Trailer your boat to the North Channel.

[dmcb]

Guys, if you have a trailer for your boat, you can safely cruise the North Channel and see all the points of interest.
Not to say you can go everywhere every day because weather conditions will tell you when to move but the distance is short between safe anchorages and usually the mornings are calm so you can move to another location early and find smooth water doing it.
Depending where you are there are a few choices. The best may be to trailer to Little Current. At Spider Bay Marina (city owned) you can leave your truck and trailer for an extended period. If you stay one night at their marina, there is no charge to leave your vehicle. A pretty good deal.
You could trailer to Blind River which is the start of the good cruising which will go East as far as Killarney.
Actually you will want to see Collins Inlet which is only about 3 miles of open water from Killarney.
Covered Portage Cove, Baie Fine, MeGregor Bay, Benjamin Islands, Croker, Oak Bay, Johns Island (Moiles Harbor) Beardrop Harbor, Turnbull, and many, many other beautiful anchorages are easy hops in both directions from Little Current or from Blind River.
You could trailer to Killarney but it isn't the best place to trailer. The road from the main highway is narrow with lots or curves. There is a charge to store your truck and trailer. There is a launch at the government dock (charge).
You could also launch at Britt on Georgian Bay and take the small craft route around the top of Georgian Bay but I don't know what is available at Britt.
You will also have some open water runs on Georgian Bay. If time is limited and you want to be sure of leaving on a given day to return home, I suggest Little Current.
For those interested, start a conversation and I think I can answer most of your questions. I trailered to the area for about 15 or so years. I have cruised it for 48 years with just a few years missed.
You will be amazed how much you can see with a small fuel burn.
Doug

 

[mattk]

Doug,

This is my first post on this site. Cruising the North Channel always intrigued me but I did not know if a trailer boatwas a viable option. I never could find good information on the web concerningtrailering a power boat up there. I know I won't have the opportunity to makethe trip this year but I would consider it next year.
I have a zillion questions that need not be answered nowjust a few major concerns.

Is it possible to find a marina most nights or does cruisingdepend on spending multiple nights on the hook? Having a small weekender doesnot lend itself well to multiple days aboard. One night would not be a problemif a marina was available for the next night and so on.

What should I use for a dingy? Will a small inflatable witha small outboard be enough? How about an inflatable kayak? Do I need to haveplaning ability in order to explore more territory?

What other type of equipment would you recommend beyondnormal boating supplies?

Thanks a bunch for offering up your experience, it isinvaluable to a novice cruiser.

Matt

 

[dmcb]

Doug,

This is my first post on this site. Cruising the North Channel always intrigued me but I did not know if a trailer boatwas a viable option. I never could find good information on the web concerningtrailering a power boat up there. I know I won't have the opportunity to makethe trip this year but I would consider it next year.
I have a zillion questions that need not be answered nowjust a few major concerns.

Is it possible to find a marina most nights or does cruisingdepend on spending multiple nights on the hook? Having a small weekender doesnot lend itself well to multiple days aboard. One night would not be a problemif a marina was available for the next night and so on.


If you get a map or charts of the area you will see Little Current. The other towns are Killarney, Gore Bay, Spanish, Blind River and possibily a dock at a yacht club in Spragge. You would never be far from a dock if you choose to use one. 25 miles between towns would be a good estimate. As long as you had facilities to stay aboard in case of weather you would be able to do what you want without a problem.
Personally I never dock and find it easier to stay on the hook but that doesn't mean its the only way.
There is a group of trailering sail boaters that I see every year. They have small boat and I mean small. They do just fine.
From Little Current or Killarney you won't be more than 25 miles from the best of the area. One night in and one night out would work out well but weather can change that. Usually you have calm in the morning and you can make your move then if the weather isn't settled.
Once there I bet you find a way to extend your time at anchor. :smt001What should I use for a dingy? Will a small inflatable witha small outboard be enough? How about an inflatable kayak? Do I need to haveplaning ability in order to explore more territory?

I think you use what you have. I see a lot of people traveling by canoe or kayak and camping. A small inflatable would do you just fine.
You will see enough to make the trip a success with what you have. No matter what you have you can't see it all in years of trips.

What other type of equipment would you recommend beyondnormal boating supplies?

