Cruising Question

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[Larry H]

Law,

Don't cross Queen Charlotte Sound or Dixon Entrance on the ebb tide. The water flowing out of the large inlets in those areas can cause dangerous waves when the outflowing tide runs into the onshore wind/waves.

It may be obvious but don't travel at night (makes it hard to see the logs) or head into the sun in the late afternoon (same problem).

Don't forget to check-in with US Customs when you arrive in Ketchikan.

Don't run into the gill nets used by the commercial fishing boats. Also, commercial fish boats could be running on autopilot with the fisherman snoozing at the helm.

[Seeker]

Thanks for the good info Larry and Dan.

That nav info about the ebb tide crossing is very valuable.

Have any of the C-Dory group crossed from the banana belt to PWS in their little boat?

That seems to be a loooong stretch with no hidey holes to slip into in case a storm suddenly blows in, or any other trouble occurs.

On another note, have any of you guys tried driving your boat with gen 3 night vision equipment (anpvs-14), in those waters?

Thanks again for all the help,

Law

[Aiviq]

Lots of good advise above. A couple of other thoughts.

1) Although a passport isn't required for travel to Canada, I understand that, especially reentering the US, they want to see either the passport, or a birth certificate AND a government issued photo ID (i.e., a drivers license). I don't usually like to carry my birth certificate around with me, and prefer to use the passport.

2) There are some long stretches, particularly in Northern BC, where ports, facilities, and fuel stops are few and far between. Good planning is necessary to make sure you don't get caught short of fuel.

3) There are several areas of poor communication. In many areas both in BC and Alaska, you will not be able to raise the coast guard with your VHF. There are several places where you won't be able to raise ANYONE on VHF. Needless to say there is no cell phone coverage in most of the inside passage. An EPIRB is a real nice gadget to have aboard in these areas.

4) Crossing the gulf would be dicey in a C-Dory, in my opinion. I've done it before in a larger commercial fishing boat, and I just wouldn't want to be caught out there in my Dory. Fuel management would be pretty problematic, too. From Juneau to Yakutat is about 200 miles, I think, and Yakutat to Cordova is about 250 miles. There is no fuel, facilities, harbor or anchorage available between Yakutat and Cordova. I'm planning to bring my boat up from Coronet bay to PWS this summer, but I'm going to ship the trailer from Bellingham to Juneau on the Alaska ferry, load the boat on the trailer in Juneau, and ship it on the ferry again from Juneau to Whittier. I thought long and hard about attempting a gulf crossing, and it just isn't worth the risk for me.

As for the gun issue, it's really a matter of personal choice. I've spent many hundreds of hours hiking in wilderness bear country in Alaska, and only rarely carried a gun. I often carried the big, highly concentrated cans of pepper spray they sell for bear protection. I don't know how much protection it offers, but it did provide some psychological peace of mind. I actually don't think it's legal to bring that stuff into Canada, either, although I could be wrong. I don't plan to bring a gun on the boat up the inside passage; I just don't see any need for it on that trip.

Jim

[Aiviq]

One more thing: About the idea of using night vision goggles. In the summer time in Alaska, daylight hours are long. Unless you are planning on cruising way past most peoples bedtime, you probably won't have much use for the night vision goggles.

Jim

[Seeker]

Thanks Jim, for the good info.

Law

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[Sea Wolf]

Law- If indeed you do attempt a crossing and get caught by bad weather, you can re-name your boat "Deliverance", as the movie story has certain parallels with the risk taking and unknowns involved in the crossing!

Not trying to be a wise-guy, and I admire your courage.

I've seen Gulf so calm I could sail a 15 foot dinghy sailboat out there seemingly forever, and I've seen it when I was glad to be on a cruise ship.

Good Luck! Joe.

[Pat Anderson]

One last throught - run, don't walk - to buy a copy of Don and Reanne Douglass's book Exploring the Inside Passage to Alaska. I would plot waypoints and routes in the comfort of my home, and get them all entered in the chartplotter. I am basing my evaluation of this book sight unseen, having just cozied up to their Exploring the South Coast of British Columbia, which gets you as far as the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound. Their books are far and away the best source of the essential details for planning this trip.

[Seeker]

You guys are Great; more good advice.

Actually, I read Deliverance many years ago, and I think all who venture out, away from civilization, should have that book on their "must read" list. They would then understand the value in bringing shot guns,(or other means of protection along), with the appropriate load of buck shot, along. Of course, if those guys had means of self defense along, it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. Very good advise, indeed.

Pat - I do agree with you. I am buying the Douglas books today, either from my local bookstores (if they have it in stock) or on line.

I have read of the horrendous weather that the Alaskan Gulf can whip up in short order, and I have studied the weather phenomena that generates it. I was only curious to see if anyone had tried it.

Les tells me that he, on a regular basis, shoots Deception Pass on the rapids formed by the tide surges. Having lived on Whidbey Island, and witnessed what that water looks like, it seemed death defying, but after hearing him explain why it's not, I understood.

I grew up around, shrimp boats in the Gulf South. At a very early age I had the opportunity to chose between going hungry or eating sandwiches of raw fish and saltine crackers, when broke down. No radio, no charts, just guys doing the best they could with what they had, to feed their families.

Our spare fuel was a 55 gallon drum of gas lashed forward of the pilot house, and some times that wasn't enough.

Remembering the old adage, that is one of the first things taught (or should be), "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots", and the grace of God has kept me alive so far.

I surely don't intend to be the first to pioneer a C-Dory crossing of the Gulf of Alaska.

Thanks,

Law

[Aiviq]

This was just announced today on the State Departments web site:

The Departments of State and Homeland Security announced today the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to secure and expedite travel. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.

Currently, U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the U. S. when traveling within the Western Hemisphere. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA, also known as the 9/11 Intelligence Bill), signed into law on December 17, 2004, mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document when entering the United States.

In short, starting in 2008, US citizens will need a passport to re-enter the US from Canada. This will be phased in starting in 2007 from the Caribbean and Mexico. Those of us cruising in Canadian, Mexican or Caribbean waters will start needing to carry a passport.

Jim

[Sawdust]

"There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots"

A few of the luckier ones are still here!

Old Dusty plans to be here a while longer too!

[416rigby]

There is a form to fill out and a 50 dollar fee per gun that you're bringing into Canada. I agree with the other AK guys...buy a cheap-o 12ga when you get to AK if you really want one.

Rick