Cruising Question

S

Seeker

New member
We sent the check off to Les yesterday, for our new 22 C-Dory, and now are making plans for our shake down cruise.

We'll travel from Louisiana back to Whidbey island to pick up the boat, and cruise around Pueget Sound for a few days, before heading up to Alaska.

The boat won't be registered, or have any numbers on until we get back to La.

Will we have any problems with the Coast Guard, Washington State authorities, or the Canadians?

We are planning on having a shotgun aboard for bear protection in Alaska, but I'm concerned that under these boating conditions (and under the curent political climate), we're unsure of the risks of having trouble with the authorities.

Could some of you advise us of what to expect? We don't want this happy occasion to be marred with legal hassels.

Thanks,

Law
 
Seeker,

Thats quite an adventure you have planned!

I don't think taking an unregistered boat across an international border four times is a good idea. I would call both Canada Customs and US Customs first.

The shotgun would be legal to take into Canada as long as it's a normal legal length hunting gun. Be sure to declare the gun to Canada Customs. They will want to see the gun and record the serial number. Be careful not to take any handguns or handgun ammo!
 
Law:

I can address part of your question and leave the rest for others with more knowledge in those areas. When traveling to hunt in Canada, Canadian Customs required that I fill out a form with the address and name of the outfitter that I was using. For defense, I don't know.

In addition, the very first step is to go to a US Customs office with your cased, unloaded gun and present it to them and fill out a form registerring the gun to you. Calling ahead to check out procedure is a good idea. Upon returning to the US, if you can not produce the form, which shows that you took the gun with you to Canada (or other foreign country), you can't bring the gun back into the US.

Nick "Valkyrie"
 
You must have registration and posted numbers if you're afloat in US waters or, for that matter, Canadian waters as well. I do understand that Louisiana makes you show up at their office to register even though you can renew online. So register the boat in Washington state, get stick on numbers from Les and change registration when you return to LA. You have 90 days to do it after you return to LA. If WA is like California, Les has all the paperwork and can issue you a number when you pick up the boat.

If you don't have the numbers or the latest year sticker, plan on being detained and rudely treated. Especially with a weapon aboard.
 
Law:

Another point: while an 18" barrelled shotgun is legal in the US, the minimum length is longer in Canada. I believe it is 20 or 21"

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Law,
IMO don't bring a gun into Canada. Its simply not worth the hassle. In 12 years of wondering the BC forests as a forest technician and 15+ years of boating on the inside passage waters I've never had a bear encounter that needed a gun to solve. 1000's of people cruise the area with out them. In Canada we are required to register all our weapons, (at least the non criminals are, I can't see that it has done anything to prevent criminals from getting or using guns), its not a nice experience to get caught with a non registered gun up here. The authorities do not like it much. I would not chance bringing a unregistered boat across the border either. Not that our government would care all that much as long as you were prepared to fork out their 14% in taxes if you can't prove you are not bringing it in for resale. 8) Who know though, you might cross over and not even have a Canada Customs inspector check your registration of physically inspect your boat. Its just the luck of the draw.
Ron
 
Law:

We are also planning an Alaska cruise this summer and I think we have convinced the Anna Leigh to go with us and provide guidance, experience, local knowledge etc. etc. We have not yet firmed up the schedule but tentatively we would like to leave around June 18th give or take a few days. What is your schedule?

I agree with the other comments about boat registration, I highly recommend that you make your boat "legal" before making the trip. If not, the border crossings be very difficult if not impossible. Moreover, a simple Coast Guard boarding will become a nightmare,

On the issue of a shotgun. We also have considered taking one along. It is imperative that you register the gun with US and Canadian Customs before you go otherwise you stand a good chance of losing the gun.

I just checked with the Canadian authorities and Nick is correct: an 18 in barrel is a no-no in Canada. They require at least 18.5 inches, which unfortunately excludes many guns common in the US. For more information you can go to the online Canadian Firearm Center at http://www.cfc.gc.ca. For registration requirements, click on the Forms link and then on the Non-resident forms.

Good luck and congrats on the new C-Dory! Keep us posted re your cruising plans.
 
Outside of Kactovik, Alaska, where I worked as a plant manager, for a time, one of the guys on the crew had been attacked by a stunted grizzly. It seems the bear, when it was young, had gotten a loop of tent cord wrapped around it's neck. As the bear grew the cord tightened, cutting into the skin, and restricting blood flow, air and circulation. The bear was in constant pain, and not able to hunt, mate, or do normal bear things. So, it was a pretty mean, and a very hungry bear looking for anything it could eat.

My crewman and his friend had a girl along, and were pitifully under gunned for this encounter. They had only a .44 magnum pistol and a 12 gauge loaded with bird shot.

Twenty four shots later the bear was dead and all involved had more adrenalin circulating in their veins than blood.

When they skinned the bear, (with the wildlife agent present) the hide came off in two pieces. It was completely cut through around the neck from the cord.

Having a means of defense along in a situation where one might need it, is a whole lot better than being defenseless.

When I took long walks, by myself, at the edge of the world, in a neighborhood where Polar bears, Grizzlies, Moose, and Musk Ox (one of those bulls kept a guy I know in a small lake until he almost died of hypothermia) roamed, I did not want my last thought to be; I wish I had a gun.

My shot gun does have a 20" barrel. If I have to I'll ship it to a gun dealer in Alaska, and pick it up when I arrive.

Thanks to all who have responded. You guys/gals are an enormous help, and are very much appreciated.

Law
 
Spirit - Les doesn't know when the boat will be ready. When I know that date, I'll let you know. Cruising with you guys would be great.

We are trying to co-ordinate lots of things, so plans haven't gelled time wise yet; we'll keep you posted.

