[Ron Gillies]

Here is an unofficial source for current information. http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/boa/2023-07-02
The difference between high slack and low slack and the reason that it is suggested that you transit at high slack is the width of the channel. At low slack there is less width and easier to find the rocks.

You will also find information for both Georgeson Passage and Boat Passage on page 126 of the Canadian Tide and Current Tables. Time adjustments in reference to Active Pass are shown there. Remember that all times in the government publications are standard time, not daylight savings time, so you need to make the adjustment for that as well. Information on how to calculate the currents at secondary stations is on page 115. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/chs-shc-tct-tmc-vol5-202301-41085140.pdf

We have transited Georgeson Passage several times and never had an issue other than one time going outbound in Georgia Strait we were met by sizable standing waves. A little lumpy for a couple of minutes but we got through it.

If you are coming from Blaine to Saturna and you don’t have Nexus for all on board, you would need to clear Customs at White Rock Pier or Poets Cove on Pender. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/trsm-sdtm-eng.html

If you all have Nexus, then you have more choices. Cabbage Island would an option but then you might as well go around the south end of Saturna. Horton Bay is another option, it is on Mayne Island just after you go through Georgeson Passage. We have cleared there before, it was a little confusing as there was no space on the dock, so we just floated around close to the dock for 15 minutes, then left when no one showed up. From Gemini’s experience clearing in White Rock a few weeks ago, I’m not sure how easy that is any more. https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/nexusmarine-nexusmaritime-eng.html

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by Ron Gillies.
• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by Ron Gillies.
• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by Ron Gillies.

[Ron Gillies]

Certainly you can get by with Navionics on an iPad, we did it for the first year that we owned the Catalina. The issues are that they are difficult to see the screen in the sun and they overheat in the sun. You also need a way in the cockpit to keep it charged. In addition to being built for the marine environment, a chart plotter connected to a VHF radio gives you the emergency DSC function. Personally, I wouldn’t be without my chart plotter but it depends where and how much you boat. The ocean is a different story than a lake.

Before we added the chart plotter, depth was by guess. We would go by what the chart said and once we got into shallow water we would use the line with the weight on it. I’ve heard that there are transducers out there that will work without a chart plotter, perhaps somehow send the information to a tablet but I’ve never researched it.

[Ron Gillies]

We sold our 26S in 2015, so my memory is getting a little fuzzy. We had a Garmin chart plotter which used Garmin charts. Garmin has since bought Navionics, so they now have options for that. Our current Garmin 721 on our Catalina uses Blue Charts, which I’m quite happy with, but I also use Navionics on my iPad and like some of the features it has. I’m not familiar with the 7vc but looked it up on the Garmin website. It is discontinued, so limited to stock that is out there. It appears to be a fish finder only, no capability to load charts. It says that you can connect to Active Captain through wifi to a phone, so that might give you limited chart plotting access, not sure. Although more money, my suggestion would be a Garmin GPSMAP 723/743/723xsv/743xsv. Those are today’s version of what we currently have. If you use the compare function on the Garmin website (link below) it allows you to line them up side by side and compare the features. It looks like the 723 series use Garmin Blue Charts and the 743 series use Navionics. As for a transducer I used an Airmar P79 (link below) in the 26S and also in my current Catalina. It avoids drilling holes in the boat, it mounts inside the full. I have found the readings to be totally accurate, at the dock I have a weighted line that I can drop to measure depth and it agrees with the transducer. In the middle of Georgia Straight I can look at the depth on my chart plotter and then at the chart to see what the depth should be and they are very close. Won’t be exact due to current tide height. Ideally the transducer would be mounted forward, which is where I have it in the Catalina. I can’t remember for sure but I think in the 26S I had to mount it in the stern lazerette because anywhere forward you have the ballast tank below the inner hull and it won’t work there. Not ideal, but depth usually changes fairly gradually, so there aren’t often surprises. I’ve also seen people mount a transom mount transducer (link below) on Mac’s but wouldn’t be my preference. To much danger of it being knocked when launching and retrieving.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/735593
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/62369
https://buy.garmin.com/en-CA/CA/catalog/product/compareResult.ep?compareProduct=799210&compareProduct=697252&compareProduct=799341&compareProduct=697228

[Ron Gillies]

I’ve always used Micron CSC. Depending on whether or not your boat had bottom paint applied in the past, you may need a barrier coat and/or primer. If it had been bottom painted before I would consult an expert as to what would be the best paint to use with whatever had been applied in the past.

