[Nick Heath]

Yes, Danielle, it is reservation-free and fee-free!

I was there yesterday – lovely.

5 paddlers from the Sunshine Coast camped on Sun night but none on Mon night. Lots of room both below in the main area and up higher i.e. nearer to the toilet.

Be aware that boat stowage is easier at the creek mouth, just to the N of the signed landing.

Some silly person put a fire pit in the main forested area on duff. If you have time/inclination maybe dismantle it? Admittedly, there is hardly an evening beach area for a fire at some times of year, but right now there’s a fire ban anyhow.

Lots of site info on the BC Marine Trails map for you to peruse and plan your trips.

Enjoy!

/nick

[Former Member]

Hi there,

I’m looking to stay at Ramillies Channel Marine Site (Gambier Island), and am looking for the following guidance: –

Does anyone know if this site is first come first serve?

– Is a registration or reservation require? If so, through whom do I do this?

Thank you very much in advance for your help!

Danielle

[Lorraine Sharpsteen]

I recently parked my car in the lot for a weekend but didn’t find a place to pay the $10/day (weekends from Friday noon) fee/donation. I also haven’t found any mention of the lot on the Ambleside Tiddlycove Lions Club website.

Has anyone any current information on how to pay or who to contact?

[Johan Worst]

Offhand I’d advise – no. It’s to your advantage to keep the boat as light as possible since wind and the motion of the car can result in the damaging forces that Vincent mentioned. Anything in the kayak that’s free to move will move in the opposite direction of motion so if you have to brake in an emergency, that lose, sharp paddle in the cockpit will move toward the bulkhead at a high rate of speed. The most precarious days of your boat are the days it’s on top of the car. If you’re travelling at 80 kms/hr on a two lane road and you meet a semi on the other side moving at 90 kms/hr, your boat experiences winds of about 170 kms/hr. Even if it’s only for a short time it’s still a significant force. Better to have the boat as light as possible and tied in four places. Bow and Stern lines and a good strap at each roof rack. As Nick mentioned, put a good cockpit cover on while it’s up on the car. It makes the boat more aerodynamic, saving you some gas and it keeps any water out which can become a wave sloshing from bulkhead to bulkhead as we brake and accelerate.

[Karin Hartner]

I can bring a tarp and a couple of poles if necessary.

Let me know

 

Karin

[Nick Heath]

If items are light and soft I don’t see much harm but I’d prefer to use the cockpit rather than the end hatches and to secure (tie in with cord) any light but hard items, like paddles.  Many people seem to overload clamp-on racks and SUV manufacturers’ flimsy racks – check your rack’s rating and think about what will happen if you are in a serious collision. Flying roof loads have been known to cause fatalities and serious injuries when the collision itself would have otherwise resulted in no injuries at all.

As Mick says, do something to keep out rain from the cockpit – (not to keep your seat dry – as was once suggested to me!) – but to prevent several kgs of water from accumulating and sloshing about, possibly causing a dangerous stability or overload problem. This is one reason for preferring J bars or carrying the boat inverted (like all canoeists!)

There are serious safety issues with roof loads on closely-spaced passenger vehicle racks. Strong end ties are essential, mounted to a solid part of the vehicle, not to the rack, (which have been known to break or come loose) but on some vehicles it is hard to find anything that I’d trust as solid!

[Admin S. Jensen]

Hi, I’ve heard that long-time club president Mercia Sixta may know about the videos. I’ve spoken to her on the phone before but don’t know her personally. Does anyone keep in touch with her to ask?

Susan Jensen

[Mick Allen]

Stern and especially bow lines are required – so no cantilevering, and rack stresses by side wind loads are minimized by being taken by the end lines.  Boat is carried right side up [it’s rockered curvaceous shape is supported adequately by the rack spacing – think of the diffential loading in abrupt changing conditions on and in waves when we’re paddling!]. As Peter mentions,  main heavy loading is in the centre with the sprayskirt attached and the waist opening tied off and inverted [or a ckpt cover if present] to eliminate rain ingress at speed and use the end compartments for the light items like clothing, tents etc.

