2014 North Channel Rendezvous (NCR)

T

trailertrawlerkismet

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Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Vessel Name
(2022) Kismet
We are in the planning stages for a Ranger Tug/Cutwater, 2014 North Channel Rendezvous (Little Current or Killarney Ontario, Canada), arguably one of the premier cruising destinations east of the Rocky Mountains. Mark your calendars for August 7, 8 and 9th, 2014, for three days of Ranger Tug and Cutwater camaraderie, final destination plans still being hammered out.

Although August 2014 is nine months off we wanted to put the dates out there and start making a list of those interested in attending. If you do have an interest in attending and would like to be put on a follow up list, either make a post here or email us at kismet@favorsweb.com. As the final location, itinerary and costs are firmed up we'll update everyone on the Tugnuts Forum and by email for those already signed up.

For those that are not familiar with the North Channel or are and have not been we've attached a link that will take you directly to the North Channel part of our blog, our most recent trip from the summer of 2012.

http://trailertrawlerlife.com/category/ ... n5WaRbrbzI

Jim and Lisa
 
We have 7 boats/13 people, so far, that have expressed an interest in attending the August 7-9 Ranger Tug/Cutwater Rendezvous in Canada's North Channel next summer. We've started a list of names, email addresses etc for future follow up. I know next August is a long time away but if you're remotely interested let us know as we'll need to have a block of slips set aside during the busy, short and popular North Channel summer.

Jim F
 
We are planning on traversing the Trent-Severn waterway the summer of 2014, so the NCR should fit in our plans. Count us in and put us on your list. Looking forward to it.

Gregg and Kathy Dohrer
Santolina, R25SC
 
Gregg and Kathy it's nice to hear from you and yes we will add you to the NCR list....you are the first ones from Texas. We have others that are interested and on the list from Florida, California, Washington, Connecticut, Ontario, Michigan and Ohio.

Jim F
 
Hi Jim,

Put Jess & I on the list we are going to try and work it out and make sure we get back in time for our Northeast Rendezvous.
 
It would be great to see you and Jess cruising the North Channel on Illusions next summer. By the way I found another launch ramp at Spider Bay Marina on Manitoulin Island, just around the corner from Little Current...I'll be researching others. This one was suggested by Annie on Gentle Lady. You're on the list.

Jim F
 
We are planning on exploring the Trent-Severn Waterway after the NCR. Is anyone else interested in this trip? We'd love to put together a Ranger convoy. If anyone coming to the NCR has already taken this trip, we'd love to chat with you about it. Where should we put in, store the truck and trailer? etc.

Gregg and Kathy
Santolina, R25SC
 
Hi Gregg and Kathy: We are up to 18 boats that have asked to be put on follow up posts/emails so far regarding the NCR. I'm waiting for some info regarding marina dock prices, catering, etc before making another post but we are locked in for the August 7-9 Rendezvous. Regarding your interest in the Trent Severn, Lisa and I have done this and highly recommend it, we'd be glad to talk about it in August or you could PM me with your questions. Hope you're having a good winter.

Jim
 
Even thou it's snowing out in most of the U.S. and Canada the summer boating season will be here sooner then you think, I sure hope so. We've been working on the details of next summers Ranger Tug/Cutwater Rendezvous so we wanted to give an update for everyone.

The dates are August 7-9, 2014, to be held in Little Current, Ontario in the North Channel. We've made arrangements for dockage with the Little Current Town Docks. The dockage rate is $1.75 per foot, including water and electric however they're offering a pay for 2 nights get the third night free if we have 15 or more boats.....we currently have 17 that have expressed an interest in attending. Marina reservation details, who to call, etc., do not need to be made until spring time. We'll keep you posted.

The marina is providing their Pavilion for our potlucks, happy hours and catered meals of which we are working on the details. Jeff Messmer has indicated there will be someone from the factory in attendance to support our event as well as Brent Reed of Reed Yacht Sales will be participating and be a sponsor.

If you have an interest in being added to the growing list of lucky folks who will experience the wonders of Ontario's North Channel next summer and attend this Rendezvous you can respond to this forum thread of P.M. a message to me. More details to follow after the first of the year.
 
Jim, that's a great choice. All of the 2012 and 2013 reviews of the Little Current town docks on Active Captain rate them as either 4 or 5 stars. We haven't been there since 2005 but when we were, the location was perfect for going to Baie Fine, Killarney, and plenty of beautiful spots to explore.

Have you received any information from them on launch ramps? Also wonder about secure storage for our trucks and trailers? Having gone through the great trailer theft of 2013, this fall I've become somewhat hyper cautious about where I leave stuff :cry:

Thanks for setting this up. We're definitely on board!
 
