Sunshine Coast Sightseeing Tours of West Coat British Columbia -
Frequently Asked Questions about Weather and Boat Tours

We regularly get requests from site visitors for information about our boats, tours, destinations and extra services. We have gathered the best or most frequently asked questions to create the

• General
  Weather
  Clothing
  Vessel Licensing
  Vessel Boarding
  Safety
  Smoking
  Travel Directions
  Mileage
  Confirmations/Refunds/Discounts
  Pets
  GST Refunds
  Swimming
  Disability access
  
• Princess Louisa Inlet Tour
  Lunches
  Schedule - How much time ashore?
  Split schedules & cargo
  Kayaks
  Children
  
• Egmont Highlights / Sechelt Inlet
• Skookumchuck
  What will the current be like?
  Is this an adventure?
  Will I get wet?

General

Weather
The Sunshine Coast is in a temperate Mediterranean climatic region. Vegetation is varied. Dominate is coastal, leading to Pacific Northwest Rainforest regions inland. "Normals" is the term used for values of climatic elements averaged over a fixed, standard period of years. To be included in data published by the Environment Canada data a minimum of twenty years of records is required. Values we quote are "normals".

Summer temperature "normals" range from 15C (60F) to 20C (70F). It can appear much hotter in the direct sunshine. Winter temperature "normals" range from 4C (40F) to 15C (60F). Rainfall "normals" suggest we experience some rainfall on 20% of our summer days and 60% of our winter days. It is our opinion that the soft lights and low cloud on "grey days" add to the scenery on our sightseeing outings.

Rain quickly adds to or fills water falls and heightens the drama of the inlets. Unless unsafe to operate each trip will run regardless of weather conditions. It has never been necessary to cancel a scheduled day.

The sheltered areas in the main inlets are easily accessed and very protected from wind, even in the most extreme of weather conditions.

Clothing
It is generally a good idea to carry a light sweater and or rainwear. Sunscreen and sunglasses are equally recommended. A hat is suggested if you are to be exposed to direct sunshine.

Comfortable footwear is recommended. Soft-soled shoes are best on the boats. Keep in mind that if you go ashore you may wind up in sand and or mud.

Vessels Licensing
Vessel licenses are issued by Transport Canada, following the guidelines of the Canada Steamship Act. The act defines "passengers" as those on any passage involving payment of any kind. "Charter" implies that you are renting the boat and taking responsibility for it, with no one on board making separate payment. Unless a "passenger vessel" charters are not allowed to carry passengers.

Larger passenger boats are inspected. Boats less than a defined size and passenger count are not inspected in Canada. Compliance with regulations is less closely monitored on these smaller boats. Sunshine Coast Tours operates and hires in vessels in both categories.

Seating for all passengers is a requirement. Generally we make sure this is protected from the weather. We task vessels that are completely seaworthy in the worst of weather conditions that this area can experience. Cancellation due to weather is extremely unusual.

Our web page has more details on the major vessels we use for our work.

Vessels Boarding
Please do not board any of our boats without the crew present. Tour loading will start approximately ten minutes prior to departure.

Our normal base of operations is in Egmont on the Sechelt Peninsula. On scheduled tours we load guests from Egmont Marina Resort. Alternate group arrangements can be made to suit.

Topline's license allows 28 passengers plus crew. At different times in the past this number has been higher. To help keep our costs in line we have recently reduced the license number. On our scheduled tours we limit seating to 25. We encourage people to move about during our travel and this lower number ensures comfort among a group of individuals.

Smoking
There is no smoking onboard the tour boat. There are currently no smoking restrictions in the provincial park. The main consideration is the control of fire and litter. You are asked to not smoke while at the Malibu Club.

Safety
A safety briefing is given early in every trip. Please listen for it and ask questions about items that may not be clear to you. We carry safety equipment as required by the Canada Steamship Act and the Safe Boating Regulations.

Our lifejackets are IMO certified and not designed to be worn throughout the day. They are not available to be used during the trip. They are not to be used as cushions.

Individuals are welcome to bring specialty equipment such as personal or children's PFD's.

Travel Directions
Our web site outlines driving Instructions to our loading point in Egmont. From Vancouver go to Horseshoe Bay and take the BC Ferry to Langdale.

You can check the BC Ferries web page for last minute schedule information at www.bcferries.bc.ca. Recorded phone information 604 886-2242.

Ferry sailing is 40 minutes long. Payment is required in Horseshoe Bay only return trip is free.

After departing the ferry follow the traffic up the hill and around the corners on the Gibson's by-pass to Highway 101. Turn right on the highway. Follow traffic through Sechelt. Pass the Madeira Park and Garden Bay turnoffs. At Egmont Road (1 km before Earl's cove) turn right. At Maple Road turn left. Watch for the sign for Egmont Marina Resort.

From Powell River go to Saltery Bay and take the BC Ferry to Earl's Cove. Ferry sailing is 50 minutes long. Payment is required in Saltery Bay; travel off the Sechelt Peninsula is free.

After departing the ferry follow the highway 1 km to Egmont Road. Turn left. At Maple Road turn left. Watch for the sign for Egmont Marina Resort.

Mileage's
Langdale to:
Egmont 92 km (58 mi) - 1 1/2 hour drive

Earl's Cove to:
Egmont 10 km (6 MI)

Confirmations / Refunds / Discounts
Tickets must be pre-purchased to reserve seating. Refunds are not available. For parties 6 or larger we offer a 10% discount on the tour price.

Departures are available year round. On scheduled days there is no minimum number of tickets. We make every effort to not cancel scheduled sailings, regardless of passenger compliment. We will consider adding days to our existing schedule when there is a minimum number of three (3) ticket sales requested. You will need to make a special request.

