Our boat is a 32 foot aluminium landing craft, built locally specifically to deal with the narrow entrance to Telegraph Cove. The boat will accommodate eight folks and their paddling gear, group gear and accessories. We prefer to service groups and families with their own kayaks and gear. We work within the lands of the native groups of the area and BC Parks for access to rustic camping areas that were established by touring companies back in the 1980's. Our boat is a landcraft that provides drop-offs to destinations with beach access in South and North Broughtons, Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound. We prefer to do drop-offs and pick-ups on rising tides at designated beaches that have worked for us over the past twenty plus years of operation.
Our boat services a number of touring groups in the area and supports our own tours on Monday through Thursday on select weeks. The rest of the time we offer our services to groups and families who qualify for our transport and rental services. For 2021 we will be taking a limited amount of transports and rental booking that fit into an already tight schedule. Best to contact us as soon as you can by phone or email. We expect to confirm early booking by March 1st for the summer of 2021. Early booking helps us ensure that we have the kayaks, gear and transport you want for the dates you requested. And we can work out an kinks or changes prior to departure.
***Planning Service....If you want assistance or guidance with planning the paddling and navigating part of your trip...Larry Roy offers a one on one series of planning sessions for you to work through. It is a sequence of steps to prepare for your trip in the waters of the Broughton Archipelago, Blackfish Sound, Knight Inlet, Johnstone Strait and the inlets off Queen Charlotte Sound up to Cape Caution.
The breakdown as to what is provided in this planning service consists of three to four emails of homework to guide you through planning, a few phone calls during this process is also included and final personal session with you and all members of your group onboard the shuttle boat the day you begin your trip. Information on VHF, cell phone service, emergency contacts and response times are covered. Basic to this service is information on camp locations, fresh water access or drop-offs, focus on currents and tides in the immediate area you are paddling through (with the reality of an early morning start), a thorough look at the weather trends and day to day changing conditions (foggy morning, sunny afternoon with wind and cooling yet calming nights).
On the day our departure, we will follow your route is reverse as will do in your kayaks. This answers most of the questions you have though about before the trip and gives an era of confidence to the group members. Your drop off is at a suitable location for you and group to spend the night and start you trip. Often folks think that they know the area from maps and have heard about camps.....however, these camps are used during the summer by rogue and commercial groups (a schedule we keep on hand). Conflicts arise when one tent is put at these sites and folks think that they will not have to share the site. Our service provide alternate locations that are not known to most who have never paddled these water numerous times.
Transport with Rentals....We ONLY offer kayak rentals to folks who book our transport services. We require that the leaders of your trip have a certification for paddling, that someone in the group has a recent first aid certification and that you MUST bring the chart # 3645 with you to do your trip. This ensures our liability for rentals and care of the kayaks. We require a booking fee of $100 per kayak and $50 per passenger for all transactions. You are responsible for paying for launches fee, docking fee and parking fees in Telegraph Cove. We operate out of Port McNeill or Alder Bay Resort now and in the future. If we leave from Port McNeill their are no fees that you have to cover. Fuel Surcharges are a possibility this coming summer....All transport and rental fees must be paid in full before we leave the dock. Early season quotes might change due to our expenses as the summer progresses. Please remember that a initial quote will change if you add to your group or bring your own kayaks.
*** Groups Level of Experience… We are looking for a track record of recent experience paddling on fresh or salt water in canoes or kayaks. Tell us how recent you have been actively paddling in waters like the ones you will encounter on a trip into Johnstone Strait or the Broughtons.. If you haven’t been paddling for a few years we encourage you to take a refresher course, a guided tour or get out on the water with a friend before you venture into our neck of the woods. We are looking for recent experience on water, CURRENT Paddle Canada Certification, BCU Certification, USA-ACA Certification or other recent training courses.
*** Checking Weather......The weather patterns of Johnstone Strait and the Broughtons are variable but predictable.. This merits a healthy respect every day you plan to venture out on the water. Planning, caution and preparation are the essentials to a positive paddling experience on the waters of North Vancouver Island. We require you to have multiple devices to check weather be ready to alter your trip plans if the weather changes for the worst..