Hi Jeff and Deb:

We do have you on the list. Regarding launching and storage I have two choices for you at this time. If trailering your boat up I-75 in Michigan and thru Sault Ste Marie into Canada you'll head east. In Spanish (Spanish Municipal Marina 705-844-1077), and a nice day cruise to Little Current, they have a nice launch ramp and an unsecure gravel parking lot. We've used this one before and found it to be very suitable. If one prefers to start and end their North Channel cruise from Little Current I was told by Annie on Gentle Lady that Spider Bay Marina (705-3683148) has a launch ramp. You'd need to check with them about storing and security, as we've not used them before. The launch ramp at Spider Bay is one long block from downtown Little Current and where we will be docked.
 
Hi Jim. Have been keeping up with your thread regarding the North Channel Rendezvous and would very much like to attend; however, Judy and I are right in the middle of planning a trip back to our home of many years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska. We are trying to firm up dates in either August or September with two other families to spend about three weeks up there. Our long peg right now is finding a vessel heading south for the return trip. Please add us to the list as 50-50 on attending the rendezvous. I should be able to give you a definite yes or no by sometime in January. I was looking into a little time in the 1000 Islands region during the summer, but this would be a lot more fun. I will PM you with our e-mail, etc.
Best regards,
Mike
 
Hi Mike:

I've added Just Dreamin' to the NCR as a 50/50 and hope you're able to balance everything out and be able to attend.
 
So it's 9:15 am, 17 F and I need to go out and fire up the snow-blower. But before I do, I've been kicking around our plans for the August North Channel Rendezvous. We're planning on getting to the area sometime before the rendezvous starts and revisiting some spots we haven't been to since 2006.

In the past we've been in larger and faster boats than our R-25. We'd like to trailer to Tobermory and put in there. Then we would like to make the 50 mile run from Tobermory to Beaverstone Bay. In our other boats that was a 2 1/2 hour trip. In our R-25 we expect it to take about 5 hours at 10 knots. It's across Georgian Bay and the only land enroute is Lonely Island. It doesn't really offer any protection if you need to get off the lake.

Another option is to go North from Tobermory toward Killarney and at that point either go into Killarney or enter Collins Inlet to head toward Mill Lake and Beaverstone Bay. That route is also about 50 miles but has some protection from west wind with the Manitoulin Island land mass. Club Island and Squaw Island both offer protected anchorage about every 20 miles although from what I read Squaw Island's natural harbor is tricky to get into.

We've also never made a run in our R-25 more than 3 hours in duration. Curious about any considerations we should have as to 5 or 6 hours of continuous running.

Finally, if we leave our truck and trailer in Tobermory, we have to get back there from Little Current. That's a little over 60 miles or 6 hours.

We also have the option of getting to Tobermory and if the weather doesn't seem favorable for cruising from there, we can put the truck and boat on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry and drive from South Baymouth to Little Current to launch for the rendezvous.

The reason for posting my rambling thought process is to ask if any other Tugnuts have cruised these routes in a R-25, R-27, or something similar and at the speeds we expect to run. Any and all input is welcome. After all it's only 200 days untl August 7th!
 
😀 Regarding Spider Bay Marina: it is a very short walk or dinghy ride to Little Current's wharf B where the North Channel Rendezvous will base. I have thirteen years of basing there in three months of summer cruising each summer. My cars and trailers have never been bothered or damaged. I heard of one stolen van taken by drunk teenager caught within a day and vehicle was undamaged, teen was arrested. I have found Little Current to be very welcoming and safe. It is my summer home.
 
Hi Jeff and Deb:

Although we have not made the run from Tobermory to the North Channel we have cruised the North Channel on our R27 from Spanish (where launched and the ramp is tops) all the way to Collins Inlet and Mill Lake and everywhere in between. In addition we've run Kismet many days in the 8 to 10 hour range and don't think anything of doing so. Any of the choices you mention I would think are doable, weather and time dependent of course.

Regarding the North Channel Rendezvous August 7-9, the plans are in place and I've just been waiting for the New Year to settle in before making additional posts to drum up more interest. Here is who I show as having expressed an interest in attending:

1. Randy and Cindy "I Think I Can"
2.Stu and Sue "Emmy Lou"
3.John and Laurie "Andiamo"
4.Mike and Jess "Illusions"
5.Annie "Gentle Lady"
6.Jim and Lisa "Kismet"
7.Jeff and Deb "the Get-Aweigh"
8.Gregg and Kathy "Santolina"
9.Jean and Ken "Puddle Duck"
10.Tom and Pam "Evolve"
11.Dave and Mary "Chiasso"
12.Jay Vorys "????"
13.Jim Walters "??????"
14.John Zoissr "??????"
15.Marvin Trachta "???????"
16.Margaret n Bernie "??????"
17.Mike and Judy "Just Dreamin' "
18.Mark "Irish Mist"

If you name is on this list and there are corrects or I need your boat name please PM me. If you have an interest in attending and your name is not on the list and you'd like to be please respond to this post. In addition to this initial list of 18 boats we'll also have Brent Reed in attendance from Reed Yacht Sales in Michigan and a representative from Ranger Tugs ( yet to be decided) It promises to be a fun event with catered meals, a pot luck, presentations on the North Channel, happy hours and more details to follow as we get closer to spring......so mark your calendars to be in Little Current, North Channel Ontario for August 7-9.