Law
 
Law,
You can buy whatever kind of shotgun you want in most any town in Alaska and walk out with it right then and there if you don't want to ship yours or hassle the Canadians. Also you may want to make sure that all past due parking tickets, child support etc., are taken care of too before heading into Canada. Although it seems unlikely that this might be a problem if you are crossing on a boat, I've heard stories of people being detained at the Canadian drive-thru for this sort of thing.
Bill
 
My 18" Snake Charmer that I use to tame halibut was not welcome in Canada. Emphatically not welcome. I've been gunless for many round trips to AK through CA and have never needed a weapon, but YMMV.

Register your boat! Even with a temporary license I've been grilled. Check with CA Customs - they are friendly, but have strict rules. Lots of good advice in the above posts!

Dusty
 
Law,

Don't know about the gun, I cannot imagine any need for that. Register the boat! It is a legal requirement everywhere, and you could end up with some major grief, even seizure, if the Canadians think it is not registered because you intend to sell it in Canada without paying duties...you can always change the registration to LA when you get there...

Not sure that diving into a trip from Washington State to Alaska with only a few days break-in is really a good idea - do you have everything you need? Are you sure you know what you need? I am planning this trip in 2006, and after a fair amount of research am still not confident that I know all I need to know...
 
Pat - I'm sure this sounds naive, but it seems fairly simple to head up the inside passage to Alaska. My plan is :

1. Don't get run over
2. Don't run over any thing
3. Be aware of the currents and Tides
4. Have paper charts, for backing up all those fancy schmancy, every thing talks to every thing else gadgets (I'll have them all)
5. Know all pertinent com freqs
6. Listen to weather forecasts and respect what you see in the sky (as a commercial pilot (multi-engine and instrument rated), I learned more about weather than any thing else)
7. Plan daily departure and arrival ports, and knowing where to pull in if you have to
8. Don't pick up strange women hitching rides ; )

What else is there for a guy to know about driving down a ditch?

But seriously, I humbly welcome advice or wisdom from a more experienced boater. Please let me know if you see something, I'm not aware of, or have omited from my planing.

Law
 
Pat - I won't try it without being properly registered, or being properly dis-armed either. Thanks for that advice. I've talked to Les about getting all legaled up before sailing anywhere.

Law
 
pat not to start anything but out in unpopulated areas away from the police or even a phone, where the most dangerest creature is other humans, with your family. I can think of a lot of reasons and uses for a gun. you would not go out there with out a back up battery ,map compass, radio, fuel, tools, your little jump start box thingy. why would a gun be any different. have the tools and know how and when to use them.. oh and bring extra chain, cuts down on the paper work. ( ok everyone laugh now)
 
Law,

Don't cross Queen Charlotte Sound or Dixon Entrance on the ebb tide. The water flowing out of the large inlets in those areas can cause dangerous waves when the outflowing tide runs into the onshore wind/waves. :sad

It may be obvious but don't travel at night (makes it hard to see the logs) or head into the sun in the late afternoon (same problem). :smileo

Don't forget to check-in with US Customs when you arrive in Ketchikan. :wink

Don't run into the gill nets used by the commercial fishing boats. Also, commercial fish boats could be running on autopilot with the fisherman snoozing at the helm. :smileo
 
Thanks for the good info Larry and Dan.

That nav info about the ebb tide crossing is very valuable.

Have any of the C-Dory group crossed from the banana belt to PWS in their little boat?

That seems to be a loooong stretch with no hidey holes to slip into in case a storm suddenly blows in, or any other trouble occurs.

On another note, have any of you guys tried driving your boat with gen 3 night vision equipment (anpvs-14), in those waters?

Thanks again for all the help,

Law
 
Lots of good advise above. A couple of other thoughts.

1) Although a passport isn't required for travel to Canada, I understand that, especially reentering the US, they want to see either the passport, or a birth certificate AND a government issued photo ID (i.e., a drivers license). I don't usually like to carry my birth certificate around with me, and prefer to use the passport.

2) There are some long stretches, particularly in Northern BC, where ports, facilities, and fuel stops are few and far between. Good planning is necessary to make sure you don't get caught short of fuel.

3) There are several areas of poor communication. In many areas both in BC and Alaska, you will not be able to raise the coast guard with your VHF. There are several places where you won't be able to raise ANYONE on VHF. Needless to say there is no cell phone coverage in most of the inside passage. An EPIRB is a real nice gadget to have aboard in these areas.

4) Crossing the gulf would be dicey in a C-Dory, in my opinion. I've done it before in a larger commercial fishing boat, and I just wouldn't want to be caught out there in my Dory. Fuel management would be pretty problematic, too. From Juneau to Yakutat is about 200 miles, I think, and Yakutat to Cordova is about 250 miles. There is no fuel, facilities, harbor or anchorage available between Yakutat and Cordova. I'm planning to bring my boat up from Coronet bay to PWS this summer, but I'm going to ship the trailer from Bellingham to Juneau on the Alaska ferry, load the boat on the trailer in Juneau, and ship it on the ferry again from Juneau to Whittier. I thought long and hard about attempting a gulf crossing, and it just isn't worth the risk for me.

As for the gun issue, it's really a matter of personal choice. I've spent many hundreds of hours hiking in wilderness bear country in Alaska, and only rarely carried a gun. I often carried the big, highly concentrated cans of pepper spray they sell for bear protection. I don't know how much protection it offers, but it did provide some psychological peace of mind. I actually don't think it's legal to bring that stuff into Canada, either, although I could be wrong. I don't plan to bring a gun on the boat up the inside passage; I just don't see any need for it on that trip.

Jim
 
One more thing: About the idea of using night vision goggles. In the summer time in Alaska, daylight hours are long. Unless you are planning on cruising way past most peoples bedtime, you probably won't have much use for the night vision goggles.

Jim
 
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