Port Angles Ferry

R

Rock-C

New member
We are planning the trip to Comox in July and thinking that it might be a good idea to tow the boat up there. I tried to get a quote from the Port Angles, Victoria ferry system web sight. It seems you have to give up a lot of information and make a reservation to find out how much it costs. Catch 22.
So if anyone out there in the C-Brat world knows how much it costs to take a 22' C-Dory in tow on the ferry, please jump in.
Thanks for your help
Terry
 
Hi Terry. The Coho is a good way to go. I paid about $225 last fall for the 22 and F150 being 47 feet overall. BC ferries was going to run about $275. I don't know if they charge more in spring/summer but I did one way in September and one in December both about the same money. I didn't reserve as I crossed during the week. Being retired I try to miss travel on weekend with the crowds. George
 
Hey Terry - give them a call at the office. It's a small-ish outfit, and they're a real friendly bunch. They'll give you all the info you need over the phone.

However...knowing what they charge for cars/motorcycles, I'll bet it will cost an arm and two legs. From their fares page, it looks like you'll get dinged 5.25/foot. Combined with the reservation fee (probably smart in the middle of summer), you're likely looking at $500 in fares roundtrip for a tow vehicle + 22.

Now...iffin' you launch out of PA, and want a free/secure place to park your rig - that might be arranged.
 
Thanks George & Bill
I figure it will cost about $500 in gas for the boat, round trip from Bellingham. Sounds like the ferry wouldn't save any money but it may save some time.
The run from Nanaimo to Comox looks pretty exposed. Not a lot of places to duck into for shelter.
Right now I'm leaning towards boating up thru the Gulf Is. I may leave a couple days early and take my time.
 
Nanaimo to Comox is pretty exposed, but you have Schooner Cove and French Creek on the way up the Island. You can come inside Denman and Hornby Islands south of Comox but this 50 mile stretch is best done keeping close to the Island and before the normal NW winds get going. Dawn departures or evening works well. Let me know when you plan on Nanaimo, if you need anything. Also get together for appys and a good brew. 8) George
 
Terry,
We have used the Tsawassen - Nanaimo ferry a number of times when headed to the Broughtons. There is often a discount early in the season and you do have to add in the cost for fuel for the truck, launching and strorage which makes it pretty close to the cost of boating there.

The big advantage of having your rig in the area is if you have any unexpected "issues" with the boat or engine(s) its a much shorter tow or run to where your rig is and you can take it back home to get it fixed. Remember some manufacturers will not honor your warranty in Canada AND you are liable for customs duty on any parts fitted to your boat when you come back :evil:

Another consideration on the Tsawassen ferry is that the closest border crossing is the peace arch which can be VERY crowded unless you have Nexus. The time difference can easily be 2 hours. On one occasion we were home on Whidbey before our friends even cleared customs. The truck crossing may be slightly better but the Nexus lane is narrrow and not easy to negotiate with a trailer. (The real TRUCKs use different (Commercial) lanes, not Nexus).

The Nanaimo crossing does bring you into Canada well North of Victoria and this saves some time (as long as you ignore your GPS and take the highway past Nanaimo and do not go though downtown!!)

We crossed the straits twice last week and it was flat calm early in the morning. :thup but the day in between even the entrance to Pender Harbor had 4 ft breakers and outside was unthinkable.

If you have a schedule, the ferry trip is worth considering :D

Merv
 
Hi guys

Being a local on the Island we are very conscious of the ferry Tate's and their escalation over the last years. I would certainly look at the two suggestions, Coho and BC Ferry. I would also check out the Washington State ferry from Anacortes to Sidney. It is used by a lot of mobile homes, fifth wheels and so on. Anacortes is not a bad drive from Bellingham and you won't have the hassle of crossing the border at Peace Arch.

Just an idea.
 
Terry, we are leaving Blaine on July 20, cruising short distances daily with stops at all the old and some new destinations, doing the Comox CBGT, and then cruising back down over the following week, back in Blaine to retrieve on Friday, August 3. You really might consider a Blaine launch. Blaine is less than 20 miles past Bellingham, and is also a Port of Bellingham facility, so same launch fee and free parking. Ethanol-free gas at the Cenex in Ferndale, too. Clear Canada Customs at White Rock (5 minutes out of Blaine), an easy 15 miles or so over to Cabbage Island for the first night, go inside at Active Passage, and simply wander your way up. Taking a ferry to Canada offers no advantage over this program and adds a lot of unnecessary costs. Spend your money on boat gas not a ferry! It will be Daydream, the new C-Change CD25, and two R27 Tugs, Amy Marie and Traveler, for the duration, and David on Anna Leigh at least for part of the way. I will PM you our schedule if you want to hook up somewhere.

George - we have two stops planned in Nanaimo, Wednesday 7/25 and Sunday, 7/29. We'll be at Newcastle Island but taking our dinghies over for - well, did I hear you mention microbrews? Twist my arm!
 
One word of caution about the Anacortes- Sidney ferry. On the return trip you park alongside the road in Sidney and there is a VERY tight 180 turn into the holding area which may be impossible to make. In this case you will need to talk with the staff and then make a small side trip uptown to come at the gate from the opposite end. With luck they will hold your place in line for you while you do this.
Also the "Gendarmes" have a low canopy to keep the sun off and they get upset if you knock it down so be careful which lane you use.

Dont ask!

M
 
Pat
The Blain to White Rock to Cabbage Is, sounds like a good idea. I'll Google Blain marina and see what the scoop is.
Got your schedule, thanks. We might be able to leave a day or two early and cross paths along the way. Ann is still working so it depends on her time off.
Terry
 
Last year when we went to the Broughtons we looked into taking the Anacortes and Tsawwassen ferries versus just driving the boat up. It was about a wash in terms of ferry fees or fuel costs. We opted to drive the boat up, leaving from Bellingham because of the low cost launch and free parking. If you have the time it was a very pleasant way to go.
 
Hi Pat take in the Dinghy Dock pub while at Newcastle. We'll be out that week coming down to the Comox gathering. See you there. We should be heading south from the Broughtons but if the summer is as wet as last year we'll be crossing from Desolation! We're looking for sun this summer George
 
Just going to throw this in about the dinghy dock pub. We had a friend ,Cliff and his wife, that lived on the island where the dinghy dock pub is. We visited them several times before they sold the house, something I will never understand, and always went to the DDPub for dinner. We also went there when the C-brats had the great gathering there a few years ago. As far as I can tell the only people that like the food are the ones that spent a LOT of time in the bar first. Yes its a neat place that you can anchor out and take you dinghy to to eat but unless you drink a lot I would eat some where else.

just IMHO.. well sort of humble.
 
I'm with Tom. I didn't much care for the food at the Dinghy Dock Pub, at least at the prices they were charging. It has character though.
 
The DD pub has had a rough few years after the original owner passed away a few years ago. Been a couple new owners who have struggled. I was there a month back and it was quite a bit improved. More like its old self. If one likes pub grub its pretty good. I think its main benefit is its close to the anchorage and its unique and gives easy acces to protection island for walks. George
 
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