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Lots of neat shops in Poulsbo. |
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Locally grown fresh produce at the Olympia Farmers Market. |
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Cleaning salmon at Lagoon Cove Marina. |
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A bird rests for a moment on Surprise's rail. Blind Channel. |
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GENERAL UPDATES
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New Kenmore Air Stops
January 20, 2010. Kenmore Air will be flying to Rosario Resort and Marina in the San Juan Islands beginning this spring. Also to Madeira Park in Pender Harbour and Cordero Lodge (one of our favorites) on Cordero Channel, north of Desolation Sound. See www.kenmoreair.com.
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Canadian Boater Competency Cards and U.S. Visitors
November 18, 2009. In September 2009, a 10-year phase-in for boater competency cards ended in Canada, and all Canadian boaters now need their card. Our question was, “What about U.S. visitors to British Columbia?” We contacted Jillian Glover with Transport Canada in Vancouver, who provided the information below.
Let us summarize by saying that U.S. visitors on non-Canadian boats who remain in Canada for less than 45 consecutive days need only meet their home state requirements. For Washington State residents, those born before 1955 do not need at Washington State card.
Here is Jillian Glover’s e-mail to us.
Hi Bob,
It was on September 15, 2009, that it became a requirement that everyone, including non-residents, who are operating a power-driven pleasure craft must carry proof of competency on board. Proof of competency can be:
A Canadian-issued pleasure craft operator card.
A completed boat rental safety check-list (for power-driven rental boats).
An operator card or equivalent that meets the requirements of their state or country.
The regulations do not apply to non-residents who operate their pleasure craft in Canadian waters for less than 45 consecutive days. Please note that a proof of residence will be required on board at all times.
Here are the regulations that apply to non-residents:
If they operate their pleasure craft in Canadian waters for more than 45 consecutive days or,
If they operate a pleasure craft that is licensed or registered in Canada (including rented or chartered boats).
When it comes to boating, we're looking to improve Canada's already enviable safety record. One death is too many. That's why we phased in a program to ensure boaters have at least some knowledge of boating safety before heading out onto the water. The PCOC card is proof that you have passed a boating safety test with a passing grade of 75%, and that you understand the rules and regulations of Canadian waterways. For those Americans interested in obtaining Canadian Pleasure Craft credentials, they can visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca for a list of the 65 accredited course providers.
Hope that helps!
Jillian Glover
Regional Communications Advisor
tel: (604) 666-9307
e-mail / courriel: gloverj@tc.gc.ca
Communications and Marketing, Transport Canada, Pacific Region | Communications et Marketing, Transports Canada, Région du Pacifique
Suite 1100 - 800 Burrard St. (TE), Vancouver, BC V6Z 2J8
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AIS Class B Restrictions
November 17, 2009. Bob Brunkow from ICOM Canada called to tell us Washington State Ferries are not monitoring Class B AIS transponder signals. Class B is the AIS that pleasure vessels would use. With the exception of the Washington State Ferries, large vessels equipped with Class A transponders will see Class B signals.
Bob added that the VTS system does not monitor Class B signals.
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New Boating Web Site
May 26, 2009. New Boating Web Site from the State of Washington. Here’s the press release.
OLYMPIA – Washington State has created a new Web site for boaters that consolidates and simplifies access to a variety of information on boating services, rules and regulations, places to boat, fishing licenses, and boating news, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office announced today.
"The new Web site: http://www.boat.wa.gov/ provides a portal to dozens of boating- related sources of information, and hopefully will make it easier for boaters to find what they need to recreate safely and enjoyably," said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which put the site together.
The site links to information offered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Department of Natural Resources; Department of Licensing; Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as federal government, non-profit, and private organizations.
The site was developed as a result of a 2007 survey of boaters' needs authorized by the legislature. The survey showed that boaters desired a centralized Web site that would provide a one-stop shop for boating information instead of requiring boaters to search the Web sites of multiple state agencies.
