Travels of "Emma B" (JD powered Helmsman)

In season it’s probably a bit dug up but the windlass really pulled the bow down before breaking the anchor out of the mud! We were in good.

From Squirrel Cove we decided on “the long way around” Redonda Island to our destination at Predeaux Haven......with a run up Teakern Arm on the way to see the waterfall. This is simply gorgeous country!
We lucked out as no one was around as we anchored out front with the best view.

Frank, I have 0 boat experience in your area. It appears you have many nice protected areas to hide from weather.

A few questions por favor:

How much longer can you cruise your grounds?

Throughout the winter as well?

Do you know what the average water temp is during the Summer and in the Fall?

I only cruise here in the fall season so can’t give much info beyond that.
The key to late season cruising is heat. I have a “bus heater” (works off engine heat) for underway and a Webasto furnace for anchoring out. Both work extremely well. At a marina, if I’m paying for power, I plug in my electric heater.
Set up this way, I’m sure you could continue on through the winter as it seldom freezes for too long and the water doesn’t freeze.
The water is cold right now, high 40s to mid 50’s depending on where you are.
I recorded 38 or 39 a few years back but that was in the Broughtons during December.....the latest I’ve ever stayed.
My friends here assure me they swim comfortably during summer.
I’m from a small town in NE Ontario and after retiring, do a 4,4,4 thing.
May-August at home. I trailer sail to the North channel etc
Late August-late November....cruise out here...just love it!
Late December-late April...cruise on my sailboat in the Abacos.
As such, others can give better advice on different seasons, but set up properly, I think winter, although darker and more wind/rain, could also be an amazing time to be up here.

While anchored in Desolation Sound in Predoux Haven, we took a sunny dingy ride into both Laura and Melanie Coves. In the book “Curve of Time” (a MUST READ if you cruise here) the author Muriel Wylie Blanchet, left a widow with 5 children and a dog, recounts her yearly cruises with all 6 of them on a narrow 25ft cruiser up in these waters 100 years ago. An amazing women by anyone’s account!
“Capi” as she was called, wrote of meeting “old Mike” whom had a cabin at the end of Melanie Cove and the Frenchman, whose cabin was on Laura cove. As such, the dingy trip to these places seemed a necessity.
Anchored in Predoux Haven
Again the woods were “rain forest” feeling.
You call that a leaf?.....THIS is a leaf ��
An Otter family in Melanie Cove
The fishing out front was pretty good

Edit to ad....not only are rock cod hard on an inflatable, these red snappers have me patching holes today as well.
I keep telling myself to take along a pale but always forget.

Oops
Missed the Otter picture

After a couple of wonderful star filled nights on the hook with sunny calm days, we started heading back to Powel River....but not before a few stops along the way. First was a brief stop at a Refuge Cove. Nothing was open but it was nice to get off the boat and walk about. Claudia made a phone call while there

Carrying on, we went by the seal colony on a bald rock island onward to an anchorage off Tenedos Bay. A pretty spot teaming with bird life and an abundant seal population. We thought we had this “off the beaten path” anchorage to ourselves until a nice sailboat came in as well. Quite an interesting English couple, they had spent most of the summer exploring Alaska.....after crossing over from Japan! Again....awesome weather.

Next stop on the return was Lund.
We were greeted by Neptune
The leaves turning red at Nancy’s Bakery seemed odd beside palm trees
The view across the Strait I’d beautiful....especially at sunset

From Lund it was an easy trip down to Powel River. Claudia flew out on the 20th, “the boys” arrived on Integra (Helmsman 43) on the 21st.
I’ve joined these lads for 10yrs now and big John has been a huge mentor to me in learning the area, tides, rapids etc. He’s been cruising here over 30yrs and a wealth of local knowledge.
From here on through the week, names and faces will be withheld to protect the innocent

Great shot of Integra as the lads arrived in Powel River

HaHa Durant you seem to be chasing your keel around the area. Don’t wanna stop? I can relate to that. It was our plan to do basically what you’re doing but intended to get further north like Smith Sound. Miles Inlet was Chris’s favorite anchorage. The Willard may be too big for that. We went there in our Albin 25. Trying to fix my seawater pump now. Can’t get the screws out on the impeller cover. Left it too long I spoze.

Yep...love it here.
Some things just don’t get old.

Good luck with the impeller cover

I don’t want to get this thread off topic, but...
These work well
Hold tightly on screw and hit with hammer
They work!

PS....Home depot

Thank’s so much Durant,
Seem to have forgotten about them.
I have one somewhere ...... but where.
Wonder if HF impact wrench would hold up for six screws?

I think it may be legal to thread creep your own thread. I’ve done it.

Eric
If you’re like the rest of us and you clean your shop out, you’ll probably find 3 of them

Have fun
Frank

We rafted up and just putted along slowly for a few miles.
If you want to make a Camano seem small...raft up to a 43

I joked that this is the
“1st annual Canadian Helmsman Trawler Owners Assoc. Meet”
To my knowledge, there are no other Canadian owners.
It’s been a good week with the lads.

Headed back N to Heriot Bay solo.
Gale warning for this afternoon so it was a very early start in the dark.
Nice to have radar as had to alter coarse twice for tugs towing barges, then a log boom. Their tows showed up well on the screen.
Sunrise is always nice on the water. Had 9 miles in when it peeked up this morning.

The forecast winds were late, which was fine with me as it was a relatively calm passage to Heriot Bay on Quadra Island.
I always chuckle passing the bell bouy marking a rocky shoal near Cortes.

The:
DING..ding.......DING..ding......DING...ding
Sound in the short waves always reminds me of

Come on...

You can guess it...

That scene in the movie Jaws


Disclaimer:
No sharks were injured in the making of this post

Oh great....now every time I go past that buoy I'll be looking for sharks!

That's a pretty accurate observation.

Do you want a shocker?

Jaws was 1975!!

Unreal..... 43yrs ago!

Yep, I’m getting old...

K

I’ve spent the last few nights at Heriot Bay Inn/marina
Funky in season....really funky in off season as several live aboards come to the docks for winter. The little bar is friendly, the restaurant is very nice with great food, and as I’ve mentioned before...there is a wonderful grocery store (with liquor) just up the hill behind. It’s a great spot to restock and wait out a blow. Fuel and propane too.
Every year they go out of their way with unique pumpkin carvings for Halloween.
Always chuckle at the one that had a few too many

Kind of a sad day....
Just booked haul out and flights home.
Still a couple of weeks away, so will head to Octopus islands for some quiet time before boat cleaning, oil changes etc
It’s been a good run this year out here. Feeling blessed

This has been a great ride-along with you. Thanks for keeping me motivated, I look forward to your posts.

Same

IRENE said:

This has been a great ride-along with you. Thanks for keeping me motivated, I look forward to your posts.

Click to expand...

Same here! I have enjoyed the travels you have had thus far and look forward to continuing to read. Such a cool boat with a neat history for the hull. I really like the niche it serves. Maybe one in the future for me so continue sharing please!

Thanks lads...

With rain the main ingredient in the forecast, I reluctantly left Heriot Bay. Doing the last of my emails next to their fireplace made it even harder.
It was an uneventful run to Octopus islands and with the anchor well set, settled in for a nice bbq meal and a few downloaded shows on Netflix. Made for a very relaxing evening....sound of rain and a warm cabin.


My favourite place at the Inn

Awoke to steady rain. No wonder stainless steel doesn’t show rust as steadily here as Florida boats do! With no sun for the panel, no cell/data, no dock to walk on between showers and the roar of my little Honda at full rpm charging, I figured Gorge Harbour might be a better choice for this wet period.
I expected the run there in this dull weather would be boring but it’s never truly dull here. Exiting out into the main channel through the dog leg in the rocks, a large Heron voiced her disapproval of me disturbing her with very loud “squawks”, a short distance up I watched 3 eagles over head. Next, 2 harbour porpoises made an appearance. Then, further along, more eagles. As I watched seals on a bald rock, some too lazy to even raise their head to look up, it dawned on me that it really never is too dull...

Well.....it was a good call heading to Gorge Harbour.
Rain hasnt let up. Can at least get out on the dock to stretch my legs between showers. Plugged in so no solar worries or listening to Honda roar.
A very dull day!
Cleaned the head, wiped down all the floors, oil check, sorted tools etc but that only took an hour. (Gotta luv small boats!)
Thank goodness for Netflix

Are there many boats there? Restaurant and store open?