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5.2.2008
Spring 4.19.2008  At least if we look at the calendar it is spring…it's currently snowing in the San Juans. Winter is still trying to hold on, but I trust that spring and then summer will soon arrive. There are promises of daffodils, tulips and the lilac will soon bloom. And the CATALYST has already had her spring paint job and is almost ready for her return to SE Alaska. Still have a few berths left for those who would like to join us northbound, southbound or in Southeast Alaska. Open Boat this spring to show off the CATALYST winter projects and spring cleanup is May 4th from 2-4pm at the Friday Harbor Marina. The very next day we head north and won't be back to our home port till September 15th.  Speaking of fall, we have made some changes in the fall schedule: Note that our Great Bear Rainforest trip was extended to twelve days and we are going to travel from Ketchikan all the way to Friday Harbor instead of just to Bella Bella. We will spend a day with a local guide to look for the Spirit Bear, the white black bear. Come join us! After a quick break and two charity one day affairs, we will have two local six day San Juan trips, with short travel days and lots of time for kayaking and shore activities followed by a Princess Louisa Inlet trip. This trip for seven days will have longer runs and will pass through the BC Gulf Islands, across Georgia Strait and up Princess Louisa Inlet to Chatterbox Falls. This is a true Yosemite with an ocean in the valley instead of meadows. Even though the travel days will be longer, we will allow two days at the head of the inlet, for kayaking and hiking. We also sadly have to announce that due to expected fuel and food cost increases we have had to raise all of our 2009 prices. Those who have already booked will stay at lower prices, but all new bookings will be at the higher prices. We have done this instead of imposing open ended surcharges like some other companies are doing. We apologize for having to make these changes. Looking forward to a wonderful season!! Hope you will join us!!
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years 2007 
Winter, 2007 Classic Wooden Workboat ShowTogether with kids, Bill and I took the Catalyst to the boat show. We crossed the waters in the windstorm last Thursday and through the canal to La Connor, and then anchored off the end of Whidbey for the night and celebrated both our son, Ben and his son, Keegan's, birthday.The next morning we headed for the locks into Lake Union. We picked up Captain Craig Foss Campbell, a Catalyst Captain and friend, at the entrance to the locks. After going through the small lock, we motored along by the lovely Seattle skyline painted with autumn leaves bursting into flames of color and joined the numerous boats, ships and floating houseboats that number the waterways. We floated under bridges, including a draw bridge that lifted for us, and dodged Kenmore Air's float planes, to dock in front of the Naval Reserve Building, next to the Wooden Boat Center. Here we joined a number of other beautiful Washington and Atlas engine powered wooden workboats of Seattle Maritime history. On Saturday we had a wonderful day of visiting friends and admirers of wooden boats and old engines, including traveling musicians, and played our own symphony of engines and numerous horns and whistles. The Catalyst left Sunday for Jensen’s Marine next to the University of Washington where she will spend a little time, having local engineer, Newt, work on her with Captain Bill. Then she will return home to Friday Harbor for the winter.   We have had an awesome season and have had wonderful guests from around the world. Captain Bill and I and the crew thank each and everyone of you who joined us for our 2007 Birthday Celebration season for the gift of getting to know each of you and for sharing with you lifetime experiences. We are richer for your presence aboard the Catalyst with us.
