Green Point Rapids

[Macushlah]

I have been planning my trip and have a question about Green Point rapids. I will be over-nighting at Mermaid Bay so I can hit Dent Rapids the following morning at slack or maybe a little before. In doing that, I will be hitting Green Point about an hour and a half into ebbing and according to the tables, there will be a 2.8 kt current. My question, is that still passable and if so, anything to watch out for. I will be in a 45' eight knot boat.

Robert Mains

 

[Kisinana]

Macushlah
Is this the same trip you are looking at for June? Because depending on the dates it will have an effect on whether there is a large or small tide change.

 

[salmon9]

I know the Yuculta, Dent and Arran rapids well but not Green Point rapids. Depending how large of the flood tide is, you should be able to make it through the Dent rapids at the last hour of the flood. Keep Little Dent close on you starboard and you can pretty well travel up to the light on the north west end of Little Dent. Travelling through the middle of Dent rapids will slow you down. If the end of the flood is not too large you can cut across into the flow near the point at the light on Little Dent. What's the strength of the flood that morning? You should be fine travelling through Green Point an hour and a half before a max 2.8 kt ebb. Stay away from max tides, plus/minus 1 hour either side. Take care going through the Yuculta rapids, particularly the Arran rapids.

Mermaid used to see lots of log booms and tugs coming in/out during slack tides at all times of the day or night. On the east side of Dent is Dent Island Lodge and Morgan's Landing both have dock space if you book ahead. Both have websites, Morgan's Landing is a local who can help you with timing the tides, give you some tips on fishing the area and would have a lower fees. If you want more info on the area email me.

 

[Charlie]

Maybe this will help? As all ready mentioned, watch the tides and don’t get caught there in a fast moving tide. Be careful and error on the safe side!

Once in a 42 foot boat, running about 20 knots I went through with close to a 3 knot tide running against me. Saw a whirlpool with about a 2½ -3 foot drop and decided since I was on plane and had plenty of room I would just skirt the outside of the whirlpool on the starboard side. That was almost a very large mistake… got on the edge of the whirlpool and the next thing I knew I was heading 90 degrees to port. Turned it back hard starboard and cleared, but it did get my attention! I’m not used to turning 25,000 pound boats like that!

Here is something I ran across, hope it helps in you’re planning: "For a change in scenery from our 1995 trip I had planned to stay close to the mainland as long as possible. Unfortunately this requires transiting Green Point Rapids. I have never gone through Green Point Rapids, and decide to look it up in Don Douglas’, exploring the South Coast of British Columbia. Don mentions a 60 – 75 foot (18 – 23M) whirlpool with a 3 foot (0.9M) drop. Hmmm. I think we will pass on that route since the rapids are currently flooding at 2.7 knots.

Instead we go up Blind Channel as we did in 1995. As we make the “left-turn” towards Blind Channel, I see Green Point Rapids on the starboard bow… The chart notes there might be some “Overfalls, Tide Rips or Races” near Shell Point (about one mile away). I am not too worried, it doesn’t sound like Blind Channel should pose too much of a problem. If it does, we can always turn around and wait for slack.

The leg past Blind Channel proves to be slow going. We average about 4.5 knots over the bottom as we buck the flood. The wind seems to be out of the SE, although it is hard to tell in these channels, as it is almost always on your nose regardless. Charles Bay looks like a decent anchorage if Blind Channel was full and you really needed somewhere to stay. It appears relatively protected and out of the currents."

Beautiful country! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Macushlah]

Thanks All;
Tried to send out some private e-mails but haven't figured that part out yet.

Kisinana;
Yes, this is my trip in June and I had planned on going through Arran rapids at slack and then putting up in Mermaid bay for the night.

Salmon9;
After reading your post, I am thinking on changing my plans a bit. I would like to hit Arran rapids at 18:00 on the tail end of the flood and then proceed through dent at or near slack. Here is the info I got from tides and currents:
June 9, 2009

Arran Rapids
cross at 18:00 2.1 kt flood
slack tide at 18:20

Dent Rapids
slack tide 18:15
max ebb at 21:07 at 6.2 kt

I'm not sure how long it takes between the two, but I'm estimating no more than 30 minutes.so I will be crossing Dent approx 15 min after high slack. I will then motor down to Tallac Bay for the night. Is this do-able and safe? Which is the better way to go? Arran versus Yuculta and Gillard Passage.

Charlie;
I hear you there, I don't plane but I once caught one on the Columbia river that surprised the hell out of me and put me sideways on a split second.

Robert Mains

 

[salmon9]

Macushlah, try emailing me again I updated my email address as it was incorrect. The Arrans is a nasty place to be on a flood tide, the currrent drops off quickly near tide change but I do not recommend you go that route - bad back eddys. Double check the slack, I had slack an hour later Pacific Daylight Time. While the Arran rapids is a little closer to Dent and only one set of rapids to cross, I would run Yuculta, Gillard then Dent, you can do this on the same time change and is safer that running the Arrans. This is common practice with boaters with craft the size and speed of your's.

I would plan to be at Kellsey Point 45 min before slack, run up the middle of Yuculta rapids, you will be bucking the tide but safe. Stay in the middle between Sea Lion rock and Whirlpool point, you want to be here around slack to 15-20 min before slack. Run through the middle of Gillard passage at slack. By the time you get to the Dent rapids it will be starting to ebb and you will be going with the tide. Dent on the ebb is easier to run than on the flood, stay in the middle of the channel and you will be fine - you have lots of time to get to Dent after Gillard. It will probably only take you 20-30 min to get to Little Dent so you will have no problem. Be patient, stay in the mid channel the whole way. Enjoy the trip it's beautiful up there. Email me if you want more info.