Puget Sound: Popular Cruising Guides
Waggoner Cruising Guide
"The Bible of Northwest Cruising" has a chapter dedicated to the San Juan Islands. Updated yearly, which is important because marinas move their docks around, bathroom and shower facilities burn down, new restaurants open, phone numbers change, etc.
Ports and Passes
Annual tide and current tables, Puget Sound to Ketchican.
Captn Jack's Puget Sound Tide & Current Almanac
For Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Hood Canal, San Juan Islands. Doesn't cover Inside Passage, as Ports and Passes does. Corrected for Daylight Savings Time. Page-a-day format. Doesn't give detailed picture like the Current Atlas, but easier to use because just one book.
Tidal Currents of Puget Sound
Graphic current charts and flow patterns. From David Burch, Starpath Navigation.
Maritime Place Names; Inland Washington Waters
By Richard Blumenthal. An interesting reference. Did you know that "Hale Passage" is named after a crew member from an early expedition that stayed after to study the native people and their language? His mother wrote "Mary had a Little Lamb"... and made Thanksgiving popular!
Naval Vessels
WARNING! Do not approach within 100 yards of any U.S. naval vessel.
If you need to pass within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel in order to ensure a safe passage in accordance with the Navigation Rules, you must contact the U.S. naval vessel or the Coast Guard escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.
You must operate at minimum speed within 500 yards of any U.S. naval vessel
and proceed as directed by the Commanding Officer or the official patrol