2019 Inside Passage

You are basically running the engine under ideal conditions. Running daily, getting the temperature up, and not putting it under heavy load. I would not be at all adverse to going 200 hours between changes, with the synthetic if you are keeping mostly to the displacement speeds. If you had do, and were always staying to the displacement speed, maybe more. But with an extractor, changing the oil is not hard. Lots of oil adsorb pads to soak up the oil spill from the filter probably every other change--again assuming the lower speeds.

There are plenty of oil disposal sights at almost every marina (fishermen change their oil regularly.
 
Well, as this year's end is now in closer sight, it's time to reopen this thread and start thinking about my summer's boating plans. I'm still looking at the north part of the Inside Passage, perhaps as early as May. In fact, thinking maybe May and June. I'm still favoring launching in Skagway, but am open to Prince Rupert. Just wondering if anyone else is interested in joining in on all or part of a cruise on the Alaska side of the Inside Passage. Or if anyone else is making plans to do such a cruise? I could probably even do this later into the summer, but would not plan to go more than two months, as for now the wife would not be joining me. While I tried to do quite a bit of planning this past summer in seeing Friday Harbor, the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound and The Broughtons, I learned that I may be better off just figuring out where to launch from, then taking it day by day from there. Yes, I do have some favorite spots picked out that I'd like to visit, but knowing weather can always play a factor, think I'm going to take a much more relaxed style of planning this time around. Colby
 
Hi Colby. Thanks for the invite. We met you and your wife last year at the Friday Harbor Brats get together along with so many other nice Brats people. We would be interested in about a two week trip with you up north in the passage. We have a small farm and cannot be away too long from the property but let's see how far we can get with you in our travel together in this time frame! One of our daughters is graduating from College next spring and we promised her a Sailing Charter trip probably in May but hopefully it can work for a trip with you.
 
I'll keep information posted here as I figure out what I'm doing. First plan of attack will be to decide which end I want to launch at. So, looking for recommendations on where folks have launched and parked their rigs either at Skagway or Prince Rupert. Colby
 
Colby, I would love to do that trip with you, some or all, because SE has been a goal since I got my boat. I am looking at some schedule issues now, and though family things are always a concern, some of them have freed up some time. I will be watching and if it can work I will be letting you know.

I would probably look at a Prince Rupert launch as preferable, but at this point nothing is fixed in concrete.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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colbysmith":34103efk said:
I'll keep information posted here as I figure out what I'm doing. First plan of attack will be to decide which end I want to launch at. So, looking for recommendations on where folks have launched and parked their rigs either at Skagway or Prince Rupert. Colby
Click to expand...

My knowledge for vehicle storage & the boat launch at Prince Rupert is from 2004, so pretty much irrelevant now, though it was a busy place back then & probably more so now. Our first launch at Skagway was a small inflatable in 2001. We went down to Haines & back. Fun trip. This is the inflatable & Jo-Lee at the Haines Marina.
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At that time the Skagway Marina & launch was pretty primitive. We came back to Skagway in 2003 with the C-Dory. They had a place right at the Marina to store the truck & trailer. Since then, we’ve been back there six more times with the longest storage time about three months in 2012 & the last two months this year. Since our first trip they have doubled the Marina size & added a double ramp launch. We have never found it overly busy with a slip or spot at the transient dock if needing to stay a few days for the Lynn Canal to calm. There’s plenty of space to prepare for launch & tow rig storage at the Marina, also water for wash up when the cruising ended. Showers available at the Marina, a grocery store & laundry not to far & plenty to do in & around Skagway if stuck there due to weather. Skagway is an additional one way 600 miles further compared to Prince Rupert & that’s not a bad thing to us, as those miles are through some awesome country & Skagway closer to my preferred SE Alaska cruising area. We’ve cruised much of the area between Prince Rupert & Skagway with the area north of Petersburg liked best. Both launch sites have a stretch of water that can cause delays. The Dixon entrance just north of Prince Rupert & the Lynn Canal directly south of Skagway. Again our preference is Skagway.

We won’t see you up on the Alaska waters in 2019 as a rv road trip to the Arctic is in our plans for 2019, but who knows we may see you on the road. In 2020 we again hope to be cruising in SE Alaska via Skagway.

Jay
 
Thanks Jay. I've been conversing with another couple planning to launch out of Prince Rupert, and good chance I'll travel with them. However, I'm keeping my options wide open. For me personally, I hope to spend two months out west. I would spend most this time solo on my boat, but my wife and I have been discussing the feasibility of either or both of us flying out and back home. This arrangement might even allow me to spend a little bit longer on the Inside Passage to see more. Rosanne is not able to to get so much time off of work, nor has an interest in small boat travel over open water or in the wilderness. Yet, would be nice to have her come out for a week or so of R&R in the larger cities or travel on protected waters, and for me to get back home for a week to take care of any chores she needs help with there. And needless to say, I don't care to spend several or more months away from my wife. So accepting some additional costs with air fare could make such an endeavor that much better. Colby
 
I'm very likely going to be joining with another couple, and launching at Prince Rupert late May. I should probably go back and review earlier posts in this thread or other threads, but to make it simple, any recent recommendations on safe places to store the pickup and trailer for several months in Prince Rupert? Also, just checked on non-resident Alaska fishing license. Ouch. $145. And then if I want a King Salmon stamp, another $100. I do want to do some fishing and crabbing, so I will get the sport fishing license. Question is, do I really need the King Salmon stamp? I'm looking at the months of June and July being in SE Alaska. From my earlier days based in Kodiak AK, it seems like the Kings ran later in the season. Of course that was shoreline. How common is it to catch Kings on downriggers or lines in the inside passage during June and July? Colby
 
Hi Colby,

Store your truck and trailer at Coastal Propane, a short walk from the launch at Rushbrook.