Well that is a tough one. As much food as you can carry and keep. After Little Current food supplies are limited and expensive. Killarney does have a general store and they do have food but its expensive.
If you anchor much you need to have enough battery capacity to run a fridge if you have one. For extended time on the hook a means of charging. Your main engine will do if nothing else. A house battery separate from your starting battery is a must. You likely have that.
Fish makes a good meal to extend your food supply. If you like to fish, trolling with your dinghy should provide dinner.
The water is clean and in protected areas quite warm for swimming. We actually drink the water from the lake in selected areas.
I like to carry spare parts like belts, oil, and anything for the engine that might fail. Parts are available in Little Current and some in Killarney.
If you need a tow, call the Canadian Coast Guard. They will call for any boat in the area that might give help. In no one responds they have a search and rescue group of private boats that is quite good. You will get help without delay. There is no charge for this.
A medical emergency will get a chopper to transport you. That will cost you however. Its good if your health insurance is good in Canada.
Extra gas for your grill if you use one. Its available but expensive.
We vaccum seal our meat we take with us. Even when we trailered with a smaller fridge, you can get quite a bit in the small freezer doing this. Meat will stay quite a while if frozen at home and placed in the tray under the freezer.
I met a guy from a forum a couple of years ago. He trailered from Pennsylvania and only had a week. He was thrilled with what he was able to see in that time. He bought almost nothing but some gas. He had a 24' boat.
Again there is nothing that isn't available there (well almost nothing) but you have to be in Killarney or Little Current to get it.
Without knowing how you boat and your needs, I can't answer better than this. Just plan it out and you can get what your forget.
Thanks a bunch for offering up your experience, it isinvaluable to a novice cruiser.

Just go Matt. You will enjoy ourself and you will be back with better knowledge. With a little planning you can go more than one night on the hook. Think on that a bit. The shower can come from the lake. The only thing that brings us to town is the holding tank.
Anything else I can answer, just ask.

Matt

Doug

 

[mattk]

Doug, great information, my wife and I have never been intocamping so we like to eat out and mostly just snack on the boat. After viewingsome of the photos and reading the blogs from cruisers in the North Channel I am defiantly going to give it some consideration. We canuse this year to practice some techniques and then make plans to head north thefollowing year. I am not afraid of the boating aspect, only surviving on board.

Thanks Matt.

 

[dmcb]

We have lived comfortable at anchor in a lot of different boats for a lot of years. We went from a 46' Chris Craft to a 24' Sea Ray and back up to a 38' with a 26', 27' and a 28' inbetween.
There is no reason not to have a good meal and a good nights sleep on board. Just a little planning.
We have not spent a night at the dock except for our first night after launch for the past 5 years. Every night has been at anchor and that is for the entire season. We do not rent a dock but leave at launch. When we return the boat is hauled. Our season is short in Upper Michigan. We are out about 100 days and only to a dock for as long as necessary to pump out and get a few supplies.
We did the same when we trailered our boats also.
6 years ago was when we brought out present boat from Ohio and we spent a couple of nights at the dock on that trip. The rest of the season was on the hook.

 

[dmcb]

One other important thing I forget to mention.
If you have limited time and have to be back, you can pick your day, load up and go home. You do not have to leave early and worry about the weather getting home. You just have to be close to your trailer on the given day. With the protected areas, that is pretty easy.
Of course the same is true getting there. You get to spend your vacation in the area, not waiting on the weather to get there.
As the area is a long boating trip for most, that is huge, imo.
Then there is the fuel savings.
Doug

 

[mattk]

Yes I believe that is a big benefit to trailering. Areinsects a problem onboard? I do not have screens and where I boat now it is nota problem.

It looks like there are some beautiful hiking areas, arethere areas that are restricted or pretty much go where you please?

 

[dmcb]

You can hike where you please. Some good hikes in Baie Fine. Another is at Covered Portage Cove. There are trails up the mountain but you can climb on your own any place. Senery is unsurpassed.
Skeeters are a problem in the early evening. You need to close up then.
Other times, no problem,
Some great blueberry picking also.

 

[dmcb]

Another important item you need is charts. Do not rely on a Richardson. It simply isn't detailed enough.
I suggest the small craft charts 2204 which is a packet of charts going from Killarney to Bing Inlet. More than you need but not available separately. You will want those charts for the Kiilarney/Collins Inlet area.
Also chart 2206 which is a single chart from killarney to little Current.
In addition you will need charts for as far West as you intend to go.
A complete selection of charts are available at Turners in Little Current.
The area is well charted and main routes marked well, you really need to pay attention to the charts because its like boating in the mountains is much of the area. Not high mountains like you might think but you know what mountains are like. Peeks and valleys.
You are boating in the valleys.
Your chart plotter is necessary and important but most are small and its hard to see detail. If you use it only you have to zoom in close so as not to miss something important. Doing that causes you to lose the big picture.
I have boated the area for 48 years and have never hit a prop. Knocking on wood while I say this.
I still do not rely on memory. When we started it was with charts and a compass. Actually before the charts I mentioned and I still have the first copy of those charts made.
Now I use 2 chart plotters. One zoomed in close and the other out so I see the big picture. Not necessary but I like backup anyway.
It sure is nice for poking in out of the way places.
You can get them when you arrive but having them at home to plan would be nice.
Doug

