Butedale, BC

Monday May 26, 2025

We left Bottleneck this morning around 7:00 a.m. By late evening yesterday there were six boats in the inlet. We always thought it was too small to accommodate no more than 2 or 3 boats but we were proven wrong. Good to know for the future. Our four hour cruise to Butedale was calm and uneventful save for the “log dodging.” There are quite a few rushing waterfalls along Princess Royal Channel causing turbulence with logs, literally everywhere. It was a full time job for Marlene and myself watching for logs and changing our direction. The only other boat on the channel this morning was the 65 foot Fleming, Venture that was in Bottleneck with us last night.

Butedale is a beautiful place with a fairly new dock for boats to tie up to. And, bonus, they don’t charge a penny to stay here! The dock is about 100 feet which is enough tor 9 boats. Butedale is the historic site of a former cannery. It was purchased in 2013 by a development company that is planning on restoring it. We have never stopped here on previous trips North as it was just not located in the right time slot for us when traveling North, and was usually very crowded with sail boats on our way South. However, we have heard “boaters stories” about this place for years and this time it worked out to stop for the night. We have we heard the owners dream is to develop it as a mini-Roche Harbor and a major destination along the inside passage.Interestingly we have friends on Guemes who know the owner of the property and I corresponded with him this morning asking if we could stay. Good news, the answer was yes.

So here is the DREAM!

Here is the current reality.

The “re-development” is obviously not going very well. This is the old cannery building that, shall we say, “needs work.” Here is a peak inside:

We took a stroll up the hill to survey the “historic” cabins. The main cabin is quite nice, just needs a little TLC.

And here is the kitchen. I think a fresh coat of paint and its as good as new.

Both Marlene and I were very taken with the front porch. We could see ourselves with our grandchildren hanging out watching the boats go by.

BTW, the creepy baby says. “Hello.”

We are off to Lowe Inlet tomorrow for a seven hour cruise. Right now we are in deep conversation about investing in this property. I’ve been texting the owner