This fell asleep and ran ashore incident at Gig Harbor is nothing at all like the Shelton incidents.
Shelton is a very difficult, very shallow, very narrow, twisting, half tide and rising only , inbound passage in very strong currents and whirlpools. It’s as treacherous as it is beautiful. Shelton requires a high level of local knowledge.
There are a couple of places with very strong whirlpool driven cross currents toward the bank.
Many boats from many companies have been set up on the bank on the way into Shelton over the years.
No boat and crew has more expertise at Shelton than the Holly Ann. The Island Venture is a big boat. I don’t know how many times a year she goes to Shelton, but it must be dozens. The occasional incident is to be expected taking big boats and barges, or log tows, into Shelton.
After hearing many Shelton stories, I rode along once as an observer on a small tug just to see it. I go to a lot of difficult places, but thank Christ I don’t have to go to Shelton.