Trying To Get To Alaska

[newhaul]

The felony that will disqualify you is anything involving illicit drugs.

[Capt Phil]

The advice you have received regarding firearms is dead on. You can mail handguns to your self from Friday Harbor, Port Angeles, Port Townsend or any other USPO in the US. To your name, General Delivery, your first Port of Call in Alaska? You may take 2 long guns across, one being a shot gun.
If you have a felony conviction on your record, you may get into Canada but get hassled or refused entry back into the US. Remember, Alaska is a US State but I don,t think they worry much about convictions up there. If they did they would not have any fishermen!
Have a great trip! Cheers, Phil

[Hyrdflyr]

I don't believe you can mail firearms to your self under any circumstance. You must have a federal firearms license and can only mail to another federal firearms licensee. Check it out.

[Schooner Chandlery]

Originally Posted by Hyrdflyr

I don't believe you can mail firearms to your self under any circumstance. You must have a federal firearms license and can only mail to another federal firearms licensee. Check it out.

Where does the OP mention firearms? Everyone keeps talking firearms but the OP didn't mention them at all. 😕


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[jdazey]

Originally Posted by Schooner Chandlery

Where does the OP mention firearms? Everyone keeps talking firearms but the OP didn't mention them at all. 😕


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

The OP didn't, but a lot of other people are now reading the thread. The question was raised, and it's been answered.

Cheers,

[Capt Phil]

Originally Posted by Hyrdflyr

I don't believe you can mail firearms to your self under any circumstance. You must have a federal firearms license and can only mail to another federal firearms licensee. Check it out.

Not certain that is the case because I have mailed firearms (unloaded, of course) through the USPS both domestically and internationally in the past 2 years.
A sailor standing ahead of me checking into Canada at the South Thormanby Island Port of Entry was told by the Canadian Customs and Immigration official to go back to Friday Harbor and mail his hand gun to himself, c/o General Delivery, Haines, AK. He also said that the USPS in both Friday Harbor and Haines, AK were very used to doing this so there should be no problem.
Perhaps the laws have changed in the US... Phil

[NewMoon]

Hi Yvonne,

Don't forget that anchoring in BC is considered entering, and you need to check in. Weather (or getting some sleep) will likely require you to tuck into a cove and anchor at least a few times.

If you have passports, boat ownership papers, and don't bring guns, prohibited foods, or excessive amounts of alcohol etc checking in is no big deal. Been doing it for twenty years with minimal hassle.

Presently in Ketchikan heading south,

[Chinook92]

I've done the inside passage quite a few times on commercial fishing boats. We had 6 guys, and thousands of gallons of fuel and a months worth of supplies, Wed get to Ketch in 70 hours from Anacortes or so. We would run 24/7 and wouldnt stop for anything


You are talking about taking a small sailboat

You are gonna want to stop for groceries

You are.gonna want to step off the boat

You are going to anchor at night

You are going to get tired of being on the boat

Summer is over in Alaska

Go next year

Unless you enjoy motoring in the rain

If you haven't been to Southeast, you've never seen rain

Don't be a fool.

Go next year

[Capt Phil]

Chinook92 is right... Listen to the words of experience. I haven't seen such a succinct and accurate word of caution in a long time. Phil

[Chinook92]

Originally Posted by Hyrdflyr

I don't believe you can mail firearms to your self under any circumstance. You must have a federal firearms license and can only mail to another federal firearms licensee. Check it out.

Yeah mailing guns is tricky, and if you wish to do so, I would suggest dropping your gun(s) off at your favorite local gun store, go on your adventure, and when you find a good gunshop in an area you like near your destination, arrange a transfer, and the shop with your guns has to send the gunshop you want them sent to a copy if their FFL lisence and it's like 100$ per gun or something. I used to send my shotgun home that way when I was in Alaska so I didn't have to deal with TSA at the airport. I'd take it up on the boat, we would go outside straight up to Prince William Sound (104 foot crab boat) and I'd ffl mail it back

Taking a gun into Canada is a pain, but it can be done. No semi autos, no handguns. I'm planning a sail to Juneau, and my 12 gauge is going the whole way, I'll be damned if I get eaten by a bear on my way north


You have to plan it way in advance and go to the Canadian customs office beforehand and get the right forms and be a legal gun owner with no offences and the gun you wish to bring into Canada has to be a legal gun to own in camada
No hand guns, no semi automatic, but hunting rifles and certain shotguns are okay

Only if you jump through the hoops and have all the proper documentation

Sure beats getting eaten by a bear

[Chinook92]

DUI is a felony in Canada too

[Chinook92]

If you are dead set on going, leave the boat at home, hop on the ferry in Bellingham, you'll be there in a few days, and you can have your adventure and be back, but remember that Southeast Alaska is one of the wettest places on earth, it is one of the biggest rainforests on the planet.

it rains by the foot for weeks on end starting
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[Chinook92]

Originally Posted by yvonne13

we bought a 34 californian, which originally comes from sitka. seems like going on the outside at this time of year might be a little sketchy.
i do agree that dealing with potential customs ick is totally avoidable given a person has time to get all the paperwork.
we have twin cats and carry 200 gal of fuel in each. we figured that going on the inside, we would need to refuel at least once, somewhere around queen charlotte sound.
decisions, decisions...

I thought you were talking about a sailboat (cruisers forum- just assumed we are all sailors)

I'm a diesel mechanic

Twin cats

3208 natural or even turbo, 200 gallons of fuel per engine isnt enough

Have you ever been to Alaska by boat?

Ever see those tide rips and currents?

Very formidable

If you got up to around Buttedale or something or fight Grenville channel, or symore narrows or the Queen Charlotte and had to run hard.... 400 gallons of diesel with cats isn't enough

[yvonne13]

where are you now

[Chinook92]

Originally Posted by yvonne13

where are you now

Me? I'm sitting in my recliner, in my cabin by Deception Pass