Bay Marina. Eliminating them or replacing with a private security service is not acceptable. They provide a knowledgeable, reliable asset to your marina. Outside independent contractors would not provide the same level of service. The cost saving that is driving this proposal is not worth the change in value. Liveaboards, as well as most other customers, would not be happy with this change.

I am also concerned that we were not consulted or at least informed of this idea at the recent dock captains meeting.

Thanks for listening,
Al Hughes

Personally, I agree with Al on both points, and I am unsure which of the two I find more irritating.

As previously announced, we’ll have a meeting to start organizing a Demolition Party for the old marina building.

• When: 7:00 pm – Thursday, April 27, 2006
• Where: Sloop Tavern

Based on the turnout and the interest shown, we’ll officially decide whether it will be a kick-off or a punt. So, if you’d like to see it happen, please make sure to be there.

Also, please help posting signs around Shilshole: load this page, print it, copy it, and stick it where people will see it.

One of the reasons to be proud of our lifestyle – the liveaboard lifestyle – is its low environmental footprint. I have always believed in the need for environmental conservation, and in particular, I have always been intrigued by the potential of alternative energy sources for making our world a better place. Certainly, it seems to me, the starting place for tackling many of the global issues we as a civilization are facing, is the shift to different, renewable, energy sources. And so I was very excited to find in our own backyard one of the first businesses in the nation to start this shift, which may well turn out to be of historical importance. Continue Reading »