2019 Inside Passage

I have seen all too many who believe "Safety in numbers" and then get left when there is real need. Be prepared/self-sufficient and you will be fine. This is not uncharted waters or the end of the Earth. It is very easy now in comparison to before chart plotters and GPS.

One who does it on a cruise liner misses most of the "experience of Alaska".
 
I have been up as far as the NW corner of Vancouver Island, (Nahwhitti Bar and Hope Island) and though it is not Alaska, I have done nearly 3 months on the water in one stretch. For me, I don't mind having some alone time, but it is also nice to have a buddy boat around. For me, I like that because I enjoy setting up and taking advantage of some great photo opportunities as they come up. I also like getting to meet, and know fellow C-BRATs and have had some great times with folks I hadn't known until we crossing wakes, side by side and enjoying new places together.

There is a safety factor though I think that may be more imaginative than for real, but it is there. The comradeship is welcome. Some of the times we would do a together for a day or two, then split up for a bit and plan a meeting in a couple days. Some of the time within radio range, some not. It is all great time, and worth the experience.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I agree with Harvey here. Bob the safety in numbers means other boats are around if in peril on the water. I don’t think any of us here would leave someone stranded broken down in the middle of the water. And many times it may be just the emotional support if one runs into waters not expected or forecast. Or just being in “new” territory. (Confidence comes from experience, but not everyone has the same level of experience, which can only be gained by increasing ones exposure to the subject at hand.:wink: Realizing confidence, complacency or stupidity are not the same! :mrgreen: Even the best maintained and prepared boats can experience problems. Colby
 
Nothing wrong if you want to run along with another boat. But so often it happens that one of the group wants to stay somewhere longer or go to another point.

Nothing to do with abandoning other boaters. It may be better now--but many areas of AK and BC are not covered with CG--and the fishermen, and other boaters come to the rescue.

Example:

We heard a MayDay relayed by a light house in upper BC--no one responded, so we ran 4 hours at 8 knots to "rescue" the boat--had to launch the dinghy, because where he had drifted and anchored--was too shoal and dangerous for our Cal 46. When we got to the boat, there were half a dozen boats about his size (25 feet) within view! None had responded to his MayDay! We towed him another 3 hours: was dark when we got to the lee of land where he could safely anchor, and a native village could take the family in for the night.

Problem was loss of steering with an I /O--probably could have fixed it was a few bolts--if he had any spare. He had left his kicker at the camp because "it got in the way of fishing"... One of the natives towed him the next day to the area where his "camp" and trailer were.

I have a bunch of other stories...similar. Certainly if two solo guys wanted to follow each other the entire time--it would work fine. When we went with Molly Brown up the tributary of the St. John.s it was with the understanding if one boat ran aground the other would pull them off...But this was a very specific adventure of a few days...

While it sounds great to "buddy boat"--some do it very well--and some don't.. I suspect that there actually are some C Brats who would "split" and go on--maybe not intentionally.
 
I'll vote for Bob on this one. We've been with a group, which was great for the companionship, but when something went wrong, we were left alone to solve it. The others had to meet the timing of the next narrows, and they all went for it.

We were used to cruising alone, we were prepared and we took care of the problem. No hard feelings and we had an extra thrill when we went through the rapids at a non-optimal moment.

Boris
 
Bob & Boris, I understand what you are saying. I also don't see any issue if someone wants to split off at some point and go their own way. I think our cruises after St. Johns gathering is a good example of that. I also think most of us that have done that the last two years, are also going to help each other out rather than abandon....but let's face it, you're really no farther than a few hundred feet from shoreline. :mrgreen: I can also understand if someone wants to go it alone and have the independence to make changes enroute. Regarding the Mayday call, you chose to respond to that as an avid and responsible sailor. Something the guy making the call probably wasn't. But had he been "buddying" with somebody, perhaps he wouldn't have needed to make that mayday call. :wink: I actually think it's pretty prudent for several boats to "buddy" together on larger bodies of water to have that "safety in numbers". Of course that works best if you know who you are buddying up with and everyone agrees on the expectations in the beginning. I too like my independence at times. But there are other times, it's nice to be along with another boat or two. :D Colby
 
No question the weather was a factor. We had a very few days where it wasn't raining and with fog so thick visibility was under a .1 mile (even so the float planes were still flying VFR!) By the time we cleared Cape Caution, we had had it with the cold and wet.

