BC Ferries Rate Increases

[centerisland]

Mentioned on BitterEnd blog:
http://www.pacificfreepress.com/news/1-/8001-sinking-bc-ferries.html

[DaveS]

Centerisland,
With the recent reports of the Washington State Ferry System in similar dire straits, I find this a very interesting article. As I'm sure you are aware, there has been talk of Wa. State Ferries considering other re-organinzaition ideas and if I'm not mistaken perhaps even thoughts of privatization. My guess is that paying the BC Ferry "CEO $1 million per year along with exorbitant salaries to other senior executives and board members" should turn a few heads.
When the Wa. State Ferry announced plans to cut back on the international ferry route sailings between Anacortes and Sidney (as a cost cutting measure) both cities were estimating the negative economic impact that they would suffer.

[centerisland]

The irony is that the WSF system has been hugely criticized - but compared to the BC ferries they are geniuses!

I was just looking at a trip out of Port Alberni - maybe I should do that this year before the rate hike takes effect!

Keith

[Jazzmanic]

Yeah, we are planning a similar trip out of Port Alberni down to the Broken Group. It looks like we may have to take the Anacortes-Sidney ferry and go over the Malahat. Hope my Frontier is up to it.

[lloyds]

Isn't that just dandy. A trip up the outside is looking better all the time.

[Dreamer]

Peter,

Except for the Vancouver traffic (Ask Grumpy), the BC ferry to Nanaimo might make more sense. The PA-Victoria Coho is not a WSF route, although it's not cheap either.

[Larry H]

The BC Ferries have a route from Tsawwassen to Duke Point, which is just south of Nanaimo.

If trailering from the USA to Vancouver Island BC, that is definitely the route to use. Tsawwassen is off hwy 99 (I-5) before reaching Vancouver and its traffic. The Jack Point terminal exits onto the Island Highway (freeway), avoiding the narrow streets and traffic of Nanaimo.

The Island Highway goes past the shopping mall area of Nanaimo if you need supplies. The freeway portion goes as far as Campbell River. From Campbell River north, the road becomes a two lane, somewhat narrow highway to Pt McNeil and Pt Hardy.

[Grumpy]

Roger, Peter,

Tsawassen - Duke Point (Nanaimo) is great because it gets you right onto the highway to go to either Port Albirni or further North to Campbell River or Port McNeill. From Sidney you have to go all the way down to Victoria and up again.

The road across the Island to Port Albirni is engraved on my mind having been chased along it by a logging truck, on ice. At one point 1/2 the road had fallen off the planet into a lake but there was one nice red cone in the road and we fortunately figured we should leave it to starboard in this case.

I just looked at the latest rates and they changed the game already. It's $45.75 for the truck plus $5.15/ft for the trailer, For us that works out to be $235 +/- each way.

Passing customs at the P's arch (So called because you can't) is OK if you have Nexus but beware the narrow lanes and the duty free shoppers. If you do not, then you need a supply of plastic bottles or be ready to climb up on the boat for meals and breaks.

If for any reason the Tsawassen ferry doesn't run then you can go Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay in which case you will enjoy the trip through downtown Vancouver particularly if you do it in rush hour. Lion's gate bridge with a 40 Kt crosswind helps because it makes you drive like the locals.

M

[Jazzmanic]

Yes, I originally intended to take the Tswassen to Duke Point ferry but for $500 each way? That's the price given the new information. Prior to the increase, my understanding was that it would cost approx $250 to tow the boat, the vehicle, driver and passenger. If the cost increases by 100%, then that is $500 one way, correct?

Sorry but no thank you. That's why I made the comment about the Anacortes-Sidney ferry. My understanding is the one way price is closer to $150-200. We'll see.

[rogerbum]

It's only about 55miles by water from Neah Bay to the center of the Broken Group Islands. That's 4 hours at <15kts, 2.5-3 hours on calm water. Trailer to Neah Bay and boat across. Most days between mid July and late August are fairly calm in the ocean out there especially in the early AM. At present, the BC Ferries fare is close around $220 each way for two people and a boat assuming 48' overall length about a 22' boat, trailer and full size pickup. For a Tomcat, I'd be looking at closer to $270.

My cost to trailer to Neah Bay last year was around $250 RT including the cost of the WA state ferry Edmonds to Kingston and the fuel in the truck. The cost in fuel for the 55 mile trip by water is about 55miles * 1gal/3 miles * $3.30/gal = $60.50 or $120 RT. So $120 for the boat + $250 to get to Neah Bay = $370 RT Edmonds to Broken group and back compared to $440 for the BC ferry costs alone. If that price doubles to $880, it's no contest - drive to Neah Bay boat across.

[centerisland]

[rogerbum]

[20dauntless]

My recollection is that Bamfield is not a port of entry into Canada. If you head over from Neah Bay, I think you have to go up to Ucleulet to clear customs, on the northern side of the Broken Group.

If the weather kicked up and you had to stop in Bamfield, what would the repercussions be with the Canadian government?

Alternatively, coming from the San Juans, you could clear customs in Victoria, overnight in Sooke or Port Renfrew, and then head out the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This is obviously a much longer trip than from Neah Bay which increases your exposure to bad weather.

[starcrafttom]

If the weather kicks up and you turn into the broken group near bamfield you will be in more protected waters. Making your way past the broken group and to Ucleulet would be easy from there.
a second route would be from anacorties to sooke then to the broken group. its only 150miles each way

[lloyds]

I always called in from Bamfield. Has anyone heard if that has changed?