2018 Inside Passage South

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 10:16 pm Post subject:

Looking hard now at various spots in the Gulf Islands to spend time at. Time frame is this. Friday Harbor gathering on the 18-20th. Need to be in Nanaimo by the 28th. That gives me 7 or 8 days between Friday Harbor and Nanaimo. Any specific recommendations for islands/ports that are must see? After the 29th, I'll probably head over towards the mainland and hit Chatterbox Falls, then work my way north to Desolation Sound. Then cross over to the Broughtons and work my way down the inside of Vancover Island. Back to La Conner no later than June 24th. Colby

Anita Marie · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:45 am Post subject:

Colby, Desolation Sound is doable in 8 days but to get to the Broughtons may be a bridge to far. As far as the Gulf Islands our favorite places include, Wallace Island(Conover Cove), Genoa Bay, Montague and Newcastle Island by Nanimo.
If things work out we are going to Princess Louisa after FH. You will get more options and places at the gathering. There will be some Canadians at the gathering with their perspective.

Fred

Marco Flamingo · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:10 am Post subject:

Your itinerary might be most easily accomplished by using a Vancouver Island launching point. I didn't read the whole thread and see if this was discussed, and I know that you would like yet another variable to add to your already complicated planning. If you launched on Vancouver Island, came to FH, returned to put yout boat back on the trailer and drove north, you could do the Broughtons, then trailer back to Nanaimo.

It sounds like a lot of trailering, and there is the expense of the ferries with a +40 foot setup, but it usually pencils out to being less gas and less time.

I think that most would agree that the trip from FH to PR or the Broughtons can be a bit of a slog. Even if the Straight is flat calm, and Seymour Narrows is flat and running your direction both times. You could use the mileage calculator that was just posted to estimate your fuel cost and time for a run on the water. Compare that to Google drive from Nanaimo to Port Hardy. My guess is trailering would be faster by a couple of days and cheaper by 100 gallons. That takes the bite out of the ferry fare.

Mark

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:22 pm Post subject:

Foggy · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:35 pm Post subject:

Where do you plan to buy bear spray for such a trip?

Aye.
Voltaire said, "Life is a shipwreck. Save what you can."

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:41 pm Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:49 pm Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:29 pm Post subject:

From another thread regarding BC ramp space, Bob wrote:

Anita Marie · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:55 pm Post subject:

If you are going to launch near the Broughtons I would launch at Port McNeil. It seems to have better services and you can get secure parking near the launch.

thataway · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:43 pm Post subject:

You could do a loop launching from any of these places. Johnstone straight can be nasty and you might have to wait a day or two for weather.. Launching at Telegraph or Port McNeil would avoid that run.

colbysmith · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:55 pm Post subject:

I'm looking at my planning chart now. Maybe the first thing I need to do is orient myself with exactly which islands are part of the Broughtons, and what all is considered Desolation Sound. (As I'm a bit confused with the suggestions/information being provided. When I look at my chart, I see several larger islands flanked by "Desolation Sound" on the south and Hardwicke Island on the north. Then a bit of a run up Johnstone Strait, with numerous coves, up till W. Crocroft Island, with numerous smaller islands just north of that.

Bob, is that the run up Johnstone that you say might be a little rough? Part of this year's "cruise" is kind of a shake down and learning experience for me before heading up to the North part of the Inside Passage next year. Interestingly enough, I was reading one book that spoke of circumventing Vancouver Island in a month. I'm just primarily looking at the area between Princess Louisa Inlet, and Port McNeil with just about 4 weeks of time. Looking at the bigger chart, it looks like I could do a run up Princess Louisa Inlet from either Ladysmith or Campbell River. Colby

hardee · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:35 am Post subject:

Johnston Strait can be "bumpy" would be putting it mildly. it is not uncommon to have a 3 day blow that will generate stuff you would not want to be in, in a C-Dory. I have seen 5-6 foot plus there and been stuck in Alert Bay for 3 days of 30 knots and more with not let up. It is typical to have late morning winds come up that will last the rest of the day. Launching at Telegraph Cove you can get across Johnston early in the morning in the fog before the wind comes up. It is only a few miles across and then you can get into protection. You don't have to run in Johnston Strait.

As mentioned in another thread, these are the places I would recommend for launch and parking.

For the Broughtons I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Telegraph Cove. I have stayed there several times. They are easy to work with, plenty of secure parking, a good washdown and ramp (IF you are on the Building 29 side of the bay.) It is great easy access to the Broughtons north edge, and often good whale watching. Contact info for TC.

http://www.telegraphcove.ca/content/marina
1642 TELEGRAPH COVE ROAD,
TELEGRAPH COVE, BC
CANADA V0N 3J0
TELEPHONE: (250) 928-3163 OR 1-877-TEL-COVE
FAX: (250) 928-3162
EMAIL: RESERVATIONS@TELEGRAPHCOVE.CA

For Desolation, Campbell River is good access, and CR Storage was a super place to park. If/When you call, tell them you saw them on the C-BRATS. They are a bit out of town but gave "courtesy rides" to and from the launch ramp in CR. Here is contact info:

CR STORAGE WAREHOUSES
4350 Terminal Place
Middle Point (Across from Coal Terminal)
2.5 min North of Discovery LNG
(Northern end of Campbell River, BC)

250-287-UNIT (8648)
Toll-free: 1-866-513-8648

info@crstoragewarehouses.ca

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:11 pm Post subject:

Change 6... Confused

Looking more at the idea of ferrying over to Vancouver Island, and launching from there, makes some sense. So for now I'm going with launching out of Ladysmith to head over to Friday Harbor, and then after the gathering , enjoying cruising back up through some of the San Juans I missed before, and the Gulf Islands. Back into Ladysmith, drive my wife down to the Victoria Airport, then return to Ladysmith to load the boat and trailer up to Campbell River. Launch to do Prince Louisa Inlet and Desolation Sound. Then either stay on the water up to the Broughtons, or retrieve the boat, trailer up to Telegraph Cove and relaunch there. I suspect the cost of the Ferry will break even or save me a bit on boat fuel and time. At this point I'm looking at the BC Ferries out of Tsawwassen to Duke Point by Nanaimo. Unless someone knows of a better ferry choice... Colby

thataway · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:06 pm Post subject:

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the additional information Bob. It does help. Yeah, I know it's crazy. But looking at everything and considering what I want to do and where I want to go, it really does make sense. I have Garmin's Bluechart G2 Vision for the area, and along with being able to plug it into my chartplotter, I can also plug it in my computer to use with Homeport and zoom in to get detailed chart views. And I also have Active Captain loaded into the software also, so can even link to information there. For general idea of the area, I have a planning chart hanging on my wall next to my desk. I think I"ll break even in costs regarding the ferry ride vs. my own fuel use and time. I'm trusting another C-Brat's recommendation to use Ladysmith, and in speaking with someone at the marina there today, sounds like parking will be no problem. I will have to pay for parking in Campbell River, but that puts me closer to Desolation, and I can loop up to the Broughtons from there, if the weather is cooperating. And if not, I can still trailer even farther north.

Colby