Vancouver BC Launch?

L

Luna C

New member
]We are planning a quick trip up to Princess Louisa inlet. Any suggestions for places we can launch and park our vehicle in the north Vancouver area?
Thanks for your help,
 
Janet and Chris,

I live on Vancouver Island in the Duncan area just North of Victoria. If Vancouver dosen't work, you are welcome to leave your vehicle and trailer at my house. We have lots of room.

Regards

Ryder
 
Why not launch in Blaine? A quick run up I-5, $5 launch and free parking. From Blaine, check in at White Rock, and then run to PL by water. The extra miles on the water are a lot better than the hassle of the border crossing and trying to launch/park in Vancouver. BUT you might want to PM Ron on Meander if he does not respond to this thread, he lives in Vancouver and can no doubt give the best advice.


Luna C":2jan2ffn said:
Thanks! It is our intent to launch from Vancouver. If not, we'll go back to Anacortes. No ferry $ if we can avoid it!
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Hi Janet & Chris,

Amy and I launched last summer from Blaine and we loved the place. Nice, secure, showers and like Pat said just leave the harbor then pull in at White Rock and call Customs. That was our first Canadian boat crossing.

Watch the weather in the open areas...it was fairly nice out there for us on that trip.

If you haven't been yet you will love PL...see our pics. Hope you have a safe and wonderful trip!!!

Crazy John Frazey (& Amy too) :smiled
 
I just ran the route that Me and susan took a few years ago on a chart planner and it can to 156 nm. This was a launch at twin bridges and a run to poets cove for customs check in and tie up for night. we did not get in the water until afer 7pm. we left there at 10 am in the morning and ran up to nanimo then across to the east side and all the wat to the falls just before dark. So 130 the second day on really smooth water. I would break it down to two days with equal distances to allow for weather. If you want I can run the number from blaine up the east side around vancouver?
 
I have made the run from Anacortes to Nanimo and accross the strait. I am interested in trying a different route by launching in North Vancover above the Fraser, maybe out of Lions Bay or Vanier. If we can't find a good place to launch and leave the tow vehicles we will go the "long way" from either Anacortes or Blaine. Departure date: July 16 or so. Thanks.
 
You can't clear U.S. customs at Blaine any longer, but this isn't a problem - you now clear customs at Point Roberts. Actually it is a great place to clear customs because it is pretty much never busy there. It is directly on your way back to Blaine anyway. We discovered this last year when we launched at Blaine and naturally returned there...the customs guy came over from the I-5 car crossing and cleared us but made it very clear that Blaine was no longer a designated boat entry point .

Luna C":14g9zk34 said:
Interesting idea! Would we be able to clear customs at Blaine on our way back?
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Thanks for the good tips, Pat and everyone. How would you say the travel time compares between (1) driving from Everett to Blaine and boating to, say, Bowen island and (2) driving from Everett to Vancouver (with a border crossing) and then launching somewhere in West Vancouver?
I like the idea of launching at Blaine, but Chris is wondering if we would save a lot of time by launching farther north.
Thanks again - it's great to have so much expertise to call on.
janet
 
Can't say for sure, but I doubt you would save a LOT of time if any driving to Vancouver. For sure you want to cross the border into Canada at Lynden on the Guide Meridian and get to Canada 1, which avoids downtown driving and goes right to Horseshoe Bay rather than trying to drive through Vancouver.


Luna C":3lkfzlqa said:
Thanks for the good tips, Pat and everyone. How would you say the travel time compares between (1) driving from Everett to Blaine and boating to, say, Bowen island and (2) driving from Everett to Vancouver (with a border crossing) and then launching somewhere in West Vancouver?
I like the idea of launching at Blaine, but Chris is wondering if we would save a lot of time by launching farther north.
Thanks again - it's great to have so much expertise to call on.
janet
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hanks for the good tips, Pat and everyone. How would you say the travel time compares between (1) driving from Everett to Blaine and boating to, say, Bowen island and (2) driving from Everett to Vancouver (with a border crossing) and then launching somewhere in West Vancouver?
I like the idea of launching at Blaine, but Chris is wondering if we would save a lot of time by launching farther north.
Thanks again - it's great to have so much expertise to call on.
janet
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Janet,
There is a marina with a decent launch ramp just north about 5 kilometers or so of the horseshoe bay ferry terminal at Sunset Marina. You just have to time your launch to miss the ferry wakes as they roll in to the ramp but its not really a problem as they only go by every half hour or so. Its not all that cheap to launch and park there though. About $15 a day if it hasn't changed from last year. Its the only launch ramp I know of north of Vancouver. If you do decide to drive up take the commercial/truck crossing route. You turn off a few miles from the border on I-5. Its well signed. This route will allow you to avoid the congestion of Vancouver at least some what. There are a number of ramps south of Vancouver but then you may as well just launch at Blaine. The only draw back of Blaine as I see it, is you will have quite a distance to travel on the open part of Georgia Strait. If the weather is in your favour it will be no problem. If not it could be a tiring trip. The launch at Sunset Marina will cut about 30 nm of open strait travel off each way. Which ever you choose enjoy. It will be a great trip. Just remember to fill up with your "cheap" gas before you cross the border. Pump price is $5.00/gal here and the marina gas will be even more.
Cheers
Ron
 
