Offering special deals only during the Boat Show!
Visit the Spokane Boat Show website online at https://www.spokaneboatshow.com/
Monday, January 13, 2020
2020 Spokane Boat Show
Offering special deals only during the Boat Show!
Visit the Spokane Boat Show website online at https://www.spokaneboatshow.com/
Saturday, January 11, 2020
What's New?
Our sailing classes have been enhanced with new course material, etc. Plus we added 2 new classes. 1. Board Sailing, which is sailing with a hand held sail while on a paddle board and 2. Adventure Coastal Sailing that takes place in Westport WA., which is a class for those that want to sail on the ocean with confidence. This course is not for the faint of heart as we will be sailing in big waves and dealing with a lot of current, etc. Basically the class is a cross between river rafting and sailing.
The new learn-to-sail book I have been writing is very close to being finished. This book will include the typical basics of sailing (with a refreshing twists), but also include how to surf sail, navigate rough environments, sail with a disAbility, and so on. We will post a big colorful announce when its available.
We are restarting our disAbled/accessible sailing program. Some of the events will be free and some will not due to city or park fees, etc. To participate in these events one must sign up by visiting our calendar and clicking on the event details. Click here to learn about our disAbled/accessible sailing program. Please if you can please donate funding, which allows up to pay for our insurance and various program needs. Its all tax deductible.
New products include the Corsair Pulse 600 a 21 foot high performance trimaran sailboat. People new to sailing (after taking our sailing class) or those with experience will love this boat. We have also added Naish Foiling Boards (cross between a paddle/long surf board and foiling board) and hand held Wing Sails (to be added to this site shortly). So when you are out paddling and a big wind comes you can use it to your advantage for some fun sailing.
We are starting a new monthly videos series covering new product reviews, sailing skills tutorials, and sailing news, etc. Please subscribe to our channel. Visit our youtube channel regularly to keep up to date.
Yes we will have an Online Store soon. We have always been focused on local in store sales but those days are over as most people purchase their products online. Our customers are spread out all over the large area of the Inland NW so coming to our store is not terribly convenient. We will post a big colorful announce when its open.
Just a reminder our Boating the Inland Northwest Lakes Guide (includes rivers and reservoirs) is ever expanding with new updates regularly. If you are looking for places to sail or paddle within the Inland NW this resource is available to you for free. Visit the Lakes Guide.
Happy New! Lets make 2020 a memorable year with lots of sailing and community involvement!
Friday, January 10, 2020
Horseshoe Lake, Pend Oreille County, Washington
Click on pic to enlarge
Horseshoe Lake (128 acres)
This lake as its name indicates is shaped like a horseshoe. There is also a small lake next to it (southwest side) called Blue Lake. Horseshoe Lake is a very popular kayaking, sailing, and fishing lake. Because there is a 5 mph speed limit jet skis and ski boats can not use this lake. I would say that this lake is one of the most unique small lakes within the Inland NW because of its shape, features, and vista. On the northeast side of the lake is a beautiful waterfall called Exley Falls with some small pools at its base that during the hot summer some people will sit in to cool off. There is also a pool above the falls, called Corine pool... see directions below. The falls and this lake is part of the Little Spokane River. This river via the falls feeds into the lake and then exits it on the southeast side. Another unique feature is the geological marvel called the Devil's Well, which is directly south of the falls on the east side of the lake (see info below). This well is a large vertical and round hole in the rock. Not to distract from the wonder of this feature but the interesting fact about this well is it was created much in the same way a toilet creates a circular flushing motion. Water cascades into the well and swirls, and then the water exits the well via cracks in the well walls and sometimes overflows during spring runoff and runs down the hill into the lake. The only time of year you can see this action is during spring runoff as there is no constant flow of water such as a creek that feeds the well throughout the dry season. The well always has water in it and is a must see. Continuing south after the well you will enter the southeast end of the lake and the little Spokane river. If you portage over the logs that block the river you will enter a series of river pools that are enjoyable to paddle or swim in when there is little current in the Little Spokane River.
This lake includes a wide gravel launch, large gravel parking lot, one vault toilet (yuck)... see more details below. Discovery Pass required to use this site. For the pass and fishing info call the WA. Fish & Game, Spokane office, 509-456-4082.
Fishing: Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Brown Bullhead Catfish. Bait typically used? Troll with wedding ring spinners tipped with maggots. Season is April-Oct. Catching 10 lb. fish is not uncommon on this lake. See Directions and Maps below...
