North Channel - Georgian Bay - Lake Huron

Groceries can be purchased in Blind River. The water was always cold but we did swim with the kids. We always fueled at Little Current. With the CD22 we always put the bow on shore and tied of to a tree. The fun is our boats can go where others can't. Don't even look at the guide books just used your charts and find your own locations for the night. Love not having tides as it opens up so many possibilities. The kids loved looking at the charts to find those little spots. Get ready for shallow water cruising in many areas.

Be sure to listen to channel 74 at 9AM to Little Current Cruiser Network. Everyone checks in with Roy that does the announcements.

Have fun!
 
The Tugnuts are having rendezvous in Little Current August 7 thru the 9th of August. We are in the middle of the Trenton Severn at Bobcaygeon. We plan to be in Little Current sometime in early August. We will head to the Benjamin Islands before the rendezvous on the 7th. The ramp at Spanish is said to be pretty steep. Some say four wheel drive is also recommended. What do they know?
D.D.
 
Sault Ste. Marie will have the biggest selection of the cheaper stores like NO FRILLS, FOOD BASICS, METRO, etc. If you carry a laptop you can google their weekly flyers and exact location before you get there.

We have a Canadian Cbrat in Sault Ste. Marie. His handle is TUG. You could PM him for specific questions re. anchorages or fishing spots.

Like BRAZO said, water will be cold. Personally I like to keep my bow towards any waves that might come along. I don't have a dingy either, so if water is warm enough, less than 4ft. and sand bottom,,, I have a 10pd. navy I drop off the stern and carry towards shore until both rodes are tight then drop it and dig it into the sand by hand(or foot). If it is weedy or rocky I carry a 3pd. slip ring PWC anchor that I tie off to a stern eye(30ft. rode) and heave towards shore. I have only overnighted this way in shallow protected anchorages though.

If you have the PORTS CRUISING GUIDE it will show fuel docks if up to date. I ran into trouble last year using an outdated guide for The Trent(2006). Some marinas it showed with fuel were no longer in business. Depending what chart and plotter you are using it may also show NEAREST AVAILABLE FUEL. I hate to carry extra fuel onboard(jerry cans) for safety reasons but I do carry a empty, new unused(no fumes) 2gal. can. We did end up having to use it last year to carry from a town wall to a service station(on the hard).

Our factory installed porta potti(in the cuddy) has a very small reservoir(space constraints). We bought a bigger one and carry it in the cockpit(covered). We can use the one in the cuddy during the day(if necessary) and the one in the cockpit at night. Works for us.

If you happen to hit bad boating weather in Sault Ste. Marie - check out the AGAWA CANYON TOUR TRAIN. A very picturesque day trip - google for info.

Enjoy, Rob
 
Thanks. That's two of you that say Blind River is a good grocery stop. (I'm also getting some good info from a young couple I met a few years ago up in Door County. Non C-dory/brats, but were up at the North Channel with their Four Winds a year or two ago. So looks like Blind River will be our grocery stop. (They said parking was kind of tight, but they had a larger pickup and boat, so I'm hoping I can fit or find parking on the way to Spanish.) Sounds like many have launched at Spanish, so I'm not going to worry too much about the ramp. (I've seen some relatively pretty steep ramps on some Kentucky Lakes, so feel comfortable launching and retrieving as long as they are not rediculously steep! :-) I almost lost my anchor in some rocks in Lake Powel, so now have a separate smaller line I hook to the front of the anchor in questionable anchorages, in case I need to pull the anchor that way! I'm also taking my extra 8 lb danforth fluke anchor to use on shore, if need be. I've heard from folks now that anchor both ways (bow on, or bow out). Sounds like it depends on the area. The other couple also told me they just put some fenders out and docked against the rocks a few times... Needless to say, a little nervous, but excited about our first trip to the North Channel. Little nervous about the shallow water with big rocks. Sounds like it might be a bit like the Rainy Lake area. (I remember being in deep water there, with big rocks popping up very close by, in the middle of that deep water....) We will be getting into Spanish this Monday, and leaving a week later, so think we will miss the Tugnuts... I don't carry any extra fuel cans or gas. Figure if 40 gals isn't enuf, I'm not going there. :-) If anyone else is going to be in the area, give us a shout. If you have DSC, my mmsi is 338131849. I'd be more than happy to pair up with someone that knows the area better. :-) Colby
 
Thanks Boris. I'll remember that. One more question as I'm thinking about it, any problem finding places to empty the porta potty while away from the main marina's?
 
