Round trip to Glacier Bay

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Pandion

New member
Fellow Brats, I am taking my boat, Osprey, to Glacier Bay (and hopefully back), from the Seattle area. I’ve been on the water now since May 31, and have logged 652.6 NM. Hoping to be in Prince Rupert Tuesday, and in Ketchikan by the 13th—Dixon Entrance conditions permitting.

You can see an online account of Osprey’s travels here:

http://osprey-alaska.org/

On those fairly rare occasions that I’m able to get Internet access, I will be updating the website, and will try to link back to it from this site as well.

I’m in Hartley Bay now, waiting for the gas pumps to open, and it’s been raining steady for two days. But man, it’s pretty up here.

Thanks to all the Brats, so many of you, who have helped me prepare for this voyage over the past several months.

Andy
 
Andy. Blue Days and I are currently in Petersburg. Plan is to spend the next two nights anchored in Ideal Cove, and to do LeConte Bay tomorrow. After that, we may try to head towards Juneau, or over to Kake. All depends on the weather, and the mood. lol. Last year in June when I was in Desolation Sound and the Broughtons, it seemed early in the season with very few boats. However, we've already found spaces filling up in the Marinas in places like Ketchikan, Myers Chuck, Petersburg. There are spaces, but not necessarily with power & water, or with two together. We got into Wrangle the other day, and by early afternoon, the last spot was taken in the main harbor.
Anyway, maybe we'll see you sometime while up here. I have my AIS transmitting when underway, and for a short time after arriving a marina, or about an hour before leaving. MMSI 338131849. I don't think we'll go to Glacier Bay, with so many other Glaciers easier to get to. But that could all change. Colby
 
Andy, Great to see your post here, and it has been fun to follow on your website, ( http://osprey-alaska.org/ ).

Safe travels and will be following along. BTW, your writing is spectacular, and my friend from Gabriola (Silva Bay) wants to pass greetings back to the RCMP officer you met in Alert Bay.

Take care and travel safe.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Andy, we will also be following your travel and enjoying all your pictures and write-ups along the way. Thank you for the knot tying demonstration.

Safe travel...thanks!

Gary and Colleen.
 
Andy and Bill,

Great pictures. In following your travel, is the picture of Knutson Cove Marina the same place as the marina in Knudson Cove that I found on Mapcarta south of Clover Island on the west side of Revillagigedo Island? Close in spelling!

Looks like you are having a great time. The scenery up there is awesome. Keep sending us those great pictures.

Gary and Colleen.
 
Hey Andy, our messages crossed in the electronic around the world paths that emails do getting from here to there. Welcome to summer. Stay safe.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Andy, I’m enjoying your write ups & photos. We did much of the route you’ve made so far in 2004 & your excellent photos & observations are bringing back many good memories.

I’m considering upgrading to Tohatsu motors. Do you have numbers on milage so far while on plane & displacement? Also with just one 50 hp running have you checked top speed & what pitch props are you running.

It’s great seeing you bring your planning to reality.

Jay
 
Thanks Jay, and thanks for your help getting ready for my trip. We’re off tomorrow, from Petersburg, for Ford’s Terror and Tracy Arm. As for the Tohatsus, they’re great engines—but they are also the biggest mistake I’ve made in planning for this trip.

It didn’t occur to me until after I had purchased the engines to make inquiries about getting them serviced in B.C. and Alaska. Guess what? There isn’t a Tohatsu dealer north of Nanaimo. Fortunately, I was able to persuade a Honda dealer in Ketchikan to haul my boat out and change the lower unit oil, but I doubt I’ll find anyone else up here to be so accommodating.

If you’re planning more Alaska adventures, I’d suggest sticking with Hondas or Yamahas.
 
colbysmith":1zaj7e7n said:
Andy. Blue Days and I are currently in Petersburg. Plan is to spend the next two nights anchored in Ideal Cove, and to do LeConte Bay tomorrow. After that, we may try to head towards Juneau, or over to Kake. All depends on the weather, and the mood. lol. Last year in June when I was in Desolation Sound and the Broughtons, it seemed early in the season with very few boats. However, we've already found spaces filling up in the Marinas in places like Ketchikan, Myers Chuck, Petersburg. There are spaces, but not necessarily with power & water, or with two together. We got into Wrangle the other day, and by early afternoon, the last spot was taken in the main harbor.
Anyway, maybe we'll see you sometime while up here. I have my AIS transmitting when underway, and for a short time after arriving a marina, or about an hour before leaving. MMSI 338131849. I don't think we'll go to Glacier Bay, with so many other Glaciers easier to get to. But that could all change. Colby
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Hey Colby, sorry—I missed your message. Looks like I’m a few days behind you. How was Le Conte? I think we’ll pass it by on our way north, but I’m interested in checking it out on my homeward leg. So far, no problem finding dock space—in Ketchikan, Knudson Cove, Meyers Chuck, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, or Petersburg. Just lucky so far, I guess.

I expect to be in Juneau June 30 and July 1, then off to Glacier Bay for ten days. Then back in Juneau by July 11.

Unfortunately I can only receive AIS—but if you see a CD-22 with a pair of blue kayaks on the roof, it’s likely me. My MMSI # is: 367799690.

Andy
 
Pandion":v9ydtabc said:
Thanks Jay, and thanks for your help getting ready for my trip. We’re off tomorrow, from Petersburg, for Ford’s Terror and Tracy Arm. As for the Tohatsus, they’re great engines—but they are also the biggest mistake I’ve made in planning for this trip.

It didn’t occur to me until after I had purchased the engines to make inquiries about getting them serviced in B.C. and Alaska. Guess what? There isn’t a Tohatsu dealer north of Nanaimo. Fortunately, I was able to persuade a Honda dealer in Ketchikan to haul my boat out and change the lower unit oil, but I doubt I’ll find anyone else up here to be so accommodating.

If you’re planning more Alaska adventures, I’d suggest sticking with Hondas or Yamahas.
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Andy, no dealers in SE Alaska is not a concern to me. In all of our cruises there, I’ve never had anyone else touch my Honda motors & on the two occasions I needed parts, there were none available for what I needed without being shipped from the lower 48.

I would still appreciate milage numbers & prop pitch if you have them available.

You should be in for some spectacular sights in this next leg of your cruise.

Jay
 
Andy, don't get me wrong, Honda and Yamaha are great motors, but I got scared for a moment and checked for authorized Suzuki motor repair and service as well up in the Inside Passage to lower Alaska. I found 6 authorized Suzuki service centers starting from Breakers Marine Ltd. in Port Alberni up to Juneau, Ak. There are also many more Suzuki service centers if you continue on further north. We love our Suzuki motors and want others to know that they also have the option to go with Suzuki if they are considering other brands beside Honda and Yamaha.

Thank you for the information though. Gary.
 
Hey Andy,
Leaving Sitka tomorrow to head up towards Elfin Cove. No plans to go into Glacier Bay, but with your and my timing, we may cross paths. I'll look for you. Take care, and continue to enjoy your travels. We are enjoying ours! Colby
 
Gary, the Suzuki 60 hp is presently my 2nd choice after Tohatsu & could very well end up being my 1st. I’m in the process of getting an ok from Sportscraft Marine for them now. I already have the price quote of $16,000 installed. They only weigh 12 lbs more per motor than the Tohatsu. I still haven’t received a price quote from EQ marine for the Tohatsu 60 hp.

Jay
 
colbysmith":pgy4hjeo said:
Hey Andy,
Leaving Sitka tomorrow to head up towards Elfin Cove. No plans to go into Glacier Bay, but with your and my timing, we may cross paths. I'll look for you. Take care, and continue to enjoy your travels. We are enjoying ours! Colby
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Are you going up the outside?
 
Sounds good Jay. I think Tohatsu still makes the most powerheads in the world for outboard engines of which Honda and Mercury have used a lot of for their outboards. That being said, no one ever plans to have engine trouble on a vacation while in Canada or Alaska and so you may want to consider Suzuki over Tohatsu. I love Tohatsu as I have a 6 hp on a small fishing boat that runs like a champ and is mainly used in saltwater. Service when and where you need it in remote areas is also a consideration though as Andy points out.

I know you are looking at weight and fuel economy which are important and should be considered carefully because you will have these engines for a long time.

Have fun doing all the research. Take your time because you want to get it right the first time and have no regrets. As to Sportcraft, I have never heard anything negative about them. We go to them and are well pleased.

Gary.
 
DayBreak":261s215r said:
Andy, don't get me wrong, Honda and Yamaha are great motors, but I got scared for a moment and checked for authorized Suzuki motor repair and service as well up in the Inside Passage to lower Alaska. I found 6 authorized Suzuki service centers starting from Breakers Marine Ltd. in Port Alberni up to Juneau, Ak. There are also many more Suzuki service centers if you continue on further north. We love our Suzuki motors and want others to know that they also have the option to go with Suzuki if they are considering other brands beside Honda and Yamaha.

Thank you for the information though. Gary.
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Gary, FYI, Port Alberni may be, (IS), on Vancouver Island, BUT it is on the West side, water wise, although looking at the map it looks to be near the center (East to west).

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I also had a 2014 Tohatsu 50 on my old 16, great motor. But Jay, with a Tohatsu 60 you should be able to get it serviced at any Honda dealer. The Tohatsu 50 and smaller are Tohatsu-built, but the Tohatsu 60 and up (4-stroke models) are actually Hondas. There are several threads on C-Brats about this change that occurred around 2013 or so. Here's an article from the interwebs:
https://www.boatingmag.com/boats/honda-to-private-label-large-outboards-tohatsu/.

Personally, I'd go with the High Thrust version of the Tohatsu 60 for twins. That should definitely get you on plane if running just one (and I love having the high thrust version of the Merc 90 - they call it Command Thrust).

-Mike
 
Are you going up the outside?
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Hi Jay, No, going the inside this time. I did run into Richard Cook on Dream Cacher, in Petersburg, and we've shared the same coves and docks a few times. He's also in Sitka for a few days, although out on the hook tonight in one of the passes north of here. Colby
 
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