"Boating in Washington is a central part of our culture and economy," Cottingham said. "There are more than 250,000 registered boats in Washington and that doesn't include folks with small kayaks and canoes or those who travel to Washington to recreate with their boats. We really tried to think of everything a boater would need from state government and then we tried to put it all in one place. We want to make sure that boaters are getting what they need so that they can be safe, help us protect the environment, and enjoy Washington's great outdoors."
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Heavy Surf Near Tofino
February 27, 2009. These amazing photos have been all over the internet lately, but if you haven’t seen them, you’ll be impressed. Waggoner correspondent Ken Klett forwarded them to us.
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VHF license Renewal Notice - WARNING!!
August 6, 2008. We received one of these solicitations when it was time to renew our boat’s license. It looks official, but it’s not. We threw it away. We found the FCC web site renewal process confusing, but a few moments on the phone with one of its helpful customer service people cleared everything up. Our advice: renew by phone.
MESSAGE RELAY FROM RBAW BOARD MEMBER KELLIE HAMMETT OF EDMONDS YACHT
CLUB
This subject may have been broached before and many may already know of this scheme. My license is coming up for renewal soon (after ten years). There is an outfit doing business under the name of 'Business Radio Licensing' and they somehow are aware of my impending renewal. From them, I received a rather official looking cover letter and copy of a government renewal form. They are asking for a processing fee of $340.
At first blush, it looked rather suspicious especially considering the amount of the fee, so I just filed it away for future reference. A few days later, along comes a 'Renewal Reminder Notice' from the FCC, so I do some investigating by calling the FCC about how to go about renewing due to the very confusing nature of the 'Notice.' I was then given a web-site (wireless.fcc.gov/uls) to actually complete the renewal process. Too bad this site doesn't appear on the notice (could be so much simpler).
While I was on the phone with the FCC, I inquired about 'Business Radio Licensing' and was told (as I suspected) that this third party just collects the fee plus $180 (FCC fee is $160) and sends the form you completed to the FCC.
So much for our government giving us the protection we deserve and pay for! Why can't they give us some kind of heads-up on something like this? Makes one wonder how many fall for this rip-off.
Cheers,
Kellie
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Weather Information by Cell Phone
March 24, 2008. I was reviewing the advice on crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca and found it to be very helpful. I would like to add my own tip for those who have one of the newer cell phones that surfs the Net. You can add the specific NOAA pages to your favorites and pull up the information you need without going through the endless weather loop on the radio. Most pages load quickly, especially the local forecasts. The station data can take longer due to the graphics – but still just a minute or two. Try http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=sisw1 for Smith Island.
I also have several marine web cams stored for a real time look at the weather.
Kevin Dowling
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And You Thought the Ballard Locks Were Interesting
March 14, 2008. Tom Taylor, from Greenway Sound Marine Resort, sent this (1.2 meg ) to us, and it’s amazing.
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Canada Small Craft Warning Change to Strong Wind Warning
February 26, 2008. Please take note of the attached general notice issued by Environment Canada on February 4th:
EFFECTIVE MARCH 19 2008, AT 1700 UTC, THE MARINE FORECASTING PROGRAM OF ENVIRONMENT CANADA WILL ALERT MARINERS TO WIND
CONDITIONS BETWEEN 20 AND 33 KNOTS USING THE TERM: STRONG WIND WARNING.
THIS REPLACES THE TERM -SMALL CRAFT WARNING-, USED DURING THE PREVIOUS RECREATIONAL BOATING SEASON, IN THE FOLLOWING BULLETINS:
REGULAR MARINE FORECASTS, MARINE WARNINGS AND THE MARINE SYNOPSIS.
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Tidal Current Glitch?
April 20, 2007. We have not confirmed this problem ourselves, but the caution is worthwhile in any case.
Hello Bob,
A quick note about the malfunctioning tidal current displays on C-Map's PC Planner programs versions 10 and 11, for Puget Sound.
We purchased the C-Map product including their newest chip for Puget Sound and Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert. We discovered, and C-Map confirmed, that the tidal current information, as well as the tidal current predictor, on their PC Planner is not giving proper information.
