A sailboat can avoid the extreme currents also, but to say the currents are nothing to worry about is simply untrue and could put someone in a dangerous situation, when a simple warning that the currents can indeed be wicked and to keep a lookout forward for boiling water would be better...
I dont think the OP has a boat big enough to skate thru the rip currents without worry or care, as even the ferry routes skirt around them...
Centerline,
When you live with these currents as we do up here, you soon realize that all your transits are done at slack current. Like waiting for the bus to come by every six hours only these things are always on time.
The attached current table (right out of our CHS bible) shows the max, min and slack currents and they can be like a roller coaster at >8 knots. You check under the "Turns" column and away you go. Right on the dot for large current changes and +/- an hour for smaller current changes. Also give or take a little depending on whether you're going with or against the last of the previous current.
Regardless of the max/min currents, there is almost no current at the turn. Boats congregate at both ends of the narrows, waiting, maybe 30-40 on weekends and holidays. Suddenly, the first boat breaks from the pack, maybe 10 minutes early, and like a herd of lemmings, everybody rushes for it, from both ends. At Gabriola with big tides, it's like rush hour traffic right on the turn, with sailboats, kayaks, tugs with log booms, and whatever floats rushing to get through before the current starts up in the opposite direction. Once through, you're leisurely on your way again.
If you're anchoring nearby, there's a viewing area with park benches along the narrows and you can look down on the narrows as it builds to max current. Massive whirlpools and standing waves diving under the water if it's a big current. No one goes through at this time but we always hope to someday see a large powerboat try to make it.
It's all part of the fun of boating up here in the wilds.
for a 28 ft. Catalina ?
