PNW question

[ghost]

Originally Posted by dhmeissner

Or as it was once known, Columbia. Before all the borders.

Pssst....ummm....the chart says “Cascadia”

[Ventana]

Our experience in cruising the area in the off season:
Many of the small communities, and their fuel docks, are closed or have very limited hours in the off season, plan accordingly.
There is the possibility of skim ice in some of the harbors, be sure you are comfortable anchoring in and traveling through this.
You will have most anchorages to yourself, this is wonderful when you are searching for peace and quiet, and crappy when you are looking for company or assistance.
Visibility is much worse in snow than in rain, and it is a lot harder to tune an older radar to ignore snow and sleet, plan accordingly.

Weather is weather, we have been in crappy blows in July, but the same all-weather anchorages are still great.

[sunchaser]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

Well, next time you take your boat to Alaska, I challenge you to announce in a crowded bar in both Ketchikan and Dutch Harbour that they live in the PNW, and not SE Alaska or the Aleutians

Actually it is not an issue, some may ask where in the PNW. I’ve not heard locals harp when names like SE Asia, Latin America, Scandinavia or West Africa get mentioned.

Must be a TF thing.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by sunchaser

Actually it is not an issue, some may ask where in the PNW. I’ve not heard locals harp when names like SE Asia, Latin America, Scandinavia or West Africa get mentioned.

Must be a TF thing.

Maybe you are confusing politeness as acceptance.

Government of Canada websites for marine weather as well as commercial and sport fishing have information for the south, central, and north coasts of BC, so I'm not making this up.

It is considered good form, when in somebody else's home, to respect the customs and traditions of the host

[Durant F]

Heriot Bay Inn marina on Quadra Island has great winter rates!
Even better monthly
Nice grocery and liquor store just up the hill behind

Then, Gorge Harbour on Cortez....much the same, beautiful marina and grounds!

Anchor free in Melanie Cove....very protected, Von Donop the same, So many free places.

Supplies are easily found
Fishing is good too

I love it here late season

[Nomad Willy]

Our experience in SE Alaska trying to do cruising in the winter was most hampered by lack of daylight hours. If the tides wern’t right one didn’t get far. Wrangell Narrows may as well be the great Chinese Wall.

[eheffa]

We cruise the Gulf Islands, Strait of Georgia all winter long in our Nordic Tug 37 & have been up in Desolation Sound in early May & late September. It’s great to be there when there are few other boaters around.

It would be quite rare to have sustained snow or subzero temps.

Occasional big blows may have you pinned down for a day or two once in Desolation Sound but there are many options for protected & bomb proof anchorages. Outflow winds and rough passages are likely to be more of an issue as you try to get up & back along the Strait of Georgia. Pick your days, & you should be fine.

Good year round provisions, fuel & water can be had in Powell River.

If you don’t try to stick to a tight schedule you should be fine.

[DDW]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

Government of Canada websites for marine weather as well as commercial and sport fishing have information for the south, central, and north coasts of BC, so I'm not making this up.

Environment Canada is just being more specific than "PNW". A forecast for the PNW would be meaningless over such a vast area. Just as NOAA has forecasts for the north and south Washington and Oregon coasts. It is a very difficult sell to claim than VanIsle and the north BC coasts are not boarding the North West Pacific Ocean - no matter who issued your passport. The Pacific South West generally refers to California and south to about Panama - though perhaps it should be Panama south to Chile. By convention, that is the western South Pacific.

I'd think you'd have more problems with "Puget Sound", often used by USA citizens to refer to both Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.

[dhays]

Originally Posted by DDW

I'd think you'd have more problems with "Puget Sound", often used by USA citizens to refer to both Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.

I see no issue with using “Salish Sea” as well as Puget Sound. When I use “Puget Sound” I specifically mean the waters south of Juan de Fuca and Deception Pass. I use the term “Salish Sea” when I want to include everything from Olympia up to the Desolation Sound area. The Salish Sea encompasses my cruising area although I would like to venture North of that someday.

So Salish Sea includes other regions which can be named separately (the Gulf Islands and the San Juans are separate names due to politics). So Murray’s home waters are outside of the Salish Sea.

[GoldenDawn]

Gulf Islands in the winter = deserted anchorages - lots of weather holes not in the towns; I have rock-n-rolled in Ganges in a southeaster. You want to keep an eye out for the southeasters, which are the strongest winter winds. I want to spend a Christmas at Princess Louise Inlet - with a snowfall - can't imagine anything more magical.

A great Strait of Georgia weather site is Big Wave Dave; it has real data and I find the forecast model the best of the bunch:
Latest Reports - Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, marine weather, Victoria, Vancouver Island, coastal British Columbia, BC, Canada, windsurf, kiteboard, webcams, surfing, photos, kayaking

The official Strait of Georgia Environment Canada marine weather, which I find almost always over-predicts wind velocity:
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/forecas...tationID=46131

[GoldenDawn]

Golden Dawn will be in Ganges 5-9 September (Saltspring Marina/Mobeys Pub).

[guy with a boat]

PNW is often used as NW USA, but on a broader scale refers to PNW of the continent of North America. Its okay with me if the Canadians prefer another term, but its fair to say it is a geographic reference and not only a US reference. Please feel free to be insulted nonetheless.

[otis maximus]

Originally Posted by Durant F

Heriot Bay Inn marina on Quadra Island has great winter rates!
Even better monthly
Nice grocery and liquor store just up the hill behind

Then, Gorge Harbour on Cortez....much the same, beautiful marina and grounds!

Anchor free in Melanie Cove....very protected, Von Donop the same, So many free places.

Supplies are easily found
Fishing is good too

I love it here late season

Durant, I was reading specifically about Quadra and Cortez Island in one of my guides. That's pretty much what got me thinking about going. Seems like a lot of coves, bays and anchorages. If there's something open that's just a bonus!
Thanks
Eric

[AlaskaProf]

Originally Posted by GoldenDawn

Golden Dawn will be in Ganges 5-9 September (Saltspring Marina/Mobeys Pub).

Seeadler nights of 7 and 8.

[AlaskaProf]

Originally Posted by Durant F

Heriot Bay Inn marina on Quadra Island has great winter rates!
Even better monthly
Nice grocery and liquor store just up the hill behind

Then, Gorge Harbour on Cortez...
I love it here late season

Just did a touch-and-go at Heriot. Hotel and restaurant were nice enough, the grocery was outstanding, especially considering its small space; the marina is a dump, reflecting the frank indifference of the staff.

We left for Gorge Harbor.

Enjoying the Nanaimo YC today.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by DDW

It is a very difficult sell to claim than VanIsle and the north BC coasts are not boarding the North West Pacific Ocean - no matter who issued your passport.

Actually, they border the north east Pacific Ocean

Originally Posted by DDW

The Pacific South West generally refers to California and south to about Panama - though perhaps it should be Panama south to Chile.

Ah, there you go!!

Speaking of Americans (using a Canada centric viewpoint equal to your USA lower 48 centric viewpoint) I'm an American, as are Mexicans and Bolivians. Actually, from my vantage point, you and those from Ecuador would be Central Americans, anybody south would be South Americans.

Point being, you may carry your countries and/or regional biases across borders, but you should understand that people from other countries have their own names for where they live. Knowing these names would be a sign of respect, like flying another countries flag when you visit their waters.

[AlaskaProf]

Cut him some slack Murray, he's from "Frisco."

[dhays]

Originally Posted by AlaskaProf

Seeadler nights of 7 and 8.

We will be at Ganges Marina the 7th and 8th.

[AlaskaProf]

Originally Posted by dhays

We will be at Ganges Marina the 7th and 8th.

We'll be watching.

[Durant F]

Otis...
I only cruise falls here when it’s quiet.
You will have no problem.
Squirrel cove has great anchoring in the protected cove as well.
There is a nearby “country store” just up from the government dock there.
Between all the protected anchorages, Heriot Bay Store (awesome) just behind the Inn, Gorge Harbour Marina store...very good for so small and the “has a bit of everything “ store at Sauirrel Cove....you’re good. Fuel and propane at e@ch as well.
There are plenty of nearby places to explore and not get bored.
VonDonop for sure, Octopus Islands are so close as well.
Go for it
No worries.
PM me if you have questions
Have fun!