There really aren't very many marina's in the North Channel. If my memory is correct, west there is Blind River and Spanish, in the middle there is Little Current, and east there is Killarney. Outside of Little Current, the other marina's are on the outside edges of the cruising area.
 
Just wondering then what others do when the porta potty's fill up? Another question came to mind. Fishing? After checking into the cost of a Canadian fishing license, I figured I'd probably forego any fishing this time and just spend idle time relaxing with a book or hiking. However I read where many talk about doing a little fishing, so was wondering if I misread something about fishing licenses, or if folks or forking over the cost for the license. Colby
 
For me a fishing license is like boating accessories - I just pay for it and worry about what it costs later 8) . Fun might come with a price tag but sometimes that tag looks blurry until the end of the month when it suddenly clears up! :P

If you change your mind, non residents can buy a one day or a 8 day temp. license. We have 2 classes of lic. a conservation and a sport - the sport costing more but generally gives you around twice the limit. If you were only fishing for your meals the cheaper one would do. We also have a BOOK full of rules and regulations! Then to confuse you even more Ontario is divided into 20 different fishing zones. Your holiday might be over by the time you read the book and got it all figured out!

If you don't have the space to bring 2 porta potti's like I do another option would be to buy another - the same model as you have then just bring the reservoir and swap them when 1 is full. Another thing you can do is keep urine separate which can be more readily disposed of.

Regards, Rob
 
Thanks for that info Rob! I hear you about the fishing license. (The recreational aspect of it, vs. the cost.) If I did do any fishing, it would be preferably for Pan Fish, but anything that bites makes it worthwhile! Sounds like a lot more rules than I really want to learn in a short time. I would like to have the opportunity to just throw a line over if the occasion arises, yet at the same time I can get a little more storage space taking my fishing tackle off the boat. I think of last month in Lake Powell where I purchased a 3 day license, and hardly used it. (And I was much more familiar with our US rules, which are fairly the same throughout the states.) Guess I'll need to decide before we leave Spanish!
Regarding the porta potty, the having two reservoirs idea sounds like a good one. We are hard pressed to get 6 days use out of the potty while living on the boat. but having the extra reservoir would work. And since many of our big trips like this involve 6 or 7 days, it probably makes sense to pick up another one. Colby
 
colbysmith":jwof6on1 said:
After checking into the cost of a Canadian fishing license,
Click to expand...

Don't forget that the prices you see on our internet sites will be in Canadian dollars. With the loonie being low right now that makes the cost to you in US dollars a little more palatable. This would apply to the cost of lock passes from Parks Canada as well.

Regards, Rob
 
They make porta Potties with 5 gallon reservoirs that are only 16.5 inches tall.
About Money
We opened a TD Bank debit card account near our home in Pa. The TD ATM card used at TD banks in Canada gives you Canadian money at a pretty good exchange rate. Banks often use third party vendors for currency transactions and the banks themselves have many charges they apply. Everyone will take U.S. dollars but your exchange rate might turn creative. You can withdraw as much 750 dollars a day using the TD debit card. The beauty is you only need to withdraw what you need no need for the reverse exchange which will have more charges. Some of the credit cards have foreign transaction fees. There seem to be TD banks most everywhere up here.
D.D.
 
Joe,
TD used to be called Commerce Bank in the states, then they changed their name to TD Bank. Canadian owned. They didn't want to open any banks in California because they heard there was not much water there. How about a trans continental water pipeline. We have floods we don't need out east.
TD bank has excellent customer service. Rates on CD's and savings accounts not so much.
D.D.
 
Unfortunately the 16.5" tall potties are too tall for the CD22 berth. The one that came with the boat is 15.5" with not much clearance over it for that center "bunk".😧
 
On our way towing north now. Looks like very little cell/internet service once we cross into Canada. (Too cheap to pay the cell charges!) I actually looked at that larger 16.5" tall toilet today at our local Cabellas on the way out of town and thought that would be good. Unfortunately the one that came with our C-Dory is only 15.5" high, and there is not enough clearance for the 16.5" in that location with the berth made. I am wondering now if we can even find a reasonably priced replacement if our current one breaks down. There is a smaller one, but the original is a perfect size (assuming a couple isn't using it for more than about four days.) The newer ones also use a different attachment mechanism between the bowl and the sewage tank. So the idea of having another one to just swap tanks doesn't work..... Too late now to do anymore checking into it, but my next project when home will be to see if Thetford stocks replacement parts. Lid on our original is cracked anyway, but so far the white duct tape is working. lol.
 
