Ranger Tugs’ live webinar series, As the Prop Turns, is featuring special guest hosts, Jim and Lisa Favors. In this episode, Jim and Lisa will detail their top 5 cruising destinations in the U.S. and Canada.

Stay tuned for the second in a two-part series (later this year) in which the Favors will talk about how and why they trailer their boat all over the country.

The post In Case You Missed It – As The Prop Turns appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Join Jim and Lisa Favors, of Trailer Trawler Life, for a presentation on their five favorite trailerable trawler destinations. Learn more about Jim and Lisa and their adventures onboard “Kismet” a Ranger Tug R-29 on their BLOG

This is the first of two webinars we will present on AS THE PROP TURNS.
The second one will focus on how we trailer our boat across the USA and Canada. We’ll share tips and tricks on planning, boaterhoming, permit procedures/requirements, and storing trucks, and trailers, while cruising.

Q & A session to follow the presentation.

Thursday – May 28, 2020
10:00 AM Pacific Time (USA & Canada)
1:00 PM Eastern Time

REGISTER HERE

The webinar is hosted on the Zoom platform and is free to join for everyone. As an attendee, you will not be on camera or on the microphone but you will have the ability to type questions during and after the presentation. Each webinar is scheduled to last between 30-60 minutes. You do not have to purchase anything from Zoom or sign up for an account. You only need to register at the link provided below and follow the instructions in the confirmation email that you receive from Zoom.

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Smiths Falls is the Mid-Way Mark, Between Kingston and Ottawa, On the Rideau Canal –

Smiths Falls is the halfway mark between Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario. This industrial town, otherwise known as the Heart of the Rideau Canal, held interest to both Lisa and me. Up to this point in our Rideau Canal cruise, we have been tied up to lock walls that are more rural in nature, the peace and quiet that afforded us was welcome. However, considering Smiths Falls is the largest community we’ve visited in the Rideau Corridor up to this point, we were eager to get off the boat and do some exploring.

Smiths Falls hosts three lock stations called “Combined Locks.” They make up the biggest single lock lift on the Rideau Canal system – 26 feet. The locks here are automated locks, meaning that instead of park staff manually turning the doors, they only have to push a button to electronically operate the hydraulic valves to open and close the gates and sluices.

There was lots of room for us at the dock wall at Victoria Park, a short distance from the center of town.

Ranger Tugs everywhere! (Above)

Look who we found in front of us on the wall, Dug the Tug, a Ranger Tug R21.

Goulash for dinner tonight.

One thing we learned early on, during our Great Loop travels, was to always take advantage of any small-town factory tours. Having a goal, of something to see, while in an unknown environment can make all the difference in our cruising lifestyle. Sometimes these tours can be hard to find since 9/11 many factories discontinued their tours with fears of terrorist activities. Jim researched the town ahead of time and found a Hershey’s Canada Inc. chocolate factory not too far from the downtown area where we planned to dock. Even more, a reason to get started early. The plan was to only spend one night in Smiths Falls, so we had to get the boat tied up and secure before we set out.

We were in for a surprise!

We took off walking to One Hersey Drive; it was a little longer of a jaunt than we had expected. Upon our arrival, we found out that Hersey’s was no longer manufacturing chocolate at this location. Apparently, Jim had consulted an old guide when he did his research. We approached the building and much to our surprise; we found a new company now headquartered in Smiths Falls, called Tweed.

Tweed is a Canadian Agricultural business that grows and cultivates marijuana for medical and recreational users. Our walking adventure just got a little more interesting. As we entered the lobby, we found the converted factory space to resemble a high-tech Apple Store; we were happy to learn that yes; they gave plant tours.

Although they are still working on the factory building and product environment, the tour began with an educational video of the history and medicinal benefits of the plant. This was followed by a tour of the temperature and light-controlled cultivation rooms from a glass-partitioned second-floor hallway. We could view all the different stages of the plant-growing process. I have to say it was not what we expected when we left the boat, however it was a very pleasant surprise tour of something we had never experienced in our normal everyday life. Not to mention we became a little more educated on the medicinal benefits of marijuana. We left the building thinking lots of changes are coming to Smiths Falls stimulated by the introduction of this single business.

Pretty slick educational tour provided by Tweed.

Smelling station (above). Interesting set-up, but we didn’t quite get the drift of all the aromas.

The next morning all three boats docked on the wall at the park had left to go through the lock.

The post Smiths Falls – Heart of the Rideau Canal! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Call us Snowboaters or Boaterhomers – Using Our Boat On Land And Water! –

We’re certain you’ve heard of the term “Snow Birds.” Southern Boating just coined a new boating-related term for what the crew of Kismet has been doing for over seven years. “Snowboaters!” We also like to reference our over-land adventures by saying we are “Boaterhomers.”

Whatever the term you use to describe what we do regularly, as a lifestyle choice, it’s working for us in a big way. Using our trailerable boat as both a land vehicle and a water vessel provides us with some amazing flexibility in our adventures. Not only on water but on land too!

To read the article, click on the screenshot below…
OR CLICK HERE

To read more posts by Trailer Trawler Life on their adventures as Snowboaters/Boaterhomers,
CLICK HERE.

The post Snowboaters Paradise – Kismet Featured in Southern Boating Magazine! appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Christening Kismet – Christening is a Ritual
Started by Seafarers Thousands of Years Ago –

We finally got the boat graphics installed on Kismet – time to christen her. Christening, or naming ceremonies, were meant to bring good luck to new vessels and those who sailed on them. The tradition of christening goes back to the early days of boating – thousands of years ago.

Viking ships were marked by the spilling of blood in early rituals. In the Middle Ages, religious shrines were placed on ships and a libation of wine was offered as the vessel hit the water. Wine became a substitute for the earlier practice of a blood sacrifice, consequently, for good luck and a safe voyage, wine was poured on the deck to appease King Neptune.

Ancient seafaring peoples, rimming the Mediterranean, launched their ships with rituals having religious overtones. These practices, varying in form as nations and cultures evolved through the centuries, have carried over to the present christening and launching ceremonies.

Some interesting christening facts…

The Titanic was never christened! The USS Arizona, sunk by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was christened with water rather than wine or champagne. Both examples ended with bad luck, certainly nothing we’d ever want to come close to while cruising on Kismet.

7 Most Common Superstitions of Seafarers

So with all that that said, we’ve asked some of our boating friends to join us today to help christen the Lady, Kismet.

We have christened most of our boats.
Our last Ranger Tug was christened in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Today We Come to Name this Lady… Kismet

For thousands of years, we have gone to sea.
We have crafted vessels to carry us
and we have called them by name.
These ships will nurture
and care for us through perilous seas,
and so we affectionately call them “she.”
To them, we toast, and ask to celebrate… Kismet.

To the Cruisers of old… to Kismet

The moods of the sea are many, from tranquil to violent.
We ask that this ship be given the strength to carry on.
The keel is strong and she keeps out the pressures of the sea.

To the cruisers of old… to the Sea!

Today we come to name this lady Kismet,
and send her to sea to be cared for,
and to care for the FAVORS family.
We ask the cruisers of old
and the mood of God that is the sea
to accept Kismet as her name,
to help her through her passages,
and allow her to return with her crew safely.

To the cruisers before us… to Kismet.

The post Today We Come to Name this Lady… Kismet appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Taking delivery of our new Ranger Tug R29S a few weeks ago also meant we’d be in the Pacific Northwest to attend another noteworthy 2017 Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats Factory Rendezvous – THE WORLD’S LARGEST BOAT RENDEZVOUS! With 190 boats and approximately 400 people, in attendance, this is quite an accomplishment.

Seems like we were just in Roche Harbor for the 2016 rendezvous, while we had our boat in the PNW for 12 months. At the time, we didn’t have a clue that we’d be here again so soon. Just shows… a lot can happen in a year. We had so much fun in 2016, we couldn’t wait to cruise up to the San Juan Islands from Des Moines, where we took possession of our new boat in mid-August. We made so many friendships last year, we couldn’t wait to catch up with them and their boating adventures. In addition, we looked forward to creating many new connections within this friendly community of boaters.

