cruising and fishing in Canada

M

mwilson

New member
Anyone want to take a shot at explaining what a person needs to do to cruise from US to canada to spend some time at a place like Bamfield?
Can arrangements be made over I-net? I'm assuming one must stop somewhere for customs, and again coming back to US.
I'm thinking of leaving from Port Angeles, Would another place be more practical from a customs point of view?
Would it be easier to drive and trailer a boat?

thanks for any advice , tips michael
 
Depending on how much time you have to wait for weather, you might be better off to take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo, or Anacortes to Sidney, then tow over to Port Alberni or Ucluelet.

Traveling via the strait of Juan de Fuca can be a real challenge, with strong winds especially in the afternoon and tough sledding especially if the tide is ebbing into a west wind. Sometimes going early in the day can avoid much of this, but small craft warnings in Juan de Fuca often go on for days in a row.

For crossing the border you don't need to make arrangements in advance, except: Have passports for all on board, and don't bring a bunch of prohibited items. Here's a link:

http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub ... .html#P007

If you're not settled on Barkley Sound, you could also launch at Gold River (Nootka Sound), or even up north at Coal Harbour (Quatsino Sound). If you're not settled on the west coast of Vancouver Island, you could head up to Telegraph Cove or Port McNeill and cruise/fish the Broughtons and Queen Charlotte Strait.
 
I agree with the other post. After towing a boat to Canada for the last 20 years straight. It is very easy to make ferry reservations online for trip planning. I assume you are towing your boat from Montana, going through the Blaine truck port would be the quickest to the ferries. Don't forget your passports and NO GUNS!!!!!! Canadians are super freaks about that item.

Once on Vancouver Island the sky's the limit. It's all on how far you want to go and how much fuel you want to buy. West coast or inside passage take your pick. Do your homework on fishing area's and regulations be sure you check them before you leave they tend to change them allot.

Enjoy your trip it is truly beautiful up there.
 
I have 2 ea further questions:

First, which ferry is the cheapest between the mainland and Vancouver Isle? I've been looking at the cost, and for 60' the cost approaches $200, one way. Have I misread the fares? There are 3 terminals: Pt Townsend, Anacortes and Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay.) Which is best and what is a reasonable charge?

Second, where can I find a list of the launch ramps on Vancouver Isle? Calling hasn't worked so far.

Boris
 
Port Townsend is not a terminal for travel to Vancouver island. You may be thinking of Port Angeles, from which a private car ferry (MV COHO) goes to Victoria. The COHO is a good ferry and often used. Alas, $200 sounds about right. It is very expensive until one considers the cost of driving the boat the same distance.

The Canadian magazine "Pacific Yachting" (a very good read) publishes a free "Boater's Blue pages" marina guide that is widely available up this way and certainly everywhere in BC. It may be a good place to start.
 
Check also the pricing of WA ferries vs Canadian. We found that the Canadian ferries offered really good pre-season rates from Tsawassen to Nanaimo. If you are going North on Vancouver Island then Nanaimo is excellent as the ferry dock leads you directly to the main freeway. (Ignore what your GPS tells you or you will end up downtown - and it's narrow!)

The Coho goes to Victoria which is a great place but you will have to tow your boat through the traffic.

Anacortes to Sidney (if it continues to run :amgry ) can be expensive and you will have to drive almost back to Victoria before you go North.

Horseshoe bay is a nice ferry to Nanaimo but there is a large city called Vancouver between us and it. Ron (Meander) claims there is a simple way through, and that may be true but so far I have failed to find it and the result is quite a lot of heavy traffic misery so for us, it's Tsawassen.

One other comment about the Blaine crossing. It has been in a state of "modification" for a while and this can lead to some very narrow traffic lanes with Jersey barriers. The truck crossing may be a better option.

On the Island, the freeway is excellent to Campbell River. Thereafter it is a very well maintained 2 lane road through the mountains (and associated weather) to Telegraph Cove, (Good launch and place to park rig) Port MacNeill (good launch, shopping and marina, fuel etc) or Port Hardy (good launch and you can leave rig in marina storage if you arrange for it).
Check Roger (Dreamer)'s album on Broughtons last year. Lots of things to do and see.

Merv
 
Yep prices are right, :cry don't forget you are also overheight that costs even more. :lol: Boat ramps are available but they all charge you a fee for launching and storage. I would shoot for tsawassen it's the easiest to get to although Horseshoe bay isn't bad early in the mourning. I would always try to catch to first ferry out in the mourning.
 
I have done the Nanaimo ferry the last 2 years with Checkpoint II and recommend it Launched at Port Alberni, and run the inlet to Bamfield. Two of us get a motel (Bamfield Trails) as a place to recoup, since we fish hard all day. (see photos in my album)

This year we are renting/driving a class-A motorhome and staying at Poet Nook. We are towing my friends big Trophy, and plan on running offshore for Halibut.

I am sure Ken on CAVU will chime in with more information. Want time frame are you planning?
 
Right now BC ferries are in a 33% off mode. (Don't see that in WA!) but in early season look for the "Coast Saver" fares. From memory we paid about $135 for Tsawassen - Nanaimo in June and we are 57ft and overheight. (the boat and trailer that is :shock: )

I am surprised you were looking at 60ft with a CD25 since we are about 30ft overall with the RF making 57ft with a short bed Chevvy.

The overheight can play in your favor. The customs at Blaine were so worried that I was about to take down their whole new shiny canopy that they just assigned me a spotter and waved me through. They had no clue as to what their clearance was.

The ferry lanes will assume that you have the skills of a 18 wheeler truck driver and some of the employees take a fiendish delight in asking you to go places that will have you "puckered". It's the only form of amusement they have. Rather like sitting in a marina with a big wind or cross current and watching... :twisted:

all good fun,

Merv
 
The Fee on the Coho from Port Angeles to Victoria, is $4.25 a linleal foot for vehicles over 18 feet (I believe this includes the driver)-Passenger is additional, as is the reservation.

Port Angeles is a customs clearance port, but it is shared with the ferry and airport. There is a local phone number to call. Ucluelet and Bamfield have been listed as clearance ports in the past, and you might want to check to see if they are next summer.

We have always crossed the Straits of San Juan De Fuca in the 22 or 25, but wait for a good day. We also stay in Sequim with friends who overlook the straits, and there are some mighty rough days, when spray goes over the bow of large ships.

If I was going by boat, you could go directly to Victoria, spend a day or so there, then go around the Island, watching the weather. I agree that the ferry may be a much wiser choice. There are fun harbors which are about 20 miles apart, but this is the open Pacific Ocean, and it can get rough if the wind is blowing. If you want to go by boat all of the way, consider Neah Bay, to Bamfield--about 50 miles, and we have met a couple of small boats which have done this on calm days. (We have also checked back into the US (with Nexus pass) at Neah Bay, but there is no official customs there.
 
I think your best bet for a BC ferry would be Tsawassen _ duke point
duke point is on the south side of Nanaimo
you bypass the downtown core, four lane highway north
departure bay - Horseshoe Bay is downtown Nanaimo not bad some tight turns but the border to horseshoe Bay is a long haul through Vancouver.

the ferry from port Angeles -Victoria is nice, you get your own border crossing ferry traffic only
but you arrive downtown Victoria its not to bad, I've hauled our 22ft on that ferry but I'm a local and know the roads.

one more thing the duke point run has reduced fares most of the time

dave
 
Dave,
Just to avoid confucious :? the Nanaimo (downtown) terminal for Horseshoe Bay (Mainland BC) is Departure Bay. and it can be very confusing if you are on the highway coming South after a wonderful trip.
Duke point is the departure for Tsawassen, which is South of Vancouver.

Even if you get it right. Mother nature will win. We arrived at Duke point for our ferry last year only to find out it was cancelled so we had to truck back downtown in a hurry to get the crossing from Departure Bay to Horseshoe. Quite memorable. blowing 30+ Kts from SW, nobody out there but one lonely sailboat and the Canadian Navy. Then to arrive after 3 weeks of tranquility in the Broughtons, to downtown Vancouver traffic, across Lions Gate Bridge in gale force winds (Including shredded tree parts) following GPS which ended up with us in the middle of downtown, 3 lanes out with the GPS saying " Turn right NOW" with two lanes of Kamikasi young people in Hondas smaller than our outboards packed in around us showing no visible signs of intentions.

Yup, we made it and after about 40 minutes we found orselves passing the very familiar Tsawassen terminal at which point I said several rude things about our good friend Ron. (He has since been forgiven)

TSAWASSEN For ever..

Merv
 
I would like to point out that you can take guns into canada and that thousands of hunters do every year. You just cant take hand guns and you must have the right paper work in advance. Whether you need one or not is a personal choice. I like to hunt and fish and if I can do both on the same trip that would be great.

P.S. I stand corrected by the nice link in one of the other post above.
As a visitor, you may temporarily import restricted firearms and non-restricted firearms, such as pistols or revolvers, provided you get Form CAFC 679, Application for an Authorization to Transport Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Firearms in advance from a chief firearms officer of the province or territory to which you are importing a restricted firearm.
Click to expand...

looks as if you can bring your hand gun as long as you have the right paper work.
 
I really depends on what time of year you plan on going but the Strait Juan de Fuca is not that bad for much of the summer. For most of July and August, 4 days out of 5 are pretty good especially earlier in the day. For Ucelet, I still think that trailering to Neah Bay and departing from there is the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to get there in July/August. You MIGHT have to wait a day or two if the weather is bad, but it's easy to drive to Neah Bay and the launch there is pretty good. If you have to stay a day or two, the moorage is well protected and there's a few things worth doing in Neah Bay to keep you busy (hike Cape Flattery, visit the Makah Museum, walk along the beach in Makah bay).
 
