FAQs – Weather & Boat Tours

THIS is what we mean when we say
“SUPER NATURAL BC”!

CANCELLATION POLICY & RESERVATIONS:

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Full purchase of tickets is required to confirm a reservation. Ticket sales are final. No cancellations are accepted.

Schedules with confirmed reservations will not change. Schedules with no reservations confirmed are subject to change.

We will try to be flexible in unusual circumstances, but it hard for us to accommodate changes given the size and nature of our business.

In the event we have to cancel a scheduled tour Sunshine Coast Tours’ liability is limited to the full refund of your ticket.
It is helpful to note here that we have never cancelled due to weather or number of tickets sold. The Inlets are protected from weather to the point that travel is always safe. Visibility will affect what you see but in the Inlet there is always something interesting.

Charters (when you rent the boat as opposed to buying an individual ticket) are slightly different. Industry standard is that deposits and payments are non-refundable. Check your charter agreement.

WHEN SHOULD I MAKE MY RESERVATION?

Reserve your seat as soon as you finalize travel plans to:

Avoid disappointment. Because the boats are small days sell out, sometimes unpredictably.

Secure the sailing date. Scheduled days with no ticket sales may change BUT, as soon as your ticket is confirmed your schedule is fixed. Barring something unexpected we will not change your day; regardless of the number of tickets sold.

ON THE TRIP:

WHAT IS THE BOAT LIKE?

Our boats are in the “Small Passenger Vessels” classification as definded by Transport Canada. They are in the Blue Decal certification program. Check our ABOUT BOAT web page for description of our boats. Check our photo gallery SMUGMUG BLINE

There are no washrooms on our small passenger vessels. We structure the tours to be on the boat for no more than 2 hours. There are washrooms on shore where we stop.

Inside seating is similar to what you might expect on a bus or airplane. The smoothest ride is always near the back of the boat.

This is likely the quietest, smoothest running small passenger vessel capable of a major trip like going to Princess Louisa Inlet. Inside noise is ~60 db, like a shared office. The deep V hull and narrow profile help cut easily through expected seaway.

Outside seating is available around the engine cover; like a bench, with no back. It’s surprisingly protected outside when behind the cabin.

CAN I BRING ALCOHOL TO ENHANCE THE PICNIC EXPERIENCE?

BC law specifies that “you cannot drink liquor in a public place”.
BC Park states that “Liquor consumption is prohibited anywhere in the park”.
That having been said discretion and common sense go a long way.

SHOULD I BRING LUNCH?

On the Princess Louisa Inlet tour almost everyone brings a lunch. We try to arrange your free time in the Provincial Park close to lunchtime. Bring something easily carried and suitable to eating as a picnic in the Park.

If you order lunch through a third party remember to pick it up. The boat operator will not know you’ve made this arrangement and nobody delivers to the boat.

Be prepared to pack out all garbage.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Make sure you will be comfortble for the day.
The cabin on the boat is enclosed and heated. It is surprising well protected on the back deck while we travel. A jacket is never wrong in the Pacific Northwest.
Footwear should be “sensible”. Generally this would suggest avoiding heels and offering some reasonable support. Sandals are very common. Hiking boots are more than you will likely need or want.

CAN I GO SWIMMING?

We are not set up to swim from the boat.

Some people swim from the beach in Princess Louisa Marine Park. In the right condition it can be very nice. Be aware that our ocean waters are ALWAYS cold.

Also, as boaters we stress the dangers of swimming from a public dock or around a public anchorage.

WILL I SEE WILDLIFE?

Honestly, it is not likely you will see big wildlife. It could happen but don’t let anyone mislead you about the prospects of wildlife viewing here. Big marine mammals come in to our Inlets but their visits are unpredictable. Don’t expect to see many land animals. They are here but the bush in our inlets is too thick and it comes too close to the ocean to expect to expect encounters with the land animals.

The best feature of our tours is the grand scenery and the interpretive commentary that explains it.

CAN I BRING MY PET?

NO. We do not take pets on board the boats.

For pet sitting options on the Sunshine Coast look at:
Castle Rock Kennels – 604 885-9840 – Sunshine Coast Hwy, Roberts Creek
Pawsitive Adventures – 604 886-0528 – Pratt Rd, Gibsons
Mountain and Wave Dog Resort – 604 866-1406

WHAT IS THE TIPPING POLICY?

Tipping is optional. If you do choose to tip, 100% of your tip stays with your captain.

Should you choose to tip, the captain / guide will appreciate it. It is a nice acknowledgement of their efforts to be an efficient, safe operator and an informative guide.

The captains all like to follow our reviews. If you enjoyed your day give them a shout out in a Google or Trip Advisor review.

SAFETY:

BOAT SAFETY

The boats meet Transport Canada standards for Small Passenger Vessels. It is compliant with standards in the Blue Decal program The operators hold appropriate licensing for the vessel size and passenger count.
Safety equipment includes lifejackets but not personal flotation devices (pfd). If you prefer to bring your own pfd to wear you are welcome to do so, but it is not commonly done.
The boat master has full discretion. Always follow instructions from boat crew.

Does it get rough?

The inlets are relatively calm compared to more open areas. It is nothing like the Strait of Georgia. The waters are much more confined so weather will not develop with the power and to the size you experience in other areas.

When the inlets are rough the maximum sea size is limited, but the wave legnth is short. Travel when this inlet chop develops is bumpy. The best way for the operator to deal with it is to put the bow down and power in to it. Any extreme conditions are generally limited to one of the three legs.

It is best to remain seated in extreme conditons. And remember, the smoothest ride is when seated further back in the boat.

WHAT ABOUT DISABILITIES?

Each situation is unique. We can work through most situations.

Wheel chairs can roll right up to the boat but people who have no ambulatory ability are difficult to accommodate.

GETTING HERE:

WHERE DO I GET ON THE BOAT?

Princess Louisa and Skookumchuck Narrows scheduled tours leave from the Backeddy Marina, Egmont.

Check our DRIVING DIRECTIONS web page for a description and photos. Drive times suggested by Google are close but we recommend adding a few minutes unless you are comfortable driving small, windy roads. It is a lovely drive on the Sunshine Coast. We recommend leaving early enough to slow down and enjoy the trip.

In Egmont parking at the marina is quick. Arrival 15 minutes in advance of tour time is usually enough. Parking is directed by marina staff. A parking fee is due to the marina.

Charters (when you rent the boat as opposed to buying an individual ticket) may differ. Check your charter agreement.

There is no public transport at this end of the Sunshine Coast. Taxis, shuttles and car rentals originate in Sechelt or Gibsons.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

There is a wide range of accommodations in the area. Check tourist guides and use internet search engines to see the full range of options.

Drive times suggested by Google are close but we recommend adding a few minutes unless you are comfortable driving small, windy roads. It is a lovely drive on the Sunshine Coast. We recommend slowing down to enjoy the trip.

Egmont is small; only a couple of minutes to cover the area. Drive time to Egmont from other Sunshine Coast areas:
Ruby Lake … 12 km / 7.5 miles … 15 min
Garden Bay / Madeira Park … 30 km / 19 miles … 40 min
Halfmoon Bay … 45 km / 28 miles … 50 min
Sechelt (town side) … 60 km / 37 miles … 75 min
Sechelt (Tuwanek side) … 70 km / 44 miles … 90 min
Roberts Creek … 70 km / 44 miles … 80 min
Gibsons … 85 km / 53 miles … 90 min

WEATHER ON THE SUNSHINE COAST OF BC

The Sunshine Coast is in a temperate Mediterranean climatic region. Vegetation is varied. The dominate vegetation is coastal forest, leading to Pacific Northwest Rainforest regions inland.
“Normals” is the term used for values of climatic elements averaged over a fixed, standard period of years. To be included in data published by the Environment Canada data a minimum of twenty years of records is required. Values we quote here are “normals”.
Summer temperature “normals” range from 15C (60F) to 20C (70F). It can appear much hotter in the direct sunshine. Winter temperature “normals” range from 4C (40F) to 15C (60F). Rainfall “normals” suggest we experience some rainfall on 20% of our summer days and 60% of our winter days. It is our opinion that the soft lights and low cloud on “grey days” add to the scenery on our sightseeing outings.
Rain quickly adds to or fills water falls and heightens the drama of the inlets. Unless unsafe to operate each trip will run regardless of weather conditions. It has never been necessary to cancel a scheduled day.

Sunshine Coast Tours – Policies

REFUNDS & DISCOUNTS

Tickets must be pre-purchased to reserve seating. Refunds are not available.
Departures.
Our promise to you is that when you buy a ticket your tour will run. There is no minimum number of tickets sold to ensure this. Even if you are the only ticket sold your tour will go.
It’s not always possible but we will consider adding days to our existing schedule. We make every effort to not cancel scheduled sailings, regardless of passenger compliment.
We are always available charters. On charters you are charged a boat fee, as opposed to a per person ticket price.
Reservations are strongly recommended. Once ticket sales are confirmed the tour schedule is fixed. Until the point when sales are confirmed we may make changes to the scheduling.

TAX