The Cruising Guide to the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Updates Through the Summer of 2007

Prince Edward Island, including the Northumberland Strait

The marinas of PEI have got together and now have a website (www.boatingpei.com) with detailed information about each of the marinas on the island. CAUTION: Bear in mind that some of the descriptions in this guide are a little optimistic regarding minimum depths in the approaches and alongside.

Lower Montague
Gardiner Schneider 2007

Directions: Enter the Cardigan Bay area from the east and pass MC3 enroute, which marks a shoal to the south. There are range lights to follow that lead to the Georgetown area. You will find the southern (port) side of the passage well marked with green markers and mussel farms in abundance. Georgetown appears as a commercial harbor on the north, and we headed towards the Montague River seeking evening shelter from a thunderstorm.

Anchorages and/or Berths: Mussel farms lined both sides of the entrance to the Montague, and we were pleased to finally find a break in the farms off Lower Montague. The public wharf there had numerous fishing boats berthed alongside, and a scattering of vessels on moorings further in. There was plenty of room to anchor off the harbor in mud; our plow took immediately, and carried mud back in the morning – happy are those who have a washdown pump.

Remarks: The “ruins” shown on the chart now appear to have a new building and a lot of working boats tied up and moored. (Editor’s note – this is a busy mussel aquaculture facility)

Facilities: The public wharf is reported by the Sailing Directions to have nine feet along the outer edge and one to nine along the side with gasoline and electricity available. We did not venture to shore to confirm those details.

Montague 46° 10N, 62° 39W
Gardiner Schneider 2007

Directions: Montague River is lined with buoys and in the northern sections a quantity of buoys also marking mussel farms on either side of the river. The farms diminish further up the river. The channel curves a bit, and buoys are moved as needed, so attention to the depth sounder is useful. Were you to venture up the river in fog you might succeed, but you would find several of the markers differ from the locations on the chart plotter. We carried seven feet into the harbor at near low. There are several small triangular and square plywood markers on posts at the upper end of the river as one approaches the end. The last markers to starboard take one to the first wharf. To access the fuel dock at Montague Marina keep to port past this first set of docks and look for a small building with floating docks within the next starboard set. The entry is tight and the launch ramp is right nearby as noted.

Anchorages and/or Berths: Montague Marine called us as we approached the end of the river, and asked to switch to channel ….. With the fuel dock approach unclear, we considered docking on the fishermen’s side to port where a white Diesel tank was clearly visible. (Editor’s note: unless you could persuade a fisherman to fill you up on his card you’d be out of luck). The dock had many fishing vessels and little space in that vicinity; however, we could probably have rafted alongside for that purpose. However, with time available we re-approached Montague Marina where our dock lines were awaited. It is rare for Rising Wind to be at a dock for the night, but we found the dock comfortable, and services readily available. 110 volt electricity was included in the 70 cent per foot dockage. Excellent town water with a touch of chlorine and good pressure were on the dock at each slip from a new hose with a nozzle that did not leak! We were provided with keys to the washrooms/showers and to the security gate that bars any but boat owners from the floating docks and fingers. Fenders are needed on most of the floats. Harbormaster Jock Beck was most helpful and discussed the various attractions in the area and forthcoming events. Even with the Canadian GST tax the berthing cost was modest thirty dollars per night for our 43 feet.

Remarks: The current runs strongly at the head of the harbor and on swinging to make the second approach, we quickly found ourselves broadside to the current and heading down stream.

Facilities: A walk to the right from the main road to the harbor will bring you to the post office, the bank, hardware and two food stores. Propane tank exchange is available at the Irving fuel station, at grocery stores and for purchase at the hardware store. We passed several restaurants en route. Our wifi worked on the boat. Laundry facilities were pointed out as we registered, at Lane Cottages just past a small ice cream stand; For 1.25 in quarters one can use the “public laundry” at the cottages; four washers and dryers were available. Lane’s also could accommodate visitors if crew were coming in advance of a boat. Perrin’s Marina Villa, which adjoins the marina, is now operated as a seniors’’ facility. The old railway, now the Confederation Trail, is right near the marina and offers good hiking/ biking possibilities for those inclined.

While it is not reasonable to expect such treatment at all times in the future, we were very taken with the helpfulness and generosity of the residents of the area. As we were having some trouble fine tuning the alignment of our new engine, we asked at King’s Auto Store on the main road if they had a small hydraulic jack that we could buy. They did not have one in stock but called around and found one at a rental place a couple of miles out of town. One of the gentlemen at the counter then jumped into his own vehicle and retrieved the thing for us at no charge! When we inquired at the marina desk as to the location of the nearest liquor store, the kind lady by the name of Lily MacLane, told us it was three or four miles out of town up a steep hill and insisted that we take her car and drive out to it. This is the sort of kindness that we experienced in Eastern Maine when we moved there forty years ago but which has pretty much vanished today. Both the motionless docking at the head of the river and helpfulness of the people made it possible for us to accomplish a number of bits of ship’s work during our three days in Montague. We highly recommend it as a stopping point to other sailors.

