The answer is, I have not left the slip since I got into it.
Frankly the slip is so tight I cannot go anywhere without help, and help is hard to come by these days.
The marina management initially told that before the end of June they would be moving the boat that is next to me, and swapping in a boat that is about 3' narrower. That has not happened.
Another approach I looked at was moving to a "double" slip that they have been using for transient boats. I have measured the slip and measured my boat, and I think the boat will fit in there, but it will be close. A "double" slip has a finger float on each side, and thus no other boat to worry about. I was scheduled to attempt to move into that slip on Sunday July 8th, but the marina had put a small boat in that slip so I couldn't make the attempt. Now I have to make new arrangements to get help for attempting the move.
Yet another approach that I am making is to try to find moorage at some other marina, even if it means driving a little further to get to the boat. I have checked with literally every marina in the area that I can find. There was one slip open in Bremerton, but that is just too far to go.
I have a line on a possible slip in a marina called Fair Harbor Marina. It is about a 30 minute drive from our house. We went there once but there was no one around and we could not get past the locked gates to the floats. We are scheduled to go there tomorrow afternoon when the management is around. Via e-mail they have offered me a 40' side-tie beginning Sept 1st. The cost would be about $200 per month less than what I am currently paying at Gig Harbor Marina.
GHM requires at least 30 days notice, so if I intend to make this move on Sept 1st I need to make my decision before the end of July.
There are other factors at play here as well.
I have learned that the closest fuel dock is a couple hours away - there is none available within the Gig Harbor basin at all. That is disappointing and very inconvenient.
Also, there are boats everywhere. My boat has already been hit by another boat coming into their slip (not the one next to me.) There are paddle boarders, kayakers, people in rafts, huge yachts, sailing racers, etc. etc. - it is quite intimidating to me as I am used to not have many boats around.
I am not eligible for a resident fishing license until September, so no fishing for me.
I have a book about cruising destinations in Puget Sound, but I am a little intimidated to try to go to any of them because of all the boats in the area.
I've been trying to set up for an oil change on the engines. The pump that I used to use for this I left in Ketchikan. It was very old and tired, but it worked. I ordered a new one, but when it arrived I discovered it did not have the appropriate connectors on it, so I returned it. I still need to order the correct pump.
So that's what is happening here, or rather, what is not happening here.
