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…
The end of the summer marks a busy time for the Waggoner Guide team as we begin the editorial process for the next edition of the Waggoner Cruising Guide. This process has many aspects, including gathering all of our important updates from editor Mark Bunzel, Lorena and Leonard Landon, and our Waggoner Guide correspondents who…
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…
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…
The 2018 Waggoner Guide Flotilla to Alaska, which left in May and arrived in Ketchikan on May 31, was a big success. Eight boats made it safely to Ketchikan and we learned a lot along the way and are all better mariners as a result. They are now off exploring in Southeast Alaska and some…
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…
Wooden Boat Festival – All Day Seminars Understanding Marine Diesel Engines by Nigel Calder September 7, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Pope Building Tuition: $125 Register here. Understanding Marine Diesel Engines Understanding Marine Diesel Engines starts with a brief introduction on how a diesel engine works will be followed by a detailed…
Wooden Boat Festival – All Day Seminars Understanding Boat Electrical Systems by Nigel Calder September 6, 2018, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Location: Pope Building Tuition: $125 Register here. Understanding Boat Electrical Systems The Understanding Boat Electrical Systems course starts with a brief explanation of core electrical terms followed by key design criteria for both DC…
Waggoner Cruising Guide Seminar Understanding the Weather in the Pacific Northwest and How to Stay out of Trouble with Mark Bunzel at Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend September 6th, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. $45 Register here. Understanding Pacific Northwest Weather is one of the biggest challenges when cruising in this area. It can make…
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…
During the last couple of years, we have noticed a marked increase in the number of boaters cruising the Pacific Northwest, including new boaters who are experiencing the area for the first time. These new boaters include not only locals but those who live elsewhere. We have met boaters from Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Germany,…
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…
Continuing the rounds for Waggoner Guide research, we entered Active Pass. The winds were blowing at 35 knots, and the pass was active with BC ferries transiting both directions. Reminding ourselves of the importance of leaving these “big boys” plenty of room, we hugged the shoreline along this very busy waterway. Two worthwhile stops are in…
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…
After departing Sidney, we spent the day making several stops, gathering updates and taking photos. First stop, Otter Bay Marina on North Pender Island, with its lovely grounds, swimming pools, and the convenience store/café, seems to draw the attraction of many boaters. The marina appeared to be full, and the marina phone recording instructed…
A large number of boats can anchor in Reid Harbor on Stuart Island. After our internal clock adjusted to the time change from Venice to Anacortes, we repacked and loaded the boat to head out again in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. In our opinion, these home waters are among the best cruising grounds in the…
“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…