This weekend (October 20, 2007) we are showing off the Catalyst at a Classic Work Boat show in Seattle. You are most welcome to visit. The Catalyst will stay there for several days or so our handy engineer "Newt" and Captain Bill can continue to spruce up her engines. Then the Catalyst will return to Friday Harbor for the winter for continual upgrading of her appearance and abilities. Hope to catch you in Seattle or in Friday Harbor. Godspeed. Shannon CLASSIC WORKBOAT SHOW Diana Hennick, Museum Specialist Megan Gilshire, Communications 1002 Valley Street, Seattle, WA 98109 1010 Valley Street, Seattle, WA 98109 306/447-9800 or diana@jane-of-all-trades.net 206/382-2628 or mgilshire@cwb.org HISTORIC WORKBOATS MAKING HISTORY Remaining Seattle-based engines to assemble Seattle, WA - Six of only eight remaining vessels powered by Washington Iron Works engines will be featured on October 20 along with several other classic workboats at the Historic Ships Wharf at Lake Union Park. The celebrated engines are all Seattle-based and are all in operating condition said Diana Hennick, museum specialist at Northwest Seaport. The Classic Workboat Show, sponsored by Northwest Seaport and the Center for Wooden Boats, allows the public a rare opportunity to venture inside working tugboats and charter boats and witness engine startups and demonstrations throughout the day. In addition, visitors are encouraged to participate in dockside tours, wharf-side maritime skills demonstrations and competitions like line-throwing and knot-tying. All of the vessels invited to the show are from the Puget Sound area and feature a variety of carefully maintained and restored classic diesel engines, many of which continue to work today. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For questions concerning the Workboat Show contact Greg Reed at greed@cwb.org or (206) 382 - 2628. Quick Facts about the featured workboats:
About Washington Iron Works Diesel Engines: The Washington Iron Works was a local foundry started in 1882 and located on what is now the South Seattle Metro Bus Base. The company quickly became successful by manufacturing heavy equipment for Washington's booming timber industry. In 1921, it hired an engineer named Adrian Estep to produce line of heavy-duty diesel engines. Estep used his experience at Oakland-based engine manufacturer Atlas-Imperial to improve existing diesel engine designs, and was later awarded seven patents for his innovations. The Washington Iron Works built over 600 reliable, powerful diesel engines between 1921 and 1951 that were used in a variety of applications: tugboats, workboats, classic fantail yachts, self-propelled logging "yarders", and stationary generators. During WWII, Washington Iron Works manufactured engines for the War Department and sent overseas to the USSR. Soon after the war, however, new high-speed engines began to replace the heavy-duty diesels. Washington Iron Works continued to manufacture logging equipment and portable cranes until 1986. The Center for Wooden Boats is a hands-on maritime museum. For more information, call (206)382-2628 or visit www.cwb.org. JULY 2007  We've made some exciting changes to both our 2007 and 2008 schedules. Please check them and the current or upcoming trip pages.
As noted on the home page we still have room for guests on our August Southeast Alaska Natural History Trip: Petersburg to Petersburg trip.
We are excited about offering a culinary workshop combined with kayaking and exploring the San Juan Islands this fall with our own chef: Anne Catherine Kruger. This is at the request of many guests aboard our vessel this spring and summer. Anne Catherine loves cooking and loves to share her passion and experience with others. Come enjoy a long weekend this fall either with these trips or our six day Island Reflections Excursion.Next year because of demand, we have expanded the number of Juneau to Petersburg/Petersburg to Juneau trips in May and August and Cloud Ridge Naturalists have booked the boat for a 10 day Great Bear Rainforest Trip on our southbound leg in September of 2008. This will be an amazing trip, so I suggest you book early. You can contact our office and I'll refer you on to Audrey Benedict. We've also changed the dates of our San Juan trips to start from Monday thru Saturday and have added a Petersburg to Petersburg trip at the end of August 2008. Thank all of you past, present and future for coming along on the adventure. -Shannon APRIL 2007  News Update, 4.10.2007
OPEN HOUSE/75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2007 PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR 1-4 PM ALL WELCOME! This has been a busy couple of winters for us on Catalyst. In winter 2005/06 we tore into the leaking boat deck (the "roof") in an attempt to stop persistent leaks during rainy weather. What we found when we excavated the rotting plywood covering mandated a more extensive repair job than we had anticipated. By the time we were finished in April; we had rebuilt the entire boat deck, rebuilt the pilothouse and extended it 7 feet, creating a new stateroom in the process. We also addressed the ice box problem by building matching deck boxes over the fore hatch into which we installed a chest freezer and a chest refrigerator. We undertook some preventative repairs to the engine, building and installing new valves and new fuel injectors, as well as installing a new shift throw-out assembly. In 2006/07 we are finishing the new upper stateroom, and have remodeled the existing stateroom #1. Both staterooms 1 and 6 (the new one) will have their own heads with showers. We are also adding a head and shower in the crews' quarters. This should serve