Canadian Crossing

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bob 04 H260

Bob 04 H260

.
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
Abe, I have trailered our boat into remote areas as well so understand where you are coming from.

To do the conversion on our porta pottie I bought a deck fitting for sewage pumpout and about 3 ft of hose. As well as a s/s tank vent and 3 ft of vent hose. The porta pottie had a threaded hole with a spout to empty it. I bought a couple of ABS fittings from Home Depot to thread into this hole and attach to the discharge pipe. I included a piece of 1.5" abs to reach the bottom of the tank to be sure it was empty when pumped out. The whole thing was less than $40 and I had to drill two holes in the boat. I no longer own that boat or I would take a few pictures for you. To dump the tank myself I just unscrewed the fitting and replaced the original pour spout.

I think most of the manufacturers sell a conversion kit to do the job for a few dollars more as most models are avialable in an msd version, just has a different fitting on the pour spout to take a hose.

Installing a deck pumpout will not prevent you from removing the tank from the boat and dumping it in your toilet at home.

I would also encourage you to join the www.TrailerSailors.org . They do a cruise in the NC every summer with 30 or more boats. Many of the members have sailed the area for years and can share a lot of information and advice that you will not get out of any guide book. I can also recommend a book called "A Well Favored Passage" . You might also google "Turners Little Current" for a local store happy to supply you with charts, books or ? We have launched from Little Current and found the town a delight, great marina, safe parking, highly recommended. You will love the area and want to come back.

good luck, Bob
 
Nicholson58

Nicholson58

.
Nov 30, 2009
11
Camper & Nicholson 58 Ketch Muskegon, Michigan
Re: Only Customs & Immigration

If you go by water, you may also check in at Mackinaw Island. There is a video call-up link and is said to be easier and faster. Trailering in You do not care about this. Be sure to keep your pump-out reciets. You may need them to proove you are not dumping, yuck. We listened to a seminar by Pixie Haughwout and Ralph Folsom where they presented things about the North Channel and sold Marjorie Cahn Brazer's cruising guide. www.SeaFeverGear.com They are trailer sailors who live aboard each summer. The book is informative and you will find it more useful than we. Many harbors are in the 5 foot approach or even less. We draw almost 7. Best advice is travel in daylight, approach shallows and your anchorage with the sun behind you if possible, get polarized sunglasses, post a bow watch on all shallows approaches. Take enough line to anchor and then tie the stern ashore to trees or rocks. you need screens to keep the insects out after dark and plan on insectiside to clear the cabin before bed. I like the smokey mosquito coils. On the issue of the head, we are adding an AIRHEAD this season. No pump-out. If you run into ROXY say hi. We are a Camper & Nicholson 58 ketch - no trailer.
Make sure you have current charts. There are lots of pointy rocky things up there. I loaded SEACLEAR open source (free) nav software on our laptop and installed the Canadian raster charts for 20 bucks. The BU-353 USB GPS antenna was 34 dollars on Amazon. This makes your laptop a chart plotter. You can also pre-load APS for the i-stuff equipment that includes charts and navigations plus anchor watch.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,050
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Sum, as I recall there's a company selling (really!) SeaClear on a disc, and they offer charts with the $20 disc. Let's see:http://www.cruisingservices.net/

The little folded up instruction manual that comes with it has the Canadian charts offered.
 
Sumner

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Stu Jackson said:
Sum, as I recall there's a company selling (really!) SeaClear on a disc, and they offer charts with the $20 disc. Let's see:http://www.cruisingservices.net/

The little folded up instruction manual that comes with it has the Canadian charts offered.
Click to expand
Thanks, here is the page on their site.....

http://www.cruisingservices.net/more.html

Anyone get any of these? I might try the Mexico Pacific Side if I can find out if it does the Sea of Cortez,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Captain 9330

Captain 9330

.
Oct 12, 2009
55
Catalina 22 Buffalo
Abe,

I sailed quite a few years back on a single tack to Gore Bay without touching the autopilot once leaving through the gap between Dewdney Island and John Island just south of the Whalesback. Awesome when considering it was an over the horizon destination.

My C-22 has a blackwater tank under the v-berth and a marine head thanks to the first owner. It is plumbed to a deck fitting port just fore of the forward stanchion. I removed it once for a porta-potti and changed it all back again when Canadian rules changed.

Going over the bridge is no more of a problem than going with a car. The only concern is that the boat is going to remain yours beyond the time of your return to the States. Don't forget to have a passport for all US citizens going with you for the return trip.

You must know you will be going through Spanish and Little Current. Spanish has a good and friendly marina if you want to cut down you road mileage. Little Current is a good place to pick up anything forgotten and Farqhar's Ice Cream is a must stop for treat tying up to the wall along the town water front.

Charts: get them, study them, follow them religiously. My preference is paper but maybe it's because I like using dividers, pencil and parallel rule. I still go back and look at my notes and courses, some made 20 years ago.

Bob's suggestion of joining Trailer/Sailor's Association is solid advice- been a member myself since '89 and done several cruises in various parts of Georgian Bay as well as without a group.

South Benjamin Island, heading east from Gore or Spanish, has a very nice anchorage area on the southern end perfect for dropping a hook off the stern and pulling bow-in and tying to the shore. Take along some sturdy spikes or heavy duty tent stakes as tying to trees and shrubs is not good stewardship. If the vegetation is the only option, have something to protect the bark from your lines (100+ feet at least). My most favorite framed enlargement photos are taken there.

Haywood Island is a good anchorage on the north side if you are headed east toward Portage Cove and Killarney. Scott B's suggestion of Baie Fin is a must do- there is a walk from the north east corner of The Pool at the far eastern end up to Topaz Lake where you will want to have a swim in water clearer than you will believe. Killarney has a famous fish and chip stand in an old school bus that is not to miss.

Have your mosquito netting ready and be sure to have it in place before ten minutes after 9pm. You won't need it before then but after the outdoor world belongs to them. Still, there is nothing like getting up at dawn with a hot mug of coffee in the stillness of the sweet water seas.

Thinking this summer might be good for a return trip,
Derek
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom