Has anyone cruised the inside passage?

B

bigmike

New member
Greetings, my wife and I have a 2006 22. angler. We are considering taking our Angler from Bellingham, WA thru Canada into the inside passage of Alaska. We did this via a cruise some years back and felt perhaps that it would be a great adventure to do this with our boat.
I was wondering if one of the other forum members had accomplished this, and If someone had some recommendations.
I am grateful for any feedback regarding this.
We have considered selling, or trading our 22' angler for a 22' cruiser because of the extra accommodations on the cruiser, however that would not limit us on taking the trip if it is advisable.

Mike And Maggie
 
Many C-Brats have done this! David on Anna Leigh and I on Daydream cruised it in 2006. David started in Anacortes and I started in Blaine, and we hooked up in Gorge Harbour in Desolation Sound. We cruised to Ketchikan, where Patty flew in to meet me, and then we around Misty Fjords National Monument. I only had two weeks so a friend cruised Daydream back down.

Here is a great shot of our two boats:

fea_alaska1_600x400.jpg

The whole album is here.

It shouldn't be a problem on an Angler if you have a camperback. I assume you have a Wallas or some kind of heat and cooking facilities. If you have any specific questions, I'm sure many people will be happy to help you out!
 
Here is one of my all-time favorite shots...Survivors of the Meyers Chuck "Hike from Hell"!

rvivors_of_the_Hike_from_Hell_Meyers_Chuck_6_19_06.jpg

Left to right, Dave Olson, Pat and Patty Anderson, David McKibben and Alan Olson. Dave and Alan were my crew on the way up.

Some time I will have to tell you the whole story over a beer, and why Patty is NOT smiling!
 
Mike & Maggie,

Do it!

I've made three round trips of 2,000 + miles each up the IP from Olympia and back. It's what I got the boat for and it resulted in pictures and memories to last me the rest of my life.

Words of advice: PLAN and BE FLEXIBLE

Here's a link to a short description and some discussion of our second trip:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... sc&start=0

Lots of pictures in the album.

Best of Luck!
 
We did it for 4 summers in our Cal 46, So had at least 3 months in AK each year. We did most of it (in two stages in C Dory).

I would say a trip or trips, not to be missed! Definitely you want heat, and you want full camper canvas. I would say a dinghy is also on the list of essentials. Although it can be done in a month, I would feel that at least 2 months is preferable--and 3 if you can do it!

No reason not to do it in the Angler--you have the bunks, and can heat the cabin. Consider that the water as well as the air will be cold. It will be in the 50's, and in places like Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, it will be lower--in the 40's. Air temps will be in the 50's--maybe 60's, but can be in the 40's, and we have seen night temps in the 30's during the summer.--more in the high 40's.

Lots of places not to be missed. An option is to tow the boat by land to Prince Rupert, from there you can explore upper BC coast out to the queen Charlottes, (not to be missed--and I don't see a lot of folks going out there among the C Brats). It is only a few miles to AK, from Prince Rupert.

I would have a kicker, if you don't have twins, or have a dinghy motor which would double. You want to equip the boat with spares to be sure that the trip is safe and comfortable. We happen to feel that an EPRIB or PLB is a good safety feature. A portable hand held water proof VHF is good. Currently I would also have an AIS receiver, but not essential. Radar is not essential, but nice to have, some days.

Rarely did we see weather where a C Dory could not move. There can be days of rain, or days of overcast, mist and fog, so be prepared. On the other hand, we had some trips where rain and fog were the exception. Often you want to plan around the weather, and where you need to voyage.

Guide books by Don Douglas, Renee Hemmingway, are dated (1995 and 1999) but still full of great information. Fine Edge Publications, has about everything you need, just select what you want!
: http://www.fineedge.com/index.html

The Waggoners Cruising guide 2015, updated yearly is a great place to start. When we first started cruising, I was able to get a complete set of charts from a friend who is a tug boat skipper, and there were over 200 full sized charts. Today with a good chart plotter, and two of the Fine Edge Atlas, you have the entire trip covered.