ADF&G has not yet published King limits for 2019, but chances are numbers will be really low. I will probably get a stamp, since I'll be in SE AK close to three months, but may suggest that my 2-3-week guests save their $100.

Last year non-residents were limited to 3 Kings, if all caught before end of June. If after that, only 1, including those caught earlier.

We're not the most expert at King fishing, but have caught our biggest mooching with herring rather than on downriggers.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hGVVNkSvfWm99ppG8

We consider we're doing OK if each of us gets one or two during the summer. Almost all caught in June or July.

Coho are lots of fun, and far more numerous, especially after about mid July. Halibut are probably our favorite - well, except maybe for crab and prawns. Hard to find a good meal up there........

OTOH, one nice King is worth a lot more than $100.

Maybe we'll see you up there!
 
Another suggestion:

Go for crab or prawns early in your trip - before the commercials take a lot of them, both numbers and size are much better.
 
Thanks Richard. Think I'll just pass on the King stamp then. Doing so, I'll probably just end up hooking the downrigger on them, rather than the Cohos. LOL. They are fun to catch I know. Caught one or two Lake Michigan Kings, and one or two when I lived in Kodiak a long time ago. But the Coho's, Dolly's and others are just as fun. I'll have my crab ring along as well to drop over in the evenings or when anchored. Perhaps we'll run into you if you too are planning to be on the Inside Passage. I'll research the Coast Propane parking. I think I've seen that mentioned elsewhere. Colby
 
Only a few weeks away from hitting the road to out west. Plans are to travel with another couple, and launch at Prince Rupert sometime around the end of May. As of now, looks like Coastal Propane will be the rigs summer digs. Unless anyone has anywhere else they'd recommend for truck/trailer storage.

At this point, I've decided not to bottom paint Midnight Flyer. I do plan on having her hauled out after about 6 weeks and pressure washing the bottom. This will be in Petersburg. Any other recommendations or warnings?

How is cell coverage on the Inside Passage?
 
Hi Colby,

Don't know about Verizon, but near many towns, even small ones, AT&T cell coverage is often workable. There are many more remote stretches where there's no coverage, but we find ourselves in covered areas fairly often. Some are pleasant surprises, like: Icy Strait south of the entrance to Glacier Bay (not too far from Gustavus), further west as far as Elfin Cove (weaker but sometimes usable), and right in the middle of the Dixon Entrance. Also depends on the surrounding terrain - no reception in the fjord-like Tracy Arm, for example.

FYI, the King numbers for non-residents have been announced. Like last year non-residents are limited to 3 Kings, if all caught before end of June. If after that, only 1, including those caught earlier. Plus the tighter restrictions in certain areas.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/EONR/inde ... &NRID=2719
 
Colby;

It seems like you have a great summer planned out. I've been in SE AK many times. Sometimes we launch in Washington and cruise BC. BC is a great cruise however, fuel and provision prices are very high.....

When we're going to Alaska ATT seems to be the best carrier for cell coverage. Like Richard said there are some blank spots with no coverage.
We will get a prepaid AT & T phone since we have US Cellular here,

You can call Verizon and see if you'll have any coverage besides KTN,, JNU an Sitka.

Gene
 
zoom to SE AK. A T & T has by far the best coverage in SE. Click on the interactive map, and there is a window you can scroll thru carriers. But thru the country, Verizon has over 70%, with considerably less from other carriers. We had both an A T & T phone and a Verizon "burner" when in AK. We have just added a Verizon "jet Pac" to compliment our AT&T service. Just too many areas, including S. Calif. and the St. John's River. where we cannot get AT&T data, where Verizon will get a decent signal. Thru Family Motor Coach we get 25G (before throttling) of Verizon data for $50 a month with one penny for the jet pac receiver.
 
Thanks guys. I have Verizon and will be upping my data to allow additional Canadian service and also, just to have more data available. :) Think I'm going to pass on the King stamp and just get the regular sport fishing license. I guess if I get a King, I'll enjoy the fight, then throw it back! lol. But I'll be plenty happy if I can catch supper of Crabs, Cohos and Halibut frequently. :D Hard to believe just over two weeks before I head out.
 
Well it's on! I left home Wednesday early morning, and spent the first night at a truck stop between Mitchell and Chamberlain SD, and then the second night at Red Shale Campground near Ashland MT. Bill and Becky from Blue Days joined me yesterday and we are currently sitting in Chief Joseph Park in the town of Harlowton, a little ways south of Great Falls, MT. We had planned on leaving here this morning to cross the border, but decided to wait out some winter weather. Yes, it does snow here in the middle of May! I'm not even going to say just how tired I am of this relentless winter the middle of the country has been having! We'll either head out this afternoon if it warms up, or wait until tomorrow. I probably won't be posting here as often, but will try to post the highlights as they happen, when I have internet. Colby
 
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