to shorten the wait as 16 people shared the one shower in the "olden days". We have upgraded our electrical system by installing a new 3500 watt inverter, and have made improvements that will double the production of our watermaker system. We are continuing our preventative maintenance in the engine room by removing and rebuilding the reverse gear, clutch and thrust bearing assemblies. We are going all the way through the drive train and replacing or repairing anything that is suspect, including a new cutlass bearing and stuffing box, tuning and balancing the propeller and straightening the shafts. This is all a lot of work, and is being done at staggering expense, but we feel that it is required in order to maintain Catalyst in good condition as well as insure a safe and trouble free voyage for our guests. We have replaced the little red aluminum skiff with a 20'’ RIB powered with a 90HP Honda four-stroke outboard. This boat will greatly extend our range for shore trips, and simplify many aspects of the crews' responsibilities. We are looking forward to the 2007 season with excitement... to see what has happened over the winter in our favorite spots, and to meet new friends and share their excitement at discovering the matchless wonders of SE Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Until we meet aboard Catalyst, be well. Captain Bill MARCH 2007 Pods of Orcas have been spotted moving through the Wrangell Narrows, near Petersburg, a sure sign that spring is on the way in SE Alaska.  J Pod moving through the waters off San Juan Island, WA. As spring approaches we are preparing for the coming season. In the beginning of April, the CATALYST motors to Port Townsend for her haul out and spring cleaning. On April 29th in Friday Harbor we are having a 75th Birthday Celebration and Open House for the CATALYST from 1-4pm. All are welcome to come aboard, visit and look around. Her new additions in Cabins 1 and 6 will be on display. We have a pretty full season ahead, with both "old" and "fresh" faces coming aboard. We look forward to having Anne-Catherine Kruger and Ensan Brodsky join us as chefs, providing more fine eating and a full cookie jar aboard the CATALYST. Eric Rasmussen continues with engineering duties northbound and then Brian Steele-Sierk is moving to the Northwest and joining us for most of the season. Adrian Lipp continues to be our main mechanic in port, keeping the Washington Estep in good working order. Naturalist and Kayak duties will be shared by Elijah Bailey, Jay Zarr and Morgan Schneilder; all experienced CATALYST crew. "Old Salts", Captains Bill Bailey and Steve Morrell will be onboard to steer you in your adventure aboard the CATALYST. We look forward to having each of you take a trip of endless discovery with us. 1.10.2007 HAPPY AND JOYOUS NEW YEAR TO ALL! ......................................................................
12.01.2006 Winter ......................................................................
...................................................................... 6.01.2006 Summer: Posted by Shannon Bailey 4.10.2006 Spring: Posted by Shannon Bailey ...................................................................... 3.07.2006 NEWS from the CATALYST: Posted by Shannon Bailey In October we rigged a plastic tent over the CATALYST to enable us to work on her upper deck. Miraculously this tent survived the hurricane force winds of two major winter storms that hit the San Juan Islands. As the March winds continue to blow, the tent still survives, though this week we hope to have it dismantled to reveal the CATALYST’s new profile, which includes a longer pilot house. The pilot house extension allows for another cabin with head and shower that will be in service by 2007 and cabinets for kayak gear. If you catch the ferry to Friday Harbor you can see the CATALYST at the port next to the ferry landing. If you have the opportunity take a stroll down and look her over. If we’re aboard we’d be glad to have you visit. One of our favorite people, Captain Craig Campbell, has taken on some new challenges this year and won’t be skippering for us. Owner and Captain, Bill Bailey will take over most of the skippering with some help from Captain Frank Converse. Cooks Heidi Lappetito and Erica Fickiesen will be joining us again with their delicious cooking, and Heidi will continue to put on a second hat and help with the kayak guiding and naturalist job along with Jay Zarr, Elijah Bailey, and Jenny Hahn. Eric Rasmussen and Adrian Lipp, both whizzes at old engines and humor, will be on as engineers along with Bill Bailey (when he’s not captaining). We’ve been talking with Discovery Sea Kayaks of Friday Harbor and are putting together some Mother Ship Kayak trips with them for our October San Juan Island schedule. We will be referring you to their site to sign up for a great adventure in paddling. So our San Juan/Gulf Island Schedule and itinerary will be changing its look over the next month. We are putting forth a tentative 2007 schedule with our revamped cabins and a slight increase in prices. By 2007 we will have two cabins with their own head and shower for those that need that kind of privacy, as well as hoping to add sinks to some of the other cabins. This summer I will be fiddling with the website and working with
the designer to make some major changes so that you can enjoy the
site more and find the information you need. This is of course in
between trips to Southeast Alaska checking up on the Catalyst, visiting
the husband and sharing a few trips with all of you, making memories
and endless discoveries. Look forward to seeing you aboard! God
bless! ---Shannon