***Rental Agreement..... As part of your rental agreement we require you to document your canoeing or sea kayaking experience. We will email you three’ documents. You will need to read, understand and sign these documents before we can confirm your rental/transport/planning booking. Within your group, multiple folks should have taken a recent course in kayak rescues and navigation. We suggest that you take an introduction sea kayak course at a local outfiitters or if you are in Canada take a Paddle Canada Course. Regardless. our waters are challenging, if possible get out on the water before you come to the North Island.
***Care of Kayaks..... Our kayaks are used many times during the summer.....so we ask that you treat the kayaks like your own! Dragging loaded kayaks up beaches at low tide have cause a great deal of damage over the many years we have operated. This has cost us a great deal of time and money....and more than that it has compromised our service to folks who expect kayaks that are not in disrepair. Kayaks must be tied up above the high tide each night of your trip. Kayaks must be carried down the rocky beaches at low tide. Damage to kayaks will result in us keep all or part of your damage deposit. Thus, you might understand why we are selective with who we transport and who rents our kayaks.
***Sail Plan.....Your Planned Route… We will also email you a ‘Sail Plan’ document. We require you to supply us with your planned route. We consider this plan essential for the success of any sea kayaking trip in Johnstone Strait, Nigel Group, Blackfish Sound or the Broughton Archipelago. We see this plan as a valuable safety measure for you and it helps us reach you during your trip if necessary. In the past this has worked well for both parties. Upon picking up your rentals we will update you on weather and check with you on your Sail Plan.
***Campsites & Water Drops..... Camping sites are few and are heavily used during the summer (mid July - late August) Then is no reservations on camping areas. The exception are commercial opertator, who pay for permits to use the land and beaches in the Broughtons and Johnstone Strait. Alternate sites are rustic, favourite sites are taken on a first come first service basis. If the summer is dry....as it has been the last three years....we do water drops for you if you bring the containers with you for your trip. There is no water sources in the Broughtons that are good drinking water.
TCkayaks requires that you come equipped with the following devices for your trip.
That you and members of your group to have the following items with you and know how to use them. Get the chart and laminate it into sections for your trip. The common chart for the area is CHART #3546. Note: Other maps are not effective for navigational purposes. TCSKC also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the area via Google Earth and other applications before coming to the North Island.
Two/Three Communication Devices: A VHF radio, cell phone, satellite phone or SPOT that is registered with the carrier for this area. Bring extra batteries, the charger for you cell phone (to charge up your cell phone just prior to departure). Rogers offers service in Johnstone Strait but there is no service in Broughton. You should be properly trained in use of the communication devices and have an understanding of the protocol to call for assistance over the VHF radio.
Signaling Device: Mirror, horn or strobe light and an ability to demonstrate distress signaling techniques. And ask us for the information you need for a distress call out. Coast Guard response is from Sonitula and takes 30-40 minutes.
Updated First Aid Kit, FA Certs and Practice: Having a history with taking wilderness first aid courses and having a place to practice it are essential backups to a successful paddling trip. We endorse agencies in BC and Alberta that provide these services. We strongly suggest that you have more than one person in the group with hands on experience. Our planning service will give you and local contacts and response times for help or assistance. Our transport boat and local operators can respond to assisting groups, as well as local summer coastguard operating out of Sontula and Malcom Island during the summer months.
Please Note: Coastguard is usually located in Port Hardy Harbour. Response time is 35-55 minutes in good weather... For the summer months from May to the beginning of September, one summer crew is stationed out of Sontula on Malcom Island.
Overall, we reserve that right to hold the line on not overloading the area or the sites for camping. NO FACILITIES are provided by agencies as far as water or bathrooms.be updating some facilities in the area for 2021....keep checking back with us throughout the summer for news of this activity... In consulation with local native bands and BC Parks we suggest that you learn to use the policy of other noteworthy Parks....carry it in and take it out with you when you leave.
Sea Kayak guided tours or group transportation to select locations in north Vancouver Island's Broughton Archipelago, Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound.
1-250-756-0094
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