What’s New With Us
We’ve been fully immersed in the boating life this past month! After a productive launch and shakedown in May, June has been all about exploring the Discovery Islands and pushing a bit farther north into the Broughton Archipelago while managing the typical Pacific Northwest weather swings. Anne and I are loving the freedom, the wildlife, and the ongoing boat projects that keep everything running smoothly.
The month started with some final prep and testing after our splash. I installed and tested a high-water bilge alarm (Johnson Pump Bilge Alert with Ultima switch) for extra peace of mind, especially at anchor. It’s a simple yet effective safety upgrade that alerts us when our bilge pumps aren’t doing their job.
A major safety addition for this season is the Em-Trak B954 AIS transceiver. I installed it in line with our VHF antenna and added WiFi integration for navigation apps like OpenCPN, Navionics, and Aquamaps. Anne handled the MMSI registration. It’s already proven very useful in foggy conditions and in busy areas with large cruise/commercial ships and fast boat traffic.
It broadcasts our boat’s information, such as location, speed, size, and name, and lets us see other AIS-enabled boats around us. Highly recommend for coastal cruising! You can even track us online on sites like MarineTraffic or Vessel Finder.
We’ve been testing off-grid power systems too, including the Bluetti Charger 2, Elite 300 Power Station, and B300K expansion. The Elite 300 acts as a base for charging all the assorted electronics we use. It gets recharged by a 200W solar panel and the boat engine alternator via the Charger 2 device.
On the water, we did a shakedown cruise from Campbell River up to Evans Bay, then Big Bay, dealing with currents and enjoying the scenery. Then we ventured north up Johnstone Strait and into the Broughton Archipelago (Boughey Bay to Potts Lagoon and Lady Boot Cove), riding out some gales in sheltered spots.
A highlight was the Port McNeill resupply trip, heading across Queen Charlotte Strait in the fog, spotting stellar sea lions and sea otters, fueling up, stocking groceries, filling water tanks, and enjoying a calm return.
Late June saw us anchored at Madrona Island and then Simoom Sound, at times seeking shelter from wind and rain and enjoying the wildlife and scenery on the nice days.
Anne’s been capturing amazing intertidal life photos with her new underwater action cam, the DJI Osmo 5 Pro, and we’ve harvested fresh shellfish for the grill. Wildlife sightings (eagles feeding, etc.) continue to make every day special.
We’re holding position for now due to the weather, but plan to head farther north when conditions allow. Stay tuned…
Recent Posts on the Website
Em-Trak B954 AIS Transceiver Installation & Initial Tests
High Water Bilge Alarm Installation & Demo
Visit to Gorgeous Big Bay, BC – Dangerous Tidal Currents & Eagle Viewing
The Trek North Begins! Campbell River to Forward Harbour – Boating 2026
Yay! Smooth Travel Through Johnstone Strait to the Broughtons
Journey Deeper into the Broughton Archipelago – Boating June 2026
Bluetti Elite 300 Power Station Review – Big Power in Small Package!
Handy Boating Tool! Vortex Laser Rangefinder
BougeRV Portable F01 & F02 Fans – Demo and Initial Review
Port McNeill Resupply Trip – Fog, Sea Lions and Sea Otters
Seeking Shelter from the Weather in Simoom Sound
Extra YouTube Videos
Upgraded our Boat Horn To A Farbin Trumpet Style
Image of the Month
Gorgeous calm morning in anchored in Douglas Bay, Forward Harbour, BC
Thanks for checking out my monthly newsletters. Much appreciated. Cheers! Ray
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Although I watch the video's on youtube its a good read to see the summaries and photos. Stay footloose & keep an even keel. May you have calm water for the rest of your trip.
Anne's underwater shots are gorgeous!!