Photo: Beth Meines, 2023 Splash-In at Tanglefoot SPB
Please join us for our Washington Seaplane Pilots Association (WSPA) annual splash-in at Tanglefoot Seaplane Base on Priest Lake! Members or not, all are welcome to join in on the weekend of aviation fun!
We are limiting registration to 200 attendees this year.
Situated in lovely Cavanaugh Bay, our annual gathering is held at Tanglefoot Seaplane Base (D28), home to Dr. Loel and Olson Fenwick. The seaplane base features docks, beach, and ramp space for straight floats and amphibious aircraft. The addition of Kevin Franklin’s “pick up” float truck makes ramping easy for pilots on straight floats. For aviators on wheels, the Cavanaugh Bay Airstrip (66S) is located next door.
Accommodations at the airstrip and seaplane base include camping with portable restrooms and outdoor forest showers for guests — a truly unique North Idaho experience! For those who are camping, we encourage you to bring warm clothes for the evening hours and a headlamp for traveling between venues and on site after dark.
Cost
The cost to attend is $150 per person for members and their guests, and $175 for non-members and their guests. The fee includes camping, an event t-shirt, and all meals freshly prepared throughout the weekend (Friday Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Sunday breakfast).
Cancellations
If you are unable to attend after registering, cancellations received before 8:00 pm on Thursday, June 12 will be refunded, minus a $25 cancellation fee. If you find you are unable to attend after this date has passed, you are welcome to send a substitute in your place; however, we will be committed to the caterer and unable to offer refunds. If you have any questions regarding this policy or to identify a substitute, please contact us.
We've enjoyed a great response to this event over the years, with last year our biggest turnout to date. We’ve already had numerous inquiries about this year's event, so please register as soon as possible.
Event Sponsor
We are pleased to announce that Aerocet is our presenting event sponsor once again, and we couldn’t be more appreciative for their support! Aerocet helps keep attendee costs low by helping to cover the cost of event t-shirts, ice, the event banner, restrooms and most importantly, our event support staff. Many of Aerocet’s team have helped out in previous years and should be familiar faces by now! As you come across their team during the weekend, please extend your thanks for their ongoing commitment to our organization and this event. We truly couldn’t do this without them.
Event Details
This event brings together seaplane pilots from all over the United States! Arrivals begin at noon on Friday and departures wrap up around noon on Sunday. Throughout the weekend, we have a dedicated air boss on the ramp, with deputy airbosses on the dock, cove, plus volunteer wing walkers available to coordinate arrivals/departures and ensure a safe and incident-free ramping, docking, beaching and anchoring experience.
Security will be on-site all weekend. A wristband will be provided upon arrival and security will be checking for them throughout the event.
Agenda
Full agenda coming soon!
- Friday evening will start with a gathering on the Fenwicks' lawn which features a Tiki Bar, view of Priest Lake and a few general announcements. We encourage a Hawaiian shirt or dress of your choosing, but there is no dress code for this event.
- Saturday will be our afternoon Splash-Out-and-Back to the Northern part of Priest Lake, followed by dinner in the hangar with our keynote speaker presentation.
- Sunday will consist of breakfast in the hangar, followed by departures for your trip home or to your next destination.
Please check the WSPA website for updates, and look out for emails from our event organizers as the time nears!
Waivers
As an attendee, you will be required to execute two agreements pertaining to the event: The first is the “Agreement to Assume Risk of Injury and Release of Claims.” The second includes the WSPA “Waiver of Liability.” Both waivers are on one form, so only one signature is needed. We ask that you submit this waiver before arriving at Tanglefoot. All pilots and their guests must have signed them in order to attend. If you incur any challenges accessing the documents, we will have iPads available on site to help you through the process.
Click here to submit your waiver:
https://waiver.fr/p-vAZR6
or scan this QR code:
Food
The Washington Seaplane Pilots Association (WSPA) will be providing meals throughout the weekend. Dinner on Friday and Saturday nights will be catered by the Chimney Rock Cafe on Priest Lake. Friday evening will include pulled pork and chicken sandwiches with salads, sides and desserts. Saturday we will have burgers and brats with all of the fixings, sides, and dessert. Breakfast Saturday and Sunday will consist of a number of usual breakfast foods, including freshly cooked eggs, pancakes, and sausage!
Keynote Presentation
This year's keynote speaker is Darren Pleasance, President and CEO of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association.
Special Guests & VIPs
We welcome speakers with a wide breadth of experience, including representatives from the FAA Safety Team and Spokane FSDO, the Bonner County Sheriff's Department Marine Patrol, and leaders in aviation training, search, and rescue.
Thank You to Our Hosts
We wish to thank Olson and Loel Fenwick for the gracious opportunity to once again utilize their private residence and grounds for this fly-in. This is truly a unique spot on earth and to show our appreciation, we would encourage you to practice “Leave No Trace” camping and respect for their personal property.
Arriving & Departing
- Arrival and departure frequency: Cavanaugh Bay Area Traffic Unicom 122.9.
- Once on the water, frequency 122.9 for mooring and ramping instructions.
- Please practice safe piloting.
- Please land outside the water buoys around Clipper Marina, which is just north of D28.
- Upon departure, please reduce RPM’s for noise abatement.
Volunteers Needed
No doubt some of you will be drafted or may just be inclined to help with meals and cleanup, which will be sincerely appreciated. For information on how you can help out, please contact Don Goodman, (360) 303-7076 or donaldjg56@gmail.com.
Attendee Survey
Please complete the following survey by June 17, 2025 to help us prepare for your arrival:
https://forms.gle/VsmbTRHEEJ4A7tnb8
or scan this QR code:
See You Soon!
This is sure to be a fun event and we look forward to seeing you. Please check the WSPA website for updates, and look out for emails from our event organizers as the time nears! For any questions, please reach out to us at admin@washingtonseaplanepilots.org.
