Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: stevestonredneck on January 05, 2010, 07:30:27 PM
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Hey, I have a 1993 20ft Wellcraft with a 4.3 volvo penta in it. Ive always wanted to cross the georgia straight but have always been a bit leery about it. In the past year Ive taken it out fishing at Sandheads 3 times. First time was real rough going down river from steveston with waves coming towards us, must have been because of an incoming tide. once we got out past the lighthouse the water smoothed out. Before I was a bit scared of going out to sandheads because I thought the boat was a bit small for the mouth of the river. But since now Ive accomplished sandheads I want to go even farther and cross the straight of Georgia to Sidney on the island. I know the safest time for smaller boats at sandheads is a high tide and light winds, but what about the straight? is there any specific times where the water is less rough in the spring and summer? Also what pass do you reccomend and is easier to navigate in a smaller boat Porlier or Active? Im currently looking for a newer 21' seaswirl striper but for now the wellcraft is all I have and it would be great for me to hear your thoughts and opinions. Thanks
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Should be fine but of course make sure you listen to the weather forecast. If there it is going to blow it wouldn't be the best idea. My dad and Uncle used to run across in a 12' aluminum boat to fish Active Pass. I wouldn't suggest that but if the weather is nice you won't have any problem. If you find you get over there and the wind comes up you can always go in and anchor somewhere in the islands and wait it out. Might get stuck over night but better than taking a chance.
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Hey steveston summertime is the time to plan a trip across the strait, and I stress PLAN, best to do it with another boat and use the buddy system in case of problems. Check youre marine forecasts and tides, the sandheads is no place to be in the wrong conditions. Have GPS and a good chart. Either Active or Porlier Pass are good to enter the gulf islands, you could go through one going and the other returning. The Gulf islands are really nice and there are some good marinas and small settlements to check out on a weekend cruise. Good luck in youre endeaver, just remember safety first. I have been travelling our beautiful coast for 40 years and never tire of the scenic wonder we are privilege to in B.C. If I can help you further email me.
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Thanks for the replies! , How long does it usually take you guys to enter one of the passes from the sandheads lighthouse? My cruise speed is around 30mph so im guessing it would probally take around 30 min.
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I was thinking about buying a boat on VanIsle a few years ago and planned to run it across back to the mainland.
It was mentioned that the morning would be the best time to do the run as the wind tends to pick up in the afternoon.
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i crossed from w.vancouer to thrasher rk. in my 18ft fiberform lots of times with only a compass . remember south east winds bring rain and poor visability.north westers mostly sunny. over 15 knots stay home. morning best for light winds but listen to the marine forcast.
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What is the best times to go through the passes? (the least turbulant)
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Made that trip many times with my Dad as a kid. We had a 22ft boat. Make sure you check your tides and the weather. We had some nasty experiences at Sandheads.
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slack tide would be best for going through any pass.
I used to go over there all the time in a 16 ft lund with 25 hp.
Would i do that now.I doubt it.
I had a radio and such but it can also blow up once your across and there is nothing you can do but wait it out.
Spent a couple nights camped out over there but was good timing because i had planned on 1 night so had the sleeping bag and stove etc.
Havent been over there for years and really miss it.
Is a different world in 30 minutes.
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Your boat is more than capable I used to have a wellcraft V20 steplift with a 225 opti and did that cruise in some pretty bad conditions (smallcraft Warrning) and had no problems I did banfield from Steveston 6 times and Campbell river 8 times just get good navigation equipment ( GPS with Maping ) and pic & choose your days leaving the river leave on a outgoing tide due to big rollers on a incoming tide once i took water right over the boat seen blue some will now what that means just be carefull and dont do anything you dont feel comfortable with Enjoy and be safe
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Use to cross the strait all the time to fish the passes and thrasher rock, 12 foot Zodiac and a 25 hp Johnston. Ran around the west coast with it too. Lots of fun when you are young. ;D
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This wellcraft doesnt have a deep V hull like most wellcraft boats. The model I have is an "Excel" its more of a lake boat. When I go out into the river I put on the snap on bow cover and inflate a towable tube and put it under the cover just incase we get a big wave. It actually works well. 2 years ago we were out in the river with our old 16ft bayliner and a tug not towing anything went by us. The wave went over the bow and all I saw was a wall of green when it came over the windshield. The cover diddent even collapse. This is the same boat as this but mine is the bow rider version. (http://www.boatshop24.com/images/bootsbilder/images_50/s8/1998850.jpg)
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easy to travel across the straight in a boat like that. Use to do it all the time in the 80's and 90's. Started out in a 12' Achilles inflatable with a 20hp. Moved up to a 12' smokercraft with the same 20hp. Next was a 14' Lund with a 25hp that we would run to Thrasher Rock from Tsawwassen with. It was followed by a 16' K&C Thermoglass. Last boat was a 18' Hydrasport. Made it across safely over many trips with all 4 boats. In the inflatable we woudl leave Tsawwassen 1/2hr before light and make it to Active pass before most guys even left the launch. It was a lot of fun fishing salmon over there in the summer months.
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I run thunderjet 21' across. Average speed 25knots. Time to Polier is about 40min.
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I run thunderjet 21' across. Average speed 25knots. Time to Polier is about 40min.
40 min from steveston or the sandheads lighthouse?
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stevestonredneck It all has to do with the marine weather report. Examples of small 13 ft boats going across & do ya remember the bathtub races (???) little tiny made up boats crossing the straight...
If the winds are light your boat will make it across "no problem". But if winds come up...that is the big question...& concern.
We've been 5 miles in every direction of Sandheads on days that the straight had such calm waters that one could think they were on Como or Lafarage Lk.
