BC Ferries Rate Increases

Centerisland,
With the recent reports of the Washington State Ferry System in similar dire straits, I find this a very interesting article. As I'm sure you are aware, there has been talk of Wa. State Ferries considering other re-organinzaition ideas and if I'm not mistaken perhaps even thoughts of privatization. My guess is that paying the BC Ferry "CEO $1 million per year along with exorbitant salaries to other senior executives and board members" should turn a few heads.
When the Wa. State Ferry announced plans to cut back on the international ferry route sailings between Anacortes and Sidney (as a cost cutting measure) both cities were estimating the negative economic impact that they would suffer.
 
The irony is that the WSF system has been hugely criticized - but compared to the BC ferries they are geniuses!

I was just looking at a trip out of Port Alberni - maybe I should do that this year before the rate hike takes effect!

Keith
 
Yeah, we are planning a similar trip out of Port Alberni down to the Broken Group. It looks like we may have to take the Anacortes-Sidney ferry and go over the Malahat. Hope my Frontier is up to it.
 
Peter,

Except for the Vancouver traffic (Ask Grumpy), the BC ferry to Nanaimo might make more sense. The PA-Victoria Coho is not a WSF route, although it's not cheap either.
 
The BC Ferries have a route from Tsawwassen to Duke Point, which is just south of Nanaimo.

If trailering from the USA to Vancouver Island BC, that is definitely the route to use. Tsawwassen is off hwy 99 (I-5) before reaching Vancouver and its traffic. The Jack Point terminal exits onto the Island Highway (freeway), avoiding the narrow streets and traffic of Nanaimo.

The Island Highway goes past the shopping mall area of Nanaimo if you need supplies. The freeway portion goes as far as Campbell River. From Campbell River north, the road becomes a two lane, somewhat narrow highway to Pt McNeil and Pt Hardy.
 
Roger, Peter,

Tsawassen - Duke Point (Nanaimo) is great because it gets you right onto the highway to go to either Port Albirni or further North to Campbell River or Port McNeill. From Sidney you have to go all the way down to Victoria and up again.

The road across the Island to Port Albirni is engraved on my mind having been chased along it by a logging truck, on ice. At one point 1/2 the road had fallen off the planet into a lake but there was one nice red cone in the road and we fortunately figured we should leave it to starboard in this case.

I just looked at the latest rates and they changed the game already. It's $45.75 for the truck plus $5.15/ft for the trailer, For us that works out to be $235 +/- each way.

Passing customs at the P's arch (So called because you can't) is OK if you have Nexus but beware the narrow lanes and the duty free shoppers. If you do not, then you need a supply of plastic bottles or be ready to climb up on the boat for meals and breaks.

If for any reason the Tsawassen ferry doesn't run then you can go Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay in which case you will enjoy the trip through downtown Vancouver :disgust particularly if you do it in rush hour. Lion's gate bridge with a 40 Kt crosswind helps because it makes you drive like the locals.

M
 
Yes, I originally intended to take the Tswassen to Duke Point ferry but for $500 each way? That's the price given the new information. Prior to the increase, my understanding was that it would cost approx $250 to tow the boat, the vehicle, driver and passenger. If the cost increases by 100%, then that is $500 one way, correct?

Sorry but no thank you. That's why I made the comment about the Anacortes-Sidney ferry. My understanding is the one way price is closer to $150-200. We'll see.
 
It's only about 55miles by water from Neah Bay to the center of the Broken Group Islands. That's 4 hours at <15kts, 2.5-3 hours on calm water. Trailer to Neah Bay and boat across. Most days between mid July and late August are fairly calm in the ocean out there especially in the early AM. At present, the BC Ferries fare is close around $220 each way for two people and a boat assuming 48' overall length about a 22' boat, trailer and full size pickup. For a Tomcat, I'd be looking at closer to $270.

My cost to trailer to Neah Bay last year was around $250 RT including the cost of the WA state ferry Edmonds to Kingston and the fuel in the truck. The cost in fuel for the 55 mile trip by water is about 55miles * 1gal/3 miles * $3.30/gal = $60.50 or $120 RT. So $120 for the boat + $250 to get to Neah Bay = $370 RT Edmonds to Broken group and back compared to $440 for the BC ferry costs alone. If that price doubles to $880, it's no contest - drive to Neah Bay boat across.
 
rogerbum":1q27v6pt said:
It's only about 55miles by water from Neah Bay to the center of the Broken Group Islands.
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And only 40nm from Neah Bay to Bamfield (a reasonable stopping place - I was there on a friend's Northern Marine trawler a few years ago).
 
centerisland":13kem8vd said:
rogerbum":13kem8vd said:
It's only about 55miles by water from Neah Bay to the center of the Broken Group Islands.
Click to expand...