Go for it!
 
Mike and Maggie,

As several 'Brats have already mentioned, cruising to Southeast Alaska (SEAK) has been a pasttime for many folks, for many years. It is a WONDERFUL boating Adventure. When you do it you will likely be nearly the smallest cruiser you'll meet (other than fellow C-Brats!)

A few points to think about:

1) I assume you're not thinking of doing this major trip THIS year (2015). It is a major undertaking, and the pretrip planning (particularly for one's first trip) is fun, but and takes a fair amount of time. Generally speaking, small boat cruising in SEAK is best during June/July/August. Although the shoulder months are possible cruising times my experience is that May can be pretty cold and September often begins the breakdown of the weather in the Gulf of Alaska (which results in more foggy and stormy wx.

2) Allocate sufficient time to have a great experience. We think three months is a perfect amount of time and permits you to see stuff, travel leisurely, and wait-out weather (wx) when/if necessary. Many folks take more time, some take less (much less) time so you need to decide. We have done SEAK from Anacortes (WA) once, and from Prince Rupert (BC) three times. If your primary interest is Alaska, consider driving to Prince Rupert and launching from there. PR is <90mi from Ketchikan (AK) and permits you to be in Alaska longer, then be off the water earlier without having to motorboat all the way back to Anacortes or Bellingham.

Personally, we think that the Anacortes-to-Prince Rupert trip could be a Wonderful all-summer trip as well. Doing it ALL in one summer is certainly possible but it's a long ways!

Another C-Brat (Jay and JoLee, from Cokeville (WY) always drive to Skagway (AK) and launch from there. Obviously, there are a number of options; figure-out what works for YOU !

3) Be thoroughly familiar with your boat, its handling, navigation, and the basics of docking/anchoring-out/camping on your vessel. SEAK isn't necessarily the place to be learnings basic boating skills. Be "comfortable" with your boat, it's systems, mechanics, weather reporting, etc.

Make sure your partner wants to do this as much as you do! If you're lucky enough to have a "co-Captain" onboard; Lucky You! Your Adventure will be boundless.

"BoaterHoming" (as Mary calls it) can be a delightful way to travel to/from your chosen launch site. You have a travel trailer ... that floats!

4) SEAK cruising has some inescapable realities: if can be Cold, it can be rough and rainy, and interior condensation will be a hassle. Take good sleepingbag so and a golf-sized umbrella. You'll be glad you have it. Have a backup heat source (ie. A small electric header and hotplate for those time you're in a marina). Study C-Brat thought on how to best deal with inside condensation - it can be a real hassle, but manageable.

5) Figure your best fishing/crabbing strategies for Alaska. Or, do as we do and refine your best hang-dog "will work for fish" look. We have found that Alaskan's are incredibly generous with nature's bounty.

6) Begin your pretrip planning Now and learn all you can beforehand. C-Brats is a brain trust of Knowledge; tap into it and you will be amply rewarded.

Feel free to PM me (or any C-Brat) with specific questions; we want you to have a Great Adventure!

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
From my standpoint, the BEST part of our cruise was between Cape Caution and Prince Rupert, and you will miss all that if you trailer up. I wish I had not had to go pedal to the metal to meet Patty in Ketchikan. The next time I will take it a little slower!
 
I thank everyone for the valuable information regarding your trips through the inside passage.
I will be getting my safety equipment like epirbs. I am going to upgrade my life vest to a class 1 for better buoyancy.
I am equipped with two VHS radios, one with weather, two GPS units one being a plotter, radar, and a am/fm radio.

I will have to get some canvas work done to enclose the rear deck which I had planned on. That can only be done on the west coast it seems.
As for heat and cooking I carry some coleman 502 stoves. I have the liquid fuel catalytic heaters when needed.

I removed the cooler and rack that accompanied the boat. I built a higher freeboard on the rear of the transom that is level with rest of the freeboard to accommodate a fish cleaning/bait table. This to helps limit how much water gets into the boat via the transom.

I have a large drift sock in case of, first aid, two extinguishers, tools, an extra prop, prop nuts, spark plugs, an assortment of fasteners and so on.