It would be informative to your audience if you would kindly remind folks to use official tide charts and equally important, take time to verify all electronic tidal info by comparing several locations of tide stations and current stations on the electronic chart versus the data at those stations with data from official documentation (for example, slack, max flood, slack, max ebb, for 11 April 2007, The Narrows).
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Great Link for Weather Buoy Data
March 8, 2005. Waggoner reader George Johnson directed us to
www.ndbc.noaa.gov to get complete, near-real-time observations from weather buoys and land stations in B.C. and U.S. waters. The web site is easy to navigate and its information is extremely useful. With a few clicks you can get complete data on wind speed, wave height, air temperature, barometric pressure, and more. Scroll down for history. The site also has the latest U.S. National Weather Service marine forecasts.
In B.C. we found East Dellwood, South Brooks, La Perouse Bank, Sentry Shoal and Halibut Bank data. A weather buoy is shown for Pat Bay, but nothing was posted.
In Washington waters, we found Tatoosh Island, Neah Bay (actually, the Traffic Separation Lighted Buoy JA, at the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca), Hein Bank, Smith Island and West Point. Other stations out in the Pacific Ocean and down the coast are shown, too.
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Complete Chart Update Information
July 28, 2003. A Notice to Mariners item about complete NOAA chart update information caught my eye, so I went to the web site to see for myself. Sure enough, every update (permanent updates, not temporary updates) for every U.S. chart is listed. You have to go through several screens to get the information, but it's all there.
The web site is
http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov//. When you get there, click on the "Updates" icon.
Many of the updates will be of little practical use to most pleasure boaters, but lurking in the list are important changes, such as buoys or beacons that have been moved or renumbered, newly reported shoals, or the removal of prominent landmarks ashore.
I found the section on historical charts interesting as well. I entered "Vancouver" as a key word, and found a list of Capt. Vancouver's charts of the Northwest Coast. The charts displayed rather small on my screen, but they were intriguing all the same.
--Robert Hale
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Confusion About VHF Radio Licenses for U.S. Boats Cruising in Canada
May 17, 2000. There's been confusion about VHF radio license requirements for U.S. pleasure craft cruising in Canada. Here's the straight scoop on the situation:
For some time, the U.S. has not required pleasure craft under 20 meters (65 feet) to have station licenses or individual operator permits for travel in U.S. waters. For foreign travel, a station license is required for the vessel, and individual operator permits are required for the people.
Beginning in 2000, Canada exempted its pleasure craft under 20 meters (65 feet) from VHF radio station license requirements, and also removed individual operator requirements for those vessels, as long as the vessel is used in Canadian and U.S. waters only.
With neither country requiring VHF radio licensing for its pleasure craft under 20 meters, it was natural to assume that U.S. boats no longer needed station licenses for Canadian travel.
Unfortunately, the U.S. regulation requiring licensing for U.S. pleasure craft in foreign waters is still on the books. It's supposed to be revoked, at least for travel in Canada. But it hasn't been revoked - yet.
What about enforcement? The reality is that the U.S. Coast Guard does not check VHF radio licensing for U.S. pleasure craft, because in U.S. waters no licensing is required. Neither does the U.S. Coast Guard go into Canadian waters to enforce U.S. VHF radio licensing regulations. In Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard and RCMP have no interest in enforcing U.S. regulations.
So nobody is looking at, nor are they about to look at, this obscure regulation requiring U.S. boats and their people to be licensed if they cruise in Canada. Given these circumstances, what should the U.S. boater do? We'll leave the decision up to each individual.
We would not dream of suggesting that because an obscure regulation cannot be enforced it could safely be ignored.
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For more updates:
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• U.S. Customs Updates
• Canada Customs Updates
• General Updates
• Puget Sound & San Juan Islands
• Strait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia, including B.C.'s Gulf Islands
• Desolation Sound to top of Vancouver Island
• Central & Northern B.C. Coast
• West Coast of Vancouver Island
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