Requested Summary

Last week I received a PM at C-Brats: "We live in Blaine, and hope that, when you have time, you might return to your British Columbia posting and describe your experience in crossing the mouth of the Fraser River enroute to False Creek. We have been strongly warned against trying it in a a smallish cruiser like the C-Dorry 25."
I had to go back to my blogs for those couple of days to jog my memory, and can vaguely remember the area now. There were not a lot of good anchorages on the Fraser River from what I remember. But I also don't remember being in any rough water during those days. I believe there were some large ships and barges in the area, but nothing that made it an area I felt challenged. During our two months along the BC coast, we did encounter a lot of windy days (15-25 kts) and rough seas (2-3' and at times maybe some 4 and 5'). The three of us all have extensive experience in the Great Lakes, where short, square waves seem to be the norm. We also have a lot of river experience with currents, and some ocean coastal experience. And we all are experienced with our boats and familiar with what they can handle! That being said, there were a number of days we pressed on while trawlers twice our size were still waiting it out in protected bays for calmer winds and seas. A schedule is the worse thing you can have on a personal boat cruise. We could have just as easily waited for better seas, but wanted to continue on and were comfortable with our decision to do so. I do think it's important to know not only what your boat is capable of, but what you yourself are capable of. What's your experience and knowledge level, and your own comfort level. We each are responsible for our own boat and crew, and even when cruising with a group, still need to make your own decisions rather than just blindly following. I trust Bill and Mike as I have cruised with them a number of times before, but still made some of my own individual decisions based on my own comfort levels. To directly answer the comment that a 25' boat is not recommended for such a trip, I'd say horse poop. lol. I've taken my earlier CD-22 up the Inside Passage of Alaska, and know of many that take those size boats off the coast fishing or cruising. Anyway, hope this is the information you were looking for. ColbyRead more