My biggest concern is I have a single 90 hp 4 stroke Honda with a 9.9 Honda kicker. The 9.9 will not control the vessel when the wind is over 10 mph. When I ordered this boat from Sportcraft Marine I wanted this configuration because I am inland. For the ocean this is not the best selection.

My wife and I are considering trading the angler for cruiser as it has better sleeping accommodations, not to mention the wallas stove/heater. I am a big dude and I don't think that the two of us can sleep in the V berth together and be comfortable. The other option is to get a cot and use it in the open deck area after the canvas work is done.

So I have been slowly preparing for the trip little by little. We had planned on making a trip every year to Washington state to Salmon fish, that was the primary reason for the Dory. We have yet been able to do this. I have a lot of hours on our inland lakes where it is common for very high winds. That being said it is not the same as navigating on the ocean. So I may take a few extra trips soon to get the feel of navigating on salt water.

Another note perhaps worth mentioning, my step grandfather Harry, was a retired Air Force Colonel. After his service he began his quest for hunting and fishing. In 1979 he ordered a C-Dory 22' angler from the factory and had it equipped with a 75 hp Johnson and a compass. I cannot remember ever seeing another outboard on there. Every summer he went to BC to salmon fish where he would spend a couple of months. He would go sometimes 25 miles out from shore. He always had good success with his boat. Sadly enough me being the step grandchild I was never invited to these outings which was really disappointing. I love fishing, and Harry was what I would consider a master fisherman. My dad whom always went hated going on this trip because he never really cared for fishing, and Harry was neurotic about taking care of his equipment. Nobody drove Harrys boat! I would have given a lung to be able to fish with Harry just to learn from him. So it has been a personal quest to get out to the west coast to do some sight seeing and fishing. He passed several years ago, and gave his boat to a his pal in BC. Before he died I had purchased our C-Dory. I sent him photos, and he was very excited. I invited him to come down to see it and to operate the boat. There were a great deal of changes made from the 1979 dory to the 2006 Dory that I thought would interest him. Because of his ailing health and the loss of his wife, he simply could never make it. So I will have to use the force when I take these trips and hope that through my dads stories of him I will remember the important things.




Again I want to thank all those who responded for the great information,

Mike ad Maggie Gilbert Powell, WY
 
Mike,

It sounds like you have your plans well in hand.

...a couple of things to consider:

A Class I PFD does have more bouancy, but they also take up more storage space. You might want to consider a couple of the suspender-type PFD's. They are USCG approved, and wear or store easily. Given the water temperatures in SEAK a PFD is often just a body marker anyway, unless rescue is readily at hand.

I think your current 9.9hp kicker will do the job nicely. It's mostly a "get home motor" anyway and (hopefully) wouldn't need to be used in really crappy conditions (watch the wx closely and be prepared to wait-it-out or head for a protected area nearby).

You might want to reconsider the idea of sleeping in the cockpit - even camper canvas.

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Mike,

Modern well maintained engines are very reliable and hence it's unlikely you'll even need your kicker. It sounds like you've taken reasonable precautions so just go for it! After all, we have small boats and you'll never be able to get all the available safety gear on board so at some point one has to say enough.

Regarding you "big dude" status, you might want to consider a 23 Venture/Cape Cruiser. I'm not so tiny myself and when we were shopping we compared the 22 with the 23 side by side (at Sportcraft) and, to me, the berth in the 23 felt much larger. Something to consider if you get the opportunity.

-steve
 
How about doing it in reverse?

There seems to be no end to the CD 27 selection in Alaska. It looks like a nice one just sold, and two more just popped up. It's nuts! These are really cool boats, and if I were going to do a long stretch of cruising with someone else, I'd way rather be on a 27 than a 22. I love my 22, but it if its loaded for endurance there isn't much room left for a couple. I'm not huge, but pretty big, I also tend to bring dogs.

