[Former Member]

Hi All – especially any ladies out there

I’m new to the club & am looking to invest in a drysuit.

I test-drove the Kokatat Odyssey for a few days out in Barclay Sound recently, & while it seemed a great suit, the latex collar caused a lot of skin irritation.   Google mentioned the Stohlquist with a neoprene collar – but I’m not sure if that would be water-tight enough?

Would greatly appreciate any recommendations on alternatives, and feedback if you prefer the drop seat version or the 2 piece jacket/pants version.

Thanks!
Karen

[Former Member]

Hello

Looking for a better solution for kayak storage.

I am in the West End and am renting a 20′ container on Mitchell Island for my kayaks and other sporting equipment/ personal stuff (used to live much closer to Marine Drive). Container is not cheap ($250/mo) and restricts my use of the boats as the drive there and back is ridiculous (tend to head to North Shore more often than not).

Have noted in the forum suggestions for kayak / sailing club storage, which would be an excellent option except seems to be waitlist for most fenced on-site storage. Looking for something on the North Shore and open to creative suggestions. Have 3 rotomolded boats – CR Scirroco,  Necky Looksha and a Perception Prodigy (10′- suitable for youngster or other smaller paddler). Would be willing to consider paying for use of someone’s garage or backyard or maybe splitting the cost of a 20′ container on N Shore 2-3 ways. Would be open to include sharing use of boats in full/part exchange.

Must be a better way. My current setup is costly and inconvenient.

 

Adrian Cormier

 

 

[Admin S. Jensen]

Saturday, August 17th, Skyview will be holding an open gear swap. We will set up tables outside the store which can be reserved so that you can sell your gear.

8ft table rental is $15 for the day,

4ft table rental is $10.

At the same time, Skyview will also have deals in-store on a variety of items. If you’re looking to sell some gear or upgrade your own, our Gear Swap event is the perfect opportunity for you.

As this is a newer event for us, we look forward to seeing how well it goes and hope to make it an annual event.  For more information about the gear swap, or if you’d like to know more about rates for reserving a table, or anything else, please call us at 604-580-3777, or email us at sales@skyviewcamping.com

Skyview Outdoors
#101-12355 Pattullo Place, Surrey, B.C.

[Former Member]

Hi Marina,

I am back from Europe. Did you find the paddle float, heaving line and pump you were looking for?

Peter

[Nick Heath]

Has anyone experience successful or otherwise of launching or retrieving kayaks to take the Duke Point ferry? I’ve looked at it before and rejected immediate area landings near the dock, partly because of security fencing and partly because of steep rock shelves, but I’m curious about more distant landings, say on the other side of the point in the Nanaimo estuary or further S in Northumberland Channel, using wheels to pull boats perhaps 1 km by road to the terminal.

[Kevin Amos]

If you have a cellphone but are not subscribed to any service, you can still dial 9-1-1 in an emergency and receive basic wireless 9-1-1 service.

https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/911/can.htm

[Nick Heath]

I was recently at Arbutus Rd (and for that reason it is now on the BC Marine Trails map – previosuly no-one had checked this launch site). Last year I was at the Southey Pt launch site across the narrow bay. Of these two, Arbutus Rd definitely has more parking.

Throughout the Gulf Is, many road-ends have a mass-produced official signs saying “No camping or overnight parking”. No doubt with the preponderance of campers on wheels there is little to distinguish between these 2 different activities. This is complaint-driven, so one takes a chance if such a notice is posted, but a small respectfully parked vehicle might be tolerated, depending on who lives in that neighbourhood and how grumpy they are.

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t recall and did not record the signage posted at either of these sitse and will need to go back to check. Certainty there are several sites around SSI that lack any such signage, but the regional district might nevertheless have over-riding by-laws that put time limits on all roadside parking.

[Nick Heath]

I, too, understand this to be correct but cannot verify.  Any cellular ph is capable of a 911 call even if it is not under any company service agreement (or the $ ran out on a prepaid phone) and/or has no SIM.

“I have read that it may even be usable as an “emergency” phone—apparently cell providers have to let you dial 9-1-1 over any network in range, even if you are not subscribed or have a sim card. **can anyone verify if this “emergency” use is true?**”

[Nick Heath]

When I camped on Tent I several years ago for one night I tried first to contact the band to pay but did not get a  response, so I just mailed them some cash afterwards. We were there early in the year and the place was deserted, except for some day visitors/fishers from Chemainus who scoffed at the notion that with was FN land -apparently it had been leased in earlier years by the BC Govt and called a BC Park and that’s the way these locals preferred to remember it. Overall, this lovely island needs better management – daily warden visits or something. The party zone laissez-faire setup works against paddlers and could easily result in the island being burned by stray fires.

[Nick Heath]

I geuss my comments will come too late for you , but this is a nice paddle, Lorraine. As Cam suggests, look at the bcmarinetrails web map for info

https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/bc-map?mapitem=6886

When I was last at Tunstall Bay, there was more parking than at Bowen Bay and no posted restrictions on parking. That doesn’t mean to say necessarily that overnight parking is permitted – most municipalities have blanket by-laws (such as in Vancouver) that don’t allow it beyond 24 or 48 hr but it is complaint-driven, meaning that you have to irritate a local resident enough to get them to phone the by-law control officer to get you ticketed or towed. Some coastal areas seem to have curmudgeon-like vigilantes  who delight in doing just that,  but most don’t, thankfully!

I would not be concerned about currents. You might get 0.5 to 1 kn. I’d be far more concerned about wind – this area is a classic wind funnel and gap winds will often exceed nearby winds. Sailors love Barfleur and Collingwood Channels!

 

[Mary Yee]

Hi Harley, Ditto on the heel hook method. And also recommend an inflatable paddle float too. Although I am successful using a regular paddle float, using the inflatable one was so easy, my friend who is heavier kept failing when using a regular float , did the self rescue with the inflatable one on the first try.

Mary

[George Prevost]

In my chart case I carry a copy of the West Coast Marine Weather Services map that can be found on page 9 of the Marine Weather Hazards Manual: West Coast. It shows the locations of all of the areas and places that are mentioned in the marine weather forecast.  I also carry a list of the VHF radio channels that are pertinent to kayakers, and their uses.

[Former Member]

Did you look on bcmarine trails ?

Bowen bay on google earth shows a pretty parking spot 2-3v?

I think bcmarine trails says the same.

navionics doesnt show any indication of current but if you look at the tide chart. Your going to get a idea of ebb and flow times and rough severity.

 

[Lorraine Sharpsteen]

I am planning an overnight trip this weekend to Keats Island, leaving from Bowen Island. According to my map there are put-ins at both Galbraith Bay and Bowen Bay, both on the west side. Has anyone paddled to Keats Island from either of these locations and do you know if overnight parking is allowed? Are there any hazards crossing between the two islands that we should be aware of? And where can I find information on currents? I did find tide charts on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.

Thanks,

LorraineSharpsteen

[Former Member]

Thanks Heather. I will take a look 🙂

[Author]

Replies