Aboard the Christmas Ships! 2

Each December night (until December 23) the Argosy Christmas Ship sails the Puget Sound and Lake Washington,  bringing Christmas music and lights to different waterfront communities as well as those on board.

This uniquely "Seattle" nautical tradition dates back some sixty years and owes it's longevity and popularity in no small part to those hearty souls in the Seattle Yacht Club who decorate their vessels and follow the Christmas ship along it's holiday route.

It is a wonderful experience to see the parade of boats all lit up with Christmas lights sailing along.  Luckily, we were fortunate enough to get an invitation aboard my brother-in-law John VanDuzor's 40-foot  "Viking Thunder" a twin-diesel flybridge sportfisher sporting 20-foot outriggers fully festooned with Christmas lights!  

With a cruising speed of 24kts, 16-foot beam, 400 gallon fuel capacity and rod holders everywhere, the offshore potential of this rig is virtually limitless! I couldn't help but think what "Tuna Tyrant Tobeck" would say about this piscatorial platform!

It costs nothing to load up the family and watch the Christmas ship parade and ironically, the first photo op of the evening was none other than the richest man in the world Bill Gates' house! 

If your budget allows, you can also ride in the parade which is really a wonderful experience! The first or Lead Ship (Spirit of Seattle) has a choir on board that, thanks to a HUGE PA system, broadcasts to holiday revelers on shore.

The other boats follow the Christmas ship and are known as Parade Boats. Decorating your house for the holidays is one thing but these boaters take decorating to a whole other level!

Check out Santa on a bike on the bow of this sixty-footer!

If at all possible, try to get your family out to see the Christmas Ship Parade. It's definitely something that family members of all will enjoy and keep as a cherished holiday memory. The choir's musical performance is enough to make boating in the cold well worth it!

Make darn sure you bundle the family up as we're having some very cold weather right now and packing a thermos of hot cocoa or hot buttered rum wouldn't hurt either!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE OUTDOOR LINE FAMILY!!