RE: Pacific N W Local Knowledge
Pacific Northwest Local Knowledge
Fresh Water Supply on the Inside Passage
Sunchaser (tgwhite) asked the following question in another thread:
"Time permitting, I'd like to get to Craig Alaska next summer. My DeFever has 400 gallons of water capacity. I've no watermaker onboard - intentionally so at this time. As I venture north from Port Hardy I read in Waggoners there are plenty of fill point stops, but for you who have traveled this route is this indeed the case?"
Tom:
Port McNeill and Port Hardy offer good fresh water, which can be taken on at the fuel docks, or at the floats if you overnight at Port McNeill Harbour Authority floats or Quarterdeck Marina floats in Hardy.
Traveling North on the IP the best stops for both fuel and good water are at the*local band operated fuel docks at New Bella Bella, Klemtu, and Hartley Bay.* I will not put water from Duncanby Landing, Dawson's Landing, or Shearwater in the water tank.* We purchase our drinking water in quantity at the large market stores at home in Halfmoon Bay/Sechelt before departure, and in Port McNeill, Port Hardy and Prince Rupert en route to Alaska.* Ocean Falls has good water but is not on the direct IP route.
Once in Alaska, good water is available at Ketchikan, Thorne Bay, and in Craig.* I just completed a tour of POWI this summer and only used these sources for fuel and for water for the tank.*
If you have any doubt about water quality for your tank, look the local operator in the eye, and ask if a "Boil water advisory" has been issued on the water, before putting it in your tank, or do the "Stalwyn" water quality test: fill a 1 gallon (4 Liter) clear jug with water from the hose and set it in the cockpit for an hour or so to see what settles out, before putting any in the tank.* At Point Baker, the water looks about 3 shades darker than Guiness.* The jug got dumped as soon as we cleared the harbour (sorry, harbor).
With your capacity, you should have no problems, even if you dawdle to smell the roses.* Just don't water them!
Why don't you tell us some more about your planned trip?
Old_Salt*
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