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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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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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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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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