Strikes me that someone looking to upgrade from a 22 Angler could get up north, grab a 27, get it to haines on the road system, then come back south on the inside passage. There is also a 27 for sale down in Washington. A diesel longhouse. I'm surprised nobody has grabbed that one.

Anyway, just a thought.
 
Mike:

That's a neat story about your dad and step-grandpa (although sad that he didn't take you along instead of your dad when you were itching to go and your dad was ambivalent). I like that you've had the lifelong goal to get your own boat over to the coast for some fishing :thup

One note on the kicker: Everyone goes with their own philosophy about how to run their boat and handle issues. Some expect the kicker to do everything the main does (in which case yours would be small). For myself, I plan for the kicker to get me "to the side of the road" where I can anchor safely and figure out my next move (which might be to wait for calm conditions and putter in on the kicker). A small kicker should work fine for that, and has other advantages (lightweight, etc.) (we also have folks running a "pampered single main" and no kicker - and these are experienced boaters doing big trips). I don't know that there is any objective right or wrong answer on the subject

Kushtaka: I always enjoy considering different options - fun stuff. And those 27's do look super cool. I can think of a couple of reasons why I'd probably go another way though - I'll just toss them out for the fun of talking about it.

1) I would have a hard time buying a boat and then just shoving off on a big trip. I like to get things tweaked to how I like them (preferably not on the dock in a port away from home), so that's why. Granted I'm on one end of that spectrum though!

2) I like to keep my boat (at this particular chapter of life) more easily trailerable and still feeling relatively small and nimble for smaller/inland waters.

I still like your ideas though :thup And I know they would be totally workable for some people/situations.
 
I don't know how "Big" big is. I am 6' 2" and 180#--I find the C D 22 Cruiser to be comfortable. My son at 6'4" and 240# thinks it is cramped--but is "OK" with the size in the 25. If you really want big, then get the Tom Cat 24-- Another option is cut out the port forward bulkhead, This is non structural. On the Tom Cat, I put a cushion on the floor of the forward facing navigator's seat, and it allowed me to sleep fore and aft, when we had extra grandkids with us--then 3 grand kids on the bunk also. Tight, but do-able.

I assume that you do not use the coleman stoves inside the cabin. I have a bit of an aversion to the older 502 type of stoves. I spent a lot of time when I was younger working in the mountains. and we used to find that type stove in the dump, because they caught on fire.

The liquid fuel catalytic heater has another type of problem (and I have used them in vans a number of years ago)--that is it produces moisture--and that his the last thing you want in AK! Condensation is bad enough in any small fiberglass boat. Putting insulation helps to some extent.

I would agree that a cot in the aft cockpit also has pitfalls. If you had floors in the boat (can be retrofitted, and in that case, I might elect for an air mattress vs the cot. Just one of the issues, which Casey knows well about, is that cots are very cold, because of air flow under the unit--air mattress or foam pads are much warmer.

The 9.9 hp kicker will work fine--I suspect that you did not have the correct prop-- (your want a low pitch, large diameter). Also the best control will be with linking the main and kicker together and using the boat's steering--the main will act as a rudder, and give better directional stability--plus your weight will be foreword, and there won't be as much "bow up in the air" to blow around, and give control issues. You can set the throttle, and drive from inside with the kicker.

If your step Grandfather (sounds like quite a guy) had a 1979, he must have had one of the very first boats produced. It certainly would be interesting to see photos of it.

I any case, for you the Inland Passage is do-able. Heck--look at what they are doing this "Race to Alaska" in--and we always saw Kayak's going from Seattle to Skagway on our trips. Usually came along side, and asked if they needed any thing, and threw them a beer as we departed (slowly).

I believe that you will make this trip soon. Keep bouncing ideas off the group.
 
Thank you all for your input. Since I am almost 1000 miles east of Washington ocean cruising seems a very far reach. The ocean is certainly a large body of water compared to my ponds. If I were to do a trade, or simply purchase a better equipped boat for these trips it has to be trailerable, or not wider than 8'6". I do not want to have to deal with oversized loads skipping cross country. Another bit is that I would not buy a boat and take it on a trip of this magnitude until it was fully tested.