And only 40nm from Neah Bay to Bamfield (a reasonable stopping place - I was there on a friend's Northern Marine trawler a few years ago).
Click to expand...

Good point. One thing I forgot to take into consideration is - what is the nearest legal port of entry into Canada from Neah Bay? I think we had this discussion awhile back but I can't remember.

On edit - Here's a link to the previous discussion about this.
 
My recollection is that Bamfield is not a port of entry into Canada. If you head over from Neah Bay, I think you have to go up to Ucleulet to clear customs, on the northern side of the Broken Group.

If the weather kicked up and you had to stop in Bamfield, what would the repercussions be with the Canadian government?

Alternatively, coming from the San Juans, you could clear customs in Victoria, overnight in Sooke or Port Renfrew, and then head out the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This is obviously a much longer trip than from Neah Bay which increases your exposure to bad weather.
 
If the weather kicks up and you turn into the broken group near bamfield you will be in more protected waters. Making your way past the broken group and to Ucleulet would be easy from there.
a second route would be from anacorties to sooke then to the broken group. its only 150miles each way
 
You guys are probably stuck with the rate increases, but you might start a letter/email writing campaign that addresses the Chambers of Commerce and City and Provincial Governments and sends your condolences to them and explaining why you won't be coming over and spending your American Dollars from now on, period! :shock:

:evil:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Delaney says the BC Ferry Corporation is still in the midst of yearly rate increases announced in 2008 that were set to last until 2012. “The new increases of up to 20% on major routes, 50% on minor routes, and as much as 100% for northern routes set to take place starting in 2012 means the cost of running the Ferry system in BC is unsustainable under the current model.”
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Well after reading the whole article and several others along with calling the B.C. ferry I think that that rate hikes stated above are politically driven scare tactics of a politician trying to get what he wants.

But lets deal with the facts at hand, No one knows yet what increase if any will be applied in april. so I have done the math with what info I have.

by truck and ferry= it will cost me $555 for the ferry round trip and $298.40 in truck gas for a total of $853.4 to tow up and back. Plus what ever storage for the truck and trailer cost me.

To run up on the hull to the same drop in point will cost me $928 in fuel up and back. So not much of a difference and if the ferry cost go up it will be the same or worse on the ferry.

So what are the + and - of the two routes. I would have to get up at 4 am to make the first ferry of the day from my house. I have done it before. Then the whole hassle of the ferry loading and unloading that makes Susan nerves, which stresses me. Then the long drive up the island after getting to the highway. I hate to drive anymore. I am the only one on the road that knows how, its true just ask me. :roll: This is all stress I don't need. Worrying about tires and hubs etc...

Or I can travel by boat, my preferred method of transportation. I can eat and relax while watching the world and nature go by the window. I can take a leak without getting off the highway. I am on vacation the second we leave the dock. Not the same while driving the car.I can stop for a hour and fish if I see bait. yes by boat is a lot better.

Either way its a really long day. If I can average 20 mph in the boat. which I do most of the time in the 27, it's only 11 hours. If you count in customs and gas stops its 16 hours. Map quest says 10.5 in the car and that's not counting the wait for the ferry. You have to be there two hour early if you are over sized. Plus having to get gas, food and potty stops. so I figure 14 to 16 hours

I think boat is better even if I have to take a day and half to get there.
 
Grovelling the Internet, it looks like there are no agents in Uclulet or Bamfield, and you can call Canadian Customs by phone from either (not sure of that), and that they MAY send an agent.

But, going back to the US...it appears that Neah Bay is NOT a US port of entry - you'll have to get to Port Angeles or somewhere else to clear into the US.
 
Nexus would clear that problem. CA will ask you to stop for 15 mins or so at some designated port. US has so far never asked us to stop. Just report AFTER you cross the dotted line on the water.

M
 
Grumpy":10036j4m said:
Nexus would clear that problem. CA will ask you to stop for 15 mins or so at some designated port. US has so far never asked us to stop. Just report AFTER you cross the dotted line on the water.

M
Click to expand...

That's my understanding also which is why both Joyce and I have a Nexus interview scheduled for next week.
 
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