anyone out there make this trip trailering a boat. Which ferry do you take, route that you go and time of day do you leave? I am going for a week late august and will take a 17 boat with us. Anacortes to victoria is $423.80 round trip, WOW! How about the canadian ferries? Reservations?Cost? Any help here would be greatly appreciated, Fishy..........

Sounds like a question for Bucket or Cowardly Lion.

Sorry, don't have much info for you other then you might want to checkout the P.A. to Victoria ferry, it looks to be considerably cheaper,
http://www.cohoferry.com/

Take the Canadian ferry out of Tswassen which is about 25 miles after you cross the border in Blaine. You'll go on the Duke Point to Nanimo ferry. Takes about 2 hours to cross and it's a much better price than going on US ferries. After you get off in Nanimo it's about a 1 and 1/2 hour drive to Port Alberni. You can launch there or go on to Ucluelet or Bamfield. You would be well advised to make a reservation for the ferry. It takes the stress off making it to a ferry or sitting in line all day. The reservation is about $12 canadian. Reserve early. I trailer up there every summer. It's a great trip.

Yes I agree the Tswassen ferry is the way I would send you. I guide out of Barkley Sound and the Offshore Banks. I'm not sure what your plans are exactly but if you plan on towing your boat to your destination..

Thank you everyone, I had entertained the idea of going to Bamfield, but 70 miles of dirt track in the dog days of summer is not the way I want to go, thanks for saving my sanity.
After looking on line at the Anacortes to Victoria run at $423.80 I thought (holy $%@&) great tip on the canadian run, that is the one I will go on.
I will be staying on Tzartus Island (copper island the locals call it) only way to get to it is by boat or plane.
How far in advance do you book your reservations for the ferry?
Thanks again everyone. Fishy.......

make your reservation as soon as possible, especially if you plan on going on a friday or saturday. Thursdays can be pretty crowded also in the middle of summer.

I'll second the Toquart Bay launch. We took our small Arima up there a few years back, went across on the Blackball out of PA and trailered to Barkley Sound.

We spent one night at the campsite before heading out. Seemed pretty rowdy for a camping area in the woods. The rest of the trip was great. It's an amazing place.

The regulations were a bit confusing at that time, as the places I wanted to fish for chinook were closed for certain months. We ended up bottom fishing and doing a little coho fishing, but not like I planned.

A marina there will be a nice addition.

Fishy, as stated above the earlier you make the reservation the better. You can do it online at this address:http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/
The Canadian fisheries usually doesn't release their summer regulations until the middle to end of June. You need to pay close attention as they have numerous regs inside of Barkley Sound and I don't expect it to be much different this year. They have had a size limit on the coast in most area's now for several years. The rule is usually one king over 77cm and one under. The time your talking about going is prime time for Barkley kings and you should have a good trip. I usually hit the sound between the 15th of August and the 10th of September.

Canadian ferries are Cheaper but not by much, 24 ft boat was 130.00 one way with 3 adults 3 kids from Tawassin to Niamo .. I am sure it is more now considering that was 2 years ago...

Thanks everyone for all of the great info, I am sure that it will come in very handy this summer, Fishy....