As an avid Squamish boater I can no longer keep my mouth shut when it comes to the shape of our only boat launch, the depth of the Mamquam Blind Channel – in particular, from the log sort areas out to the sound – and how the log sort companies feel it is their right to go further into the channel, hence, only leaving a very narrow navigation channel for us boaters.
The shape of our only boat launch is appalling. Not to mention the parking area for people with boat trailers.
During the summer months it is not uncommon to have sailing regattas where small sail-boats take up the whole boat launch, hence, not having enough room for other boaters to launch their boats.
The shape of the boat launch itself is worth discussing. At the very lowest tides of the year it is impossible to launch our boats.
The current boat launch needs to ripped out, re-graded and extended by about another 20 feet, not to mention having proper tie-ups while people park their trailers.
Squamish has by far the worst boat launch that I have ever seen. I have seen better boat launches in so-called Third World countries.
The depth of the channel from the log sorts out to the sound needs to be dredged badly. At the medium tides and lower you have to be so careful as to where you are in the channel as the depth can go from 15 or 20 feet to near nothing in the matter of a few feet. I have ruined two props in the last year because of this. This is a navigation hazard.
On Saturday, Oct. 22, I was out in my boat for a few hours to enjoy a nice fall day when I noticed the log sort on the terminal side of the channel had pushed its logs to within about 50 feet of the other log sort, hence, creating a narrow channel and a navigation challenge with other boats. This is un-excusable.
I have heard from other boaters that they have had a couple of close calls with that log boom when there are boats in that same area.
We need some drastic change to this area and now.
Gord Gunner
Squamish
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