Tide and Current Predictions



Raymarine Navigation System




 

PC Coastal Explorer Navigation Software

During our travels north of Vancouver Island, we have noticed that there is a discrepancy between the different sources that provide tide level predictions and current flow predictions for the northern waters of British Columbia.  We use three different sources to obtain tide and current predictions:  1) our Raymarine Navigation System, which has built-in tide level and current flow predictions;  2) our Personal Computer Coastal Explorer Navigation software; and  3) the printed tables issued by Fisheries and Oceans of Canada.  All three sources show different prediction times which are off by an hour or more.  After some investigation, we discovered the following:  1) the built-in predictions for the Raymarine equipment is configured with the incorrect off-set from Greenwich Mean Time so it has an error of 1 hour too early;  2) the Coastal Explorer PC software uses Alaska based reference stations (Alaska time zone) for its calculations so predictions are 1 hour later than they should be;  3) the government printed Fisheries & Oceans Tables are extremely limited in the number of locations that provide predictions.  To confirm his speculation and research, Leonard called the Coastal Explorer software service department regarding the time discrepancy for predictions in northern B.C. waters.  He was told that they are aware of the Alaska time zone issue for the northern B.C. waters and are making corrections to the PC software.  As it stands, we adjust the Coastal Explorer predictions by one hour, knowing that it is one hour late; and adjust the Raymarine prediction, knowing that it is one hour too early; and then cross-reference with the government Printed Tables for comparison.  Sometimes boating is a little more complicated than it first appears.



Government Printed Tide & Current Tables



Oil Change Day



Pumping Out Old Engine Oil



Removing Old Oil Filter



Today we changed the oil for “Got d’ Fever’s” two John Deere engines, a maintenance item to be completed after every 200 to 250 hours of motoring.  We left our moorage space and motored to the fuel dock to take on more fuel and to run the engines, making the oil more fluid and easier to change.  We headed back to our moorage spot and began the oil change process.  We first pumped the old oil out, filling empty oil jugs that we had on hand.  We then removed the old oil filter from the engine capturing it in a plastic bag.  Using the top of a milk jug for a funnel, we poured new oil into the engine; and because of the large filter size, the filter is pre-filled with new oil.  After installing the new oil filter, we ran the engine to check for any leaks and to ensure the correct level of oil for normal operation.  We then repeated the process for the port side engine.  Each engine takes three gallons of oil!  Of course we’re left with the old oil that needs to be disposed of properly.  In this case, the Prince Rupert fuel dock accepts old oil for recycling.  A similar process is used to change the oil in the Genset (a motor that generates AC electrical power) but uses only one gallon of oil.  Other projects include filling all the house batteries with distilled water every 2 to 4 weeks and cleaning out the engine cooling water "sea strainers" from time to time.  Java helps out too, she stands watch as supervisor and drops her toy into the engine room.



Adding New Engine Oil



Pre-Filling Oil Filter



New Oil Filter Installed - Date & Engine Hrs. Noted



Java our Supervisor at Play



Prince Rupert – Major Seaport




Prince Rupert

 







Coal Shipping Terminal



Container Shipping Terminal



After visiting the North Pacific Cannery Museum, we motored to Prince Rupert for moorage and welcomed the opportunity to relax, re-stock the galley, and make contact with family and friends.  Of course there was the all important window shopping to be done!  We went out to dinner to celebrate our arrival at Prince Rupert, a big mile stone of the journey.  Interestingly, Prince Rupert is a major seaport in competition with Vancouver and Puget Sound; we passed several container ships while entering the port and four container ships were anchored just off the docks where we had tied up.  Prince Rupert is closer to Asia than any other west coast port and the CN Rail owns tracks to Memphis Tennessee, extending opportunities to ship coal, grain, and lumber.  The following day brought a parade of boats and Native canoes that passed directly in front of our windows, great entertainment while doing the laundry and catching up on other business.  Come to find out, it was Prince Rupert's seafair weekend.