The three-day rendezvous is chock full of activities, events, seminars, and feasts.

Besides the nightly happy hours and dinners, sponsored by Global Marine Insurance,  Garmin,  Sea Magazine,  Roche Harbor Marine, and  Volvo Penta, there were daily activities available to participate in or just observe. Activities at the event included a scavenger hunt, crabbing seminar, crabbing and fishing derby, corn-hole competition, USCG safety inspections, and blindfold dingy race. There were the best costume and decorated boat awards given for the efforts made to play on Jimmy Buffett’s “Cruise to Margaritaville” theme. Attendees also had the opportunity to sign up to have techs on hand to visit their boat to address any questions and/or perform any warranty work.

Understandably, most of the attendees at the rendezvous are from Washington State and British Columbia. Being from Michigan we’ve never felt out of the loop, always easy to fit in with this crowd. When visiting the Pacific Northwest with our boat, we’ve always tried to take advantage of the Factory-sponsored events during the summer, and there are several. The season starts off with a get-together at Point’s North Seminar, Poet’s Cove Cruise in BC, followed by Desolation Sound Cruise and a Cutwater Cruise – culminating with this Factory Rendezvous in the San Juan Islands. Because of Fluid Motion, we’ve come to make many friends in this expansive boating community.

Some of the boaters we’ve met out here we’ve also boated within the Great Lakes, River System, and Florida. Trailering our boat around the country not only leads to expanding our horizons but our boating community as well. Many are now trailering their boats out east to do the Great Loop.

When we think of home, we think of a community of family and friends.

We’ve come to the conclusion that the PNW is our second home. We think that’s due to the people we have met here in the PNW. Friendlier people you will never meet. I think we feel this way to a large degree because of how Fluid Motion fosters camaraderie among their owner’s group. They support their owners’ group in many ways – It is quite evident to us that the Factory wants their owners to get out there and “boat,” by offering support in many ways. A company philosophy one cannot help but admire.

2017 Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats Factory Rendezvous

There was a huge crowd at the Volvo Penta Care & Maintenance Seminar on the first day (above).

A few of us took advantage of the 20% off coupon included in the registration bag. The coupon was good at all the stores in town. We had a fun time shopping.

Our Facebook group, Ranger Tugettes found time to get together, in town, before the first night’s Welcome Party. It was fun to put faces to some of the names in the group and to meet other women Tugettes.

A big “Welcome” happy hour and dinner the first night at the bocce ball courts.

Ollie did really well-catching crabs during the Crabbing/Fishing Tournament (above left). Barry helped Jim fly the drone over the event (above-right).

We entered the Corn Hole tournament but only made it to the second round.

Free Beer anyone?

It’s just a short walk from the marina to the beach where two of the big party events take place.

The second night featured a couple of roasted pigs.

Pre-made, or do-it-yourself, Smores. Yum!

The post 2017 Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats Factory Rendezvous appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Even Experienced Boaters Need Help Sometimes! –

Because of our many years of boating experience (six of those years on a Ranger Tug), we didn’t feel we needed to have the “New Boat Delivery Experience” provided by Ranger Tugs when we took possession of our new Ranger Tug R29S – but, they insisted. Boy, were we wrong! Way wrong!

We have been avid boaters for almost all of our adult lives. In all the new boat purchases we’ve made we’ve never, ever, EVER had such a thorough and rewarding new delivery experience as we recently had when taking delivery of our new R29S. The only other experience that was close to comparing was when we took possession of our R27, in 2011. In six years, Ranger Tugs has only improved the process, amazingly not cutting back on it in any way. We think they get how important this is to the new owner’s buying and satisfaction quota meter. Pretty smart in the long run don’t you think, to educate new owners on their new boat’s systems and features. This process can only enhance their confidence in the factory support team and help them to feel they got their money’s worth. On the other end, think of all the time saved by educating in advance, rather than after the fact with panicked phone calls at all hours of the day and night because an owner was unfamiliar with the boat. We see it all the time with Fluid Motion, It’s just plain and simple, this company is successful because they work smart! They know what boaters want and need, they’ve even fostered a community atmosphere among owners to cinch the deal.

Andrew Signed Us Up for the Two-Day Orientation

Well in advance of our arrival, Andrew Custis, Ranger Tugs Customer Service Manager, made arrangements for our two-day training. The training is tailored to each boater based on their knowledge or lack of knowledge as it relates to the boat they are buying and their relative level of maritime skills. For those needing more instruction, more training is available by the experts at the factory. We’ve always felt that Fluid Motion’s mission is to get people out on the water to go boating. They have fashioned their support services with that premise in mind. If that boat is a Ranger Tug or Cutwater, even better.

Ranger Tugs R29S Kismet Orientation

Day One

Thirteen days after we left our home in Traverse City, Michigan, we arrived at Des Moines Marina and met Customer Service Representative, Tim Bates. Tim didn’t waste any time taking us out on the dock to meet our new, shiny red hulled, Ranger Tug R29S.

Under Tim’s friendly guidance, we immediately dove into day one
of our dock-side training.

What was amazing to us, as Tim reviewed the boat’s features and operational functions, was how much has changed since our last boat purchase, 6 years ago. Tim had designed a multiple-page guide and checklist to make sure every operational feature on the boat was covered, from the propane stove to the boat’s power management of shore, generator, solar, and inverter.

This checklist was new to us and we’re thinking Tim has brought some serious skills to Ranger Tugs from previous work experience. The items on the checklist are too numerous to number, but suffice it to say, we got a thorough education and understanding of our new boat. Over the last six years, we have always been wowed by the factory personnel. Tim is no exception, it was nice for us to have a chance to get to know another customer service representative, and Tim gets high marks for the introduction to our new tug.

These wonderful boaters (above left) just randomly gave us these flowers. They said that they wanted to help us celebrate taking possession of our new boat. Thank you so much, it was a wonderful surprise for us today!

Day Two

Kenny Marrs met us at the boat early in the morning of day two of our orientation. He would be covering the Volvo Penta’s engine operations, Garmin electronics, dinghy deployment and retrieval, and much more. We’ve known Kenny from the beginning of our Ranger Tugs association, a nicer young man than you will ever meet. We have seen Kenny in action, his dedication to his customers’ needs is intuitive and honest.

After our dockside training was complete Kenny went with us for a sea trial and our maiden voyage on the new Kismet. One of the first things we noticed was the stability of the ride. The Volvo Penta D4 300hp engine runs with authority but yet is relatively quiet. When I say the engine runs with authority I’m meaning the boat does what you want it to and when you want it done. Kenny reviewed the breaking-in procedure, impeller, filter, and oil maintenance. I could go on and on but there were way too many topics covered to review in a blog post.

This Volvo Penta D4 300hp engine is going to take us to some amazing places!

I think during the sea trial, it really hit home – this boat is amazing.

The two-day training of our new Ranger Tug R29S was the best new product delivery experience we’ve ever encountered. Thank you Ranger Tugs for being the professionals that you all are. Special thanks to Tim Bates and Kenny Marrs for sharing their knowledge and expertise.

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Coming Home to Charlevoix, Michigan for the Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous!

Charlevoix Michigan was home to the Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous. What a spectacular setting for this year’s event. Lisa and I have a fondness for Charlevoix as this was once our homeport. That was before we became enamored of trailering our Ranger Tug all over the United States. So being in Charlevoix again was like coming home.

Arriving on Monday morning, for our 3-day event, we had nothing but clear sunny skies while greeting attendees as they arrived. With 40 people in attendance, we had boaters from Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Washington, Ohio, Kentucky, Ontario, Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. Also in attendance were sponsors and representatives of Reed Yacht Sales, Manitowoc Marina, and Volvo Penta. The event was also sponsored by Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats and Global Marine Insurance. By the very nature of being able to trailer these boats, Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats have a broad, ready-made, community spread far and wide.

When we get together at events like this some of the boaters may already know one another, if not, we’re a friendly bunch, we are here because we all want to have a fun time with other tug owners.

We spent the first day getting settled in. For us, being boatless meant first checking into a local motel and then setting up chairs and a table on the end of the dock for the Pot Luck dinner the first night. Day one was a casual affair, making sure people get their ditty bags, and questions answered. For some, it meant finding a parking spot in town for their truck and maybe their trailer.

For 2018 we’re planning on heading to Ontario’s Trent Severn Waterway.

During Happy Hour on the dock, Jim welcomed everyone with an overview of the agenda and introductions of attendees just before we dug into the potluck offerings.

Matt Hartman and Christine Carlson (above), from Volvo Penta, were with us for our three-day event. Although they were working on Public Relations and Marketing projects for Volvo’s “Where Does Volvo Penta Take You” campaign they both did a good job of blending in seamlessly with our Ranger Tugs and Cutwater boats community.

Mark Derene (above), the representative from Reed Yacht Sales, always had a friendly smile, you could tell he was having a good time. He brought the beautiful red Ranger Tugs R29S to the rendezvous, I think so Jim and I could drool over it. It is just like the one we have on order, we’ll take possession in a few weeks. Thanks for letting me crawl all over your boat Mark!

Everyone is enjoying the Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous.

We started day two off with a catered breakfast followed by US Coast Guard Safety inspections and a boat crawl. We offer the boat crawl in order to learn about enhancements people make to their boats. It’s also an opportunity to share maintenance tips that can save us time and money as well as keep us on the water.

No rendezvous would be complete without a happy hour on the docks, we had one every night. We had a wonderful view of downtown Charlevoix and Round Lake. The day was capped off with a catered dinner on the town’s waterside park lawn.

Matt and Christine were kept busy most days interviewing attendees. Can’t wait to see the photos and videos they took.

Charlevoix has one very special ambassador in their Harbor Master!

Hal Evans is a legend in the boating community, at least to those who have visited “Charlevoix the Beautiful.” You will never encounter a more friendly greeting when docking your boat. Most often Hal will shout a warm “Welcome Home” as you approach to dock your boat. Hal is a one-of-a-kind individual – one of those rare people whom the sun shines through so naturally and radiates out even brighter to all in close proximity. A genuinely good man. Retiring next year, Hal’s shoes will be hard to fill.

Hal helped to make our rendezvous happen in Charlevoix this year. We invited him and his wife, Mary Ann, to dinner Tuesday night and he, in turn, brought his guitar to sing a few old sailor songs during happy hour. Thanks, Hal!!!

After dinner, we played a short game of LAST PERSON STANDING. The last person standing won a parts certificate from Fluid Motion (Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats).

The Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous ended Wednesday on a high note with a tour of John and Zita Winn’s exquisite boathouse and fascinating maritime collection.

Winn’s collection includes unique, and mostly one-of-a-kind boats, outboard engines, seat cushions, paddles, burgees, toys, artifacts and so much more. After crawling around the boathouse, John invited us upstairs to his “Chart Room.” Lots of activities and memorabilia to keep a boater entertained.

John and Zita’s view of Round Lake from their Chart Room.

Later, we had a catered lunch on the dock followed by a presentation about marine insurance by Matt Anderson and Ben Belyea, President of Global Marine Insurance (below). There was also some free time scheduled each day, so people could explore Charlevoix, relax and or go for a cruise out on Lake Charlevoix. The last night we had a pizza party on the dock where many discussed their departure plans for the next day.

Pictures are great and we know not everyone can always attend, however, we hope this gives you a small taste of what a Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats Rendezvous is all about.

A fun time was had by all! Thanks to the attendees, the sponsors, the marina staff, the dealer representatives, the City of Charlevoix, and John and Zita Winn for a one-of-a-kind tour of their boathouse and maritime collection.

The post Ranger Tugs Cutwater Boats 2017 Charlevoix Rendezvous appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Lagoon Cove Marina – A Must-See When Cruising the Broughton Islands –

This day was somewhat bittersweet! Although we were still in the Broughton Islands, we were heading south to our last stop, Lagoon Cove Marina, before high-tailing it 254 miles back to the USA.

It was windy and the water was rough when we departed Pierre’s Echo Bay for our 25-mile cruise into Knight Inlet and finally, our last stop in the Broughton Islands… Lagoon Cove Marina. This is a full-service marina located at the north end of E. Cracroft Island, just southeast of the Broughton Archipelago. The setting is well-protected from all sides and offers vast scenic vistas from almost any angle.

We’d heard great things about the hospitality at Lagoon Cove Marina, so we were glad we had time to include this little gem in our summer cruising activities. As we pulled to the dock on a beautiful sunny day, we were greeted by friendly staff and a stunningly picturesque setting.

Changing of the Guard at Lagoon Cove Marina – A mix of established traditions and new blood can only mean success. Jean Barber and Jim Ryan (above) closed on the sale and transfer of Lagoon Cove in November 2016.

During our first Happy Hour, we met Jean Barber, who created Lagoon Cove, along with her husband, Bill, 25 years ago. We also met Jim Ryan. Jim had recently made an offer on the property and, in November 2016, completed the sale to buy Lagoon Cove Marina, the buildings, and 154 surrounding acres. We were fortunate enough to sit and talk with Jean to learn about the colorful history of Lagoon Cove.

The Barber’s Unique Retirement Plan

Bill, who passed away a few years ago, wanted something to do in retirement (this would have been in the early 1990s). Jean wanted Bill to only work part-time and get a place in Florida. Bill wanted nothing to do with that, according to Jean. Lagoon Cove was their compromise. In buying this property Bill worked for four to five months a year at the cove, full-time. It was kind of part-time in that it was for part of the year. Jean commuted from Portland, Oregon for two months or so, during the summer months, for 20 some years – until Bill passed away four years ago.

With a Little Help from Her Friends…

Jean told us she has been running the place ever since, full-time, with the plan of selling it to the right person. By her own admission, she has been doing things she never did before, in keeping the place afloat. She only managed with the help of friends, family, and fellow boaters. It was an honor for us to have met Jean and learn about what it takes to forge ahead into the unknown and create a special retreat and a living legacy.

With the acquisition of Lagoon Cove by the Ryan family, there will be many improvements made to the marina in the coming months and years. Fresh faces, determination, and commitment to an idyllic floating community will serve the local, and long-distance boating community, well.

We were pleased to have diesel (gas), propane services, and clean spring water available on the docks.

Happy hour is held at 5:00 pm each night on the patio in front of the old boat shed/boater’s lounge, adjacent to the workshop. Fresh prawns are caught daily and supplied at no cost to resident boaters who bring a dish to share. What a wonderful treat for us all. They were so tasty we thought we may have to stay another day. As it turned out the winds were too high in Johnstone Straight the next day (not that we even wanted to leave that soon), which would have made for a very uncomfortable ride, so we decided to stay another day. Yay, more prawns!

This was the WI-FI set up at the marina when we were there in 2016, located in the old boat shed/boater’s lounge (above). Pretty rustic, but an amazing work-around. One of the new owner’s additions is an upgraded WI-FI system for all boaters on the dock. Guess we’ll have to go back to try it out.

Plums were ripening everywhere on the property and were made available to boaters in the boater’s lounge.

You will never get bored at Lagoon Cove!

What does it take to build a floating community? Probably a workshop. This work building still functions as a building/repair shop. Have a repair to make on the boat? You might find help with tools, etc. available in this building.

With winds as high as 25 mph in Johnstone Straight, we sat tight at Lagoon Cove Marina for a second night. With 154 acres there are many opportunities for getting off the boat to stretch your legs just by walking the many trails on the island. So, off we went for a long hike. We didn’t see any bears during our hike in the woods, but we heard from another boater, when we got back, who did.

So let’s review…..free prawns during happy hour, close-up black bear sightings, plum and fruit trees, wild blackberries, workshop, wildlife sightings, hiking trails, friendly staff, beautiful scenery, and friendly people, what’s not to like? The only negative thing we can think of is that this stop marks the end of an amazing adventure – we’ll soon have to depart for our trek back to the states!

Shortly before happy hour, on our first night in the cove, we were treated to an up-close encounter with a black bear, He was perched up in a plum tree helping himself to some very ripe, delectable fruit. We were separated by a small wooden bridge, only 50 feet away from the dangling, plum-indulging bear. We watched him for 1/2 hour before he climbed down the tree and ran into the woods. This must be a favorite food foraging site for local bears as Lagoon Cove has plenty of tempting fruit trees and berry bushes surrounding the owner’s home.

Get ready for sightings, from the dock, of seals, porpoises, orcas, and humpback whales.

Other wildlife in the area includes mink, otter, and a variety of birds.

This is a remnant of an old boat launch (above), not sure if it is still used or not.

When we returned from our hike in the woods, we picked a bunch of these plentiful wild blackberries to consume for breakfast the next day.

Nice place for a campfire! There are also opportunities to play yard games such as Corn Hole, Ping Pong, and Bocce Ball.

The burning barrel (above) is available for boaters to incinerate some of their burnable trash. A nice feature when cruising the Broughtons since disposing of garbage can be an issue.

A novel addition to Lagoon Cove are the unique “Exercise Stations” with observation areas included for those who’d just like to watch others workout.

We took a hike to Midden Beach one afternoon. A good walk through dense woods on a well-marked trail.

Midden Beach (above).

During our cruise through the Broughton Islands, we were fortunate to stay at both the floating communities pictured in the flyers (above), Sullivan Bay Marina and Kwatsi Bay. As we’ve said before, the communities in the Broughtons eagerly support each other while offering different and unique experiences for boaters.

The post Lagoon Cove Marina – Last Stop On Our Broughton Island Adventure appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Visiting the Billy Proctor Museum –

The next morning, after arriving at Pierre’s Echo Bay, we took a short walk. We made our way over a bumpy well-worn path starting at the marina, over a bridge,  through the woods, and finally a big open field, to Billy’s Museum. Billy Proctor, fisherman, logger, and beachcomber, is a living legend in these parts. Billy was born and raised in the Broughton Islands. Over the years he has gained a vast personal knowledge of what it was like to live in this remote area.

Billy started collecting the impressive memorabilia found in his museum when he was just five years old. The collection highlights a rich and colorful life spent in the Broughton Islands. Billy has written several books and has more stories to tell of his life in this wilderness than anyone in the area. While visiting the museum, we bought one of his books, titled Heart of the Raincoast so we could learn more about him, his life’s story, and some of his well-documented history and personal accounts of his many years spent in the Broughton Islands. Billy won’t be here forever, but his legacy will certainly carry on for future generations of visitors to this amazing grouping of islands.

This bridge (above), not far from the marina at Echo Bay, leads to Billy’s Museum.

Read more about Billy Proctor…

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Pierre’s Echo Bay Lodge and Marina is Famous
for Their Nordic Themed Feasts –

Less than 2 miles away from the previous night’s anchorage in Shoal Bay sits Pierre’s Echo Bay Lodge and Marina. We arrived early morning for a 2-day stay. Before making our way to our assigned slip, we stopped at the fuel dock to top off our tank. This is a chore we prefer to do on the way into a marina. That way, when we leave early morning, we don’t have to wait in line at the fuel dock. After coming out of the wild, with several days spent watching for bears, whales, and eagles, we found ourselves, once again, immersed in a busy and unique, floating community. Pierre’s Echo Bay is well-known, by boaters in the Pacific Northwest, for its central location in the Broughton Islands and the owner’s flamboyant nordic roots. Owners Pierre and Tove Landry have created a haven for boaters in the Broughton Islands with a decidedly nordic flare, a reflection of their native roots.

There is a string of docks opposite Pierre’s Echo Bay. They are cabins available for rent to those flying in and out of Echo Bay.

A Surprise Reunion With Friends Who we Traveled to Canada WithYears Ago

Once docked, we set out to explore, walking the docks to see what boats were present. When boating in the Broughton Islands, it’s not unusual to run into at least a few boaters you’ve met at other floating communities. Later while we were sitting on the dock, during Happy Hour, we were surprised by a guy who quickly walked up to us in an extremely friendly manner. A moment or two later, after he eagerly greeted us with a big smile, we recognized Tyme. He and his wife, June (below), owned Circle T, a Ranger Tug when we first met them in Ganges, BC, during our first Ranger Tugs Desolation Sound Cruise. They now own a 48’ Selene, Marmee. We were invited over to their boat for a visit after dinner to catch up on both of our boating adventures. We had a great time, lots of boating stories and laughter. Being reunited with old friends was certainly a highlight of our stay at Pierre’s Echo Bay.

Lots of personality radiates from the little buildings and floats tied up to this floating community.

We settled in for Happy Hour (above) with new acquaintances, on California Dreaming.

Colorful signage at these little floating communities is rich with humor and definitely worth the time to make note of.

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Simoon Sound – A Sure Thing for a Bear Sighting

We left Kwatsi Bay late morning to head back west into Tribune Channel and eventually Simoon Sound. First, we wanted to explore the length of Tribune Channel while also looking out for a spot to anchor for the night. Our preferred choice was Macintosh Bay, but the best spot was taken. We proceeded further back into O’Brien Bay and found a nice spot in the north corner of the bay with a good view of the level shoreline and a wide open beach area where we hoped to have a black bear sighting at low tide.

Simoon Sound is located on the north and east sides of the Wishart Peninsula between Tribune Channel and Kingcome Inlet. The sound is also a reserve of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples. Captain George Vancouver anchored here on Discovery and Chatham in 1792

Entertainment for the night? Bear Watching!

Sure enough, at 5:15 we spotted a small black bear walking on the rocks right not too far from the boat, exciting to see and watch his/her activities for 1/2 hour, and then it was gone. In another 1/2 hour, a large black bear appeared on the beach – we watched for an hour as it easily turned large rocks over looking for food, never paying much attention to us. Shortly after, the large bear disappeared into the underbrush and the small bear appeared right behind our boat, on the shore of course but the closest to us than any other sighting, maybe 25 feet. The bear easily made its way along the rugged, rocky ledge foraging for food under the rocks while looking for its dinner as we finished ours up.

We decided to stay put in O’Brien Bay another day and it turned into a blue-skied sunny day – great for being at anchor doing chores around the boat and enjoying nature.

By this time in our trip, we were really starting to feel the confines of our 27-foot boat close in. We aren’t really comfortable getting off the boat to walk on shore, even if we could find a path to explore. We know there are a lot of bears in those woods and nearby beaches, however, we did enjoy the peace and quiet, the occasional wildlife flitting by and the beautiful blue-green still water Kismet was afloat on.

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Return Visit Kwatsi Bay Marina

More fog greeted us this morning. We watched it slowly roll into Viner Sound the night before. Never have seen this much fog in our lives! So, today was another exploration cruising day. We enjoy poking into little coves, around islands, up bays, rivers, or sounds, just to see what’s there. It must be the inquisitive nature and wanderlust in our blood and our ongoing desire to see as much of the Broughtons as we can this summer. Our end goal today is a return visit to Kwatsi Bay Marina.

Soon after we departed Viner Sound, we cruised through a group of islands called Burdwood Group. We were scouting potential anchorages for when we come back through. We moved slowly east into Tribune Channel, once again, but saw no whales, however, we did see a great many dolphins jumping in and out of the water, way off in the distance.

After a delightful afternoon cruise, we traveled the final 16 miles for a return visit to Kwatsi Bay Marina.

If you’ve read our previous post, on our first stay at Kwatsi Bay Marina, you’ll know why we planned a return visit. Kwatsi Bay is situated in a picture-perfect postcard-like setting, two miles from Tribune Channel. The owners, Anca and Max, always make boaters feel at home. Nothing fancy here, rustic but comfortable and friendly, just the way we like it.

The social aspect of staying overnight at these floating marinas is very enjoyable. The docks are a great place to meet other boaters, and exchange stories and cruising knowledge on the Broughtons or the Pacific Northwest. We joined the other boaters for happy hour at the outdoor “Boater’s Lounge,” held daily at five o’clock.

During our first visit to Kwatsi Bay Marina, we joined other boaters in the outdoor Boater’s Lounge for a potluck affair. Tonight it was an appetizer Happy Hour. Anca and Max like to switch it up every few days so it’s not always the same thing.

During Happy Hour, we were surprised by a black bear, it was foraging for food on the shore behind the docks, about 50 feet away. We all had a good view as we watched the bear turn over rocks, oblivious to our presence and loud “oohs and ahhs.” You might have thought the boaters were actual wildlife paparazzi with all the photographs being taken of that impressive animal.

Most of the boaters at the dock with us pitched in and helped Anca replace rotten boards on the main dock with brand-new timber. Looks like it is an ongoing project.

We have been fascinated with how the docks, home floats, and marina facilities at these floating marinas are lashed together to make a structure that withstands the tidal changes and the sometimes extreme elements.

We were sad to wave goodbye to Anca, We’ll never forget the home she and Max carved out of this majestic Canadian wilderness.

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Waddington Bay – Located Off Bonwick Island –

After waking up to thick fog, we departed Goat Island and cruised up Knight Inlet for seven miles in search of whales. Having no luck finding any, we retraced our path through extremely calm water, moving in and out of the dense fog to make our way to the mouth of Knight Inlet. We skirted into a channel by Midsummer Island and out into the base of Queen Charlotte Strait.

Still idling through heavy fog, not seeing much past the bow of Kismet we went up Arrow Passage, still looking for whales. With none yet to be seen we moved on into Waddington Bay, off Bonwick Island where we found a wonderfully scenic and remote location to drop the hook at the end of the cove in 15 feet of water. We spent two days on the hook watching, unsuccessfully, for bears grazing on shore and dinghying around the bay chatting with boaters anchored nearby.

We were the last boat out of the anchorage at Waddington Bay following NuExplorer, from Portland, OR.

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Stopping at Goat Island on Our Way to Provision at Port McNeil –

It had been 11 days since we had been to a grocery store and the boat cupboards were getting bare! We certainly had enough canned goods, so we wouldn’t starve, but we craved fresh produce. Also, our fresh water tank was about empty. With that in mind, we departed Sullivan Bay Marina for a scenic cruise within the Broughton Archipelago past Pierre’s Echo Bay Marina and Knight Inlet to an anchorage at Goat Island, it was a 20-mile run.

At Goat Island, we found low-lying islands surrounding our anchorage. Calm with blue skies all day, but woke to dense fog in the morning.

Only one other boat anchored with us tonight. It was an interesting trawler with lots of toys on it.

The next morning we woke up to heavy fog but not heavy enough to stop us from venturing out to meet slack tide at the top of Hanson Island and Weyton Pass, for a 20-mile run from Goat Island to Port McNeill.

At times we could not see much past the bow of Kismet but the ride was scenic nonetheless, made even better by a four-eagle sighting. Port McNeill is the major town for provisioning, laundry, and a little dock and city time.

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Sullivan Bay Marina is on the Edge of the Broughton Archipelago – 

After two peaceful nights on the hook at Turnbull Cove we pulled anchor to head a short seven miles to Sullivan Bay Marina. We timed our stay at Sullivan’s to coincide with their prime rib dinner, a weekly, scheduled event. Sullivan Bay Marina is a remote floating island community, only accessible by boat, seaplane, or helicopter. Besides dockage, there are float homes, a convenience store, a fuel dock, and a restaurant.

Lisa took photos while Jim drove the boat.

When we arrived we stopped at the fuel dock to top our tanks. We were warmly greeted by staff and other boaters when we arrived. We checked out the nearby grocery store to see what the offering was and ordered our cinnamon rolls for the next morning. Fresh produce was what we craved, but the prices were of course quite high – understandably.

Lisa immediately asked Jim for a two-night stay.

Happy hour is an important activity in the Broughton Islands. Every marina has its own take on what it should be. Usually, you bring an appetizer or pot-luck dish to share. This is where you’ll meet other boaters in a relaxed conversational setting.

It seemed that we barely got settled and it was time for the prime rib dinner. When we made reservations at the marina we also signed up for the weekly prime rib dinner special. Diners go to the restaurant at the designated time. We shared a table with another couple, an instant opportunity to get to know another boater. We felt more like we were at a big party at someone’s house instead of a restaurant. The staff was friendly, cheerful, and entertaining. It almost felt like we’d known them a long time. The food was fantastic, It was the largest piece of prime rib we’ve ever had. We’d do it again. They do things right at Sullivans by cooking amazing feasts and making everyone feel at home. An art they’ve perfected.

After happy hour, under the tent on the dock, everybody gets a try at swinging a hole-in-one off the dock. There are prizes for the closest to the pin every evening. Hole-in-one wins free dockage.

Shortly after docking, we noticed a taupe-colored Cutwater gliding into the harbor. It caught our eye as it looked familiar to us, and so did the crew. It took a moment to register, as they cruised closer we saw it was our Canadian friends, Ken and Pauline, on their boat Shipperly. They were followed shortly after by our friends John and Laurie in their 39’ Kady Krogan, Tribute.

Bumping into old friends is the best!

We had met both of these couples at different times over the years through boating with the Ranger Tugs and Cutwater community. We have been at rendezvous together at various times. We’ve run into them at various times in Florida, Washington, British Columbia, Ontario Canada, and Florida. The crews of Shipperly and Tribute had buddy boated to Alaska this summer and were just now returning to Canada and the USA for John and Laurie. How lucky were we to be at Sullivan Bay Marina as they stopped for the night on their way home? It must be KISMET!

Everything floats on the water at this marina – houses, the grocery store, the restaurant, laundry, and shower facilities. If you are here awhile and want to get some exercise, you have to walk the docks. We saw several people power walking up and down each finger length of the dock. You do what you gotta do when boating! That next afternoon while walking the docks for exercise we saw a group of people watching a mother black bear and cub at the rear of the float house/marina area. They were rummaging around shore foraging for food, turning over rocks looking for something tasty. The bears were only about 50 yards away and the cub appeared to be only a couple of months old.

Cedar Water!

The water available at Sullivan Bay Marina is not potable. Just like we experienced at Kwatsi Bay Marina – it is cedar water. Lisa got a real lesson on cedar water while trying to do laundry on our second day. All the washing machines were taking forever to fill with water, it came into the machine in a slow trickle.

Lisa spent a couple of hours trying to do just one load of laundry.

While Lisa was waiting for her machine to fill, one woman just started taking a shower, she got all soaped up and then started yelling that the water had quit on her. Lisa ran and got a worker to look into the situation and a few minutes later he was pulling a filter out from under the building. It was covered and clogged with green slime. Okay, that did not look good at all. He cleaned the filter and the water started flowing full force again. The woman finally got to rinse the soap off her body and Lisa got her laundry done. There was some concern however about washing clothes in the yellow water. In the end, no damage was done!

What a great idea, growing hydroponic lettuce on the boat. Fresh greens every day!

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Exploring Picturesque Waterways On Our Way to Turnbull Cove –

After enjoying only a one-night stay at Laura Cove, we decided to move on. Having limited time to explore the Broughtons, we need to stay on task. Our day’s charted course consisted of a cruise through Sutlej Channel past Sullivan Bay Marina. Then we cruised up picturesque Dunsany Passage and Grappler Sound into the pristine and remote Kenneth Passage.

We were rewarded with a two-bear sighting this morning in Mackenzie Sound

We passed by Turnbull Cove, our day’s final destination, for a sightseeing cruise and black bear hunt in Mackenzie Sound followed by a cruise to Little Nimmo Bay. During our chart review with Anca, at Kwatsi Bay Marina several nights before, she had told us there are often black bears at the end of Mackenzie Sound. This is where the mountain river dumps into the sound providing a good feeding ground for bears. Anca also mentioned the mountain views were spectacular.

When we arrived at the end of the sound we were not disappointed. Lisa quickly spotted a black bear under a thick overhang of evergreen boughs near the rocky shoreline. We rounded the point where we saw the first bear, in hopes it had moved to the other side. We didn’t see that bear again, but as we idled back and forth while looking further up to the head of the sound, a larger black bear was sunning itself on the banks of a grassy beach next to the mountain river spilling into the sound. We watched as the bear foraged at low tide for his mid-afternoon meal. From the safety of Kismet, we watched that bear for about 20 minutes until it decided it had enough fun entertaining us. Finally, it wandered back into the woods.

Nimmo Bay sits in stark contrast to the other marinas we would
visit around the Broughton Islands.

Retracing our route, with a short side trip in and out of Nimmo Bay, we found a fairly new upscale marina and resort. Nimmo Bay sits in stark contrast to the other marinas we would visit in the Broughton Islands. The others are very rustic and well-worn with unique personalities to fit their remote locations. We first saw Nimmo Bay on TV, a location set for a Boston Legal episode with James Spader and William Shatner.

Finally, at Turnbull Cove, we found a nice spot in the anchorage and spent two nights on the hook.

The detour we took for our cruise to Turnbull Cove was a 14-mile round trip side excursion well worth the views and bear sightings. Total cruising miles today were 29. We spent two great days on the hook anchored at the northernmost point that we’ve ever boated to date – 50’57.556N 126*50.469W

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Kwatsi Bay Marina is Just One of Many Floating
Communities in the Broughton Archipelago!

Kwatsi Bay Marina was just around the bend from our anchorage, so it was a short trip to the dock soon after breakfast. We have never thought it made sense to go into a marina at the end of the day if there is an anchorage situated nearby. Maybe it’s the Scotch in us, but why pay for a full day when you don’t have to?

This family-owned and operated marina has a well-known reputation for being a friendly, hospitable stop. After teaching and then managing the Scott Cove Salmon Hatchery, Kwatsi Bay Marina owners Max Knierim and Anca Fraser, along with their two children, towed their existing float home to an empty Kwatsi Bay in 1995.

This marina will be our introduction to the many
floating communities in the Broughtons.

Taking a page from the logging industry, very few buildings in the Broughtons are actually built on the shore. Most marinas here are a maze of floating dock systems. It is easy to unlash and move the whole community from bay to bay if need be. Floating homes and marina buildings grew somewhat organically over the years to form rustic floating neighborhoods, marinas, and resorts.

These floating communities turned out to be
one of the most fascinating aspects of our trip.

They all had unique personalities of architecture and humankind, which set them apart from the others. We understand marina owners worked collectively in the beginning to brainstorm. How could they provide visitors with a unique experience, something to write home about? How would they get people talking about the Broughtons and what would draw them back for more? We think they succeeded in their endeavor.

Max and Anca (above) welcome boaters from all over the world to their little slice of heaven with warmth and generous hospitality. They take their stewardship of Kwatsi Bay seriously.

Arriving early we had plenty of time to wash the boat from the thick saltwater spray that accumulated while coming up Johnstone Strait. After being stuck on the boat without debarking for several days during our trip north, we eagerly walked the long dock to stretch our legs. A hot shower was next on our agenda.

Max and Anca’s home sits at the top of the ramp to shore (above and below).

We were just beginning to learn that anything to do with fresh water in the Broughtons is something of a major consideration when trip planning. While most marinas offer a form of potable water, we found that cedar water was the norm. Anna said theirs is filtered several times and safe to drink, but due to its color, a pale yellow (above), we hesitated to fill our tanks. Many suggest boiling it before consumption.

Time to think about ways to make our fresh water supply last
during this trip into the wilds.

What we came to understand is that it’s a balancing act between water and garbage. Garbage is also a concern when cruising the Broughtons. (We did not visit any marinas that accepted garbage from visitors.) To fill our tank with fresh water and dispose of our garbage (all neatly stowed in our dinghy) we had to visit Port McNeill, on Vancouver Island. We did this mid-trip, during our three-week adventure.

Reality quickly set in. How would we handle this precious resource on the boat? We immediately went into tank-water preservation mode. Before we left Kwatsi Bay Marina, we filled our biggest pail with cedar water. It would be used for washing dishes or quick showers while on the hook.

Coming soon to future article…
How we handle water preservation in remote areas.

Anca and Max post an invitation, to either a pot-luck or Happy Hour appetizer get-together, every day in the front of the Gift Shop building. We arrived on a potluck night. Everyone brings a dish to share, and as it always seems to be with potlucks, it was a bounty of deliciousness. Our contribution was a salmon pasta casserole. We met friendly folks on this night that we would run into from time to time over the next three weeks. Many have been returning to this archipelago for many, many, years.

After the potluck, Anca did a chart review with Jim. As first-timers, we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to get expert advice on the highlights of the Broughtons. Thanks, Anca!

Gotta love the signs!

Once settled at the dock, we dinghied over to a trail, not far from the marina, that leads to a waterfall.

Lo and behold, look who we ran into (photo above). We last saw Santana during our 2013 trip to Chatterbox Falls.

After enjoying a two-night stay at Kwatsi Bay Marina, we reluctantly prepared to leave mid-morning for Turnbull Cove. Sometimes we enjoy a place so much, we want to stay longer than our schedule allows. Kwatsi Bay was that kind of place for us. We vowed to return before our three weeks in the Broughtons were over.

Goodbye Kwatsi Bay Marina, see you again soon!

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There are no roads to Kwatsi Bay. To access this
the remote gem you have to either boat or fly in.

Located just north of Gilford Island on the north side of Tribune Channel, the Kwatsi Bay Marina sits on the edge of the Broughton Archipelago, in the Great Bear Rainforest, nestled on the side of a majestic granite mountain on the mainland side of the Broughtons.

At the end of our day’s cruise to Kwatsi Bay from Forward Harbour, we were following a yacht through Chatham Channel into Knight Inlet. We saw them suddenly stop turning their bow to point up into Knight Inlet. Curious as to why they made the sharp turn and stop, it soon dawned on us that they had spotted something up Knight Inlet. Whales, of course! We sprung into action and followed their lead.

Whale Sighting on First Day In The Broughtons!

We slowed to a stop and started to see the whale spouts at the intersection of Tribune Channel by Sewell Island. Only one whale passed us by, going in the opposite direction, it was close enough for us to get a reasonable view and hear its air spout. The dozen or so others were way off in the distance, up the inlet and too far away to photograph. The air spouts were quite tall, so we imagined they might have been humpback whales. This was our first day in the Broughtons, we felt lucky to be seeing our first non-orca whale. In addition, we saw an eagle today as we worked our way a total of 60 miles to our anchorage in Kwatsi Bay.

Our decision to anchor, just past the marina the first night, was made because we were so caught up in the still and quiet beauty of our first real stop in the Broughtons. Mother Nature seemed to beg us to pay respect to her bounty before we joined the human activity waiting for us at the Kwatsi Bay Marina.

Kwatsi Bay was our first anchorage in the Broughtons. Once inside the bay, we were surrounded by high mountain cliffs on the mainland. They were so high we could barely see the crest, almost as if in a large bowl.

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Shoal Bay – A Peaceful Oasis in the Discovery Islands!

Once we successfully navigated through the rapids of Yucalta, Gillard, and Dent we made our way another eight miles to the Discovery Islands and finally to Shoal Bay. This will be our first stop on the way to the Broughton’s. Shoal Bay sits, as the name implies, in a bay off of Cordero Channel, up Phillips Arm. The shoal part of Shoal Bay has to do with how shallow the bay is as represented by how far the old dock, built in 1927, extends from shore out into the bay.

Originally a cannery town, Shoal Bay was once the largest town on the western coast of Canada.  Although no remains are visible today, save the massive 600-foot-long pier, Shoal Bay was once a hub of activity for mining and forestry in the 1800s. Today you can still hike up the mountain not far from the marina to the remnants of an old gold mine.

Shoal Bay is also well-known for its summer music festival.

It is becoming difficult to describe what the simple idea that the “music fest” once was,… has  actually evolved into. What once was two guitar hobbyists on the deck with a beer has become two days of chaos, people, boats, beer, and most of all,… incredibly wonderful music. 

Every year we get a spectacular combination of both amateur and professional musicians from all over the world. New music just floats in from who knows where. The music festival is becoming a real summer happening, and it just keeps getting better and better.

So mark your calendar and make your travel plans for the Shoal Bay Music Festival – Saturday August 12th, 2017. It promises to be a wonderful day.

Minutes after we tied up to the government dock, Jim joined up with Tim and Jake, father and son boaters docked next to us. They were just leaving to hike up to the gold mine on an old mountain trail on East Thurlow island’s abandoned 1800s gold mine. At one time there were three mines in Shoal Bay with a large encampment of 5,000 workers living in the bay area. Lisa opted to stay behind to check out the facility and take photos of the marina area.

The hike was a wonderful adventure through a loosely marked trail up to almost the top of the mountain. We did find the mine and were able to enter a horizontal shaft that in turn came to several perpendicular shafts. From there our sight was limited to what we could see with our flashlights. We found no gold! There was a lookout (photos below) close to the mine that had a remarkable view of the Cordero Channel, the bay, and off into the distant snow-capped mountain range.

This is a government dock where you must be willing for boats to raft off your hull if it gets busy. There are no fueling services, electricity, or fresh water available for the boaters.

There are showers, one outside (below-right), and another inside. Laundry facilities are available on shore for a small charge.

One of the owners is also a potter, using an airy outdoor kiln to fire up her pots.

One thing that impressed us while visiting Shoal Bay is the striking character of the facilities. One might think it was heaven while walking among the garden flowers with a stunning view of the mountainous bay as a backdrop. The owners, Mark and Cynthia (below), are warm and welcoming hosts, they have created a haven for boaters in the wilds of the Discovery Islands. Many boaters come to stay awhile and help with garden and construction chores during the course of the summer. There are also overnight accommodations.

Boaters are welcome to help in the garden if the gardening bug hits them. They are also encouraged to pick some greens for their dinner, just have to leave a small token in the purple shack.

Back at the marina after our hike, Lisa joined us at the lodge where we had beers on the front porch. Tim and another Ranger Tug owner, John, on Eleftheria, and Larry, a fellow we met back in Desolation Sound made for some interesting conversation. The view of the harbour is incredible from almost anywhere on shore. Shoal Bay had such a laid-back, friendly, feeling we decided to stay for two days. Well, that and the wind was blowing at 30/35 knots in Johnstone Straits.

On our last day at Shoal Bay, Lisa spent the morning and early afternoon on the porch of the lodge using the wifi to upload a blog post. She doesn’t think she will ever forget that day because Cynthia had a beef brisket cooking inside the kitchen – the addictive smoky aroma found its way out the doors to the porch where she sat. Periodically the owners cook and serve lunch for fishermen, with reservations. They come off the water mid-day for a break from fishing. Lisa swears she will never forget how that roast smelled as it clung to her clothes all the rest of the day reminding her of our stay. Cynthia, if you’re reading this, we’d love to have that brisket recipe!

Finally, after consulting with many boaters who came and went at the dock during our two-day stay, we felt ready to head north again armed with enough knowledge to keep us out of harm’s way at least. After much deliberation and weather watching, we decided to take the inside and more protected route to the north of Sonora, East and West Thurlow, and Hardwicke Islands rather than the more unprotected and open waters of the Johnstone Strait.

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Exploring the Wilderness of the Broughton Islands!

The crew of Kismet has been waiting for this day for a long time. It is the day we point our bow north of Desolation Sound to reach a cruising wilderness known as the Broughton Islands. This archipelago is famously wedged against the coastal mountain range on the mainland side and Vancouver Island to the west. First, we’ll cruise through the Discovery Islands, Yucalta, Gillard, and Dent Rapids to our day’s destination of Shoal Bay. Our furthest reach north is located on the 50th parallel. Turnbull Cove is approximately 300 miles from Washington State’s San Juan Islands.

Broughton Archipelago Park is situated at the mouth of Knight Inlet on the west side of Queen Charlotte Strait near the north end of Vancouver Island.

William Robert Broughton was a British Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He was part of the Vancouver Expedition led by Captain Vancouver, in the late 1700s. Cruising the Broughton Islands will afford us one of the most remote and wilderness cruising adventures we’ve had to date. Our visits to Desolation Sound, first in 2013 and again last summer, were just a prelude to the wonders that await us further north.

We heard a lot about the Broughton Archipelago’s 200-plus undeveloped islands and mainland inlets during our first trip to Desolation Sound in 2013. This is a wilderness provincial park where grizzlies hang out. In preparation, we both read the book, The Curve of Time, by M. Wylie Blanchet. This legendary author, and adventurous widow, ventured out every summer in the 1930s on a 25-ft motorboat named Caprice. Her crew consisted of her small brood of five young children. They surely acquired an educational experience of a lifetime.

The year before our planned trip, we studied the surrounding tides and currents.

We wanted to get a firm understanding of how to negotiate the many potentially dangerous rapids we’d be traveling through. A big question was how would we manage provisioning for food, water, and fuel during our trip. On a small boat, these commodities are an important item to consider ahead of time. We certainly will be honing our rationing skills during this trip.

In further preparation, we studied boating articles and blogs about this archipelago. As always, we supplemented our research by asking questions of just about every boater familiar with this territory. Our goal in doing this was to gain a sense of the “do not miss” highlights and learn about the best anchorages and marinas. It was also important to get some knowledge about safety concerns, ones that would help keep our trip a positive one.

We’re extremely excited to be venturing into the Broughtons to take in the natural unspoiled beauty. We are itching to see the wildlife known to inhabit this area. Grizzly and black bears, whales, and eagles make their home here. We’ll be anchoring in coves and bays the First Nation people enjoyed before the area became accessible to modern-day motorboats and sailboats.

The post Pointing Kismet’s Bow North – Time to Explore the Broughton Islands and Mainland inlets appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

We had a two-eagle sighting and cruise to our destination, Gorge Harbour on Cortez Island. We were one day early for our reservation, so we anchored in the harbor for the night.  The 2016 Ranger Tugs Desolation Sound Cruise had started a few days prior, in Comox (on Vancouver Island), and was culminating with the arrival of about 40 boats at the Gorge Harbour Marina for the final two days of the cruise. We’ve been looking forward to a return to Gorge Harbour Marina to use their pool after roughing it during our two weeks in Desolation Sound. A swimming pool is a rarity in the hinterlands of Desolation Sound. But even more than that, we were excited to spend a few days socializing with other Ranger Tugs and Cutwater boat owners.

After spending a relaxing night on the hook within sight of the marina, we were tied up early, by 11:30 a.m. Once settled in we went directly to the swimming pool which overlooks the marina and harbor. This gave us a birds-eye view of the harbor and the soon-to-be-arriving armada of Ranger Tugs and Cutwater boats. It was a great day for swimming, the weather was a typical July summer’s day. Soon after, we walked the docks to greet and help friends with docking as they arrived. This is always such a special time, greeting old friends and meeting other owners, some whom we’d talked to before from our blogs and Tugnut posts, but never had met before. New friendships are always formed at a Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats cruising event or rendezvous.

Happy hour was held on shore the first night. We met up with friends Ron and Libby, new owners of an R25, Tug O’ My Heart, Mike and Jess on Illusions, Pam and Oliver, on Beyond, and Rick and Nancy were docked just behind us on Andiamo.

Monday was spent hiking a short, wooded, trail along the harbor’s shoreline. Later we walked the docks to talk with owners and look at some of the newer Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boat models. Mike from Illusions helped me diagnose a problem with my bow thruster. Some owners spent their off-time, during the day, fishing. These people caught some beauties (below).

The evening of the last night featured a big BBQ sponsored by Volvo Penta, they now supply diesel inboard engines for Ranger Tugs and Cutwater Boats. Marcia Kull, the VP of Volvo Penta, was in attendance and thanked Ranger Tugs and the owner group for their support and working relations. Marca engaged with the owner’s group by visiting with many over the course of two days, making it apparent that she and Volvo make their relationship with the factory and the owner’s group a top priority.

After the BBQ a few couples went back to Kismet and played “Cards Against Humanity,” a fun adult-themed game that almost always turns into a laugh fest.

With the Ranger Tugs Gorge Harbour event over, our time in Desolation Sound had come to an end. The next day we made a quick stop back to Heriot Bay for renewing our provisions before we started to make our way further north, through the Discovery Islands to the Broughtons, an all-new cruising territory for us.

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Pendrell Sound Provided a Break from All Distractions!

From Tenedos Bay, we cruised over to Waddington Channel and finally into Pendrell Sound, on East Redonda. We went all the way to the end of the sound, through a fjord-like channel to anchor. That way we’d be facing toward the snow-capped mountain range to the south. From this spot, we would also have a view of all boat and seaplane traffic on the sound. It was a gorgeously hot summer’s day.

During our three days at anchor in Pendrell Sound, it all sunk in. This is what we came for. Stunning mountain ranges, scattered islands, winding waterways, scenic vistas, surprising wildlife sightings, and peaceful seclusion. We found relative isolation from the busyness of the fast pace world we left behind. No connectivity of any kind. Our phones did not work here, no TV reception and no internet. We lazed the days away without access to a news source, entertainment, or man-made social functions or interactions. Only the quiet presence of other boaters who we shared an anchorage with. Everyone was respectfully quiet and laid back while overnighting in comfort and serene peace on our boats. They, no doubt, were seeking the same experience as we were. We enjoy this time together, with no distractions, demands, or obligations pending.

We loved not knowing what was going on in the world.

We may be surprised by the news once it does come to us, being an election year in the states and all — maybe not. Either way, we were content in our secluded natural environment. We spend this time listening to our music library, eating well, swimming, playing games, and being attentive to each other. Basically having the time of our lives.

Did we say how relaxed we are? Our only craving is family, friends, and the home we left behind to take this cruise to British Columbia. We say this often – the hardest part of being an adventure seeker is missing those we left behind. Every minute onboard when relaxing, we wish they could be sharing this adventure with us.

In the middle of a relaxing happy hour on the bow of Kismet, we started up a conversation with the crew on a 50’ Sonship, Tatoosh, anchored next to us. During the conversation, their yacht gradually started to drift toward us. It happened slowly at first and then quite rapidly. Before we knew it we were on our feet, in fend-off mode. Lisa stayed on the boat’s bow with the hook in hand. Jim jumped into our dinghy to help retrieve their stern line from shore along with two other guys from the classic wooden vessel Lazee Gal anchored nearby. The stern line was finally retired to shore providing a different angle, to keep their rear off our anchor’s reach. Finally, the captain of Tatoosh pulled up his anchor to reset it. Fingers crossed that it would hold overnight! We woke up the next morning to find all boats were still securely set at anchor, with no overnight mishaps.

The post This is What We Came For – Pendrell Sound – Desolation Sound, British Columbia appeared first on Trailer Trawler Life Blog – Cruising USA & Canada.

Tenedos Bay is Located on the Mainland Side
of Desolation Sound – East of Mink Island

After two windy days at the dock in Heriot Bay, it was nice to have a calm water day for our 27-mile run to Tenedos Bay. The location of the bay is on the mainland side of Desolation Sound, to the east of Mink Island. Having anchored in Tenedos Bay previously, we thought we’d like to try a different spot. First, we slowly cruised the perimeter of the anchorage on the opposing side of the bay. Staying to the right after entering the bay instead of to the left where we previously anchored. There were two protected coves that looked appealing, but they already had boats anchored there. Leaving not much room for another.

Desolation Sound is starting to get busy now (July). When we arrived in June there weren’t many boaters here and finding a good position was fairly easy. We ended up in the same spot as before after exhausting options for something new. It was a good site nonetheless.

As we finally rounded the corner into the dog-leg cove familiar to us, our eyes lit up to see the sailboat Spirit. She was already nestled into an area close to where we planned to anchor. We first met Pauline and Ed in June at Chatterbox Falls and again at Grace Cove. It was our turn to host a happy hour on our boat. We wanted to hear more about their cruising adventures. The crew of Spirit hails from Victoria, BC. They have been boating in the PNW all their lives. Pauline and Ed have some fascinating tales of off-shore cruising south to Mexico.

Never miss an opportunity to chat with other boaters!

We have learned so much about boating by simply listening to other boaters. This is a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge about different cruising styles, destinations, and lifestyle choices. We are always looking for inspiration. Ed and Pauline are those kinds of sailors. Every time we bump into this couple, we feel their relaxed easy-going personalities. They exude a sold confidence and friendly spirit with their cruising style. We always enjoyed their company and felt enriched after every encounter. Pauline shared with us all their favorite anchorages in Desolation Sound. We heard about Heriot Bay from the crew of Spirit. They said it was the best spot to provision during a stay in Desolation Sound. They are right!

The next day we dinghied over to the beach where the trailhead to Unwin Lake is found. Some of the more popular anchorages in Desolation Sound will feature a freshwater mountain lake. Many are within walking distance of the anchorage area. The hike from Tenedos Bay to Unwin Lake is short and beautiful. Picture this… a quiet, still hike through a mossy thick forest, over fallen logs. Soon into the hike, you’ll encounter a rushing, spring water stream, dancing and singing over mossy logs and rocks. Finally, it will wind around and find its way through the woods and out to the bay.

Imagine this… no houses, no boats, only a steady breeze, and muffled laughter and conversation sounds of other hikers.

The trail leads to a big freshwater mountain lake. Imagine this… no houses, no boats, only a steady breeze and the sounds of other hikers nearby. We sat on a log jam (it looked like someone had tried to fashion a float out of it) on the water for well over an hour taking in the majestic mountain backdrop. Eventually, we took a dip in the clear, fresh water. One can’t help but think about how this setting likely looks the same today as it did 200 years ago. Sitting on the rocks, snacking on apples, while soaking up the warm sunny day made for a great afternoon of precious peace and quiet. We were both happy to be able to share this experience with each other.

No words were needed, we just listened as the wilderness spoke to us.

Later, back at the boat – the late-day arrival of a 52-ft. boat made for some entertainment during happy hour, on the back deck of Kismet. The crew worked exhaustingly for well over an hour trying to anchor and stern tie to shore. While trying to mitigate a comedy of errors, the crew tried and tried again to anchor. Fortunately, all ended well, with the crew happily celebrating in the galley just before night settled in.

We find our entertainment where we can while cruising in the wilds. We also completely sympathize with some of the inherent frustration associated with anchoring. We’ve all been there at one time or another.

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Campbell River is a Good Place to Provision When Cruising Desolation Sound –

Today we headed to Campbell River, located on Vancouver Island. We like to balance our boating time between anchorages and marinas. We do this because we like the social aspect marinas offer with a taste of small-town life and a chance to interact with local boaters. We also need to provide for the next stretch out on the water. Our routine is roughly 65% at anchor and 35% at marinas. Campbell River is one of the larger cities on Vancouver Island and within a reasonable distance from Desolation Sound. If you need a lot of groceries and other necessities, it’s the best place for a grocery run with a Super Store just a short walk up from the marina.

When we checked in at Discovery Harbour we weren’t told their showers or laundry were not working until we tied up and settled in, both of those activities played a major part in our decision to make a marina stop. Lisa eventually worked out a deal where they gave us a free night’s dockage for having to wait to use their dockside facilities unit at the end of the second day.

Chores, maintenance, and repairs never end – especially on a boat.

In the meantime, our head quit working, not a fun task to address. All we can say is we were glad we were at the dock when it happened. Inside the interior of the bowl is a 12V pump assembly where a gear broke. No parts are available in Campbell River, but I was able to locate one in Florida and a few days later we were back up and running.

One of our pastimes when visiting a marina is to walk the docks with a desire to meet and chat with local boaters. This is how we learn where about the area, the wildlife, anchorages, and sometimes a little bit of local history. We also like to look at all the different kinds of boats at the dock, there is a huge variety in the PNW, from vintage cruisers, fishing trawlers, and tugboats to modern-day beauties. There was a lot of every type in the three marinas we visited during our stay in Campbell River.

 The marina is surrounded by a big rock wall, these photos were taken at low tide. The whole marina floats up and down according to tidal flows.

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