Episodes

  • 14:17 - Our cruising destination for episode 9 is Shoal Bay in beautiful British Columbia. This outstanding location for boaters ranks up there in the top three of places you must cruise to. Natural beauty serenades you with rustic charm, stunning views of snow-capped mountains greet you as you look up Phillips Arm, walk in the lovely gardens, hang out on the front porch of the Shoal Bay Pub and enjoy cold drinks and visit with other boaters. True Island life, where Mark and Cynthia live a self-sufficient life and greet boaters who want to explore the natural charm of British Columbia.

    23:21 - Purchasing a new or older boat? Make sure the boat works as intended, hire a Surveyor. Certified, professional, and knowledgeable, Surveyors provide an important service in the purchase. They also have access to specialists for specific systems or sections of the boat when needed. Each boat is unique, each has their own personality and challenges, a Surveyor will help identify what is needed, if anything.

    0:46 - Join us on a Flotilla. Cruise with us as we take you on a memorable journey, exploring some of the greatest locations in the cruising world.

  • What did we see at the Seattle Boat Show? Always surprising are the new developments in the marine electronics industry. Chartering? Did you know that Anacortes/Bellingham are one of the top places for chartering? Let's talk boat language, boating has its own terminology. And our destination cruise in this episode is Ocean Falls. This small town on North Vancouver Island, exploded in the 50's and 60's during its heydays in the lumber industry. Now, it's a destination for boaters as they are cruising the Inside Passage. This small village is filled with history and charm.

    3:48 Charters - one of the top destination charters in the world is Anacortes and Bellingham, Washington.

    11:45 What did we see at the Seattle Boat Show.

    12:44 Boating Terminology - a language of its own.

    17:30 Cruising Destination is the charming town of Ocean Falls in British Columbia.

  • Missing episodes?

    Click here to refresh the feed.

  • Come see us at the Seattle Boat Show, January 24, - February 1, 2020. Check out the extensive classes at Boat Show University and expand your boating knowledge. Also, add the north side of Vancouver in British Columbia to your summer cruising destinations. Explore this diverse metropolitan and some of the more remote locations all within a short distance.

    Show Notes:
    0:48 Boat Show University
    Expand your boating knowledge with some the experts in their field, such as, well-known onboard system specialist, Nigel Calder. Mastering Navionics with Captain Linda Lewis, and Women's Day classes with Captain Linda Lewis and Captain Margaret Pommert.
    Brought to you by Boat Insurance Agency.

    7:54 Mark Bunzel talks First Aid with Kris Peters RN and Annie Feyereisen RN, nurses at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and live aboard. Sign up for their class at Boat Show University, Sunday Stage #2 North Hall4:30 PM911 - "What is your emergency?" Practical Medical Treatment Aboard Your Recreational Vessel - 3 hours (4:30-7:30pm) $55. Kris and Annie will prepare you for onboard emergencies, recognizing emergencies, how to prevent emergencies, and taking care of the crew and passengers. Also, how to talk to the Coast Guard. Check out Annie's article, Don't Rock the Boat: Prevention and Treatment of Seasickness on a Recreational Vessel.

    20.30 Discover the North side of Vancouver, British Columbia. First stop, Coal Harbour, close to downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. Then up Indian Arm and Point Moody and Deep Cove. From metropolitan city to remote wilderness, a striking contrast in a short distance of 11 miles. Before you leave, cruise Howe Sound and stop at Union Steamship on Bowen Island, once a dance hall for the Union Steamship ferry.

  • 4:13
    Make Vancouver, British Columbia, your next get-away destination when cruising the Pacific Northwest. This great city offers cruisers a variety of places to see and things to do. From history to City life, you will find it along the Fraser River. Stop in Steveston, home of many television shows, historical buildings and quaint shops. Wind your way up the river and stop in Ladner, New Westminster, and Fort Langley. For a large city, cosmopolitan cruise, you'll find it in False Creek. Great shops, delicious food, micro breweries, museums, and one of the Vancouver's hottest tourist spots - Granville Island and their famous Public Market.

    21:03
    We come to you from Sarasota, Florida for the holiday break. Warm sun, fishing, and strolls on the beach. A nice break from the rainy Pacific Northwest.

    22:02
    Plan a cruise around the state of Florida. Charter a boat or bring your own and just follow the coastline. Make sure to stop at the Postcard Inn Beach Resort and Marina in Islamorada. Voted Top 15 Resorts, this Oasis in the Florida Keys is a must for boaters. Their newly renovated marina with eighteen transient slips and sixty-five slips total, awaits boaters for a visit to paradise. For a true Florida Key Resort visit, stop in the famous Tiki Bar. This fabulous marina provides you with fun activities, great food, best Sport Fishing, and place to relax.

  • Get away to Desolation Sound and the surrounding area. Desolation Sound offers a cruising area that is like no other. Mother Nature surrounds you with extraordinary beauty and stunning coves to anchor in. Explore other close-by destinations, usually within a day from Desolation Sound. A must-see destination for cruisers.

    Whether a seasoned sailor or new to boating, there is always something to learn, so let's talk about the resources and classes that Waggoner Seminars offers.

