BOATING RESOURCES

TIDES
Knowledge of local tides is especially important for using both the marina and boat ramp.  Low tides make the boat ramp next to impossible to use if launching trailered boats.  Low tides also expose hazards around the marina.  The lowest of tides ground moored boats in portions of the marina.  Therefore, depending on where you are docked in the marina, you may have to plan your trip around the tides.

Boaters should carry the Canadian Tide and Current Tables Volume 5 (Juan de Fuca Strait and Strait of Georgia) published annually by Canadian Hydrographic Service.  Remember to add 1 hour to the times on the tide charts during daylight savings time (PDT), and be aware that Canadian reference points use different datum than United States reference points.  Fulford Harbour is the closest monitoring point to the Pender Islands.

Local newspapers such as the Island Tides and Times Colonist also contain local tide information (already adjusted to PDT as needed).

On the web, local high and low tide information is available from the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Fisheries and Oceans Canada: www.waterlevels.gc.ca.
Click on the Gulf Islands region on the map.  Hope Bay is the monitoring point for the Pender Islands.  Information on predicting currents is not available at this time. Washington waters are covered in www.saltwatertides.com.

Regionally, tides rise from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Strait of Georgia.  Therefore, high/low water will usually occur in the Strait of Juan de Fuca several hours prior to the high/low water in the Strait of Georgia.  Four tides occur within each 24-hour period, and due to a diurnal inequality, the two high tides will vary in height, as will the two low tides.  Kayakers should note that many of the beaches around the Pender Islands are submerged during the higher tides.

CURRENTS
For hour-by-hour information on currents, consult the Current Atlas - Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia, also published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service.  It consists of a main book that can be used every year by making the appropriate calculations.  Or you can use Murray's Tables or Washburnes Tables published annually to simplify the process.  This information is especially valuable to kayakers or any boats with limited power. 

WEATHER FORECASTS
Tune your VHF radio to 21B for West Coast Canadian Coast Guard broadcasts.  Forecasts are also available in both English and French on WX Channels 2 (from Salt Spring Island), 4 (from Port Angeles) and 8 (which is the same as 21B, from Mayne Island).

Meteorological Services Canada's (MSC) weather reports by telephone now includes a separate forecast for the Southern Gulf Islands (Saturna Island station), as well as southeastern Vancouver Island and the lower mainland.  Marine forecasts are also available. (250) 363-6717; (604) 664-9010.   By radio: 162.4 and 162.55 MHz

On line forecasts can be found at:

www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca:  Maintained by the MSC, includes weather alerts, marine and aviation forecasts, radar and satellite imagery.  Click on British Columbia, then select the new reporting station for Gulf Islands (Southern).

www.theweathernetwork.com:  Local weather as monitored from Victoria Airport (Select "Ganges").

www.weather.com:  U.S. Weather site.  Enter "Friday Harbor" for nearby San Juan Island weather, which is drier, though fairly representative for the Pender Islands.  Check for satellite photos of the area.

BOATING LINKS   submit your favourite links here
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca  Canada Border Services Agency (CSBA). (CANPASS).
www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca   Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
www.tc.gc.ca/BoatingSafety/  Transport Canada Office of Boating Safety.  Includes boating regulations and courses (formerly under the CCG site).
www.marineservices.gc.ca  Government regulations, conditions, and links.
http://boating.ncf.ca/linksgov.html  Many helpful boating links.
www.uscgboating.org  US Coast Guard Boating Safety page with helpful links.
http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/marine.txt  Marine VHF channel frequencies.
www.bcfishingreports.com:  Information and links regarding local fishing.
www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/english/recreation/:  BC govt sportfishing guide.
www.visd.org:  Vancouver Island South District Power and Sail Squadron.
www.waggonerguide.com/juandef.html:  Navigation updates for Strait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia, including the Gulf Islands.
www.georgiastrait.org/greenboating.php: Green boating site of the Georgia Strait Alliance. (Main site www.georgiastrait.org).
www.georgiastrait.org/CleanBoating/guidep9.php  Map showing pump out stations and no-discharge zones for sewage.
http://boating.ncf.ca  Pat's Boating in Canada, a wealth of information.
www.americanboating.org:  American Boating Association, includes miscellaneous information and articles.
www.pacificyachting.com:  BC Boating magazine's website contains features including news about boating and facilities in BC.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/  Parks Canada site and links to Gulf Islands NP Reserve