Cross Canada Trip

[Dave Patstone]

Well I can now say our Ranger R25 has been on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans! We trailered our Ranger to New Brunswick from British Columbia this summer launched it at Saint John and sailed the Saint John river. (I was born and raised there).
We sure got a lot of attention and questions along the way, most people had never heard of a Ranger Tug let alone seen one. We traveled 11,010 Km round trip and the EZLoader trailer performed flawlessly, the rock guard screening is still in perfect condition but the straps holding it are another story, but I do think that could have been considered extreme duty, we had it all, rain, and yes snow and high winds along with some very nice sunny days.
We used the boat as a camper and would stay at RV campgrounds. At one campground we had some people ask to see the boat, they said the office told them you have to go down to the lower level and see the Ark, lol. At one town along the great lakes we stopped for groceries at a supermarket and when we came out there was actually a small crowd around it and questions flowed, I finally got smart and would give them the Ranger website.
Our Tug is now safe and sound in it's slip at the harbour on Kootenay Lake BC.

 

[knotflying]

We did the St. John River last year. A great trip. We even went down the reversing falls! Don't get excited, we did it at slack tide.

 

[Metric Rider]

We live in Quispamsis and have a 2008 R25 (think it is the only resident Ranger Tug in N.B.) ,which I brought home from Maryland last fall Wish I had run into you on the river, we are enjoying our boat and trying to get familiar with her before we go farther afield in the coming years. We had a great trip a couple of weeks ago done through the Reversing Falls and down to St Andrews, Deer Island, Campabello and East Port Mme. The tug is definitely an attention getter wherever you go.

Curious about the rock guard screening, was this an option you added to the trailer and where did you obtain it?

 

[Dave Patstone]

Quispamsis, wow, we launched the boat at the Westfield ferry and I have a sister at Clifton Royal (Carters Point) and I grew up (I use the term very loosely) at Morrisdale.
I purchased my Ranger R25 from Port Boathouse on Vancouver Island and they delivered it to Creston BC in the winter and were concerned about rock chips so they installed the screening and it is bullet proof. The straps chaffed on the trailer frame during our cross Canada trip.
I will grab the info off it tomorrow for you.
Dave

 

[pleeson]

Your Rockgard came from these guys. Steve is great to deal with. Your straps are likely chaffed as a result of an incorrect install by PBH. Same thing happened to me. They are trying to use a trailer bra designed for a smaller boat and trailer. Ask Steve to set you up with their super size bra or whatever they call it. He has just finished designing new hardware to fit our larger trailers and this large bra leaves nothing exposed back to the first axle. Check out his website. He also makes skirting to go under the front of the trailer if you don't want a sweep on the back of your truck.

S.J.Design Inc.
Stephen Jefferies President
Manufacturers of “RockGARD”
products
6053 Lois Street
Powell River, BC
V8A 4T8
www.rockgard.com
rockgard@shaw.ca
office 604-483-9100
cell 1-780-231-4762
FX: 1-780-401-3345

BTW - is there adequate affordable launch and long term parking somewhere north of Creston for truck and trailer if a guy was to do a ten day cruise?

 

[Dave Patstone]

Thanks for the info on the rock guard.
As for the question of launching and parking on Kootenay lake the only decent place on the south end of the lake is Kuskanook Harbour, 24 Km from Creston, very good concrete (a little steep) launch ramp, beautiful new docks. This is where I keep my boat, it is just a harbour no fuel dock. This is where Creston is sadly lacking, there is nothing on the south end of the lake for resident or vacationing boaters which is a shame because it is a beautiful clean lake (100km+ long) with a lot of boat access only sandy beaches and at the right times of the year super fishing (Rainbows to 40lbs.)
There is marine fuel, gas, available at Balfor and farther north on the lake, there is no diesel available anywhere on the lake. The charter boats have their own tanks and will not sell you diesel. My R25SC is the easiest boat I have ever owned to fill from a jerry can and the harbour has great little carts for hauling them to you slip.

 

[pleeson]

Thanks Dave. As long as my tank is full I never have to worry about diesel for a couple of weeks on the water. So, they have some parking available?