For the end ties if possible, use a triangulated approach from ea side of the bumper [frame tabs or whatever is used] so that end  movement is minimized [and thereby minimal unwanted twist stress to the racks].

. . . I never could see the point of those roof top carriers when we’ve got a much more voluminous and especially doubly useful method – and they look meaningful and cut the wind so much better. Or if a seakayak is too big, just pick up one of the many short 2nd hand WW boats that appear on craigslist once in awhile.

[And joking must be inserted: because of the yak’s hydrodynamic shape, at high rates of speed it will actually fly a little bit thereby reducing much of that rack loading, heh heh.]

 

 

 

[Vincent Law]

The racks are typically spaced 3 feet apart which is too close together for objects that are 16’-18’ long. (3 foot spacing is ideal for bike rack and mounting skis.) Also, Kayaks have a big surface area which can pick up a lot of wind loads that will be transferred directly to the rack. The long overhang at both ends of the rack can result in cantilevered forces that can readily overload the racks, even if it’s just for a split second.

I would suggest making the kayaks as light as feasible. I.e. store as little as possible in the compartments. If you have to store items in the compartments then put them in the cockpit as suggested above.

[Mick Allen]

Kayaks are just dual purpose roof-top carriers!

[Peter Kearney]

Hi Tyronne,

Light, bulky stuff is fine in the hatches. If heavier then better in the cockpit with a secure cover over it. Weight of all the kayaks and gear should not exceed the load rating of your car/ roof rack system. Take apart paddles can also go in the cockpit. Cheers, Peter

 

 

[Tyronne L’Hirondelle]

is it okay to put gear in your hatches when you are transporting a kayak on your car?  I’m thinking I can save truck space by carrying light and soft gear, (spray skirts, lifejackets, wetsuits) in the hatches while the kayaks are on the roof rack. any thoughts?

[Former Member]

Item has been sold. Thanks

[Former Member]

Hi Jennifer

Interested in this PFD, please email kathy_f@shaw.ca

Thanks

Kathy

[Sue Johnson]

Our FALL FLING and VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION event will be held Saturday, Sept 10 at Cates Park in North Vancouver.

This is your invitation to enjoy a day paddle followed by a dinner hosted by SKABC. We hope you will join us for one or both of these! To register, log on and go to the event calendar.

THE PADDLE – for members only

Participants on this members-only paddle must have immersion gear and be able to do a wet exit and assisted rescue. Paddle trips will be coordinated to finish at Cates Park in time for the picnic.

Kayak rentals are available through the Deep Cove Kayak Centre, (604) 929-2268 or (604) 985-2925.

Trip destinations will be available soon.

THE DINNER (rain or shine!)

We have reserved the picnic shelter beside the boat launch at Cates Park from 4:00-8:00pm. Having a shelter and pop-up tent means our event is not weather dependent! Our menu is appetizers, salads, a pizza variety – with lots of vegetarian – plus dessert and beverages. Please use the comment box to advise the Social Committee of any dietary restrictions when signing up so we can order accordingly. We will request a 5:00pm pizza delivery.Please bring your mess kit (plate, cutlery, cup). You may also wish to bring your own chair.

Members are free to bring a guest; a small donation towards the pizza from non-member guests would be appreciated. Or, if a family member will join you, you’re encouraged to sign them up as an additional family member for $10 so they can attend events all year. Contact membership1@skabc.org If you need help with this.

If you have any hard copies of old (or current!) trip photos that you could contribute to the 40th anniversary, deliver them to Sue at the dinner.

Please contact social2@skabc.org if you are able to supply and install a tarp should the weather be questionable.

Lorraine will bring the club library so you can borrow or return SKABC books and audio-visual materials.

Do not attend if you have COVID symptoms.

Consider carpooling and arrive early.

Address
4141 Dollarton Highway
North Vancouver, British Columbia

[Author]

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