No question we probably missed some good stuff. However, we found hurricane holes harder to find and had to settle more than we liked (I like anchorages with no fetch). We also found many of the hyped locations had tour boats and planes flying in at an absurd rate (glaring exceptions like Ford's Terror exist). There was 10X the commercialism everywhere we went in AK in comparison to BC. Even the remote anchorages often had mini cruise boats - not really a bad thing, but it just didn't exist in BC.

Maybe ignorance, but we found far fewer opportunities to hike through the woods in AK than in BC.

We elected to skip off shore islands because we didn't want to mess with that much open water.

We looked into launching at Prince Rupert for this trip and elected to launch in Bellingham again because we really liked the area between PR and WA. The added factor was that the charge for parking a rig in PR over 4 months would have added significantly to the trip cost. Turned out to be a good thing - trying to head home from there through the fires could have been interesting.

One other comment, we both found spending 4 months on a 24 ft boat detrimental to our health due to not enough exercise. It is an on going struggle to bring things up to where they were 3 years ago. Having said that, it was most certainly worth it.

One other comment. We never used this other than to advise relatives back home that we were healthy enough to push buttons, but a satellite texter along with towing and health transport insurance would be a good idea. I have to admit, my willingness to help mariners up there would be limited to making sure they were OK and contacting someone to come get them. Towing someone long distance through those waters would be something I would not want to mess with and probably beyond the capability of our boat.

John
 
No question the weather was a factor. We had a very few days where it wasn't raining and with fog so thick visibility was under a .1 mile (even so the float planes were still flying VFR!) By the time we cleared Cape Caution, we had had it with the cold and wet.

No question we probably missed some good stuff. However, we found hurricane holes harder to find and had to settle more than we liked (I like anchorages with no fetch). We also found many of the hyped locations had tour boats and planes flying in at an absurd rate (glaring exceptions like Ford's Terror exist). There was 10X the commercialism everywhere we went in AK in comparison to BC. Even the remote anchorages often had mini cruise boats - not really a bad thing, but it just didn't exist in BC.

Maybe ignorance, but we found far fewer opportunities to hike through the woods in AK than in BC.

We elected to skip off shore islands because we didn't want to mess with that much open water.

We looked into launching at Prince Rupert for this trip and elected to launch in Bellingham again because we really liked the area between PR and WA. The added factor was that the charge for parking a rig in PR over 4 months would have added significantly to the trip cost. Turned out to be a good thing - trying to head home from there through the fires could have been interesting.

One other comment, we both found spending 4 months on a 24 ft boat detrimental to our health due to not enough exercise. It is an on going struggle to bring things up to where they were 3 years ago. Having said that, it was most certainly worth it.

One other comment. We never used this other than to advise relatives back home that we were healthy enough to push buttons, but a satellite texter along with towing and health transport insurance would be a good idea. I have to admit, my willingness to help mariners up there would be limited to making sure they were OK and contacting someone to come get them. Towing someone long distance through those waters would be something I would not want to mess with and probably beyond the capability of our boat.

John
 
Call me indecisive but I’m thinking maybe Alaska 2018 could still happen. My choice would be out of Skagway! Maybe start with the Friday Harbor gathering then load out and tow north... Guess I’ll decide by the first of May what I’ll do! :mrgreen: Colby
 
Colby, Between now and May there are a lot of things that could come up that could change your (our) plans. It is always good to have options and allow time for things to gel.

