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Author Topic:   Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC -- Been There?

Shadowcatcher posted 01-15-2001 06:50 PM ET (US)
I'm planning a trip to Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC with my 19' Outrage and family. Is anyone familiar with the area and marina facilities?
Internet search located a hotel and marina called Weigh West. The town has a whale festival during the end of March. Any comments or advice?
We plan to trailer the boat and take ferry, probably from Seattle to the Island. This town is apparently at the western terminus of the Trans Canada Highway.
dburton posted 01-16-2001 12:00 AM ET (US)
Tofino is a great place. I can't speak for the marinas. It is one of the best places on the west coast to go whale watching (orca and grey).
I don't think you can ferry from Seattle to Vancouver Island with a trailer or a car. I believe it's passenger only from seattle to Victoria. You need to get the ferry from Anacortes or Port Angeles In the US. the best alternative would be to ferry from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo. This is a BC ferry (http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/schedules/mainland/tsdp-current.html). This would be the most direct and likely the cheapest. Don't forget your boat title etc. for the border. Ignoring traffic and delay at the border, the Tsawwassem ferry is about about a 3 hour drive from the center of Seattle (faster if you're not towing a boat). It would be worth a few days to cruise the waters off of Nanaimo. The Gulf islands are wonderful cruising territory.
Be sure to fill your gas tank (tow vehicle and boat) in the US. Canadian gas is very expensive.
Hoop posted 01-16-2001 12:22 AM ET (US)
Be careful about filling your boat's gas tank before taking the ferry. Check on the regulations first. I somehow remember checking the regulations myself and finding that gas quantity in your trailered boat is limited to 6 gallons with only one other portable 6 gallon tank allowed. Can't remember where I saw this ...
Hoop
blackdog posted 01-16-2001 09:23 AM ET (US)
My wife and I took our honeymoon in that area, Beautiful! We flew into Seattle then a bus ride onto a Ferry, which took about 4 hours going up to Victoria B.C. . If the bus fit on the ferry you could most certainly take a boat & trailer (many commercial trucks on the ferry). Then we went up to Vancouver to catch a cruise ship up the intercostals to Alaska. I dreamed about running a boat up there. Clean water, loads of wild life--You are going to love it..
Blackdog
kingfish posted 01-16-2001 09:41 AM ET (US)
Brian-
Can't help you much with Tofino specifically, but I can tell you I am envious of anyone boating *anywhere* around Vancouver Island. We spent a couple of days in Vancouver at the end of an Inside Passage cruise a couple years ago, and then ferried over to Vancouver Island from Point Roberts (I think) South of Vancouver to Sidney (North of Victoria). In so doing, we passed through some of the most gorgeous boating area I can remember seeing, in what I think is called the Gulf Islands.
We then stayed a few days at a wonderful B&B (Malahat Farm) a little West of Sooke, which in turn is South and West of Victoria. Same coast as Tofino, but Tofino is further up.
My daughter and I rented a couple of horses and rode up into the rain forest, and then out along the shore, looking across the Straights of Juan de Fuca (sp?) towards Port Angeles. It was quite a thrill.
If good food interests you, there is a restaurant in Sooke (on Whiffin Spit)called the Sooke Harbour House Restaurant that is recognized as one of the best restaurants in the world (no misprint, no exaggeration) for the preparation of indiginous foods (local seafood, their own home-grown vegatables and herbs)by one of the most prestigious gourmet magazines. One of the best seafood meals I have ever had.
That was all fun, but I sure would like the opportunity to go back and take my boat with me-
Have a great time.
kingfish
Shadowcatcher posted 01-16-2001 11:21 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies!
John -- I'll be making dinner reservations right away.
I just ran across an old email from Jim Norton -- don't recall his user name -- who said he has been going straight to Tofino for 20+ years. I'll ask him to post more details here.
Maui Whaler posted 01-16-2001 11:32 AM ET (US)
Shadowcatcher
Check this site for all the ferry regulations
www.bcferries.bc.ca/schedules/safety.html
Have a great trip
Maui Whaler
Shadowcatcher posted 01-16-2001 12:56 PM ET (US)
Well, Jim Norton's email was undeliverable. Hey, Jim, are you out there?