We are at the 199 mile mark in Orillia on the Trent Severn. Most all marinas we stopped at seemed to have internet. My wife bought a small phone plan through our Verizon account and has no trouble with service. I left my phone in the truck on purpose. Most of the marinas up here monitor channel 68 it seems.
D.D.
 
Well, just returned from our trip to hell, or I mean the North Channel. Ok, maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but as they say, different strokes for different folks. Don't get me wrong, it is a very beautiful area. But guess I've seen so much, and have different likes. For me, I guess I prefer the Apostle Islands, or our own Door County, for cruising, which are closer and one doesn't need to deal with exchange rates and crossing the border. But I am still very glad we made this trip, other wise I'd still be wanting to get up there! Our travels towing the boat went uneventful, and we had a good drive enjoying the scenery along the way. Launched at Spanish, which was nice, but nothing spectacular. (Ramp wasn't really that steep, and not very long anyway....) Stayed the night, then had a great day following to go all the way over to "The Pool". Very peaceful and calm. Saw a large fresh water turtle in the morning, but couldn't grab my camera fast enuf... Same next day (calm that is) as we headed over to Covered Portage Cove. Again, very nice and protected cove to tuck in to. The next day is when the fun started. Winds really picked up, and after getting more into the open, hit 6 foot waves, terrible chop, and took more green water over the bow than we cared too! Several hours later we finally made it to Little Current, and were very fortunate to get one of the last slips available. Next day wasn't much better, so another night at the Government Docks. Following day, thought maybe going real early would be better. It was, but not by much. Looking at 3-4 ft waves in the open, but at least we kept them under the boat. Got to the Benjamins, but was so frustrated with it all by then, just decided to call it a trip and continue around the bend back to Spanish. Pulled out and headed to Mackinac City, which had some stormy weather of it's own, but at least we were able to enjoy some of the shopping there, and made it out to Mackinac Island for the day. As I said, I am glad we finally got to the North Channel. It, like many other cruising locations, comes with it's own claim to beauty, but I find my self more drawn to our Door County in Green Bay and Lake Michigan. As I don't see heading back to the North Channel, if anyone is interested in making a reasonable offer on the Richardson's Chartbook & Cruising Guide for Lake Huron, including Georgian Bay & North Channel, 6th Edition, and The Cruising Guides Ports, Georgian Bay, The North Channel & Lake Huron, along with the single chart Clapperton Island to John Island, # 2257, feel free to PM me. Colby
 
Weather has ruined more than one boating vacation.

How did your analysis of the forecast make you decide
"this is the time to depart safe harbor"?

Aye.

Grandma used to say, "Timing is everything."
Grandpa used to say, "Don't take personally what
ever Mother Nature throws at you."
 
We knew it was windy, but perhaps unfamiliarity with the area, and not actually being able to see it till we were in it got us in the bad stuff. As we say in the aviation business, "get home itis" or in this case to the next anchorage probably played a part too. We enjoy seeing as much as we can and not staying in one place long. That too is part of the different strokes for different folks saying. No doubt about it, the North Channel has some beautiful and protected anchorages. With some nice nature hikes. So did the San Juans we were at last year, and then we had great weather, although very cool. But we live 4 hours from Door towing the boat, and about 7 from the Apostles. Both areas we continue to love to explore, and with much more familiarity of the area and weather induced seas. Would have been nice if we could have got some better sea condition information as well, but that is likely our own fault. We were not alone in making the decision to go both times, as we were not alone as we scanned the horizon. But by the sounds of the calls asking for docking, nobody was too happy with the winds, while trying to see the area! Even in the first day with the beautiful sky and calm seas, my wife put it best when she said she just wasn't getting the "wow" factor yet. I think this comes from hearing some really exciting and positive stories and encouragement about a place, and maybe setting up with too many expectations. We are probably all a bit guilty of this as we share about our favorite cruising grounds or look forward to somewhere we've heard about. In the end I've wanted to go to the North Channel for several years, and now I can cross that off my bucket list.😎 Its beautiful, but then so are many other places we enjoy returning too! 😉
 
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