 

[mattk]

This is a really great site. Just ordered the charts online, this will give me something to do until the cold passes and it is time to start getting the boat ready for splash. I know what you mean about zooming in and out, especially in a place with so many nooks and crannies. Two plotters would be nice, but not in the boating budget. I will wait until I pull the trigger on this trip to order the G2 chip of this area for my plotter.

When I first started boating in larger waters, I studied the papeer charts alot. Sure is nice now with the plotter, makes boating alot more worry free and enjoyable. Each time I read your posts, I am getting closer to making this trip. Thanks!

 

[dmcb]

Your welcome Matt. There isn't much I would rather do than be in the North Channel. Talking about is second best. I truly enjoy seeing someone on their first trip.
I likely mentioned this but the area is recognized as one of the 10 best cruising areas in the world. Yes the world.
I have a friend who lives near Seattle. He bought a new trawler and had it delivered to Florida so he could do the Great Loop.
Of course the North Channel is part of the Loop. I met him there. He said it was like boating in the San Juans (another of the 10 best) but fresh water. He liked it so much he wintered his boat in Michigan to return for another season before completing the Loop.
He finished, had his boat shipped home and the next year went to Alaska. That guy knows how to boat. Nice to have the bucks to do it too.

 

[dmcb]

For those with larger but still trailerable boats, you can avoid the overwidth problems in Canada by trailering to the UP of Michigan.
Detour has a good launch ramp but you must find a place to park your truck and trailer. Private storage is available but you have to ask.
A good place is Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. There are two city marinas in the Soo. Only one has a ramp, http://maps.google.com/maps/place?h...,Sault+Ste.+Marie,+MI&cid=5467221678658718552
Here you can launch and leave your truck and trailer free of charge. I have left mine for 3 months at a time and never had a problem doing so.
Ask where to park as you will be on grass.
It is a nice run down the St. Marys River. You can fuel in Detour again before entering Canada. There is a good anchorage at Harbor Island just outside Drummond Island where you will check back in customs when you return.
You have a choice for Canadian customs. Blind River or Meldrum Bay. Both are phone in from the dock. You cannot use a cell phone unless you have a Nexus card.
You can proceed up the North side of the North Channel which is the best route. Lots of protection and better anchorages.
Or you can go to Meldrum Bay and go straight up the channel to Little Current or stop at the Benjamins or Croker. Also a stop at Gore bay.
With the price of fuel, if you have a trailer it will cut your travel time and expense while not having to watch the weather if you come from the Lake Erie or farther places on Lake Huron or Lake Michigan.
Just an option you might explore.
Doug

 

[Iprof]

Matt I have met Doug and his wife in the North Channel, a very nice couple that have spent more time boating in the North Channel than probably all the locals. I have boated up from Lake Simcoe through the Sever to Georgian Bay and then on to the North Channel. I have spent as much as 7 weeks boating there and as little as 2 weeks. The year we spent 2 weeks there we trailered the boat all the way to Killarney, I borrowed a trailer from a friend and rented a truck from Uhaul. The truck was a 21' with a trailer hitch rated for 12,000 lbs, it cost me $950.00 for the two weeks but it gave us a storage area that held a hard shell dinghy all our food and drinks for the two weeks. We filled the boat at a service station before we got to Killarney, so that saved us some money also. We stayed 2 nights at Roques Marina and they charged us very little to park the truck and the trailer there. We only used a 1/2 of tank of gas on the boat and did not have to worry about the weather when we needed to leave for home. There is at least 5 places to get a meal in Killarney but Little Current is only 25 miles away and you can stay all day at the government dock, walk around town, shop, eat or sit in on the radio show that is broadcast each morning.
This past summer was the first in 7 years we did not go to Georgian Bay and the North Channel, our daughter was married right in the middle of boating season I did think about going for the last 2 weeks in June and the first 2 in July but 4 heart attacks in early June put an end to that thought. I'm not sure if we will make it there this year or not but I am sure hoping. Here are a few pictures of the North Channel, the trouble with going you will want to go back every year, just ask my wife she loves it there now and would rather anchor out than spend a night at a marina.

Ken

 

[Sum Escape]

+1 on the wanting to go back each year. Last trip was 2009. Need more time off from work!!