Georgian Bay shortcuts are a bad idea

Creekwood said:
If you are 100% familiar with the area and know exactly where you are, you can run full speed. The challenge is that our boats don’t turn on a dime and its very easy to lose track of where you are between nav buoys and get on the wrong side. Because the small craft route winds around and there are routes that are coming in from open water as well as the main route along the coastline, the “red right returning” is often not relevant and can get you in a lot of trouble. You simply must know exactly where you are.

I can’t imagine navigating these waters before GPS. You would have to be so ultra cautious and follow your charts and compass carefully. My first boat had a black and white non-mapping GPS and I used it and paper charts. I was often having to drop to dead stop and figure out exactly where I was. Most times I was not quite where I thought I was. A few near misses over those years, including passing on the wrong side of buoys and getting very lucky.
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We have traveled there with other boaters and at times have stopped to discuss our position due to our unfamiliarity with area, and more specifically, which side of a buoy to pass. Beautiful place to boat. We bought our last boat with the NC in mind. It is well set up that type of cruising.
 
I ran up and down the shoreline on the inside on Georgian bay at minimum once a year up to parry Sound from port Severn. Those days I only had paper charts. It is so well marked .... you just need to pay strict attention to buoy numbers and your chart and you will be fine
 
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We thought we hit something a while back when transiting a small boat route. There was a loud noise in our engine room followed by a bump. Immediately stopped the boat and looked below. Then, while not moving, it repeats two more times. Turns out there was underground blasting occurring near by and we were feeling the shock wave that traveled through the water. We saw a sign along the shore advising us of work in progress that included blasting rocks. First time visit so we were a little on edge.
 
Creekwood said:
Its major work for sure. I doubt it will be written off, but you never know. The hull was not impacted other than right at the back, but its major damage. I have to think it will be at least CAD$40K assuming no engine damage. Boat is worth about C$125K in the condition it was in, and in todays market (its in really fantastic shape - or was).
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A friends 40ft Riviera had similar damage due to a hard grounding a few years ago. Insurance claim was almost 100k.
 
Blueone said:
I ran up and down the shoreline on the inside on Georgian bay at minimum once a year up to parry Sound from port Severn. Those days I only had paper charts. It is so well marked .... you just need to pay strict attention to buoy numbers and your chart and you will be fine
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And no short cuts!
 
A followup to my post last summer. The boat is well underway to being back on the water. Hull repairs are done. Not sure about the mechanicals. I took a few shots this weekend.
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Creekwood said:
Well, one of the guys on my dock (two boats down) took a short cut he thought was ok. Not a place to do that. Both sides props, shaft struts, shafts, rudders, and major hull glass damage. I had heard about it, but only saw the damage today. It gives you that sickening feeling looking at it.

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