Jim and Lisa
 
UPDATE.....the North Channel Ranger Tug/Cutwater Rendezvous in Little Current Ontario Canada is only 4 months away (August 7-9) and we have good news and updated information. We just received confirmation that Mr. Kenny Marrs from Ranger Tugs fabled Customer Service Dept. will be attending our Rendezvous! In addition Brent Reed from Reed Yacht Sales in Michigan and Ryan Stovold of Lefroy Harbour in Ontario will be sponsors and in attendance. This is important because there help defray's the cost to put such an event on. Because of our sponsors generosity we are able to put this event on for only $60.00 per person. We'll be emailing everyone listed below a registration form in the several weeks, which will also include information relative to dockage at the Little Current Downtown Marina.

The $60 per person includes 3 catered meals by Anchor Inn Hotel, use of the Marina Pavilion for three days for our catered meals, happy hours, pot luck, sponsored Pizza Party, presentations, etc., registration materials and more. Dockage will cost $1.75 per foot per night plus tax and includes electric and water. I'm still negotiating on this for a group concession.

Tentatively we have 25 parties signed up. If your name is not on this list please make a post to this forum or PM me to be added or if you have questions.

1. Randy and Cindy Peterson
2. Stu and Sue Clark
3. John and Laurie Gray
4. Mike and Jess Rizzo
5. Annie Westlund
6. Jim and Lisa Favors
7. Gregg and Kathy Dohner
8.Jean Walker and Ken Harry
9. Tom and Pam Zimmerman
10. Dave and Mary Murray
11. Jay Vorys
12.Jim Walters
13. Brent Reed
14. John Zoissr
15. Marvin Trachta
16. Margaret and Bernie Fielder
17. Mark and Jodi Renshaw
18. Ryan Stovold
19. Bob and Julie Mudge
20. Jim and Jane Stewart
21. James Ranscombe
22. Greg and Cathy ?? please PM me with last name, sorry
23.Dave and Chris Margetts
24. Jack and Lianna Legrow
25. Kenny Marrs
 
Jim and Lisa, thank you for working so hard to make the NCR a success. Never having boated in that part of Canada before, I was doing an online search to determine where Little Current was located. On the northern part of Manitoulin Island, correct? I also noted that the Manitoulin Country Fest is scheduled during the NCR. Presumably that will impact housing for non-boaters coming to the Rendezvous. But on the positive side, we are looking forward to the fest, too.

We plan to arrive about a week early to explore some of the waters and anchorages of the North Channel. I wish we could arrive even earlier, as photos in your blog confirm the beauty of this area. Fortunately, we have a Richardson's Chartbook + Cruising Guide to Lake Huron, which includes Georgian Bay and the North Channel. (It is not current, but land mass and anchorage info should not be affected.) If you or anyone else familiar with these waters have a list of preferred anchorages, we hope you will share your insights. Feel free to PM us with this info, or maybe start a separate thread on this topic.

It is finally starting to warm up here in Texas. Hopefully, you northern boaters are seeing a thaw and can start gearing up to a great summer of cruising.

Regards, Gregg and Kathy Dohrer
Santolina, R25SC
 
Gregg and Kathy:

Some of our favorite anchorages are Covered Portage Cove, just west of Killarney, Haywood Island (to the east of Little Current, Croker Island (to the north and west of Little Current, South Benjamin Island (just to the west of Croker Island), Marianne Cove at the south end of Baie Fine and the Pool at the head waters (north) of Baie Fine just to name a few.

In addition if your plans are to trailer to Little Current, Harbour Vue Marina has a launch ramp and a travel lift. I've inquired about storage for trucks and trailers but I've not heard back from them yet. Their phone number is 705-368-3212.
 
We just received some good news from the Little Current City Marina, where our NC Rendezvous is being held, regarding dockage rates. I had mentioned, in a prior post, that we were negotiating for a special dock rate and here is what we got.....stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night free. The regular rate is $1.75 plus tax per foot per night, so for a 27 footer the one day free dockage savings will be almost enough to cover half the Rendezvous registration fee for a 2 person party. No need to do anything just yet, the North Channel is still iced over, but registration forms will be coming soon. Anyone else not listed on the prior post attendee list who has an interest in attending respond to this post or PM me.
 
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