Seeking advice as we plan our first trip into Canadian water

Looking at the web site that Grumpy Merv posted, there are a few interesting items.

First, the statement is made that one must either have a USA license or get a Canadian license for your VHF radio. Since one does not have to get a USA license for VHF anymore, this might be a problem. However, I found this on the Canadian border Services website: "United States residents are allowed to operate aircraft, marine, amateur, citizens’ band (CB), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS) radios as well as cellular and PCS mobile radio telephones in Canada without explicit permission from Industry Canada."

Second, it is stated that there is an "Operator Competency requirement – Canada requires operators of pleasure craft to prove operational competency." This is applicable if you're in Canada for more that 45 days. I've never heard of this requirement; does anybody have a Canadian certificate?

Another comment (from past experience) is that it's easier to bring a boat in on a trailer than by water. 2 years ago, we trailered into Canada through Sault St. Marie. It was as if we just drove through in a single car. Never said a word about the boat; just "have a good day." Leaving Canada was just as easy, entering the USA wasn't. We did make it through. Stayed about 2 mos.

Since we're planing to take the boat to the west coast of Vancouver Isl by trailer, we'll see how all this works. Does anybody have an opinion where is the best Barkeley Sound launch site, including truck/trailer parking is: Port Alberni, Poett Nook, Bamfield or Uclelet?

I don't know about a C-22, but we tow an inflatable behind Journey On as a regular practice. We do deflate it and stow it in the cockpit when we're crossing long stretches of water. We also have an electric inflation pump (thank goodness.)

Boris
 
Either Port Alberni or Uclulet. Cavu uses Uclulet. Port Alberni is a developed City, sort of, and there should be parking there. It is a lot closer to Victoria than Uclulet, if that is where you are crossing. Forget Poett Nook and Bamfield, unless you are driving an armored humvee. The term "road" on the west coast is definitely a four letter word.
 
The site I posted is by no means exhaustive for people wanting to stay longer than 30-45 days but in reality they seem to be fairly "kool" about it. We talked at length with a bunch of C-Coasties doing tough duty in Telegraph cove last year and they indicated that as long as we complied with country of origin regulations we would have no trouble but.. after some time they would want us to have lifejackets that complied, an oar, radar reflector etc etc etc. Their rationale being that all these things were probably a good idea anyway.
If I remember it all correctly, the coasties are only there for safety. Law enforcement is the job of the RCMP. So if you see a red suited guy on a horse riding across the waves better hide the liquor.

The radio issue is an anomaly where effectively the FCC is mandating how you can use your radio in a foreign country. You do not need a license in the USA as long as you don't speak with "foreigners" and "hovering objects". :shock: (The mind boggles) If you intend to do that and also to get an MSSI that is in the international database you need to go play games with the FCC website (which is a joy unto itself) :roll: and get a station licence and an operators license. Its only money...

NEXUS is great, by land or by sea. Just remember it is a zero tolerance system and they do spot checks. If you get caught for anything you are on the "Naughty List" :sad which is real bad new for the next time you cross a border or board a plane.

Oh, I nearly forgot. The rules change... not quite as bad as the fishing regulations but..

Merv
 
Pat Anderson's itinerary sounds a bit ambitious--mostly because of the variablility of weather. We usually spend a few days in the San Juans, then spend a day crossing over to the Gulf Islands--a few days in the Gulf Islands, then across the Straits of Georgia, finally up along the mainland coast, enjoying the at least a couple of anchorages--and then back across to the Vancouver side, or to the Desolation Sound area--again depending on weather.

My experience with the Canadian CG is similar to Merv's ==they are safety oriented and seem to be very pleasant men. Shared a few beers on our boat when "off watch". We rarely saw the RCMP--but they do have patrol boats. There are also "Fisheries" boats--but we saw less in the last several trips than we did 15 or so years ago.

In the Cal 46, we had a ship's radio license, because of multiple times in foreign countries and SSB. In the C Dory boats we have only been in Canada for a month or so at a time, and have not obtained the FCC license. I used the radio sparingly. If I was frequently going to Canada, I would get the FCC radio license. But you do need the basic operator's permit.

Amateur radio has its own reciprocity in Canada, and you must operate in the bands which your are allowed in your US license. You use the US call sign, but I will add MM (maritime mobile) and VE7(the area of canada we are operating in BC).
 