I'm in the same boat about a big MC trip. It might be 2 months or more and 7+ thousand miles about that same time. Might mean I miss some boating, but also take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity. Priorities are still all up in the air here too.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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hardee":hr5retas said:
think going from Tsawassen to Duke Point (Nanaimo) then drive north to Pt Hardy. I have done that trip 3 times now and it is more direct, less $$$ and quicker than the Anacortes to Victoria route.
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Harvey,

I've crunched the numbers a couple of times. I can be at the Port Angeles ferry in two hours. For me, Tsawwassen is closer to a 5 hour drive if all goes well on I5 in Tacoma and Seattle (which is unlikely). Maybe it's because of my overall length, but I would only save a few dollars and, even though I get 20 mpg when towing, most of the savings would be spent on gas when driving around. I remember that for the amount that I would "save" I'd gladly pay that to avoid the traffic in Seattle and Tacoma. As a bonus, going through customs on the Blackball is quicker.

I took the Tsawwassen ferry back from the Powell River CBGT last year and spent almost an hour in a goobered up traffic jam at the border. And then I still had a 5 hour drive ahead of me. Getting to the ferry in time, B.C. ferry ride, driving through Blaine to Dewatto took 11 hours. Waiting for the Blackball, ferry ride, driving to Dewatto takes 5 hours.

As a bonus, I get to hear Bing Crosby and the Andrews sisters sing about my Blackball ferry adventure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alttvzdVBPE
That's much more pleasant than the B.C. ferry jingle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKQCco0qpcA

Mark
 
Mark, :lol: :lol: Nice find on the music.

When that song was done, the Black Ball company was considerably different, and ran from Seattle to Victoria, (The Princes Margaret) and into the San Juans. I don't know about the other places, but rode the Coho to Port Angels frequently back then.

AS you well know, the customs crossings are always gamble, though most of the time I have been fortunate to not have more than a few minutes up to about 20 to wait. I usually try to time it at "off hours".

I know about driving up I-5 and for me, "Seattle" is everything from Tacoma to Everett. (My first Bellingham CBGT trip was driving from Sequim to B-ham, 9 hours, via the Tacoma Narrows bridge, and ALL of the Friday afternoon traffic. Roger and Janet made it in a bit over 2.5 on the Tomcat.)

When you were looking at the costs, were you using the standard BC Ferry fares or the promotional fares. The "promo" fares are limited in times of use, but nearly half of the standard.

Also, if you can manage to get your birthday on the day you travel to Canada on the Coho (Black Ball), you get a free ride for you, (not the vehicle) and a week to use the return voucher.

I know the Coho is closer, (for me about 30 min from my house), but I still could not work out the $$$ to make it a viable option.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hardee,

Since you reside in Sequim, what would have been the RT cost of the Port Townsend- Keystone ferry ride for your trip to Bellingham gathering.

Hard to believe anyone would be willing to drive into that Tacoma/ Seattle traffic mess, just got back last night after a drive into that mess.

I try to AVOID it unless there is no alternative route.
 
I don't remember exactly, that was about 10 years ago, but it was around $100 round Trip. I figured I could drive around for less $$. yup, I could but I didn't figure in the hours of parking on the freeway.

I take the PT to Keystone ferry when I take the Taswassen ferry going up north on Vancouver Island. It still comes out cheaper than the Coho.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Just sitting here this morning looking at some routing to get to Skagway if I start out from Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes (like say after a Friday Harbor gathering...) for you folks that live in the PNW that have traveled to Alaska, how would this routing be? 20 - 5 - 542 - 1 - 97 - 16 -37. And would a 500 mile day be overdoing it? (I travel 500 miles in the lower 48, at 65 mph, and that's about a 11 hour day for me when you throw in pit stops and a lunch stop. Also, it's been sometime since I drove the Alcan from the border just north of Minot, ND up to Skagway, but again for those that have driven it much more recent, 500 miles a day there doable at around 60-65 mph. Guess I'm asking if these roads are 60-65 mph roads. Guess it wouldn't hurt to know how those border crossings are going in those directions. It took over an hour for us to cross when we went to Spanish Ontario a few years back. Thanks. Colby
 
