Portage Bay

Portage Bay is not the prettiest anchorage in SE Alaska but it is a good place to sit out a SE blow.

 The entrance is narrow but straightforward and once inside you have acres of swinging room in 8-10m depth with excellent holding in thick mud. The NOAA pilot recommends entering and leaving at slack water. This is perhaps overly cautious and although a moderate tide flows in and out the mouth of the Bay,  under normal conditions it should not pose problems for a powered vessel. 

SE winds tend to  funnel through the anchorage and in these conditions the wind strength inside may be a,few knots stronger than it is outside. However the mountains are far enough away that the wind is consistent and you do not get buffeted by dangerous williwaws or katabatic winds. 

CAUTION: The information above is selective and reflects conditions at the time of visiting. It is not definitive and may be changed or revised without notice. To the extent permitted by law, the RCC Pilotage Foundation and contributors do not accept any liability for any loss and/or damage howsoever caused that may arise from reliance on information in this Cruising Note and any attached files. The RCC Pilotage Foundation would welcome additional information or corrections to the information in this note. Please click here if you want to provide feedback on this or any other notice.