Boris,
I've pulled our 25 to the west coast of Vancouver Island several times. You can put in at Port Alberni but if the wind is blowing it will be a long slow trip down the inlet to Barkley Sound.

If you choose to drive, I would go to Ucluelet. As has been pointed out before, the road to Bamfield isn't paved and isn't preferable. The road from Port Alberni to Uclluelet is beautiful, but the last 25 miles will probably be the most adventure that you've ever had on a paved road.

Ucluelet has a great marina and services for boaters, but I haven't used the launch in several years, so I can't vouch for it. It is about 20 miles across Barkely Sound to Bamfield. There are a lot of places to anchor and explore in the Broken Islands between Ucluelet and Bamfield. But Barkley Sound will be busy during the summer with lots of kayaks, fishermen and small boats.

Another advantage of trailering to Ucluelet is that after you finish exploring it, you can drive 20 miles north through a Canadian National Park and launch into Clayoquot Sound at Tofino. Tofino is a busy tourist town in the summer with great restaurants, bakeries and expensive lodges on the beach. But when you get 15 minutes away from the 4th Street dock it feels like the entire Clayoquot Sound is yours. There are a few fishing and whale watching guides out, but other than that the Sound is all yours. We anchored out for 11 nights in September and never had another boat in any of the anchorages that we used. Most people in the Northwest think of Tofino as an expensive beach get away and don't bring boats to Clayoquot Sound. We've been to Desolation Sound (which was too busy), The Broughtons (which we love), and Barkley Sound (great fishing). But of all of the places on Vancouver Island we find Clayoquot Sound casts a spell on us. We have to go back every couple of years or we really miss it.
Lyle
 
Lyle,

I know exactly what you mean about the road to Ucluelet. Last time we did that was one December, on ice with logging trucks wanting to pass!! My rear is stil twitching at the thought.

It was real nice of them to place one red cone where 1/2 of the road had "fallen off".:shock:
Fantastic area but next time I will do it by boat even if it takes longer.

Merv
 
Boris,

To get to Vancouver Island with the trailer, you'll have to take a fairly expensive ferry trip (both directions). When I looked into this awhile ago, I decided it would be cheaper and faster for me to tow to Neah Bay and launch there. It's about 40 miles by water from Neah Bay to Bamfield and about 60 to Ucelet. If you're coming from the S (as in CA), you don't need to take a ferry to get to the Olympic Peninsula. My experience has been that once we get into July/August, 4 days of 5 are pretty good in the ocean W of Neah Bay. So launching there might be another, perhaps cheaper option.
 
Dave,
We've been up to Hesquiat Harbor and visited Cougar Annie's Garden. We usually go up to the north end of Clayoquot Sound just south of Hot Springs and spend a few days. The Hot Springs is too much of a tourist site to spend much time, but just 7-8 miles north, Hesquiat is a whole different world. We didn't see any other boats there in September. Just the guy who owns and takes care of Cougar Annie's. We haven't gone around the corner to Nootka Sound yet, but it would be an easy trip in good weather and with enough time.

I have traveled to Ucluelet/Tofino for over 20 years, it was our summer vacation spot when our daughter was young. When we first started going we towed a 16' boat and I made the trip from Yakima to Tofino in one day, starting early and arriving very late. We've now towed the 25 there three times. I take it easy, make sure my brakes are working well and still dread the last 25 miles before Ucluelet. However, the trip between Ukie and Tofino is easy.

I've never done the trip around the outside. I know it's doable if you're comfortable on the open ocean. There is only one place between Sooke Harbour and Barkley Sound to get off if you're having any problems. I would probably want to go with a buddy boat the first time. My wife is prone to being seasick, so I'll probably brave the road before riding the swells.
Lyle
 
One more topic. How much anchor line should I have, should I have a 2nd anchor and is a windless a must? The boat has a deck pipe, a good anchor, plow style and a long length of chain.
 
