Chatterbox falls

[rjohnson58]

Hi to the group,
My wife and I have a 2014 R31 that we have cruised around the San Juans, Gulf Islands, up to Desolation Sound once and all around the Puget Sound. We would love to go to Chatterbox Falls, but are a little hesitant to go that far without having someone else along as back up in case something happens. If anyone else is in the same boat as we are, we would love to hear from you and maybe we can travel up there together. Our summer schedule is pretty open, but we were thinking sometime in June, July, or August.
If interested, my email is rjohnson58@msn.com
Thanks,
Rick and Becky
R & R

 

[Spinner]

Princess Louisa Inlet (Chatterbox Falls) is a great destination! If you have cruised up to Desolation Sound, PL is no more challenging. Grab your copy of the Waggoner Guide and follow its advice regarding the timing of slack at Malibu Rapids - do not use one of the online sources (they are wrong).

Once past the short rapids, the whole inlet is a no- wake zone, which is great because you can spend more time enjoying the scenery 🙂

There is no cell or radio transmission possible in the inlet,but the resident ranger has a satellite connection and the nice folks at Malibu Camp have communications. Otherwise, bring along a satellite device such as a Delorme or Spot. They work fine!

Boats come and go on a daily basis from the inlet, so you can usually find space at the dock....

 

[knotflying]

Don't be intimidated. It is just like any other cruising destination. Just time getting through Malibu Rapids properly. You have about a good 30 minute window on either side of slack. There will be plenty of boats transitioning during that time so you won't be alone. I carried the tides and currents book and used it quite often in the PNW. It was spot on with information. Pick your time and set the rapids as your waypoint then you can either slow down or go faster to arrive on time. There will be plenty of boats transitioning the area so you won't be alone going or coming. It was a wonderful cruise and we are glad we did it.

 

[20dauntless]

In summer you won't be alone. I just visited last week, and even in the middle of winter there were people working at Malibu Camp and a few water taxis running up and down Inlet. No other cruising boats, though.

Double check Malibu Rapids slack with either the CHS tables or Ports and Passes. The electronic predictions are sometimes wrong. Sometimes (like last week) the rapid is slow moving for hours at a time due to small tidal exchanges.

If you have time, stay a night at Egmont and hike out to Skookumchuck when it's running. You'll gain appreciation for the power of tidal rapids.

The scenery is magnificent. Enjoy!

 

[Scuffy]

The one thing the Malibu Rapids do is bunch up the boats. If you can catch on early tide in you can usually find space of the dock. Lots of radio traffic about Malibu Rapids as you get closer. Faster boats can go through easier in non slack situations. If the 8 mph sailboats are going through I would not think you would have any trouble. I would recommend the Egmont town dock before and after as the Back Eddy Resort Marina is kind of used up and with wind and tidal flow can be challenging getting docked there.. Nice store at the Egmont Public dock and laundry and showers are decent. Plus it's pretty cheap to stay there.

 

[Red Raven]

Hi Rick and Becky,

We are planning to go up to Chatterbox this summer. No details on when yet. We have an R27 but I don't think that should matter. We'd be happy to meet up somewhere up there if our schedules sync up.

 

[1Harrison]

Hi Rick,

At this time we have 5 Rangers (3 Port Ludlow, 1 Port Townsend, and 1 Whidbey Island) tentatively talking about going to the Poets Cove Gathering (usually first weekend in June) then continuing on to Chamainus, Pender Harbor, and then to Princess Louisa. From there some may break off and return and some will continue on to the Broughtons. This is great timing as the water flow at Chaterbox reseeds by the end of June. I believe you would be more than welcome to join our flotilla.

John & Lois
Lola B

 

[CPSS]

Hi Rick and Betty, we came from porpise bay through the skookumchuck rapids at slack tide in early April 8 and made our way to chatterbox falls.
Watch your tide book andradio before you ented and it is easy.
We only had Tug-Alishus a month and made the trip.
It is nerve racking the first to waiting for the rapids . Just be patent.