Roger, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Even more fun would be to go over the top of Vancouver Isle and work your way down. Was going to do that 2 years ago, but the Canadian weather service kept predicting 30 knt winds in Johnson Strait, and I never got further than Desolation Sound. Turns out they only predicted them, reality was somewhat different.

Also came out the strait to Neah Bay, turned left and sailed down to San Diego. It is a lovely place.

Now lets get back to reality. If I want to cruise the west coast of Vancouver Isle, I'm gonna drive there. While I live in a democracy, my vote isn't always the same as the other vote.

Boris
 
It's funny that many here, who have a lot of experience in blue water, find it dangerous to cross from Neah bay to Uclulet or Bamfield. But many many fisherman in what I would call day boats, make the run all the time to either fish off shore or stay at one of the lodges. I have talked to twenty or so guys that make the run every year to fish out of Bamfield, much better then trailering to Bamfield because of the bad road. I mean some of these guys are running 20 to 25ft sleds with jet drives. Lots of 18 to 20plus Bayliner or Olympic style fishing boats. I guess it's all about the weather. Leave early an beat the wind. I think that if these less capable boats can make it; it should not be that hard for a c-dory. That said I trailered over and drove to Uclulet to launch. That was before I talked to a lot of people about it.

A word about the road to Ucluelet. It is not a highway but in reality it is not that bad. Take it slow and be careful of large truck, motor home, camper etc.. The only reason we ran the boat back to port Albine and Susan drove the truck around was a lack of confidence in the 95 rangers pulling ability and my wife’s ability to worry years off her own life about non issuse's of safety. Oh and the drive is gorgeous lakes and mountains and wonderful view's all around.
 
Tom,
I don't think it i so much that some of us think it is "dangerous" but in assesing the experience level (no disrespect intended or implied) of the person who asked the question, it is a trip which can be difficult if the weather kicks up. A less experienced person (and I apologize if there is more experience in blue water than I assume), would have less experience in making the determination as to what would be safe, and in how to handle heavy weather. There is also the possibility of souring an owner and his mate on boating as a result of a difficult crossing.

I have gone across the straits a number of times in boats from 22 to 46 feet, and know that it can be rougher than a novice would want to be in. On the other hand, if I wanted to cruise this area specifically, I would go across. If one had the time, starting at the North end of Vancouver and running down the West Coast would be a great trip. Yes, we did see some bayliners in the 25 to 28 foot size who had come up from Neah bay, but this was the exception of boats on the West Coast. In 6 weeks on the West coast we only had one day when we didn't move because of weather, but we were in a 46 foot boat, designed to cross oceans. There were more days when I would be reluctant to do a trip in the C Dory. Personally I have opted every time to take the boat to Vancouver on its own bottom from the Olympic peninsula, but have had to wait out weather several times. (May thru August has been the time frame). There are many who have far more experience in these waters than I do.
 
My attempt at humor was that the more experience= caution and less=risk. It's just what you are use too I think. Case in point, a close relation of mine, that will not be named Susan, we will call her Bob , Bob will not allow me to run from Neah bay to Ucluelet but will make the run from Victoria to Bellingham( a longer distance) because we have done it several times. So if you are use to going off shore in a small boat its not a big deal, may not be smart but no big deal.
 
Horseshoe bay is a nice ferry to Nanaimo but there is a large city called Vancouver between us and it. Ron (Meander) claims there is a simple way through, and that may be true but so far I have failed to find it and the result is quite a lot of heavy traffic misery so for us, it's Tsawassen.
Click to expand...
Merv,Merv,Merv,
You just have to follow my directions to avoid all that traffic hassle of Vancouver. Cross at the truck crossing. Once across the border just stay on that highway for about 20k until you see the signs for the #1 freeway. Get on #1 going west, and stay on it until Horseshoe Bay.So simple and straight forward even a transplanted Britisher can follow the route. :twisted:

If however you insist on following highway 99 which leads from the Peace Arch crossing you'll end up in street level Vancouver with all the fun that ensues from that choice. Can't help with the cost of the ferries though. There is no way around the cost if you want to ride one.

Ron
 
Ron,
I hear you but we were doing it from the Horses other end. Sorry I mean Horseshoe bay after trailering down from Telegraph, going to Duke point to find it cancelled and rushing through down-town Nanaimo all after 3 peacefull weeks in the Broughtons. Quite a culture shock being back in "civilization".

When you get off the ferry you it's like the start of a Grand Prix. You are surrounded by other maniacs, campers trucks etc. and are looking for a road that you have never seen before.

Result is that you cross Lions gate bridge in about a 40 Kt cross wind and following the instructions of the lady in the little talking box on the dash, you end up in the canyons of downtown at rush hour.
Logically, in order to avoid crushing too many of those funny little cars driven by people from all over the world,pedestrians, drunks, parked cars etc. you stay towards the centre lane which is where you find youself jammed at the point where the voice from hell tells you to turn right at the diversion sign.

It went even further downhill from there but we made it. It's a shame really because I like Vancouver but there was no way to stop.

Don't worry we will try it again. :D

Have you reached the promised land yet ?

Cheers,

Merv
 
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