Colby, that’s the route we most often take when heading back south from Skagway & wanting to see relatives along interstate 5 in Washington on the way home. It’s never been a concern with us, but hwy 37 known as the Cassiar Highway can be intimidating to some. It’s 450 miles & goes through a very remote area. Much of it has virtually no shoulders & is not possible to maintain 60 to 65 mph. For much of it more like 50 mph, though it is much improved over the last 20 years as only about a mile is now unpaved. An alternative choice, which we have also done several times is to stay on 97 north out of Prince George & then at Chetwynd take 29 through Hudson’s Hope to where it connects with the Alaska Highway, just north of Fort St John. This route is over a 100 miles longer, so my recommendation would be to go with 37.

With the many towns you will be passing through, 60 to 65 is not going to be your average speed, like it would be in the lower 48, mostly on freeways. We usually do 600 plus miles, but don’t mind longer hours behind the wheel. Our stops are generally only for wildlife, fuel, rest room & food with night stops only for sleeping. After reaching the Alaska Highway 60 to 65 mph would be easy to maintain other than construction & the Whitepass area down to Skagway. Overall to maintain 500 miles per day you will likely have to up your driving hours. One never knows at the border crossings, but without firearm it’s normally very quick & even with one, generally so, but out of the blue we have been hit with extensive searches lasting an hour or more.

Jay
 
Thanks Jay. I may refigure for 400 miles a day. Come to think of it, I think when we took our motorhome up the Alcan from here (Crossing border near Minot) that was about what we did. Maybe a few days we only did 350 miles, depending upon what we wanted to see. Actually, even here in the lower 48, many times if we are sightseeing more as part of the travel, I only figure for 400 miles a day. Hwy 37 sounds like one I would enjoy. I've never been too timid about narrow winding roads, with or without the boat. :mrgreen: FWIW, in my map planning, I set it for 15 minute stops every 2 hours. That seems to work out about right between lunch, rest breaks and gas stops. Also set for 8am departure arriving at 5:30p. In reality it usually works out leaving at 7:30a and arriving at 6p. Perhaps too many stops during the drive! lol. But with towing the boat, I prefer a more relaxed travel attitude. I suspect I may even take a bit more time traveling thru Canada and Alaska as it's been quite some time since I've traveled on the ALCAN highways, and only twice anyway. Just depends on what scenery or towns are along the way. Colby
 
We drove up to Whitehorse last June when we picked up the C-Dory that we bought there. Driving up from our home about an hour north of Calgary, we drove from Rocky Mountain House to Saskatchewan River Crossing on Hwy 11. Then North through Jasper past the Columbia Icefields. We headed west on the Yellowhead Hwy 16 (note the Yellowhead Sign was not patterned after your current president), through Prince George and North on Hwy 37. The Cassiar highway was in good shape and much prettier than the Alcan. You have to drive slower and there are fewer places to turn off and camp. We drove home on the Alcan which was faster, but no where near as pretty as the Cassiar. There were lots of huge motorhomes, all of them towing a truck or SUV and mostly with US plates along the route. They were doing fine and a smaller rig pulling a boat would not have a problem. I would consider this route for at least one leg of your journey. After boating at Atlin and Tagish Lakes, we drove home on the Alcan. If you have time consider boating on Atlin Lake, we spent 8 days there and that was not enough and would consider going back next time I head north again. There are some Atlin photos in my album and more to come soon.

When driving north through the Icefields Parkway in Banff and Jasper, you might consider driving through Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. There is camping now for RVs in the parking lot at the Columbia Icefields Visitor Centre, no hookups, but easy to park a long rig, with a view that is hard to match.
 
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