Other times nice 2 ft waves max. BUT we've also turned back into the river when we were by the lighthouse (mouth of the Fraser) when waves were nearing 5fters & higher it we keep boating farther out...
We know a trucker who in days past had his semi on the BC Ferry & he said the waves were so so big that major water was hitting the front windows where he sat. Also the ferry crew had to block & stablize the wheels of his truck.
Another boater who I talked to has a 28ft boat & he said he has hit waves the size of a "house" when he was going across. (I'd imagine the waves were not too steep or close together or else he would not have made it ) :o
But this coming summer we will go across in our 16 ft Arima on a all day high tide & low winds.
Question: We will be leaving from Steveston Harbour so do yous learned boaters sujj. we go through the pass at the north or south ends of Galiano Is. ?
We will have to refill our portables with fuel so I assume the nearest place to get it is at Montague Harbour ?
As we took out our big fuel tank & use portables to lighten the boat as we just use a 40 Yamaha. (we still can cruise at 18 MPH.)
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Well actually did a web study & I assumed that I'd have to take Active Pass then go to fuel up on south/west side of Galiano Is. but see that is quite a longer distance to go as from Sandheads we'd have to pilot across the straight in a SW direction.
Plus if I took Portier Pass at the north end of Galiano we'd have to travel along the west side of the island to get to Montague Harbour (south Galiano Is.) & the distance is 16 miles long !!! (Yes Galiano Is is 16 miles long)
So an option is to go through Portier Pass & pilot 4-5 miles to Thetis Is. At the south end it has 2 boat marinas. But between Thetis & Kuper Islands if ya approach is from the east it seems to get to a very very narrow passage. (Tidal table)3ft to 10 feet of water(?) They call it "the cut." This location is called Telegraph Harbour. It is more approachable from the SW of island from what I can see.
Another option which seems good is Silva Bay on Gabriola Is. ...seems to be the most closest to get to via Sandheads. Well we have a marine compass & charts & all we need is calm waters !!! ( I've seen boaters who came across with 28fters who looked kinda shook up...Their words were something like ..."That was a bumpy crossing" (ha...oh... :o) We need calm waters as our boat is only 16ft & 40 yamaha! Some interesting websites www.tripsailor.com & www.sailwx.info "check" this site out & explore lots of info "wave heights etc...
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I have been through the narrow passage into Thetis Island and with a boat your size you shouldn't have any problems except maybe at the lowest of tides. It is quite narrow but very protected from the wind so you wouldn't be getting blown all over the place. Once you get there you will see a channel you basically follow which is quite deep and on both sides of the channel the bottom comes up quite quickly. Stay in the middle of the channel and there shouldn't be any problems.
Not sure if your motor has an automatic tilt on it but if it does then you can just tilt it up quite a ways and cruise in.
Silva Bay is really easy to get into and a pretty nice place to go in for lunch to.
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SNapz thanks for the info. Good to get 1st hand advice from people who have done it before. This Arima does not need very much draft & also can also tilt up the outboard.
Think that will be the place we will target & re-fuel. (thanks for the thumbs up about the food)
My guess we should be able to leave Steveston go to Telegraph Harbour & back to the launch in 5-6 hrs. round trip.(CONDITIONS PERMITTING)
Got to get my 84 yr old "pops" back so he can find his land legs & his warm bed for the night. If it was just me etc... think I'd stay over there for a few days . I think we will boat across like how a chicken swimmer gets into cold water at a beach..toes 1st..slowly to the knees...finally after 10 minutes the person finally gets totally wet. We will check out water conditions at Sandheads...slowly keep going west ...(1st sign of higher waves turn back---Ha) But if it's within 2fters ...keep going then when 8-10 miles into the straight & all is well then will go 80% throttle 18mph & get over there. When returning will take the same approach.
Really to do these crossing really safely one should have a 25fter with some major power...so if things get nasty one has a boat that can take 8-10ft waves. At least 20 times been in conditions that were very concerning...8ft waves in Howe Sound but was in a 21ft boat... other times curling 5-6ft waves...also in small 13ft boats in conditions that we had no bussiness to be in... so we want to be very very careful in this crossing. ;)
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We used the narrow channel at thetis island all the time. We had a spotter at the front of the boat and we never had a problem. We used to stay at the marina overnight after fishing all day. Just be really careful at sandheads we got got in some bad weather one time and it was really nasty.
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We used the narrow channel at thetis island all the time. We had a spotter at the front of the boat and we never had a problem. We used to stay at the marina overnight after fishing all day. Just be really careful at sandheads we got got in some bad weather one time and it was really nasty.
Thanks for the warning ! Been at Sandheads with 3 dif. boats a total of 100 x min. --- Sometimes we had to head back as it was so nasty. Once we were near the south lighthouse & were into some big SW waves & it was slow going coming back up river with water splashing about... True story one ex-fishboat wker. got such a scary experience at Sandheads he will not go in any boat ever again !!! & he was on a 35ft fishboat. He said at Sandheads the "standing waves were so tall" (must of been tide change & west wind hitting a fast out flow of water from the Fraser) that he said the boat nearly tipped over on it's side MANY TIMES. He thought he was a goner. :o
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40 min from steveston or the sandheads lighthouse?
40min from Steveston
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Wonder how Sandheads & the straight marine conditions looked like during our over night wind storm ?
A 40 ft. fishing trawler sank near Salt Spring Island & they found a 48 yr old deased man on the shore. RCMP scuba checked out the trawler to see if there are others inside the boat (haven't heard a report on their find) The BC ferries also stopped their sailings till the winds subsided. :o
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the waves were probably the size of a "house" :o . It would be cool if they had a live sandheads webcam.