Prince Rupert



Seafair Participants



North Pacific Cannery Museum

North Pacific Cannery Museum



North Pacific Cannery Community Buildings

Left Kumealon Is. Cove at 8:15 in the morning and arrived in Inverness Passage at the North Pacific Cannery Museum dock near Prince Rupert.  We had a fascinating tour of the cannery from our guide “Spider” (Native people learned how to knit nets by observing the spider).  This oldest standing cannery on the West Coast was in operation from 1889 to 1968.  Before mechanized equipment and automated machinery, the cans were made by hand – pieces of tin were cut and shaped then the seam and bottom were soldered on and the cans filled with fish, then the lid soldered on.  The cans were heated to expand the air, a hole was punched in the top to let the air out and the hole closed with solder.  The cans were then cooked for 90 minutes.  When automated machinery came about (the politically incorrect term “Iron Chink”), many people were out of work.  The cannery employed Chinese, Japanese, Natives, and Europeans, who all had separate housing facilities as well as social events.  We toured the mess hall, the company store, office, rows of housing, toured the net shed, and the processing plant housing various equipment.  The 45 foot guest dock is a convenient way for boaters to visit the cannery but we would recommend taking the bus from Prince Rupert instead.  The dock is exposed to extreme current from the Skeena River sweeping trees, limbs, and debris down Inverness Passage that collects around and underneath the boat!  We had to dig out large tree limbs that were wedged under the V-Strut near the prop before departing as not to cause damage to our boat.  One large tree limb got hung up in front of the dock extending in front of our boat acting like a dam which helped protect us from some of the debris.  In addition to the debris, the strong current turned the propellers, spinning the shafts.  It is our understanding that allowing the shafts to spin over a period of time without the engines running might damage the transmission and the “dripless shaft seals.”  To prevent potential damage, we placed boards propped against the shafts to stop them from spinning while we toured the cannery.  Luckily with some preventative measures and clearing debris out of the water, we didn’t sustain any damage.



Early Mechanical Processing



Automated Canning Process










Log Jam Around Boat



A Tight Squeeze



Approaching Ferry



Passing Port to Port



We continued our run up “The Ditch” (Grenville Channel) after lunch at Lowe Inlet.  We had current running with us which brought our speed up to 10.1 knots.  B.C. Ferries as well as pleasure boats transit Grenville Channel so it can get busy along this main waterway.  As we approached the narrowest section of the Channel, we saw a ferry coming towards us.  We passed port to port within close proximity – a tight squeeze relative to normal distances.  The big rollers created from the ferry’s wake added to the excitement and even Java perked up when we suddenly rocked up and down.  The day was turning into evening and we had dinner while underway, we finally arrived at Kumealon Is. Cove at 19:30 and anchored for the night.



Java on Bow Wow Watch



Kumealon Bay Anchorage



“The Ditch”



Anchorage in Lowe Inlet



Comfortable Cabin



Dept. of Fisheries Cabin



We left Hartley Bay in the morning to start the long 45 mile run through Grenville Channel, referred to as “The Ditch,” an apt nickname for this narrow, straight waterway with mountains on both sides.  We stopped along the Channel at Lowe Inlet in Nettle Basin at 12:35pm for lunch and anchored in front of Verney Falls that tumbles out of Lowe Lake.  We saw a moose feeding along the shore and got out the kayaks for a closer look but he skedaddled into the bush before we reached him.  We pulled the kayaks up on shore and walked to a Dept. of Fisheries cabin with a sliding lock on the front door; the public is welcome to use the cabin which has furnishings, basic kitchen wares, and a VHF radio for emergencies.  We continued around the bay with our kayaks approaching close to the falls.  On the north shore is an ancient fish weir -- rocks piled like a dam along the shore to trap fish when the tide rises and then falls – an early Native fishing technique.  We also paddled to the ruins of a wharf, pilings left from a mill or cannery perhaps.  We departed Nettle Basin in Lowe Inlet at 16:25 to resume our run up Grenville Channel with the advantage of the current running with us.



Ruins of an old Wharf



Ancient Fishing Weir



A Village without Cars



Village of Hartley Bay

Departed Europa Bay in Gardner Canal and transited Verney Passage to Wright Sound and entered Hartley Bay for overnight moorage.  The fascinating Native village of Hartley Bay is a great place to visit.  There are no roads or vehicles in town except for a few ATV’s.  The village is connected by substantial boardwalks that lead to each home as well as to the school, the Band office, church, and community center.  The boardwalks are even stubbed out for new home sites.  The down side – no shopping!  For supplies and groceries locals ride the ferry to Prince Rupert, an 80 mile journey one way.  The houses in Hartley Bay are well kept and the boardwalks are well maintained, an above average Native village.  Even though it was raining, we enjoyed walking through the community and touring the local fish hatchery.  Also hiked a boardwalk trail through the forest along the creek where we discovered the local swimming hole.

Village Boardwalks



Village Boardwalks



Boardwalk Forest Trail



Local Swimming Hole