[Ron Gillies]

My recommendation would be to re-bed the stanchions with butyl tape.

This video discusses the different 3M products referenced by Rick.

This Sailrite video discusses the use of butyl tape. You can also search “re-bedding with butyl tape” in Youtube for other videos.

[Ron Gillies]

If you are planning on launching at the public boat ramp at Tulista Park, be sure that you have scoped out parking arrangements. There is ample short term parking but we have had challenges there in the past finding somewhere that you could park a vehicle and trailer for more than a couple of days. That was summer, so may be easier in the off season. Not sure whether there are time limits on street parking, that might be an option.

[Ron Gillies]

You would need to check with each of the marinas that you want to visit. While you are certainly ahead of the crowds and space shouldn’t be an issue, some are seasonal and won’t be open that early in the season. If you are looking at marinas, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Genoa Bay are our favourites. Poet’s Cove on Pender Island is the favourite of many in the club for its amenities. There are lots of good anchorages, Montague Harbour, Princess Cove or Conover Cove on Wallace Island, Pirates Cove. Each of those anchorages have trails nearby.

[Ron Gillies]

Camping for Blaine would be Birch Bay State Park which is just a few km down the road.

[Ron Gillies]

Thanks Rick, that’s allowed me to add a few more:

Newcastle Island, Nanaimo
James Bay, Prevost
Portland Island
Musgrave Landing

[Ron Gillies]

Brian, another way to check would be to go into the government’s MMSI search tool (https://sd.ic.gc.ca/pls/engdoc_anon/mmsi_search.ship) and enter the boat name or previous owner’s name and see what comes up. I looked in our membership roster and don’t see a boat name beside your name, so you might want to provide the information to Kelvin so that he can update your info. It’s best to pull it from the menu in the radio if you can, but this is an alternative. If the boat name has been changed or the previous owner got it from someone else and never registered it in their name, this system might not work.

[Ron Gillies]

First, is the radio a DSC radio? Does it have a Distress button covered by a small red plastic cover? If so, you can go into the menu system in the radio and pull out the MMSI number that is set in the radio (if the previous owner did that). Every make/model of radio would have a different menu system, so find the manual for yours and it would tell you how. Once an MMSI has been entered into the radio it is not recommended that you try setting a new one in, use the existing one and re-register it in your name. If the previous owner never entered an MMSI number, then you would apply for a new one and enter it in the radio. Remember that you must have an ROC(M) – Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) in order to use a VHF radio. Self study courses are available online through Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons.

[Ron Gillies]

Also, if the boat has a DSC VHF radio with an existing MMSI number you will need to send an application to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to transfer the MMSI number into your name. https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01032.html#s9

[Ron Gillies]

Vladimir, licensing is done through Transport Canada. Here is a link which covers the process and contains the application. Make sure that the sellers provide you with a signed bill of sale stating the purchase price for sales tax purposes. https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/licensing-pleasure-craft . The registration for the trailer would need to be transferred through ICBC, the same as a vehicle. Tax (12%) on the purchase of the boat needs to be paid directly to the Province of BC, Ministry of Finance. Here is a link that explains the process and provides a link to the form. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/taxes/sales-taxes/publications/pst-108-boats.pdf .It is up to you to submit the tax. When you license the boat Transport Canada advises the province of the sale and they will track you down eventually. I’ve heard that at that point they could assess a penalty since you didn’t pay it at the time of the purchase.

[Ron Gillies]

Nicely done Cenote!

[Ron Gillies]

Hi Dane, welcome to the club. Where did you buy the boat and was it named Myra when you bought it or did you change the name?

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by Ron Gillies.

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