How to enjoy boating — on the cheap

It was one of those summer evenings when the wind streams out of the north and turns Lake Union into a mix of dark churned water and whitecaps. I had invited a family from Chicago out on Mistral, the vintage, sail-powered rocket ship The Center for Wooden Boats had asked me to watch over for a while.

Mother and daughter held a handrail up on the deck, the boy sat in the cockpit and Dad found some firm footing on the back deck and ran the lines to the mainsail. No sooner were the sails up when Mistral was cocking an ear to the water and bolting like a horse headed home for its evening oats.

The following sound started coming out of Dad every half minute or so: "Wha-ow-uh." Roughly translated, that's, "Wow."

Thrills like that are standard fare for Mistral, but partial credit for the thrill goes to the price: free.

You can buy a boat and even pay moorage, a special privilege for those so smitten by the floating life that they will turn a blind eye to economic common sense. But for those with more brains, less money and some occasional brawn, there are lots of cheap and even free ways to get out on the water. Low-tech, human-powered craft seem to be easier to come by, but it is possible to get on some of the finest ships in the area.

First, the small-craft advisory: Canoes and kayaks are the most available craft, as dozens of waterfront communities in Western Washington have small rental outfits. For free, you can attend practice sessions hosted by Seattle Raft & Kayak, an outfitter and retail shop in Sand Point's Magnuson Park (7777 62nd Ave N.E., Building 11). Mondays are whitewater practice — bring a wetsuit or drysuit or rent a drysuit for $10. Wednesdays have sea kayaking and, starting June 7, Thursdays offer the "testosterone free" environment of Ladies Night. All sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until 8. Call ahead and reserve a boat (www.seattleraftandkayak.com, 206-528-1700).

REI will hold its free canoe and kayak paddle demo day Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Stan Sayres Park, 3808 Lake Washington Blvd. S. (www.rei.com/paddle, 206-223-1944, 888-873-1938).

The aggressively aerobic can bend into the paddle of a 43-foot dragon boat (www.tacomadragonboat.org, 206-523-4518) Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6, Saturdays at 8 a.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The boat leaves from a dock just south of the Kenmore Air Harbor on Lake Union, at 950 Westlake Ave. N.

Would-be sailors can go just around the corner of the lake to The Center for Wooden Boats, 1010 Valley St., where they hold free public sails at 2 p.m. Sundays in some of their larger boats. The program is popular in summer, so the center suggests arriving at least an hour early (www.cwb.org, 206-382-2628). The center also endeavors to get people out on the water by various means during its Wooden Boat Festival, which this year will run on June 30 and July 1, 2 and 4 (exhibitors will take a breather July 3).

OPBs — other people's boats — are another fine way to go sailing, and the bigger the boat, the more eager skippers are for someone to pull an occasional line or simply serve as ballast. Post a notice on the crew page at www.duckdodge.org for a chance to be part of one of the city's most colorful institutions, the Tuesday night Duck Dodge races on Lake Union. If you're in Port Townsend on a Wednesday or Friday, you might drop in on one of the Port Townsend Sailing Association's evening races. Find out where the skippers' meeting is being held — Adam Henley in the Wooden Boat Foundation cupola house (360-385-3628, ext. 101) can tell you — and let the gathered know you're available to crew.

"You don't have to know how to sail," says Kaci Cronkite, managing director of the Northwest Maritime Center and Wooden Boat Foundation. "If you are an expert, you might be getting free beers afterward."

Volunteer work also yields lots of chances to crew. Winter work could have you hauling lines some summer day on the schooner Zodiac, the largest operating sailing ship on the West Coast (www.schoonerzodiac.com). Send a note of interest to info@schoonerzodiac.com.

You can also work as a docent or trainee on the Virginia V, the steam-powered, 125-foot passenger ferry and floating city landmark. Play your cards right and you can work your way up to deck crew or fireman, keeping the fire alive on an 1898 steam engine (www.virginiav.org).

Of course, if you want a more leisurely ferry ride, one of the great boating bargains continues to be the Washington State Ferries. At this time of year, you can have dinner downtown, watch the sun set as you cross the Sound and watch the lights come on in the Emerald City on your return. The trip across costs $6.70. The ride home, like some of the other best things in life, is free.

Eric Sorensen pays moorage for a Yankee Dolphin 24 he sails out of Edmonds. His boating columns will appear twice monthly in Northwest Weekend through September. Reach him at his Web site at www.ericsorensen.net.