I drive from everett to blaine a lot to my folks boat. its 73 miles and takes just over a hour. I agree that the wind and waves just out from blaine if the wind is up and really bad if the tide is running againist it. Mom and Dad got tossed pretty good last year when the 15 to 20 mph hour wind from the nw was against a incoming tide. it was so bad that neither one could walk around the boat at all. to top it all off all the rolling stirred up the crud in the fuel tank and clogged both fillters on one engine and shut it down. all this in a 44ft boat.
 
Thanks Ron, that (sunset) sounds like the best deal so far. I was told that they would save a parking spot as well if we called a week in advance. $23 for the launch and parking for day one, $17 per day after that. Stay a week and you get a day of parking free. Unfortunatly we probaly don't have a week to stay!

Driving to North Vancouver should save about 20 gallons of boat fuel or so - that would be about $80. Towing gas would be about the same for the incresased distance. We may give it a shot anyway. Easier trip and more time up north. We will let you all know how it goes! (for some, parking and launching fees would still apply. We have an annual pass in Anacortes for both so these will be additional costs)

Chris
 
Chris,
I thought you might consider... we could park your truck and trailer on the street in front of my house. Its not secured of course but its not all that bad of a neigbourhood! I mean we live there. :lol: I don't know if its possible to schedule it but if the timing works out for both you and us either Anne or I could drive your truck back from the launch and park it at our place and/or give you a ride back to the launch after you drive your truck and trailer back. Either way it would save some bucks on the parking. We'd just have to work out the timing and the schedule for picking you up after your trip. let me know if you have any interest in doing the trailer shuffle.
Ron
 
Thanks for the C-Dory/Canadian hospitality! There are two of us. Maybe one could park in your fine neighborhood and the other could park at the launch - this would take care of transportation issue too.

Also, what launch do you live near?!? And if it is not Vanier, how is security/risk of theft at Vanier?

Thanks,

Chris of Chris & Janet
 
Also, what launch do you live near?!? And if it is not Vanier, how is security/risk of theft at Vanier?
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Chris,
We are not real near any of the launches. The one I would use for the trailer shuffle is at Cates Park which is pretty well at the junction of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm. Vancouver harbour in on Burrard inlet and its the body of water you cross via Highway #1 when heading for horseshoe bay. Its about a 20 min drive, non rush hours, from our house. Sunset Marina is about a 40 min drive. We could probably park both truck and trailers out front. I would just have to confirm with my neighbours that it would be OK for a few days.

As far as security at Vanier Park? Well its patrolled by police every so often, but everyplace is a risk. It only takes a minute for a smash and grab. I personally would probably risk it, but I would always be wondering if when I got back whether everything would be there. Unless you are parked in a secured patrolled lot there are no guarantees. I'll pm you my phone number and you can give me a call if you like to get more detail on what the trailer shuffle would be like and on alternate ramps.
Ron
 
Blaine is a LOT closer to Everett than Vancouver, especially Horseshoe Bay, so the tow gas would be substantially less. $23 launch and $17 per day parking in Vancouver versus a $5 launch fee and free parking at Blaine adds a few more bucks! You must REALLY want to see the sights of Vancouver! Either way, enjoy! PL is awesome. Just be sure your gas tanks are full when you start up Jervis Inlet - we ran all the way from Blaine to PL without filling up, and I think we had about 16 gallons left when we got back down to Egmont!
Luna C":rmpnlg54 said:
$23 for the launch and parking for day one, $17 per day after that. Chris
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And do not go passed egmont down that other channel for a look see. Big standing waves unless its right at slack. image029.thumb.jpg
I took this pic in 99 just around the corner of egmont. its like that most of the day.
 
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