We’ll be cruising from Port Severn up to Killarney the last week of July/09 into the beginning of August/09, with stops at Honey Harbour, Parry Sound and perhaps elsewhere along the way .
We’ve done the trip before on a 28’ powerboat with little difficulty. This year we’re taking our 40 footer. The 40 footer has forward facing Volvo IPS pod drives. We have a draft of approx 3’8”. I am somewhat concerned about the depth in the Potato Island Channel in Seven Sound and was thinking about taking the Waubaushene Channel up and approaching Honey Harbour from the outside as if I was approaching from Midland.
Anyone experience the Potato Island route this year and care to comment on the depth in that “S” turn?
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Depth through the Potato Island Channel
Permalink Submitted by SSELZNICK on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 19:27.
We just returned from a week in Georgian Bay. We saw 6' of water through the Potato Island Channel both on the way out and on our return. We noticed though that it climbed to 5' and shallower unless you stayed dead centre through the channel.
Depth at Beaverstone Bay to Collins Inlet
Permalink Submitted by SSELZNICK on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 11:21.
Thank you for the update Dave,
My vessel is 40" LOA with a draft of about 3'8". I like to say 4' to account for load and moderate wave action. 5' LWD should be no problem.
The reason I posed the query was that unfortunately new technology often creates as much difficulty as it is intended to overcome. The propellers on my vessel face forward and hang on two independent pods that are affixed to the underside of the vessel by rotating discs located just about where in-line shafts would be located on a traditionally powered powerboat. I control the pods in close quarters using a computer joystick (it causes the discs to rotate independently to create the desired directional movement). It makes the vessel very nimble (I can track sideways or corner-to-corner). But since the pods face forward and the propellers "pull" me through the water, the pods are designs to break away on a tether for retrieval if they hit anything (unlike a stern drive or shaft drive that might be able to push through a few inches of loose mud).
Depth at Collins Inlet
Permalink Submitted by actigner on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 14:17.
I too just passed through that low water passage a few days ago and saw no less than 5.5 feet. I also passed a caravan of some 30+ power boats on the west arm of Collins Inlet who I am sure also passed through that area as well since they were headed south beyond Beaverstone Bay. Boating on the east side of Georgian Bay is not for the faint of heart and shallow, narrow passages are not uncommon. Make sure your charts are current and you pay attention to the route if following the small craft passage. I have a 40 foot single screw trawler drafting just under four feet and opted out of the most challenging parts of the route (north of Pointe Au Baril) until I got to Beaverstone Bay and the channel into Collins Inlet. This was due in part to onshore wind/wave conditions but also because 40 feet is the max size vessel that can get through some of the tight spots. I also passed through that shallow area two years ago when the water was about a foot lower without issues.
Depth at Beaverstone Bay to Collins Inlet
Permalink Submitted by dspencer on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 07:34.
I was through the narrow passage at where Beaverstone Bay meets Collins Inlet Tuesday July 14. There are Low Water markers at both ends of the buoyed channel. My 27ft boat draws 5ft 9in and we saw only 5 ft of depth between markers D104 and D106 (the northernmost buoys). The bottom is very soft mud and we easily powered through for about 50 ft. This depth should be OK for most powerboats and many sailboats but I wouldn't try it if you draw 5 ft with a wing or beavertail keel.
Dave Spencer
CS27 #1409
Good Idea
Lions Head, Ontario
Thanks for the info
Permalink Submitted by SSELZNICK on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 19:21.
Sea Y'all II . . .
When you get up that way in your travels, let me know how you find the depth at the point where Beaverstone Bay meets Collins Inlet.
Smooth sailing to you in your travels.
Stephen Selznick
The Billy Madalena
Just about to finish cruising that route
Permalink Submitted by actigner on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 07:50.
Although I cannot comment on the Potato Island passage we did start our passage enetering the small craft route just south of Roberts Island approaching from Penetang. We stayed inside with stops at Honey Harbor, Sans Souci, and Parry Sound. We continued inside until Pointe Au Baril where we went outside until we entered Byng Inlet at the outermost bouy. As we depart on 7/15 we will continue outside with a stop in Collins Inlet entering from Beaverstone Bay. We elected to bypass the more exposed portions of the small craft passage because of winds and onshore seas. We are in a 40 foot trawler with a single screw and don't want to take any chances.
Al and Sheri Tigner
Sea Y'all II