  • Destination Cruises:

    5:45
    Visit Anacortes, a waterfront community, which has so much to offer boaters; world class restaurants, great shops, a Post Office, Live Music, fun activities and events year round. Listen to Stephanie Hamilton from the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce and Dan Worra from the Port of Anacortes. With 16,000 boaters nights and more, Anacortes has a many amenities and a strong Marine Trades all in one place.

    12:35 - Explore Teakerne Arm
    Teakern Arm, located north of Prideaux Haven in Desolation Sound, is a deep inlet with a lovely dual waterfall. Anchorage can be taken in front of the falls, or you can use several rings set in the rock on either side of the dinghy dock. Visitors often use the dinghy dock to access the trail above the falls, which leads to Cassel Lake. The lake water is warm in the summer and offers a great place for a swim. Teakern Arm is just a short detour off Lewis Channel, just north of Refuge Cove and Squirrel Cove but feels very remote.


    18:49 - One of our managing editors favorite spots - The Octopus Islands.
    The Octopus Islands group offers cozy anchorages and are ideal for exploring by dinghy or kayak. You can run a stern-tie to shore in one of several coves nestled among the islands, or find ample anchorage in Waiatt Bay. At the head of Waiatt Bay, you’ll find a trail that leads across the neck of Quadra Island to Small Inlet and Kanish Bay. This trail connects the Octopus Islands Marine Provincial Park, located off of Okisollo Channel, with Small Inlet Marine Provincial Park, located off Discovery Passage. The Octopus Islands are very scenic, with a backdrop of impressive mountains to the north.


  • Waggoner Currents Podcast

    This release of Waggoner Currents covers the upcoming release of the 2020 Edition of the Waggoner Guide, the Cuisine Edition. Hear Waggoner Editor and Publisher Mark Bunzel talking about the new improvements to book for this edition. The new book will be hitting stores after December 9th. Advance orders will be shipped from the Waggoner offices the same week together with the 2020 edition of the Ports and Passes Tides and Current Guide as well as the 2020 Waggoner Tables. Order now for your trip planning.

    08:50

    Waggoner Destinations - Exploring Jedediah Island

    In the Strait of Georgia, on the way north from Nanaimo to Pender Harbour or Lund, you pass Lasqueti Island. Tucked between Lasqueti and Texada Islands, is the small island of Jedediah Island. Now a marine park, the island has coves and hiking trails to explore. Learn more in this Destinations segment with Waggoner Managing Editors Leonard and Lorena Landon.

    21:45

    Maintaining Your Boat - Diesel Engine Troubleshooting

    Our boat doctor and marine tech training specialist, Michael Beemer, takes us through a number of tips to troubleshooting diesel engine problems. Engine problems can ruin a passage and halt a vacation for a captain and crew. Effective troubleshooting can get you back underway as quickly as possible as well as having the right spare parts and tools you need to work on your boat. Check out classes with Mike Beemer and other instructors at Waggonerguide.com.

  • Waggoner Currents November 1 Podcast Now Online

    There is a lot going on at the Waggoner Cruising Guide in October and November. You can hear about the highlights of the new 2020 Edition, the Cuisine Edition, and how the Waggoner comes together. You will also hear from Mike Beemer, our Boat Doctor and Chair of the Marine Technology Department at Skagit Valley College, talk about Electrical Troubleshooting. We want to help you with the information to solve problems if you have an electrical problem on the water.

    Time 1:00

    Waggoner Editor and Publisher, Mark Bunzel tells about the highlights of the new 2020 Cuisine Edition. He talks about the new restaurants and food destinations. He also tells about this new concept of “Ocean Aging” whiskey and rum. You can age spirits on your boat with a charred oak cask using the “motion of the ocean” to age the spirit much faster. That's right. Buy a cask on Amazon, fill it with medium grade whiskey or rum and it will age faster with the rocking of the boat. Hmmm. We trying this technique in order to report on it for our readers.

    Time 7:35

    Waggoner Guide Managing Editors Leonard and Lorena Landon, and Editor and Publisher Mark Bunzel, are very excited about all of the new information in the 2020 Waggoner Cruising Guide including new destinations and new maps of the area.

    Time 15:55

    Our Boat Doctor, Mike Beemer, gives tips for troubleshooting electrical problems on your boat. The last thing you want to have happen is to have a problem that can be easily fixed that might otherwise ruin your vacation with family and friends. Mike Beemer will tell you the steps on how to troubleshoot an electrical problem while out cruising.

    Thank you for listening to our Waggoner Currents podcast.

  • In this episode, Mark joins Brian from Anacortes, WA, along with Waggoner Guide Managing Editors Leonard & Lorena Landon to preview updates in the 2020 Waggoner Guide. Mark also makes a short trip south to LaConner to go behind the scenes at Tomco Marine Group, makers of the hugely popular American Tug lineup. And with fall in full grip across the region, Brian connects with Mike Beemer at Marine Tech to get his fall maintenance tips.

  • In this episode, Mark Bunzel joins Brian Bushlach in the Seattle-area to share his passion for boating, and the story behind The Waggoner Guide. Mark also shares his favorite destinations in the Northwest Passage, along with a few tips for boating enthusiasts.