 

[Dave Patstone]

Parking is not usually an issue, free parking room for about 20 trucks and trailers, but I have seen it fill up on long weekends then they park along the hwy. not my choice.
If this happens you can always ask at the marina to park there, the harbour master lives on site and is a very pleasant man, his name is Vearl.
It would be nice to see another Ranger tug on the lake, when are you planning this trip, I would be only too happy to meet up if we are around.
I have paper charts for the lake and river but I have not been able to find a chip for this lake anywhere.
Dave
250 428 2662
davepatstone@hotmail.com

 

[Old Salt]

We live in Quispamsis and have a 2008 R25 (think it is the only resident Ranger Tug in N.B.) ,which I brought home from Maryland last fall Wish I had run into you on the river, we are enjoying our boat and trying to get familiar with her before we go farther afield in the coming years. We had a great trip a couple of weeks ago done through the Reversing Falls and down to St Andrews, Deer Island, Campabello and East Port Mme. The tug is definitely an attention getter wherever you go.

Curious about the rock guard screening, was this an option you added to the trailer and where did you obtain it?

I'm from Grand Manan originally and have many happy boyhood memories boating fish from SJ to East Port. I'm now in BC but come back and boat SJ River with my brother in law late Sept early Oct. launch in Quispamsis or Westfield. Will watch for Lit Toot !

 

[Metric Rider]

I lived on Grand Manan for a few years when I was a kid. My dad was pastor of the Baptist Churches in Grand Harbour and Seal Cove, we lived in Grand Harbour

 

[Old Salt]

Small World!!!
I grew up in Seal Cove Church. My brother Claude is still there. Bill died a few years ago. What years were you there?
I graduated in 1959. Went to Gordon College and Divinity School. Pastored Hillcrest in West SJ from 1971-78.
Layne Daggett
ldaggett"at"shaw.ca

 

[1Harrison]

Very small world. In the late 70's and early 80's while we were living in RI, we had a work group who took a white canon trips each year. The first time we flew into Baker Lake on a Beaver Float plain. Every time I see one and there are many here in the Northwest it gives me great memories. From Baker lake to our take out it was 114 miles just below the convergence with the Alligash River. Over years we eventually did most of the Saint John and it's contributories along with the Machias River which are most of the Maine Canadian Boarder. Like Puget Sound this area is a gift that needs to be shared.

 

[Steadfast]

Hello friends and neighbors to the north! Excuse me if I ask ignorant or naive questions. We are very new to boating, will take possession of our 25SC this summer, and plan to cruise locally (New Hampshire coast and vicinity) for the next year or two. Then I will join my husband in retirement and we hope to Have gained enough experience (and have enough time) to take longer trips.

We will want to cruise the Maritime provinces and wondering whether a small craft can safely navigate the Bay of Fundy with its famous tides? I put "Fundy" in as a search term on tugnuts and this is where it took me. Any and all advice regarding a trip through the Maritimes and perhaps the St.Lawrence greatly appreciated! I will also check it the St. John based on comments I saw here.

thanks in advance...

 

[bakerboat]

Steadfast,

Our travels on the coast of Maine have taken us as far as Roque Island. As wonderful trip but our plans to go to St. Johns are to trailer and launch 'inside' the falls to avoid the pot buoys, fog and tides. Not that it's not doable by water but time and avoiding all that other stuff makes sense to us. We have a number of friends who have gone there and say it's a great destination.

In our previous life we had a 40' catamaran and traveled for three summers in the Maritimes. First year as far a Lunenberg, the next year up to the Bras D'or Lakes and the third year to the south coast of Newfoundland. If you are adventurous enough, it's a trip not to be missed. It's not as grand a scenery as the PNW but it will make your heart skip a bit. You are definitely on your own but we feel comfortable enough to plan on going back in our R27.

Please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to share our experiences with you.

 

[Old Salt]

I grew up as the son and grandson of Grand Manan commercial fishermen. Grand Manan is an island, off the coast of Maine and in the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. Although I do not own a Ranger tug, I joined Tugnuts because of my interest in and attraction to the Rangers, and the way they trigger happy memories of the boats I loved.
With a decent respect for the weather and tide conditions you would have no difficulty negotiating the area. West Quoddy Head (near Lubec, Maine) is the Eastern most point of the US and Grand Manan is 9 miles away across the Grand Manan Channel. Lubec is connected by bridge to the second largest Fundy Island, Campbello Island which also Like Grand Manan is part of New Brunswick Canada. Campbello is noted for being the summer home of President Rosevelt.
If you are trailering your R-25, you may want to cross into New Brunswick by land at Saint Stephen, NB.
You will find the locals very helpful and hospitable and I can put you in touch with local lobster fishermen if you are interested.
Generally speaking there tends to be less fog in August than July. The lobster fishery is closed during the Summer months in the Canadian waters of the Bay of Fundy, so you don't have to worry about those pots, ("traps") during the time you will probably visiting. Smooth seas and fair tides!