Inside Passage Butedale update

ksanders · 05-14-2022, 10:26 AM

For those transiting the inside passage this year I can report on Butedale as a stop over point.

There are no signs of life at Butedale, but there is a long dock of a few hundred feet long that appears to be serviceable.

Based on what I have seen today I would consider Butedale a safe place to spend the night.

Ken E. · 05-14-2022, 10:34 AM

Thanks for posting that. There used to be an old guy there, a caretaker. Any No Trespassing signs on the dock or grounds?

ksanders · 05-14-2022, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken E.

Thanks for posting that. There used to be an old guy there, a caretaker. Any No Trespassing signs on the dock or grounds?

I did not see any, but I only really looked at the dock.

AKDoug · 05-14-2022, 11:09 AM

It's listed as for sale again... The advertisement shows a new dock instead of the log float with rotten plywood nailed to it. You always question whether the advertisement is real or a "projected development". One of the problems with the Internet is that things tend to stay there once posted, it's sometimes hard to get a feel for what's real.

I chatted with the old caretaker my last trip through, he was moving back to Klemtu as the new owners didn't feel they needed a caretaker. I wonder if the cat stayed... he was very social but would never step foot on your boat, maybe he remembered that's how he came to be out there.

Ken E. · 05-14-2022, 11:34 AM

Some years ago, maybe 10 or more, I was tied up at the dock at Shearwater next to a guy who was talking about his investment group buying Butedale. According to him, they had the money to develop it, could get the required government permits, and the local First Nations group in Klemtu was ok with it. It obviously never germinated, and there have probably been several similar groups and stories that never got going. What a great stopover location though.

Stabi · 05-14-2022, 12:06 PM

According to the Waggoner site

Water at Butedale is currently not available. Moorage at the dock is by permission only. Uplands are closed for construction. Contact by email: skennedyau@gmail.com or call 604-649-1665 for permission to stay at the docks.
UPDATED
4/12/2022

https://waggonerguide.com/updates/

**koliver** · 05-14-2022, 12:59 PM

Kevin, thanks for the update.
It looks exactly like it did when I was there June 23, 2019. At that time there was active demolition near that building, and the dock looked brand new. Except for the buiilding in your picture, the only others are around to the right, where your shot shows the first dwelling, then the trees cut out any view of a second one.
In '19, there were a couple of sailboats on the dock, no signs to indicate Welcome or Not Welcome. We didn't anchor (wouldn't anyway, as you never can tell what the bottom is like after a century of logging in the area) and stayed the night elsewhere, just cruised close enough for a peek.

Ken E. · 05-14-2022, 06:17 PM

I emailed Shawn Kennedy per post #6 above and received permission from him to tie up at Butedale. Shawn's response was cordial and he appreciated being contacted.

Bmarler · 05-15-2022, 09:58 AM

many, many years ago there was more sign of life there. we stopped in and took on water there. water in butedale was very good at the time. there was a man and a young boy living there full time, and a fishing fleet would use it during the season.
obviously time hasn't been kind to the place, but maybe some day there will be some full time life there again.

DDW · 05-15-2022, 10:20 AM

Thanks for that posting. Any update on Shearwater these days after the ownership change?

ksanders · 05-15-2022, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDW

Thanks for that posting. Any update on Shearwater these days after the ownership change?

shearwater was bustling last night. Lots of cruisers there.

The restaurant closes at 6:30 though

Alaska JD · 05-15-2022, 12:35 PM

Last spring we spent the night there while bringing our OA 42 up from Anacortes. It is a safe and appropriate place to spend the night. At the time, the trans-Canada rules were to not get off the boat for any reason other than an emergency. Tied to the dock in Butedale we violated the command. In a sense it was an emergency. After 6 days on the boat, the 4 of us really needed some land time. Last year there were no trespassing signs and signs warning that the property was secured using satellite based video technology. Not sure there is such a thing, but we pretty much, sort of, obeyed the signs

Nomad Willy · 05-15-2022, 02:57 PM

My first wife and I stayed at Butedale in the early 70’s when they had the flume and generator operating. We took unlimited hot water showers. Kathleen really really liked HOT water showers. We were cruising south on the Easy Rider .. a 28’ OB I designed and built in Masset in the Queen Charolette Islands.

Butedale has (in my time) been a downhill story. There was probably a hotel there at one time. Will eventually become a resort but how long it will last depends on how well the then-owners address the remoteness factor. As a fuel stop it would shine tho. We put extra gas tanks aboard to make it from Rupert to either Butedale or Shearwater. Think it was Butedale.

DDW · 05-15-2022, 05:18 PM

I queried the email referenced and received a prompt and kind reply. I hope they are able to make it into a small fuel and stopover marina. Not sure a destination resort is realistic, but it is a very convenient and beautiful stop transiting the PR Channel.

soin2la · 05-15-2022, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaska JD

At the time, the trans-Canada rules were to not get off the boat for any reason other than an emergency. Tied to the dock in Butedale we violated the command. In a sense it was an emergency. After 6 days on the boat, the 4 of us really needed some land time.

You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep quiet on that one.

Stabi · 05-15-2022, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soin2la

You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep quiet on that one.

**koliver** · 05-15-2022, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soin2la

You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep quiet on that one.

He has to know though you can run, you can't hide.

Inbreaker · 05-15-2022, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soin2la

You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep quiet on that one.

The JD is apparently not a doc juris....dock juris?

Crusty Chief · 05-15-2022, 10:26 PM

A fuel stop would be a nice idea. Though, just a few miles North is Hartley Bay. We have found memories of Hartley and the people that live there. Was just wondering about one of the nicest guys by the name of George the other day. He taught me how the locals catch Salmon and some of the history of his people. Great memories!

Kevin, hope you will take a few days off while traveling south. It really is a great way to recharge the batteries.

Cheers

Russell Clifton · 05-16-2022, 07:22 AM

Here is a current update on a few of the places in the area.
Port McNeill- Business as usual.
Shearwater- Business as usual except masks are required in all the buildings.
The fuel dock has short hours, 10-4:30.
The store was well stocked.
Bella Bella- There was no place to tie the tender because of all the local
boats so had to raft to one of them. Might be best to take the
water taxi from Shearwater. There was a sign saying visitors not
welcome but a local said to disregard it, so we did. The store
was busy and they seemed happy to see us. Masks required.
Ocean Falls- Business as usual. So is the rain.
Klemtu- Waiting for a response to my email inquiring if they are open to
visitors.