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Author	Topic: Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC -- Been There?
Shadowcatcher	posted 01-15-2001 06:50 PM ET (US) I'm planning a trip to Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC with my 19' Outrage and family. Is anyone familiar with the area and marina facilities? Internet search located a hotel and marina called Weigh West. The town has a whale festival during the end of March. Any comments or advice? We plan to trailer the boat and take ferry, probably from Seattle to the Island. This town is apparently at the western terminus of the Trans Canada Highway.
dburton	posted 01-16-2001 12:00 AM ET (US) Tofino is a great place. I can't speak for the marinas. It is one of the best places on the west coast to go whale watching (orca and grey). I don't think you can ferry from Seattle to Vancouver Island with a trailer or a car. I believe it's passenger only from seattle to Victoria. You need to get the ferry from Anacortes or Port Angeles In the US. the best alternative would be to ferry from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo. This is a BC ferry (http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/schedules/mainland/tsdp-current.html). This would be the most direct and likely the cheapest. Don't forget your boat title etc. for the border. Ignoring traffic and delay at the border, the Tsawwassem ferry is about about a 3 hour drive from the center of Seattle (faster if you're not towing a boat). It would be worth a few days to cruise the waters off of Nanaimo. The Gulf islands are wonderful cruising territory. Be sure to fill your gas tank (tow vehicle and boat) in the US. Canadian gas is very expensive.
Hoop	posted 01-16-2001 12:22 AM ET (US) Be careful about filling your boat's gas tank before taking the ferry. Check on the regulations first. I somehow remember checking the regulations myself and finding that gas quantity in your trailered boat is limited to 6 gallons with only one other portable 6 gallon tank allowed. Can't remember where I saw this ... Hoop
blackdog	posted 01-16-2001 09:23 AM ET (US) My wife and I took our honeymoon in that area, Beautiful! We flew into Seattle then a bus ride onto a Ferry, which took about 4 hours going up to Victoria B.C. . If the bus fit on the ferry you could most certainly take a boat & trailer (many commercial trucks on the ferry). Then we went up to Vancouver to catch a cruise ship up the intercostals to Alaska. I dreamed about running a boat up there. Clean water, loads of wild life--You are going to love it.. Blackdog
kingfish	posted 01-16-2001 09:41 AM ET (US) Brian- Can't help you much with Tofino specifically, but I can tell you I am envious of anyone boating anywhere around Vancouver Island. We spent a couple of days in Vancouver at the end of an Inside Passage cruise a couple years ago, and then ferried over to Vancouver Island from Point Roberts (I think) South of Vancouver to Sidney (North of Victoria). In so doing, we passed through some of the most gorgeous boating area I can remember seeing, in what I think is called the Gulf Islands. We then stayed a few days at a wonderful B&B (Malahat Farm) a little West of Sooke, which in turn is South and West of Victoria. Same coast as Tofino, but Tofino is further up. My daughter and I rented a couple of horses and rode up into the rain forest, and then out along the shore, looking across the Straights of Juan de Fuca (sp?) towards Port Angeles. It was quite a thrill. If good food interests you, there is a restaurant in Sooke (on Whiffin Spit)called the Sooke Harbour House Restaurant that is recognized as one of the best restaurants in the world (no misprint, no exaggeration) for the preparation of indiginous foods (local seafood, their own home-grown vegatables and herbs)by one of the most prestigious gourmet magazines. One of the best seafood meals I have ever had. That was all fun, but I sure would like the opportunity to go back and take my boat with me- Have a great time. kingfish
Shadowcatcher	posted 01-16-2001 11:21 AM ET (US) Thanks for the replies! John -- I'll be making dinner reservations right away. I just ran across an old email from Jim Norton -- don't recall his user name -- who said he has been going straight to Tofino for 20+ years. I'll ask him to post more details here.
Maui Whaler	posted 01-16-2001 11:32 AM ET (US) Shadowcatcher Check this site for all the ferry regulations www.bcferries.bc.ca/schedules/safety.html Have a great trip Maui Whaler
Shadowcatcher	posted 01-16-2001 12:56 PM ET (US) Well, Jim Norton's email was undeliverable. Hey, Jim, are you out there?