For those wanting to have a firm confirmation we recommend buying three (3) seats. In the event that additional passengers book on your departure we will refund one ticket to you. If there are no additional bookings your tour still runs but no refund is available.

Reservations are strongly recommended. Once ticket sales are confirmed the tour schedule will be fixed. Until that point we feel open to accepting other work requests that will result in changes to the scheduling.

Pets
To ensure the comfort of everyone on board, and to comply with rules at the Provincial Park and the Malibu Club we ask you to make alternate arrangements for your pets. Please do not bring them on the tour.

GST Refund
A program exists to allow nonresidents to collect refunds on gst paid. There is a limited number of eligible items, including short term accommodation and products exported. GST paid on goods and services consumed in Canada is not refundable. GST paid on tour tickets is not refundable.

Additional information is available from Revenue Canada. Their toll free number is 1-800-668-4748. Their web site is http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/search/menu-e.html. Search for form RC4031

Swimming

Sometimes people swim in the Inlet while our regular scheduled tour is visiting Princess Louisa Inlet Marine Park. We encourage swimmers to avoid being in the water around the dock, near boat traffic.

We do not have any opportunity to swim from the boat during regular scheduled programs.

Charter groups are able to schedule time to swim if they desire. The individual responsible for the charter will be considered in charge of swimming activity. A permanently fixed ladder is mounted on the swim grid of the Topline. a portable boarding ladder is available on the Bline.

Disability Access
It the fullests context our boats are not accessible to the disable. We would like to make every effort to be as accommodating as possible and help individuals overcome obstacles to access the boats.

The ramp from the landing to the dock can be quite steep. It varies with the tide. At extreme low tide the ramp is almost 50 degrees slope. At high tide the ramp is only five degrees. There are two seven inch steps on the ramp, one at each end. The walk down the dock from the wharf head to the boat is approximately 160 feet (55 meters). Boarding involves stepping over a four inch tie up rail along the dock, raised two inches above dock height.

The lower (back) deck of the Topline is only four inches above water height. The washroom is on this level and has a six inch sill at the door. The open area inside the washroom is limited, approximately two feet square.

To board the Bline one has to step over the side of the boat. At our home dock this is eight inches above the dock level. There is 18 inches of freeboard above the back deck level. Access to the boat interior involves stepping down two regular steps and taking a seat.

Princess Louisa Inlet

Lunches
Tour
Our regular tour price does not include lunch. A lunch option is available from many of the accommodation hosts on the Sunshine Coast. We recommend you bring a lunch of "finger food", one that is easily consumed on board while we travel.

Typically passengers eat lunch on board the boat while we travel and make maximum use of free time ashore at Princess Louisa Inlet Marine Park to walk and look about. Alternately, there are picnic sites at the Park that can be used. Eating ashore in the Park will reduce the amount of free time to walk. There is no opportunity to picnic at Malibu Club. During our time at Malibu we are asked to remain with the camp host while they conduct a guided walk around the main facility. Wandering around unescorted is not allowed.

Schedule - how much time ashore?
Travel to Princess Louisa Inlet takes just over two hours. We run along the shore and stop to look at key, interesting features and places. We are in Princess Louisa Inlet for almost two hours. Some of this is travel time. We allow 35 to 40 minutes ashore beside Chatterbox Falls, at Princess Louisa Inlet Marine Park. We budget another 30 minutes ashore to participate in a guided tour around the Malibu Club. This is subject to change on the day depending on the events scheduled at Malibu. Our run time home takes two hours. The balance of the day is used for clearing the harbours and the unpredictable that always occur.

Our smaller tour boats tend to travel faster. This will cut down the total time away. Return will be earlier.

Split schedule & cargo
This splitting option is for the convenience of those wanting to travel one way on a given day and return on a subsequent day.

We reserve the right to limit the amount of cargo that may be carried. We need to know in advance when cargo is to be transported. Special arrangements are required to arrive in sufficient time to manage the loading of any cargo. Please pack cargo in easily handled, waterproof containers. Avoid filling kayaks with cargo.

Kayaks
Kayakers are loaded on top of the tour boat. Please do not fill the boats with equipment as this makes lifting them difficult and may break their back as they cross the roof line. You will have to be prepared to help with the lifting of a kayak you are transporting.

Children
The trip is adult orientated. It is a fairly long day; with a lot of time spent on the boat traveling. It is a parent's responsibility to provide for entertainment of small children.

Skookumchuck Narrows Tour

What will the current be like when I see it?
The scheduled dates have been selected so we can be in Sechelt Rapids during the strong currents. On each of these visits we anticipate flow rates to exceed nine knots. It is considered an advantage to not be in the Rapids during peak flow times. Demands on the boat operation during peak flows will limit the sightseeing potential.

The main feature of the flood tide is the large standing wave that forms off of Roland Point. Often we are lucky enough to be there when the kayakers are playing. The wave that attracts kayakers forms only on the flood tide.
The main feature of the ebb tide is the large hydraulics that form off of North Point.

Is this an adventure?
Viewing the water flow from the boat is exciting. However, our trip to view the fast currents is not a wild adventure trip. Children are excited by the spectacle. Seniors can enjoy the outing without being tossed about. It is a perfect outing for those who want to avoid the long walk in. We run in strong powerful boats and proceed with extreme caution. We gain the best vantages by working in the shorelines and eddies. Sometimes it is not possible to avoid splashes, but we do our best to do just that.

Will I get wet?
We make every effort to avoid splash. That is not always totally possible and the outside rails may get wet. Those inside the cabin will not be affected.