Answers to those questions are pretty much personal choices so I'll give my personal choices. My primary anchor is a Delta with 200ft of 1/2 inch line and 30ft of chain. My secondary is a 5kg lewmar/bruce with 200ft of line and 15ft of chain. I would probably go with 300ft of line on the primary anchor rode were I to start over. I've never been unable to anchor because of not enough rode but just want the extra for comfort level. I think a second anchor is a very good idea. I also carry about 200ft of 3/8 poly line on a reel for a stern tie and have used that a number of time up in Canada. There are lots of places, Pirate's Cove for example, where stern tie rings are embedded along the shore line and stern ties are the norm. I did without a windlass for years but as I got older pulling up the rode became less and less entertaining. I have a Lewmar V700 and really like the convenience. If you are single handing I think a windlass is even more important.
 
I agree with Barry. A line for a stern tie (and a means to get it to shore) should be considered a must in Desolation Sound. A second anchor and a windlass are nice but not essential. Assuming you are going to anchor usually in 30 feet or less, 200 feet of rode should be adequate, but you might as well have 300 feet along with 20 - 30 feet of chain. You might need it some time, it is no more difficult to carry and not a whole lot more expensive, so why not. I have been pulling the anchor by hand since the Sprint 600 crapped out in August, and although it is nicer to have a windlass, it is far from essential for the kind of spots where we tend to anchor.
 
Well, you both have me thinking. Found a Lewmar V700 for $646.95.
Pat, I have no issue with pulling or going up front. The issue I have is that Kathleen, who is really really a trooper, almost never spends time at the wheel, never near solid objects. So the prospect of being away from the controls both while deploying and retrieving may cause this investment to move up the wish list.

A second extra line will be added to my kit. The dealer "set me up" with not enough line and no chain and an anchor. I have the chain now, but go from rope to chain to anchor with clunky shackles that hang up an the way over the roller. I will need to get all of this sorted out in any event.
 
Boatersland has the Lewmar V1 windlass on sale for $420 - a $900 discount if you are thinking about a windlass.

We spent most of last summer in Canada - an absolutely no worries experience. Just call in on arrival in Canada write down the number they give you, put it in your window and your done. The VHF requirements are a non issue as well. Checking back into the US was simple, and effecient via a video telephone. Don't worry about nexus or stickers or preclearing the boat, but obviously bring your passports.
Eric
 
Ok so the V1 is advertised as "with Gypsy and the V700 or V700G emphasizes 100% 316stainless construction. One has max pull of 700lbs and the other 1000 lbs. I also note that the V1 has been redesigned hence the closeout.
Will both work equally well in 100% saltwater use?
 
I have 200 feet of rope, 20 feet of chain, and a 14 pound Delta and didn't have a bit of trouble anchoring last summer in the San Juans, Gulf Islands, Jervis Inlet, or Desolation Sound. No windless either; I'm young and can deal with pulling a fairly light anchor and chain.

Don't worry about the Canadian VHF requirements, I don't know anyone who has had an issue with it. I believe that as long as you meet the USCG standards, you'll be just fine in Canada. Of course, you'll probably want to carry more safety gear with you just as a precaution.
 
The Lewmar V1 is a real buy at that price. Be aware that it uses 5/16 HT chain and 9/16 line instead of the lighter 1/4" HT chain and 1/2" rope. Nothing wrong with the heavier line & chain, but it will be slightly more expensive, and take more room. The V1 will stick below the deck: the 700 has the motor and gypsy all are above the deck--be sure that there is room below the deck on the 22 (there probably is).

I agree that 200 feet with 20 to 30 feet of chain is enough most of the time. In the C Dory we find that we very rarely anchor in more than 30 feet of water. Occasionally in the Cal 46 we had to anchor in 100 feet of water.

I also agree with the 200 feet (at least) of poly prop stern line tie up to rings, trees or rocks on the shore. We carry 200 feet of the lighter (3/8" ) line and 50 feet of heavier line (1/2 to 5/8" ) to use around rocks and trees where there may be abrasion, as a terminal fitting.

The rode should be directly spliced to the chain--no shackles if you use a windlass with a rope/chain gypsy.

We have always crossed from the Olympic Peninsula to Vancouver Island, in both C Dory 22 and 25. We have sat out several days at times waiting for smoother weather.
 
You can order the Lewmar with a gypsy for either 1/4 inch chain and 1/2 rode or 5/16th chain and 9/16 rode. Either way I would also order the lewmar chain and rode combination that matches your windlass. Lewmar has a nice discussion about anchor rode on their website. Some people say 8 plait is better if you are using it in salt water as it will not stiffen as much and lay in your anchor locker better.
Eric
 
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