...................................................................... SPRING 2005 News Up-date: After 3 years of uncertainty, Pacific Catalyst Expeditions LLC has been purchased by Bill and Shannon Bailey, of Friday harbor. The Bailey's have purchased the M/V Catalyst along with the website and other business related assets, and renamed the company Pacific Catalyst II, Incorporated. They plan to continue the Catalyst tradition of providing unique and memorable adventures in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. They will take a very "hands on" approach to the business, with Bill serving as engineer, captain and maintenance crew while Shannon runs the web-site, office and public relations sides of the organization. Things will remain pretty much as they have always been, for at least the first year as he Bailey's learn the business and operations procedures. There will be some changes for 2005, such as the two-single bunks in stateroom 3 being made into one-double bunk. Aside from our web address, all of the contact information has also changed. Our contacts are: 360-378-7123 toll free 1-800-378-1708 or email shannon@pacificcatalyst.com, bill@pacificcatalyst.com P.O. Box 3117 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 There are some more changes being considered for 2006. For the boat herself we are planning on adding an additional head with shower in the lower guest cabin area. Making some modifications to cabin 1 (the on-deck cabin) that will include lengthening the double-bunk to 6'6", plus creating a head and shower compartment within the existing space. Catalyst will spend a couple of months in the boat yard receiving new bulwarks, sponsons, and having the upper deck rebuilt. There will also be some changes in trip schedules; the standard 8-day trips will be shortened to 7-days. The new schedule will have departures on Sunday afternoons, and returns on Saturday mornings. This will allow our guests to cruise with us while only using one-week of vacation time! New itineraries in British Columbia and the San Juan Islands will be added to the spring and fall seasons. These trips will be both more accessible and less expensive than are the Alaska trips. All these new trips will begin and end in Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island. This space will also see some changes, with regular photo up-dates as the season progresses, along with selections gleaned from the journals of the guest's and crew. Even in the midst of these changes, much will remain the same. The itinerary is still set by the guests. If you want to stay in one place longer than was originally planned, it can be done. If you want to visit a village that isn't on the printed itinerary, it can be done. If you want to paddle your own kayak instead of one of ours, it can be arranged. Or, if you want to leave the planning to someone else, we have the experience to give you the vacation of a lifetime! Before I close, I want to thank all those in Port Townsend who have spent so many hours taking care of Catalyst in the course of the last 11 years. Your love of old boats in general and Catalyst specifically have made it possible for her to continue her voyages of discovery into her 74th year. Catalyst will still return to Port Townsend every year to be revived and coddled in your capable hands. As I close, I wonder how many hundreds of students, warriors and adventurers have walked Catalyst's decks and slept in her comfortable berths? I wonder how many more will come to know her? I can't wait...!!
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We've started January with more snow and some windy days, but then I love weather of all kinds and I am enjoying this (but then I stay indoors, while the Captain is outside working on remodeling our house).
Well, it really is winter as you can see. Here is a picture of our beloved San Juan Island home view. For those of you who were on our San Juan Island trips this past fall, this is a scene of Garrison Bay. Looks more like Glacier Bay. We are still thawing out with ice on the road. The Islands do not do cold and snow well, though with school out the kids are having a blast!
9.12.2006
the fashion world drool. Otters along the Washington and Oregon coast were quickly hunted to extinction. During the 1970s, an effort was made to reestablish sea otters my transporting Aleutian Island otters down here. While those in Oregon did not fair well, they have taken nicely to the outer Washington coast, slowing growing and expanding. Occasional sea otter reports in the Strait of Juan de Fuca began occurring in 2001.
she left. She had a wonderful voyage, seeing both wolves and bears along the shoreline and reached Ketchikan on May 2. I joined the boat there and traveled north to Juneau where we picked up a group for a 10 day trip to Glacier Bay and the Inian Islands. What a wonderful experience! Personally I learned a lot about the wilderness environment there and have binocular bruises from checking out all the birds and wildlife we saw. I also got to flex my kayak muscles once more and move into the ocean swells of the Gulf of Alaska as well as in the quieter waters of Glacier and Dundas Bays. Check out the slideshows on both trips on the trip page links. Alas! I had to come home and mind the office for awhile. I head north with daughter Kestrel on July 1st for more Catalyst adventures and a kiss from the husband, Captain Bill. Watch for additional photos as he sends them south after each trip. Currently captain, crew, and guests are exploring new territory around Prince of Wales Islands. I am looking forward to hearing about it and seeing the pictures.
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