When navigating the BC Coast, boaters often see “IR” or the words “Indian Reserve” on charts. Many wonder what this designation means, as there may, or may not be, evidence of habitation. What is an Indian Reserve? Indian Reserve (IR) are tracts of land set aside under the Indian Act and treaty agreements for the…
According to a recent study by Charmin, the average consumer uses 8.6 sheets per trip to the washroom, that’s a total of 57 sheets per day with a typical roll lasting five days. A marine head can be a finicky thing, and more than one has fallen prey to a simple piece of toilet paper. Nowadays…
Every summer it seems I go a little overboard, pun intended, with too much food and too much wine. By the time September arrives, I am trying to squeeze back into my fall clothes, thank goodness for the bulky sweaters. Recently I found a new product called get clean, herb tea for detoxing No. 7, from…
Kenmore Air Harbor is one of those unique companies that has found the keys to success in a tough business through hard work, integrity and doing the right thing for the customer. For over 72 years Kenmore Air has been primarily owned and managed by the same family. Today multiple family members work in the…
As boaters in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, it is hard to look up, see a float plane going by, or better yet taking off or landing, and not wonder what it must be like to fly one. Not many people realize that you can enjoy this incredible experience with a $99 Introductory Floatplane…
Effective September 5, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS) will no longer be in service and float plans will no longer be accepted. Customs and Border Protection is in the process of replacing SVRS, and eventually I-68, with Reporting Offsite Arrival – Mobile, ROAM App. ROAM is an app…
After spending several nights in Pender Harbour and making the rounds by dinghy, we are happy to report that boaters now have more options for transient moorage. What’s New in Pender Harbour? The Coho Marina & RV Resort in Gerrans Bay recently installed new docks and now offers transient guest moorage in unoccupied slips (maximum…
B.C. Marine Parks is a name you recognize and one that conjures up great memories and mental images. But, B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society is probably a name not as recognizable and should be. Through the work of the B.C. Marine Parks Forever Society, marine parks in British Columbia have been expanded and made more…
Seven experienced couples and individuals cruise waters of the inside passage looking for changes and updates for the next annual publication of the Waggoner Cruising Guide. These field correspondents are on-the-water-cruisers visiting marinas, anchorages, and passages described in the Waggoner Cruising Guide, recording the many things that change each year. Marinas, of course, are the…
There was a lot of curiosity when the word went out last fall that the main building at Dent Island Lodge was being torn down and a new building would be in place for the 2018 season. That quick, really? The old building came down September 15, 2017, and an entirely new building was built over…
2018 Waggoner Guide Flotilla, Part 1 Our 2018 Waggoner Guide Flotilla to Alaska was a big success. Eight boats made it safely to Ketchikan and we had a lot of fun on the way. As you will see, we started out with nine boats and one had some minor mechanical problems and ended up behind…
Turnbull Cove is one of the northernmost anchorages in the Broughtons. It’s popular with cruisers because it has plenty of room to accommodate a large number of boats, and is a popular spot for crabbing. Most of the terrain surrounding Turnbull Cove is steep, and first-time visitors will immediately notice a couple of landslides…
“It was far too windy to venture up Knight Inlet that day. After studying the chart, we decided to put in the time by wandering through the maze of islands over towards Village Island. There is an old Indian village there, Mamalilaculla, and we had never been in there before. The village was always, at…
The sun has finally arrived and it is really intense this year. I wanted to share some of my favorite sun products. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Great Sun Products for Your Boating Adventures My standard “refresher” for many years has been Evian Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray. It contains a unique balance…
It is amazing how little we know and understand the tides and the resulting currents. To the Northwest mariner, the tides are critical to safe passage. By reading Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean by Jonathan White, mariners can benefit from and appreciate a deeper understanding of the tides and what makes them work. Disclaimer:…
On a trip to Tofino on West Vancouver Island, you might be tempted to create one of your fabulous dishes in the galley and enjoy it aboard, but you’d be missing out, for this laid-back surfer town has a fantastic food scene. Many cafes and restaurants in Tofino are close enough to walk to and…
This offshore drilling has nothing to do with petroleum but the kind of drilling service practiced by dentists. It’s the story about Dr. Victor S. Stime and how he combined his passion for boating with a retirement dental practice that brings dental services to remote villages in Southeast Alaska. After being diagnosed with a…
This second in a series of articles about the new 2018 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permit provides both additional information about the program and answers questions from the first Waggoner eNews article. Aquatic Invasive Species – What’s New and What’s Unchanged? In our first article, we reported the new Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permits required…
I think this is another clever idea, a strap that doubles as a case for your binoculars. On my boat, the binoculars and the case are very rarely ever together. The Miggo Strap & Wrap is made of light, high quality, impact-resistant neoprene Lycra fabric. It comes in two colors black with a touch of…
This winter, I visited Lower Lonsdale in North Vancouver. If you haven’t been there in a while you might be surprised at the growth that has taken place. I was told by a local, that it is the new “hot spot” and that many young professionals and retirees are moving to this area. Along with a…