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| Fuel Availability Between Puget Sound and Juneau
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April 29, 2002
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Bob Kuhn, from Juneau, Alaska, sent this question about fuel availability and suggested guidebooks for the Inside Passage.
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I am planning a run from Bellingham, Washington to Juneau, Alaska this summer in a 26 ft. Tollycraft. One concern I have is the distances betweeen refueling locations. Do you have any source that would tell me where along the Inside Passage I could refuel? Also any thoughts on source books to gather more info. I have your 2002 Guide.
Thank you,
Robert Kuhn
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Response
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From Bellingham to Prince Rupert you shouldn't have a problem with fuel availability. Fuel docks are located conveniently all the way to the top of Vancouver Island. Price vary, but if you're willing to pay, you can get fuel. From the top of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert you'll have fuel in Rivers Inlet (Duncanby Landing and Dawson's Landing); Shearwater and New Bella Bella; Klemtu; Hartley Bay; and finally Prince Rupert. Most distances are in the 30-40-mile range. The longest runs will be between Klemtu and Prince Rupert. It used to be 140 miles with no fuel. Now that Hartley Bay has fuel, it'll be about 70 miles for each leg.
I don't know about fuel in Alaska, but I'm sure you won't have any problems.
As for references, the Waggoner was developed so that if you could choose only one guidebook, it would be the Waggoner. Other excellent references exist, however, and we carry them on our boat. For specific Alaska marina and fuel dock information I would carry Northwest Boat Travel. Their 2002 edition comes out in May. I would also carry Don and Reanne Douglass's Exploring the North Coast of B.C., 2nd edition, and Exploring Southeast Alaska. These two books are expensive ($60 each) but they have excellent information. Another good book is Charlie's Charts.
It's a good idea to read different books and compare their write-ups about places, whether the places are bodies of water, anchorages, or facilities. If they agree that a particular anchorage is good, it probably is good. If they are mixed in their enthusiasm, you'll have reason to be more cautious.
The most important publications (after the Waggoner, naturally) are charts, charts, charts. You'll have a big investment in charts, but you'll need them. The more we cruise, the more important charts become to us.
Have a good trip.
--Bob Hale
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