So you all present some very important points worth considering.

When we purchased the Angler we knew it's primary use was fishing inland waters. After we have gotten familiar with our Dory we realized we should have spent the extra nickels and got the cruiser. After more consideration we can buy even a 26-27' that meets my towing parameters.

I must say I am not the CD purist I should be because I have looked at one other brand. The Sea Sport. I really like the looks and the camping ability. We took a tour of the CD factory in southern Oregon in 2009. We also stopped by Sea Sport and toured their factory. I fell in love with the Sea Sport instantly. Sadly I cant own both unless I consider living alone for many years.

I realize the two boats are a different class really. The CD is a low speed trawler, never intended for big HP. At my elevation this does hinder performance. Shortly after we purchased our CD the manufacturer increased HP ratings on the 22 footers from 100 to 115 HP. I have a 90 hp 4 stroke carbureted Honda where the 115 HP engines are fuel injected. Not only that but the 115 has a larger stator better suited for heavier electrical use. I do not believe that any part of the transom has been reinforced anymore than my CD. At my elevation 25 extra HP is the difference between a 13 pitch prop compared to an 11 pitch. With every 1000 feet of elevation you loose 3% of your horsepower. With the power loss and adding extra people fishing this will not allow me to plane. At my elevation, almost 5000 ft it cruises at top speed at 17 mph on a calm day with my wife and I.
This is another consideration for me to think about when doing my research trying to find the best boat that I can use here or there.
I know at sea level my CD will probably run at 30+ mph with a larger pitch prop, it still does not solve the elevation issue, nor the camping problem. Lets not forget fuel consumption either. You get a SP your going to have twin 300's. that love petrol. I think the venture, or the 26' cruiser would be a better setup for less money. I do not know what the SP are in comparison to the CD, but I bet it is almost double.

So many options to consider.
Once again I am truly grateful to all of you for your suggestions

Mike Gilbert
 
Hi Mike,

We've spent lots of time on Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge, Yellowstone Lake, and other high altitude lakes. Our CD22 Cruiser had a 90hp Yamaha 2-stroke, which worked well at any elevation, providing we switched to the right prop. We had three different pitches: one for the ocean, one for Powell (3,700 feet) and another for the much higher lakes. It ran well cruising SE Alaska loaded to the gills with fishing gear, food, clothing, etc. Cruised at 14-18 knots, even with a full 58-gal gas tank. Our 9.9 kicker worked well too, saving us from disaster more than once.

When I retired we moved from the CD22 to a heavily-built diesel-powered 26-footer rather similar to the Sea Sport. Lots more creature comforts, but much higher fuel usage too. Our tradeoff is to cruise the Inside Passage mainly at 6-6.5 knots, getting 4.5 nmpg, which gives us lots of range on a tank, peace and quiet whilst gawking, and minimal wear and tear on engine and sterndrive. When we want to travel at 18 knots we can.

We're in Ketchikan today, beginning our 13th full summer in SE Alaska. Happy to share info and experiences,
 
I have a 22 Cruiser, but have often thought that I might have liked an Angler. Not for fishing (necessarily) but for cruising. What would make it would be a really good, well-designed and fitted bimini/camperback covering that generously long cockpit. It's not that I don't like the Cruiser interior, but on the other hand I think a huge (for a 22), long "porch/living room/cockpit" could be super nice for cruising. Sit out there on chairs with plenty of room, etc.

Just a thought for if you want to go with your present boat.

As far as I know there is no reason not to put a 115 on an "older" C-dory. I don't think anything was actually changed but the rating (or does anyone know differently?). I have my eye on the new Yamaha 115 (377#, whereas my carbureted Yamaha 80 is 369#). I think the Honda 115 is a great engine, but I don't think I'd want its ~478# on the transom (not because of the transom strength, but because of the weight vs. the design).

I would also like it if Yamaha re-designed its 90hp to reduce weight. Right now it's something like 7# less than the 115, and that just seems wrong (but the 115 is a new design as of last year).

I can't wait to read about your adventures in the PNW :thup
 
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