Cardigan River, PEI
Gardiner Schneider 2007

Directions: Entrance is straightforward from the chart. There are numerous mussel farms, particularly on the starboard side on entering. Unfortunately starboard has the deeper water in many places, but there is adequate space. Where there are mussel farms on only one side of the river, it is well to stay within fifty feet of the line of buoys even though there may be a mile of water from the buoy line and the shore. The leases seem to come close to the middle of the navigable channel. Splitting the distance twixt the line of buoys and the opposite shore for your route will likely run you aground, especially towards the lower end of the tide.

Anchorages and/or Berths: There is a buoyed channel at the head of the River which leads to a marina and wharf. We saw several small sailboats alongside one dock and a number of fishing vessels along another side. A small store appeared across the way. Having provisioned in Montague our needs for dockage were minimal, but as we were about to reverse course having viewed the river a fisherman kindly offered to guide us into the facility and assist with our lines. There is room to anchor in several locations along the river. We found room at 46 13.43N 62 22.93W.

Remarks: The scenery along the river is rural, with signs of haying and farming that are fast disappearing along many coastlines. Some newer dwellings are appearing, but the shoreline is still relatively uncluttered in most places.

Charlottetown 46º13.8N, 63º 07.3W
Jim Evans 2007

If you look for the Charlottetown Yacht Club in 2008 you will find it gone – at least, gone a few hundred yards up river to the Marine Terminal, where shelter will be better and access to public transit and visitor information should be improved. The clubhouse will be moved on a large barge in early 2008.

The photo below shows a tanker (a regular visitor) docked at the dolphins just below the bridge. This mooring will be changed to an alongside dock in 2008.

Launching Pond was dredged and the entrance improved in 207 but we do not yet have reports of conditions. It is still a shallow and narrow entrance and I’m waiting the right day to check it out.

Murray Harbour 6º 02.1N, 62º 27.1W

was subject to a detailed survey by the Canadian Hydrographic Service in late 2007, but there is no news yet as to whether there will be dredging and/or a new chart.

Summerside 46 23.25N, 63 47.2W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“Anchored just out side the markers directly opposite the main shipping dock. The marina has Gas and diesel and we were able to get in with 6ft depth.”

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Sides of Northumberland Strait

Havre Boucher 45° 41.3N, 61° 31.6W
Chart 4335, 4448
Jim Evans 2007

There is a quiet anchorage, well-sheltered from all but northerly winds, in the southeast corner of the bay between a small island and the mainland. It is fairly tight but a very pleasant spot, although noise from the railway marshalling yard on the mainland does get through.

Merigomish 45º 39.2N, 62º 28.3W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“anchored off the beach off Roy Island. Well protected for the light SW  wind that I had that night.”

Pictou 45º 40.5N, 62º 42.3W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“anchored close to one of the race marks just off the yacht club.  Anchored through a 40+ knot blow for 24 hours, no problem. The wind  during that time went from SE  to SW. Yacht club very friendly. Their race night is Wednesday and the bar  is open to visitors it is also open on Friday nights. Club member were extremely friendly and helped drive me out to the  gas station to get fuel it is well outside town. The marina has  Gasoline but no diesel. By the way Nooks video store is happy to rent  videos to cruisers - not always the case.”

Miramichi Bay to Baie des Chaleurs and Cap de Gaspé

Escuminac 47º05.19'N 064º56.12'W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“was concerned about the depth in the marina so anchored instead just  off the beach in 5 m water. the ground was a bit hard and took a  while to dig in. It was well sheltered for the wind from the SW.”

Ste Thérèse de Gaspé 48º24.84'N 064º23.54'W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“This was a welcomed shelter after 14 hours in strong SW winds. Very  busy commercial fishing harbour with two inter-linked basins. In my  tour through the basins I saw 3.5m+. Ended up tying on to a large  long-liner. Fuel could be got from a fuel truck which visits the harbour for the  fishing boats.”

St. Lawrence River

Riviére au Renard 48º59.87'N 064º23.21'W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“Depth 4+m . Large commercial fishing port plus Coast Guard station. Marina brand new 2006. Floating docks with finger docks 35 ft long.  Laundry and dryers ($1 ea/load) hot water, showers. $1/foot length of boat. People very friendly and helpful. Fuel - they carry jerry cans of gas and diesel - someone  from the marina drives to the gas station to refill the jerry cans. Shopping: grocery store 200 m from the dock; well stocked. There was  also an auto store. On the dock at the marina are two chip wagons with the usual burgers, poutine through to icecreams.”

Mont-Louis 49°24.86N 065° 23.62W
David and Kim Hartman 2007

“Anchored in the middle of the bay between the piers in 5 m water.  Great until the SW wind picked up (25+)and the swell wrapped around  the western point.

Upped and moved anchor to 100m from western pier at 49 14 05 N 6544 14 W There were fishing boats plus 4 Quebec cruising boats tied off to the  wharf, rafted in pairs as there was not enough room.”

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