15 Jul Sechelt Rapids, what does it feel like?

It is exhilarating! There is a lot going on, and it never stops. The dynamics here are a force of nature that is both fun and humbling to be part of.

During Sunshine Coast Tour’s Skookumchuck Narrows tour, you spend time in the area of Sechelt Rapids. This is an exciting part of the outing that should stimulate all your senses. But it is not a risky high adventure. You will not race around. Ideally, you will not be splashed. We move about carefully and thoughtfully to get a great view and really experience all the effects.

Resistance on the boat in this amount of water flow is significant. It takes considerable power to manoeuvre safely here. The rumbling of the diesel engine and the noise of its turbo is constant. But it is overpowered by the roar of the water flow itself.

The rush of water below the hull can make the boat vibrate. It is more than our horsepower turning the propellers. It is the rough caress of the ocean as it goes by. It is heavier than the wind and its power is impressive. While the raw strength of the engine is enough, it pales compared to the power of nature.

Sometimes the water can grab the boat and shake it. It can be more than a rock or a sway. It is like a dog playing with a stuffed toy. The operator will try to keep those times to a minimum but the turbulence is not to be underestimated. Standing unsupported on any boat is ill advised. Here it is asking for a problem.

Perspectives are altered when you are in the current. Keep an eye on the shore only and you think you are standing still. Look solely over the edge at the water flow and you think you are racing forward. Look where the boat is pointed during a ferry (“ferry” is a maneuver that gets you across current) and you soon realize that is not the direction you are actually going. For the operator it is a case of finding the balance between power and angle to get the desired end result.

Eddy lines define the edge between water flows. Combined with all the pressure waves, whirlpools and boils you realize how intricate an area this is. On close examination, you see water moving in every direction. To run the boat here you have to think ahead. Maintaining momentum is imperative. Operating requires good anticipation and a combination of patience and persistence.

Even smell senses are excited here. It is hard to identify ocean smell. Is it the air? Or is it the salt-water mist that hangs everywhere? Maybe it is the marine life. After all, phytoplanktons in the water are incredibly abundant this time of year.

Relax on board during a Skookumchuck Narrows tour and take in all these sensations. Let the boat captain worry about navigating through all the different dynamics. Absorb the commentary explaining the different features. Once in a while close your eyes and just feel it.