Pender Canal-gctid812608

[rossi45]

Hey folks, I'm planning on heading to Saturna Island next weekend and I want to get there using the Pender Canal between North and South Pender Island. I've never gone through so I'm having a look at the Navionics Web Chart. I see the channel markers so I assume it's passable. Just looks like it could get shallow on low tide so I just wanted to know if I need to watch tides coming through there or is it passable anytime of the tide cycle? Thanks.

[mlewis100]

I went through a few times this spring, it's a bit narrow but doable. Been through there many times but this was the first time with the 35.

I went through when the tide was about 4 feet, my depth was reading as low as 9 feet at the shallowest point (probably a bit deeper than that overall) but that is close enough for my comfort level.

[jmoultray]

I've been through many times with our 4788, I wouldn't go at low tide but otherwise it is fine. Just make sure to call out a securite' on the vhf before entering so others wait and you don't meet in the middle with nowhere to go and no room to pass.

[bal734]

No big issues. Plenty of room under the bridge. Keep an eye out for minus tides.

It's always appreciated when you make a securite call on 16 announcing your intentions, due to blind spots.

[rossi45]

Thanks folks. Good advice about the securite call. I didn't realize there would be blind spots.

[Morecoffee]

I also consider the direction the tide is running when going through the Pender canal... as you have more control when heading into the current.. Last time I went through it was a flood and it was running from North to South. The boat going upstream must give way to the downstream one.

[SprinterX]

"jmoultray" post=812615 wrote:
Just make sure to call out a securite' on the vhf before entering so others wait and you don't meet in the middle with nowhere to go and no room to pass.

Done it many times, call ahead of your commitment point.