Big Bay Marina, Stewart island B.C. History

[beyond kelp]

Big Bay Marina is closed, the end of an era. The place has been for sale for a while now and a buyer with no intention of keeping it open has bought it. 37 years of memories still remain though. It gave us convenient access to the area north of desolation sound. Now we will have to transit the area and head up to Blind Channel Resort for the comforts of a liquor store and a bowl of chowder. Notice my priorities.After all, when in Canada, drink Canadian whiskey. Out of respect for the Canadians and their awesome real estate.

[beyond kelp]

OK new poster here, how do you move this to where it belongs? :oops:

[Breezer]

What about the prices at Blind Channel! Fuel was $1.22/litre end of July. They must think because Big Bay is closed they can charge whatever they want. That was .22 cents/ litre more than Lagoon Cove, which is more remote. I'm avoiding Blind Channel as much as possible in the future if they don't stop their gouging. :argh

[teakless]

Just came from Big Bay last night by float plane from a fishing trip. The original post on this subject is correct. The Marina and surrounds was purchased by Seattle truck mfg. Paccar. I was told they also purchased the other (?) lodge also, and gated the road from other Stuart Island points into the bay. There were several boats at the Govt. dock which they were not sure would continue to remain available in the future.
The cafe, liquor store, post office and fuel dock were all closed. The locals are all pretty upset, however there is not much anyone can do at this point, unless the new owners would help suuprt the local communities of guides, loggers, lodgeworkers, and year round residents by contracting these services to some local entrepreneurs.
Oh well, cant stop progress.

Stan

[SomeSailor]

OK new poster here, how do you move this to where it belongs? :oops:

It's in Dock Talk now...

Another example of how times are always changing. Another era draws to an end it appears... :(

[bradvo]

I do not know of the area you speak of but i can relate to when convenience closes down on us boaters. There used to be a little restaurant and a local grocery store and gas station at Long Branch ( south Puget Sound)- those places have been closed for some time now and it is a huge loss. I used to love a bowl of chowder in the fall boating months there- Like you guys I also have allot of memories about this place- was the beginning of my first ownership days in my 2452. Our families first experiences with boating over night in a cabin cruiser.
Losing some places that you were fond of stings a bit. All though the marina is still open at LongBranch ya have to be certain you do not need supplies. It is just not the same to me. Also it seems yacht Clubs have taken it over. Noisy bunch.
Brad

buck twenty two a litre, holy **** !!

[beyond kelp]

We are optimistic about the Big Bay Community dock. They were offering moorage at 1.00 ft without amenities. Seems they have received govt. money and constructed a well built dock which we stayed one night at. They had constructed a good looking building for restrooms and shower, with I think laundry, store and of course Espresso Bar planned. The folks that own the "Floathouse" (the pyramid roofed floating home next to the big bay marina) are members of the community association that hopes to do this to support the people who live and work there. They were very nice and offered us the use of the floathouses shower when they found the new pump for the water supply to be failed at the soon to be opened facility. Couldn't be nicer folks. Roger has been guiding there for 30+ years. If they can get it off the ground it would be cool. On the way to Blind Channel up Cordero Strait, after clearing Dent Rapids and Devils Hole, we fished for twenty minutes in Denham Bay catching a twenty lb. King Salmon, all the while watching a 500 lb black bear walk down the beach. Then we came across Orcas, after that the dolphins rode our bow wave and bodysurfed our wake for fifteen minutes! It was the B.C. one two punch followed by a roundhouse and an uppercut for the KNOCKOUT :D !! All for a measly fifteen hundred :shock: bucks worth of fuel! That's what a 575 mile tripll do to ya. Boat worked perfect, Weather great- straight down the middle of the Straits of Georgia third year in a row, for our second encounter with Pacific Whiteside Dolpins. They are incredibly playful and definetly photogenic. Lake- flat water all the way to Nanaimo. Go figure.

[Go Aweigh2452]

The price of admission to all that is priceless! You have memories that will last a lifetime (or at least until you get somezimmers...)

[beyond kelp]

Yes indeed, some pics in the gallery if anyones interested.

[Randygh]

500# black bear? Could be, but he must have been one helluva bear. ;)

[beyond kelp]

Just guessin! Would appreciate an educated guess... http://www.iboatnw.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=575 [/img]

[beyond kelp]

How about a picnic basket, Boo Boo?

[Randygh]

Great pict. Damn nice bear, I'd guess 350-400#. Coastal bears that consume alot of fish grow larger than inland bears primarily because of the better quality diet. Alaskan brown bears, and grizzly bears are the same genus and species (Ursus arctos) but are different different subspecies. They are usually different in size.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) don't have subspecies. I've never had my hands on a black bear from around here or the westside as large as the one in your photo.

[beyond kelp]

That was from the zodiac, from about 75 feet with no zoom. He was really healthy looking and had a great coat. He did not pay any attention to curt in the skiff, but that was not the case when I rowed to close to a brown bear about twice his size about 15 years ago. I wanted to get close to the bear and its cub while she was rolling over huge rocks to eat the shorecrabs etc. Well at about 40- 50 ft she charged me, into the water almost to the point of swimming. Then she turned around and herded the cub into the forest with the snapping and cracking of many tree limbs. I almost became a member of the darwin club! MY son had a running 9.9 but I was just rowing for stealth. Its just that to see these majestic creatures rejuvenates me. I love the whales, fish, dolfins, down to the common seastar and have since I was a little kid. Maybe it makes me feel like a kid again, I know the dinghy certainly does!

[bradvo]

Great pixs, If a bear would have been charging me I know I would have bent an oar in half getting out of there.
Brad

[heymagic]

We as boaters are faced with 2 large issues that will continue to erode our destinations. Eco issues concerning shorline life including fuel issues and maybe even worse the continued increase in shoreline property value. The value and taxes rise so much that the land can't economically be used for parking and outbuildings. Many people in the south are losing their family homes and land to the county tax assessors. Lands that were considered worthless for 200 years are now being taxed so high the locals can't afford taxes. Developers move in and take over.

We have one fuel dock 6 miles from Olympia. Room for 2 ski boats at a time . Probably 1000 boats moored in Oly plus all the trailer boats. Next fuel is probably another 8 miles or so. No fuel in Gig Harbor still ???

[SomeSailor]

It's definitely an uphill battle. Hopefully some of these communities will realize the value of these waterfront lands beyond condos and homes with a view. :(

[bradvo]

I asked the question about Fuel dock in Gig couple weeks ago ( Arabella's Landing) and was told that sometime after the first of the year that the old Poseidon fuel dock was going to be moved down where stubs used to sell fuel next to the Tides tavern.
Tacoma sells fuel in a couple places I think that Day island also sells fuel- Tony should be able to tell us if he reads the thread.

[heymagic]

I've never been into Day Island by water, heard it gets a little shallow. Tacoma is a pain though, at least the YC fuel docks. Plus you have to go out of way to get there, fuel in GH would be really nice !!