Alaska 2022?

E

Ernie

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 28, 2017
Messages
306
Fluid Motion Model
C-242 C
Vessel Name
Daisy
It’s finally time for me to get serious about cruising as far as Alaska, from Seattle.
I’m moving from an R23 to an R31 this fall, and I think I can get her ready by summer 2022. I’ll be gathering advice and resources over the next several months . I would seriously consider joining others for this trip, and if you’re also beginning to plan please tag me in.
Also wondering if you can recommend the options for doing this trip.
Post here or message me
ernieseevers@mac.com
 
I'll follow this as well as we are planning on the same.
 
Ernie,

I sent you a spreadsheet itinerary of our 2019 trip via email. I hope it is helpful.

Curt
 
Slowboat is a good resource. They offer guided flotillas, cruise consultations, and Alaska-centric boat audits. Great, experienced team. Sam Landsman has done a number of Cruising North seminars for Fluid Motion.
 
Please put me on the list for this trip...
 
I just returned a few days ago from a trip to Alaska in our R27OB, 18 days 2600 miles, 151 engine hours, from Birch Bay, WA to Glacier Bay. I'll be making a presentation about the trip at the Rendezvous on Saturday morning. Obviously a different trip than what one would make in your boat but my passenger on the northbound leg of that trip is a R31 owner and he'll be there at the Rendezvous as well and can talk about his perspective. BTW, I agree, Slowboat is awesome, I'm sure I made this trip at least half a dozen times from my office watching their videos and reading their blog before actually going there.
 
We motored to Haines from Des Moines last summer (June 7 - July 22) in our R25.

The advice on using Slowboat is solid. There are several itineraries on their website and key advice on the various "gates" (Strait of Georgia, Dent/Yuculta Rapids, Queen Charlotte Strait and Dixon Entrance).

We had the benefit of Neap tides which made the transit through the rapids a "piece of cake".

Other resources that are recommended include the current edition of Ports and Passes, Waggoner Cruising guide, Exploring Southeast Alaska, North Coast and South Coast of BC (three book set by Douglas) and the Navionics app on your smartphone/tablet.

Cell coverage is spotty and be certain to verify that your data coverage includes Canada. We used the Garmin InReach with the subscription to access weather when cell coverage was lost. This was occasionally frustrating as the Garmin wouldn't consistently report the marine forecast.

Getting weather and seas information was frustrating. We learned to collect as much information as possible when we were within cell coverage. Unfortunately this sometimes resulted in using long term forecasts that were not longer valid for the actual conditions.

A good tool box and spare parts are strongly recommended. For our 2013 diesel this included fuel filters, oil filter, belts and impeller in addition to the fluids. We had a alternator tensioner pulley failure that kept us in Ketchikan longer than planned. Alaska Airlines Gold Streak membership (recommended) saved the day by allowing us to expedite shipping of the replacement part.

In closing I would add that we had the advantage of traveling during the year of Covid which meant that there were no issues getting moorage. We may have been the first and last vessel to travel through BC without restrictions (until we reached the north side of the Queen Charlotte Strait where the Indian ports were closed to all travelers, including the RCMP). Only Shearwater and Prince Rupert were open. Be sure to hit the hot springs in this part of BC.

Safe travels and don't forget to get your sport fishing licenses for Canada and Alaska.
 
Thanks for all the good info
 
We'd like to join a flotilla to AK and can be very flexible on dates. It doesn't appear that SlowBoat is planning anything for this year yet. So if you are going to organize something, we'd love to be including in your planning. We would have our boat shipped to WA from Portland which was in our plans anyway. We've done the San Juans a few times and the Gulf Islands once (pre-covid days). And did a good portion of the loop (interocoastal to Erie Canal). But we have a brand new Cutwater 30 waiting for an adventure.
 
AKranger":374x4526 said:
Getting weather and seas information was frustrating. We learned to collect as much information as possible when we were within cell coverage. Unfortunately this sometimes resulted in using long term forecasts that were not longer valid for the actual conditions.
Click to expand...

I've heard VHF weather band is good for this, but mostly from sailors whose antennas are at the top of a 60' mast -- and I doubt even then there is coverage all the way up. Of course, many cruising sailors invest in an SSB for this kind of trip (I'm surprised more tug owners don't).

However, given the expense of the SSB the much cheaper/easier option is a cheap software defined radio (SDR) USB dongle (under $100 plus a $50-100 antenna) and some relatively straightforward software configuration on a laptop. I believe there are many how-tos online; I've spoken with more than a few boaters who have done this as a cheaper alternative to SSB. This will let you receive what is basically a weather fax, but also the absolute *coolest* part of doing this is that you can actually receive weather satellite *images* to your laptop wherever you are in the world, even hundreds of miles offshore.

ETA: Did a bit more research and found these links (among many others):
https://www.weather.gov/marine/uscg_broadcasts
https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/SITOR-B
https://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad-ip ... iling.html
https://www.blackcatsystems.com/softwar ... r_fax.html
 
On my trip to Alaska last summer, I used a Garmin Inreach satellite device to send and receive texts. When we were not in cell phone coverage this was a useful way to get weather advice from home as my wife would have our location and planned itinerary and could research the current and forecast conditions and send me a synopsis. This device updates your location every 10 minutes or so and posts the results on a map that friends and family and emergency contacts can see on the Garmin website.
 
FlyMeAway said:
AKranger said:
Getting weather and seas information was frustrating. We learned to collect as much information as possible when we were within cell coverage. Unfortunately this sometimes resulted in using long term forecasts that were not longer valid for the actual conditions.
Click to expand...

I've heard VHF weather band is good for this, but mostly from sailors whose antennas are at the top of a 60' mast -- and I doubt even then there is coverage all the way up. Of course, many cruising sailors invest in an SSB for this kind of trip (I'm surprised more tug owners don't).
Click to expand...


In many summers wandering the Inside Passage, we have not found very many places in BC or SE AK where VHF weather radio could not be received. These were mostly up in a narrow inlet with tall surrounding terrain. There were some more where the reception quality was poor, sometimes fading in and out, forcing us to listen longer to get what we needed. But for the most part, VHF WX was available.

There are surprisingly many areas where AT&T cell service is available (more in more recent years) and some in SE AK where Verizon is not. With cell service, we can get the more detailed pinpoint forecasts from Windy.com and Predictwind.com

Between the two, WX info is usually available.
 
Is it worth having a Zoom session among boaters who are interested in going to/from Alaska this summer?
There is lots to discuss/inquire about, and plenty of interest. Not suggesting we all make this trip together but start to develop some needed info tasks that we all can benefit from, regardless if/when we make such a trip.
 
Johnnie,
I just got our new 31S, and I’m starting to “plan” for the coming season. I had hoped we would be closer to normal conditions for travel this year than is the case. I’m reverting to wait and enjoy the opportunities that we will have as the season arrives. I’ve put a lot of time into planning a couple big adventures that had to be scuttled over the past two years, and now I’ll lower my sights again and hope for some good cruising time in BC, as far as I can go by seizing the right weather and covid climate to get out there . Hoping to get up to Princess Louisa via Vancouver, early maybe May, and if that works out, I’ll push further north to Broughtons on a second voyage later in the summer.
I like your idea of a zoom conference. It could be a good way to connect with potential fellow travelers. Message me if you’d like to do that, I could host with my account
 
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