Boat Launch
This is the only boat launch/access point on this lake. Directions: Take U.S. 2 north from Spokane for 20 miles and turn west (left) on Eloika Lake Road, following it three miles to Division Road. Turn north (right) on Division Road, which becomes Horseshoe Lake Road somewhere along the line, and follow it 7.5 miles to the lake. Maps: Visit google.com/maps and type in Horseshoe Lake, Pend Oreille County, WA. or type in GPS coordinates 48.109112, -117.422592
ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Large gravel parking lot; PATHS/TRAILS... No official paths. Wide gravel launch to water. Typically no powerboats present due to the 5 mph speed limit; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… Restrooms, not accessible to wheelchairs. Not in great shape... Yuck! Shade via trees; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… No docks, One wide gravel launch about 3% grade; DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices. Wide gravel area that leads into the water. Watch out for mud; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments. CAMPING... Not at boat launch but primitive camping in wooded area by Devil's Well; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Limited access. Mud; Terrain: Level to 10% plus grades; H2O/Water: Water clear most of the year. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 70 degree. No drinking water available; Environmental Conditions: Varies; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas not available close by.
Exley Waterfall
Directions: To access the waterfall travel after leaving the boat launch via boat northeast to a narrow short passage into the east side of the lake, once through the passage you will easily see the falls. Maps: Visit google.com/maps and type in Horseshoe Lake, Pend Oreille County, WA. or type in GPS 48.114133, -117.410710
ACCESSIBILITY: One can at times paddle up to the waterfall when depth of water allows (typically in spring and early summer) but shoreline is muddy and lots of deep grass.
Corine Pool above Exley Waterfall
Directions: Follow directions to falls and then hike up the north side of the falls. Beware its a very steep and rough hike to the pool. Maps: Visit google.com/maps and type in GPS coordinates 48.114117, -117.40960
ACCESSIBILITY: This pool is accessed via hiking up steep bank with big boulders, then hiking through deep grass, etc.
Devil's Well (Elevation 2,037 feet)
The Devil's Well is about 50 feet wide and 80 ft deep. One can not get into the well due to the steep cliffs all the way around it. The hike to the well is very steep off about 10% grade or better. Directions: To access the well travel after leaving the boat launch via boat northeast to a narrow short passage into the east side of the lake, once through the passage you will easily see the Exley Waterfall. Turn south pass the waterfall and you will pass through a narrow passage with cliffs on either side. Once through the passage and going several hundred feet to your left/east you will see inclined wooded area with a well traveled trail up the hill to the well. The trail is only about 100 ft long or so to the well at about a 10% grade or more, very steep. Maps: Visit google.com/maps and type in Horseshoe Lake, Pend Oreille County, WA. or type in GPS coordinates for Trailhead 48.111683, -117.409467 or these coordinates for the well 48.111777, -117.408549
ACCESSIBILITY: Hike up extremely steep hill and close to top over some steep boulders. Ground at times is covered in loose small dirt and small rocks.Monday, December 23, 2019
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Christmas Specials!
This is the time of the year for great
specials on many of our sailing products.
One of our most popular offerings is our Learn-To-Sail Certificates... it's a great stocking stuffer, etc. "Learn more about our sailing classes."
We have many new and used parts just right for your sailboat.
Get great pricing on new sailboats.
You can also make a donation to the local Accessible Sailing Program and get a tax right off. By doing so its allows the program to offer more free programs throughout the warm season. Our big event in 2020 disAbled sailing world championships... learn more at http://funtosail.blogspot.com/p/programs.html
Email or text us for more info... funtosail@gmail.com 208-704-4454
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Sailing Stone
Ever heard of a sailing stone? Read and learn more...
A sandstone slab containing dinosaur footprints might also contain the track of a sailing stone, scientists announced this week.
The slab, which has been on display since 1896, contains the footprints of a Brontosaurus predecessor that lived during the Early Jurassic period, according to scientists.
However, the sailing stone was not discovered until 2017 by paleontologist Paul Olsen from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University and his colleagues.
Sailing stones are rocks or boulders that move across landscapes without assistance from gravity, people, or animals. They usually leave tracks as they go.
Olsen and his colleagues believe the trail of the rock could be evidence of a brief freezing event in the tropics some 200 million years ago — the first proof that volcanic winters reached into the humid tropics during the dawn of the dinosaur age.
According to a statement from the university, he and his colleagues believe the sandstone was deposited during the last of a series of eruptions that led to a mass extinction.
“This may be evidence of the cooling caused by the volcanic winter,” says Olsen.
As reported by on FoxNews https://fxn.ws/2PnaKta
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
2019 Hobie 16 Worlds Final Results
With all the push for foiling boats, higher and higher tech boats that come with ever increasing costs (and maintenance) its refreshing to see a 50 year old multihull class stronger that ever. Many new designed have come and gone over many years but the venerable Hobie 16 consistently moves along in a sea of inconsistent classes that die every time a new boat comes out. The goods is the Hobie 16 is solution to all the inconsistency and high cost.
Enjoy the videos and if you would like to learn more about the Hobie 16 please contact us/FunToSAIL.com
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