West coast Vancouver island

digger · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:06 am Post subject:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=Snoopy-C&id=DSC00037&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

This is a photo at Robbers Passage, on Barkley Sound, taken across from the Port Alberni Yacht Club, from the now defunct Shahowis Lodge

digger · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 1:30 am Post subject:

Can't figure out how to just get it to display

AstoriaDave · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 2:59 am Post subject:

Nope. I can not do it either.

hardee · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 3:35 am Post subject:

Maybe this will work.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

AstoriaDave · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:55 am Post subject:

Thanks, Harvey. Last time I was there, 2008, the float and part of the access was in unusable shape. The Lodge is stunning inside, giant beams, tall ceilings, beautiful grounds in the day. Very active in 1999, lots of sports flying in or via water taxi from Bamfield, sumptuous meals, elegant hosts, owner attendant most of the time. Built from trees he took off a nearby logging show on Tzartus.

Buddy paddled into the bay in his single kayak, arranged a dinner, paddled back and changed into dinner wear, said it was the height of a week of paddling the Deer Group.

hardee · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:14 pm Post subject:

Looks spectacular.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

digger · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:45 pm Post subject:

I have a few photos of the inside when we ate there. It was great.

20dauntless · Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:55 am Post subject:

I went around Vancouver Island last summer and had a wonderful trip.

Barkley Sound was the most crowded of the inlets/sounds, but it was far from crowded compared to the inside areas as far north as Desolation Sound. Barkley Sound also has superb cruising, and the C-Dory allows you to go where most cruising boats can't. Shallow draft has its advantages!

If you have firm dates when you have to come and go, trailering is probably your best bet. Windy weather can shut the Strait of Juan de Fuca down for several days at a time. However, more often than not, summer mornings are calm, although they can be foggy.

Environment Canada gathers weather information from all the light house keepers along the coast. Keep an eye on their reports, the weather forecast, and the buoy reports and it should be pretty easy to pick a fair weather trip through the Strait.

http://weather.gc.ca/marine/weatherConditions-lightstation_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=06100

Be sure to pay attention to the currents, too. A couple knots of current against even moderate wind can make some ugly conditions.

Clayoquot Sound, just north of Barkley Sound, is also beautiful, and in my experience, less crowded.

The four cruising guides I used are:

1. Waggoner-I updated it extensively last year, but it's not as complete as some others.
2. Douglass Exploring the West Coast of Vancouver Island-best resource for anchorages, although it's showing its age.
3. Dreamspeaker West Coast Vancouver Island-nice illustrations, mostly up-to-date, fairly complete.
4. Watmough Cruising Guide to the West Coast of Vancouver Island-way out of date, but interesting history, great aerials, and good weather information.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Sam

amy and karl · Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:18 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like a pretty good reading list to get started on. If we were to take the ferry to Vancouver island it would be very difficult to not go directly to Port Hardy to launch. We'll have to read up and weigh our options.

Karl

hardee · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 1:25 am Post subject:

BRINGING THIS BACK FOR CURRENT UP-DATED INFO:

Planning on some west side cruising this year and looking for updated info on parking and launch facilities for access to Quatsino Sound, (Port Alice or alternatives), and to Muchalat Inlet, (Gold River or Tahsis). Planning on towing in and launching on both inlets and using the BC Ferry from Tswassen to Duke Point and driving up Island.

Curious if there has been any or much C-Dory activity in either of those areas recently? And if so, what are you using for current guides?

Thanks for any helpful info.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

chromer · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 1:33 am Post subject:

Harvey,

Quatsino. Coal Harbour we use yearly. nothing changes. Its a WW2 airplane dock. there is random parking around the building. Go inside and payoff the old man who runs the place. His rates are very reasonable. The run out to the ocean is about 1 hour. Winter Harbour is out there with a fuel dock and store. There is a hot dog stand and NO FISH & CHIPS. BTW Coal Harbour launch does have a hose & water to rinse with. Ramp is bit sketchy at low tides. If a seaplane lands or retrieves dont launch .... old man gets mad. There is a museum the old man can show you.

About 3 years ago I tried Port Alice to Winter Harbour. The run is a little further to Winter Harbour. Less parking around Port Alice but there is a grocery store. A wash down area not at ramp but on the way thru town.

hardee · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:10 am Post subject:

chromer · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 10:00 pm Post subject:

road from highway to Coal Harbor perfect pavement
not sure on fuel. always go full and take on fuel at Winter Harbor
best to get your F&C in Campbell River
VHF weather of course

Peter & Judy · Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 10:13 pm Post subject:

We were in Gold River last summer checking out the launch and parking, but we did not launch there. The ramp looks fine, but would be best at high tide. There is parking behind a fence and locked gate at I think $15/day. This land is Indian Reserve, so they control the launch and parking. The road there is good and you should be able to get fuel here, but it would be less expensive on the east side of Vancouver Island if you can prefill your tanks.

hardee · Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:28 am Post subject:

Ahh F&C in Campbell River. A good spot, Dick's. Worthy of the list. There is also a good Breakfast place I have heard about - can't remember the name, but north end of town, near the bridge that was a favorite of the Port Harvey owners.

Thank for the continuing info updates here.

On the road (Hiway 2 Cool

west out of Campbell River, to Gold River, you drive along Upper Campbell Lake. Anyone know anything about bozt launching along there? Seems like a good place to get a freshwater bath for the boat, befor leaving the island.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon