Join Us in the North Channel for the 2014 Ranger Tug North Channel Rendezvous!

The More the Merrier!  

We’ve been given a one-week extension, until June 27th, to guarantee dock space for the rendezvous, so if you’re thinking of attending make sure you get your registration form and payment to me by then. We look forward to seeing everyone soon. Click on the link below to access the registration form and please email me with any questions that you may have.

With spring in the air, the much-anticipated boating season in Canada’s North Channel is just around the corner. With that in mind, it’s time to start the official registration process for the 2014 Ranger Tug North Channel Rendezvous.

The Rendezvous takes place at the Little Current Downtown Docks on Manitoulin Island in Little Current, Ontario; the marina is centrally located in the heart of the North Channel. The dates for the Rendezvous are August 7, 8, and 9th, 2014. I’ve attached the registration form (as a PDF file – see below). You’ll need to print it out, fill in the form completely, and mail it to us to secure dockage and attendance at the rendezvous.

Click Here to DOWNLOAD and PRINT the REGISTRATION FORM

We will handle marina reservations for August 7, 8, and 9th (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). If you plan on arriving before August 7th or staying after the 9th, you’ll need to make those EXTRA DAYS (ONLY) reservations directly with Little Current Downtown Docks… 705-368-1725 Port of Little Current Downtown Docks

Upon arrival, you’ll pay for all your dockage fees (event days and extra days) to the marina. Rates are $1.75 Canadian per foot, per day plus tax for any extra days. For the Rendezvous days we have a special price – pay for 2 days and get the 3rd rendezvous day FREE.

As always, if anyone has questions you can call or email me, make a Tugnuts post to the North Channel Rendezvous thread, or PM me on Tugnuts.com. Please complete and return the registration form by June 20, 2014.

Hope to see you there!
Jim and Lisa Favors

info@trailertrawlerlife.com

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First Ever  – 2014 Ranger Tugs North Channel Rendezvous

We arrived in Little Current one day early for the 2014 Ranger Tugs North Channel Rendezvous. Jim is the organizer of the event, the first ever for Ranger Tugs in the North Channel. First things first. We headed to the town dock for a pump out before going to our slip assignment. We thought it was important to arrive early since we had a few loose ends to tie up. We needed to visit the local grocery store, located just up the hill from the marina so that we had ingredients for our pot-luck dish. We also needed to find a good pizza restaurant, since pizza is the main event on the last night of the rendezvous. Little Current is a small town, so we could walk it quickly to get our chores done and hurry back to greet the tugs at the dock.

We had a surprise guest at the docks tonight around dusk. Roy Eaton, the Net Controller, and originator of the Little Current Cruisers’ Net. Roy came down to the docks to welcome all the Ranger Tugs arriving for the rendezvous in Little Current. He had welcome bags and coupons for free ice cream in town. He’ll be a popular fella during the rendezvous. Well known to locals and boaters alike for his efforts to provide the community with a valuable and entertaining resource with his radio broadcasts geared specifically for North Channel cruisers. I didn’t know I’d be having my photo taken with a celebrity so soon after arriving in Little Current. (More on Roy in a future post.)

With seven out of fourteen boats in attendance already we slowly formed an informal dock party before we headed up to town and the Anchor Inn for dinner.

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Ranger Tugs North Channel Rendezvous Welcomed 14 Tugs and One Cutwater!

Ranger Tugs arrived all morning at the town docks in Little Current until all fifteen boats (35 people) were secure in their slips. Introductions continued all day as we met people from all over the United States (8 boats) and Canada (7 boats) – 14 Ranger Tugs and one Cutwater. The boat coming from the farthest distance in the U.S. was from Texas and the farthest Canadian boat hailed from Alberta. Many different people, tastes, and personalities all share one common passion, their Ranger Tugs/Cutwater boats.

Carolyn, on Pour House (above), brought a big pan of ribs for consumption by the hungry boaters at the scheduled potluck.

Soon after arriving and getting settled at the town docks, everyone was busy getting a dish ready for the potluck that night. Mind you this was no ordinary potluck! It is truly amazing what elaborate and delicious dishes can be made on our little tugs.

Lots of smiling faces during the first day of the Ranger Tugs North Channel Rendezvous!

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A North Channel Ranger Tugs Rendezvous

It is often stated that the North Channel is some of the best inland cruising you’ll find anywhere. We could not agree more! It is, after all, in our boating backyard. Lisa and I talked about the possibility of having a Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Rendezvous in the North Channel shortly after we bought our red tug several years ago. With that in mind, we approached Jeff Messmer at Ranger Tugs while we were cruising in the Pacific Northwest last summer. By fall the Ranger Tugs/Cutwater North Channel Rendezvous was put into full planning mode. Jeff and I contacted several dealers in the area, Reed Yacht Sales and Lefroy Harbour Marine and Resorts. We got them on board as sponsors for the rendezvous. Dates for the three-day event were set at that point and we slowly worked out the details during the winter months. It didn’t take long to make the decision on the location for the rendezvous. Little Current is geared towards accommodating boaters traveling through the area. The local businesses we worked with, for food and give aways, were very generous and helpful. They made the whole process seem like a breeze.

The town of Little Current, on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada, is a central spot and hub of activity for boaters. A nice location for boaters to provision and meet other boaters while soaking up the fantastic cruising opportunities of Canada’s beautiful North Channel.

Kismet (above) has a nice view of the marina from her cockpit.

Tugnuts helping one another out on the docks today. Annie, onboard Gentle Lady, is getting help from another tug owner. This really highlights what a boating rendezvous is all about. Lots of activities, food, and presentations. You gotta love sharing and caring.

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Day Two of the Ranger Tugs Rendezvous Begins…

Day two started off with a catered breakfast prepared by Kelly, owner of the Anchor Inn. We could have gotten by without eating the rest of the day, the meal was so plentiful and well prepared. Breakfast was followed by a visit to the Cruisers’ Net, provided by Roy Eaton, at the Anchor Inn (see next post for details). (Above Left) Mike and Jim were having some fun at the marina up the road.

Later that morning Kenny Marrs conducted a “Ask the Factory” session in which a lot of questions were answered by Kenny with a good exchange of helpful information between Kenny and the boat owners. Late afternoon, we had a North Channel chart review followed by a marine-related app session. Boating rendezvous are extremely helpful to owners with a helpful exchange with both factory reps and/or service reps, dealers, and other owners. We hope this year’s North Channel Ranger Tugs Rendezvous provided lots of information in that regard.

Jess and Mike (above) on their way to Happy Hour at the pavilion.

The day ended with another well-received catered meal by Kelly. After dinner, Mike Rizzo conducted a “Last Person Standing” contest. We had two cash prize winners and Gregg and Kathy from Santolina (below) won a $350 parts package for their tug from Ranger Tugs… make sure you claim this on your taxes, Gregg!

One of the most enjoyable activities I think was the time we got to spend chatting with each other under the pavilion after a meal or on the docks in the morning or at sunset. The North Channel provides just the right kind of laid-back atmosphere for a relaxed rendezvous.

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Little Current Cruisers Network is On the Air in Little Current!

At 9 a.m., most of the Ranger Tugs attendees hiked up to the Anchor Inn building where Roy Eaton gives his live VHF broadcast of “The Net,” Little Current Cruisers Net, on channel 71 for boaters cruising Canada’s beautiful North Channel. This is definitely a must-do if you are visiting Little Current by boat.

Roy Eaton founded the LCCN in 2004. Little Current Cruisers Net, in operation during the boating season between July 1st and August 31st, not only broadcasts weather, sports, and news, (world and local – Roy sometimes injects a little bit of humor), but also helps boaters cruising the area to handle emergencies while also relaying news from one boat to another. Following the news Roy provides a check-in for boaters anywhere in the North Channel, giving an overview of where boaters are and where they intend to head to.

If you’ve boated in the Abaco Islands you’ll be familiar with the format as Roy got the idea for the Little Current Cruisers Net when cruising the islands.

Roy is a bit of a celebrity in these parts. If you’re a boater staying in Little Current you don’t want to miss attending the daily morning broadcast in the studio above the Anchor Inn Restaurant, and when cruising the North Channel, make sure to check in each morning with Roy, he’ll be tickled if you do.

We even got to see our Yacht Club’s burgee (Grant Traverse Yacht Club) already tacked on the walls of the Little Current Cruisers Net studio. (Above-Top Left.)

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Ranger Tugs North Channel Rendezvous Last Day!

On the last day Roy Eaton, from the LCCN, gave a wonderful PowerPoint presentation at the Anchor Inn Bar, an overview of Georgian Bay and the North Channel highlighting some of the history and many popular anchorages.

Later, back at the pavilion, we gathered for a presentation by Mark Coles (above), of Boating Georgian Bay, who gave a geological and historical overview of Georgian Bay. Mark also spent the afternoon photographing and video-taping Ranger Tug owners for a piece he was doing on the Boating Georgian Bay’s website.

Later in the afternoon, we had a boat crawl. It’s always interesting to see what additions, improvements, and/or enhancements others have made to their boats. I came away with a cave area, a storage shelf, an idea I saw on Mike and Jess’s boat, Illusions. Lisa liked a spice rack (above-left) that was hand built by Randy and Cindy on, I Think I Can., she also liked their Yorkie (above-right).

A delicious lunch was again served by Kelly from the Anchor Inn (above-left). Annie, on Gentle Lady, was beaming ear to ear, she must have had a good time.

The Rendezvous concluded on the evening of the third day with a pizza party in the pavilion followed by a lot of lively conversation about the fun we all had, with most boaters sharing their future cruising plans with each other.

Mike and Jess on Illusions (above).

Pauline and Ken on Shipperly (above).

Gregg and Kathy on Santolina (above).

Dwain and Jackie on Lydia (above).

We were so excited to finally meet Jean and Ken, on Puddle Duck (above-Left), at this rendezvous. We’d heard their story and read articles on their late-in-life boating adventures. Their story is inspirational, they know how to live a life that’s for sure. Joining them as crew on Puddle Duck, during their cruise to the rendezvous, is the well-known Captain Patti Moore (above right), from Sea Sense Boating School.

Puddle Duck – Maiden Voyage

Greg, on Tug R Knott II (above) with Jim from Lefroy Harbor Marine.

Dave and Donna on Bucket List (above).

Mark, on Irish Mist (above) with Carolyn, on Pour House.

Harry, on Pour House with Jodie, on Irish Mist (above).

Kenny from Ranger Tugs and Ryan from Lefroy Harbor Marine  (above).

Dave, on Sequel (above) with daughter and granddaughter.

Chris, on Sequel (above) with grandson.

Randy, on I Think I Can with Mike, on Illusions (above).

Wayne and Anne on Sine Wave (above) with Cindy, on I Think I Can. Mike and Jess always seem to be ready for a photo and they sure know how to smile.

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We Want to Thank Everyone Who Attended the First 2014 Ranger Tugs/Cutwater North Channel Rendezvous

We look forward to meeting up with many of the participants on the water in the future. Boats in attendance ranged from far away as Alberta, Fort Lauderdale, Rhode Island, and Texas. This was the first time cruising the North Channel for 9 of the 15 boats.

Although we could not have had a successful rendezvous without those in attendance, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes well before the event starts and during the rendezvous. Thanks to Debby Turner at Little Currents Turner’s for supplying the Manitoulin Island/North Channel maps for our ditty bags. We also had donations for our ditty bags from Prism Polish, GMC Flint Assembly Plant, and the UAW (including the bags), Ranger Tug hats, and key fobs. Thanks to Reid Taylor for making arrangements for our dockage at Little Current Town Docks and use of the Pavillion, everything was delivered as promised.

One of the things when organizing a rendezvous is that you never quite know for sure how everything will work out until it happens. Kelly, the owner of Anchor Inn, did such a great job, the food was exceptional, and everyone was extremely pleased with the quality and quantity… thanks Kelly for all your hard work, and being on time (even though having to deal with a power outage during prep work), professional and on budget.

Roy Eaton, Little Current Crusiers Net coordinator, was very well received by our attendees. The very first night he hit the docks and delivered his own welcome bag to each attendee and it included Little Current information as well as free ice cream coupons and free pump-out passes. A visit to his live Cruisers Net broadcast and his wonderful North Channel PowerPoint presentation helped to enhance the even offerings to each Ranger Tug owner. Thanks, Roy. Mark Coles, of Boating Georgian Bay, gave us a detailed history lesson of Georgian Bay and passed out some boat wax and some special BGB hot sauce.

Reed Yacht Sales and Lefroy Harbour Marine and Resorts were not only sponsors but they were part of our experience. Thanks to Paul Reed along with Ryan Stovold and Jim Ward for being in attendance and supporting our Ranger Tug community of boating. We truly hope our mass presence in the North Channel leads to positive things for both of their organizations.

Lastly, a special thanks to Jeff Messmer at Ranger Tugs for his rendezvous guidance, and financial and promotional support as well as for sending Kenny Marrs all the way from Kent, Washington to join us. We think he had a great time. Kenny always does a great job working to help Ranger Tug owners and this trip was no exception. Thanks, Kenny for your support, your friendly smile, and your positive, professional, demeanor.

Mark and Jodi, on Irish Mist, took this amazing panorama of our boats at dock in Little Current. Thanks for sharing Mark.

Dave, on Bucket List has a Portland Pudgy dinghy with a sailing kit he had yet to install. He got lots of help on the dock today and Dwain helped him with the sailing mechanics after it they launched it.

Randy and Cindy, on I Think I Can, took these great photos (above and three below) from on top of the hill behind the marina. Thanks, Randy and Cindy for sharing.

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