Recent trip to Canadian NW

[CharlieN]

We recently returned from a 5 week boat trip in the Canadian NW. Started out from Bellingham and went north up the coast of Canada as far as Port McNeill and then down the coast of Vancouver Island to the city of Victoria, then back to Bellingham. There were 9 boats-20 to 31 ft trailer boats, 16 people and our dog Emily. Some fisherman but mostly cruisers. It was a Vagabundos del Mar trip with an experienced group leader that was familiar with all the places.
A short review of the places visited:
Bellingham Harbor, Blaine Wa., the city of Vancouver for customs check in and sight seeing. Smugglers Cove, Pender Harbor, Chatterbox Falls for a couple of days, Powell River for a couple days to recoup and buy food. Lund for a quick stop, then on to Squirrel Cove and Oleos up the Fredrick arm for dinner and dock space. Lagoon Cove, Echo Bay, Sullivan Cove. Then Port McNeill on Vancouver Island for a couple days.
Raft up at Mound Island. Blind Channel Cove, Octopus Cove, Comox on Vancouver Island, then Schooner Marina, Nanamio and Ganges, then on to Victoria for a couple more days. One more night at Friday Harbor before arriving back in Bellingham.
Some of the narrows were a challenge as the tide had to be close to slack for easy navigation. The sight seeing was incredible with lots to see and do. The fuel prices were pretty high at just over $4/gal. The weather was a little crappie with lots of rain. We had about 1 weeks worth of sun shine. I should have had the camper canvas adjusted before we left. We spent 5 weeks on the water and put about 100 hours on the SeaRay. Our only mechanical difficulties were a spun hub on the prop near Lund and the maserator quit working toward the end of the trip.
What a trip! Would we do it again? Yes-but not real soon.
Charlie N
268 SeaRay

 

[CharlieN]

Some pictures of trip

I will post some pictures when I figure out how

 

[First Born]

Charlie,

Fixed the picture for you :thumbsup:

Wesley

 

[Dave S]

Sounds like a great trip and please post more pictures. :thumbsup:

 

[DuckBoater]

Looks like such a great time! I can't tell what boat you have.....a 270 DA? what about the other boats in the group; all SRs or a mixed group? Who set the itinerary? or did you decide as you went along?
Five weeks in some of the most beautiful cruising ground in the world....what luxury! Did you do mostly marina to marina or did you get to spend some time on the hook? I'd love to see more pics if you can post some.
Thanks for sharing! How was the trailering from AZ up to WA?

 

[Dave M.]

Looks like such a great time! I can't tell what boat you have.....a 270 DA?

He says in the first post it is a 268. I don't know that model, but I suspect it is about the same as the late 80's/early 90's 270. Then in about 1994 that model got renamed to the 290. So I would say it is the equivalent of a mid-nineties 290 DA.

There are two things I see that indicate this. First, the mid-nineties 270, like mine, and probably any ancestors, had no radar arch. The 290 did, as this boat does. Secondly, only in the wider beam mid-nineties 290 and ancestors were there three cabin hatches, with the rear two side by side. The narrower 270 model had only two hatches, one in front of the other, and in some models they eliminated one of those, possibly about 1998 in the 270 SE version.

Googling a couple of then though shows maybe they really are not 29 feet long, but have a beam 3 inches wider than my 270. And other conflicting information!

 

[CharlieN]

The 1989 268 DA is a 8 ½ wide x about 27 foot older SeaRay. There is a dinette in the cabin but not much seating upstairs in the back. We rafted up about a third of the time. The rest were in Marinas. They were a mixed group of cruisers. 2 25’ Bayliners, 26’ Skipjack, 26’ Blackman, 20’ Parker, 22‘ Nexus dory, 31’ Uniflight, and a 28’ Laser (an old 1972 boat with twin diesels). The general schedule was pre-planned but day to day moves were by group vote depending on what points of interest were within a 20-30 mile radius. We could go off and do our own thing but kept in touch with the group by radio or cell phone. A few people described it as like trying to herding cats. I will try to post some more pictures. I still had trouble with the attachment button but the links are below.
The trailer time from Wa to Az was pretty boring. Just the way I like it. (We blew all 6 tires last year making the same trip.) 3 days from Bellingham to LA, Ca, then another day from LA, Ca to Tucson

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x142/cejlnich/sm_raft_164.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x142/cejlnich/sm_orca_239b.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x142/cejlnich/sm_falls_089.jpg

 

[Dave M.]

Charlie, are you making that trip again next year? Maybe thinking about going with us on the San Juan trip? You (or anyone) are welcome to stop over at my place for a night if you wish. I live just a mile off the 'inland snowbird route'. That would take you through Salt Lake City, then north into WA state on I-82. I live just on the OR side of the WA-OR border, and I am a long 1 day drive from SLC.

Actually, I guess I am seven miles off the route if you are going to Bellingham. I am one mile off for the Canadians continuing north into middle BC and the Okanogan.

 

[CharlieN]

Dave M:
Its too early to say about next year. The group is making a trip to the Sea of Cortez next summer. We usually like to get out of the heat so I don't know where we are going. Heading north we usually take I-5. It would be interesting to go thru Utah instead. It is also interesting as you have a Glasspar. We have that same model boat from 1959. Rebuilt it about 20 years ago and now my son uses it for water skiing here in Az.

 

[CharlieN]

Dave M:
Its too early to say about next year. The group is making a trip to the Sea of Cortez next summer. We usually like to get out of the heat so I don't know where we are going. Heading north we usually take I-5. It would be interesting to go thru Utah instead. It is also interesting as you have a Glasspar. We have that same model boat from 1959. Rebuilt it about 20 years ago and now my son uses it for water skiing here in Az.

 

[Nehalennia]

Charlie,
Those are Great pics. I linked them here for you!
Great stuff and I hope you consider to joing us next year.
These are simply great. I love it!