Quick cruise to James Bay

[MAC-A-TAC]

Thanks for the info. Your "right on" as to the significant history of the area. So if i read you correctly the bugs are bad on shore but not on the water. We will also have tide charts to help keep afloat.

There will be three of us going, using the safety in numbers principal.

The plan is to do a bit of a travel log and share with all.

[DeepFrz]

Take mosquito hats and lots of good bug repellant. The black flies can drive you crazy if you let them. You have to keep your cool.

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by MAC-A-TAC

Thanks for the info. Your "right on" as to the significant history of the area. So if i read you correctly the bugs are bad on shore but not on the water. We will also have tide charts to help keep afloat.

There will be three of us going, using the safety in numbers principal.

The plan is to do a bit of a travel log and share with all.

Is your Mac 26 one of the planing hulls? A friend has one and he was rafted to me recently. He could take that thing all kinds of places I wouldn't dream. Hardly any draft with the centre board up.

[MAC-A-TAC]

are the black flies bad in August?

[nautical62]

Mosquitoes not so bad away from shore. Black flies seem to get anywhere and everywhere. When I cruised the Great Lakes, they were often worse on the water, perhaps because we were the only thing around.

[hummingway]

This site says they sometime disappear by August, sometimes not :
James Bay Road website - Black Flies, Mosquitoes and Bears

[DeepFrz]

It depends on the temp. But if the black flies aren't bad the horse/moose flies will be.

[MAC-A-TAC]

Originally Posted by hummingway

Is your Mac 26 one of the planing hulls? A friend has one and he was rafted to me recently. He could take that thing all kinds of places I wouldn't dream. Hardly any draft with the centre board up.

Mine is the 1988 dagger board version. 9.9 hp aux. Still great for getting close to shore though. Board up draws 18". Very handy when cruising the 30,000 islands or getting through thin passages in the North Channel.

[MAC-A-TAC]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

It depends on the temp. But if the black flies aren't bad the horse/moose flies will be.

Have experience with horse flies, none with Moose flies. Do you have a repellant recommendation?

[MAC-A-TAC]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

It depends on the temp. But if the black flies aren't bad the horse/moose flies will be.

Originally Posted by nautical62

Mosquitoes not so bad away from shore. Black flies seem to get anywhere and everywhere. When I cruised the Great Lakes, they were often worse on the water, perhaps because we were the only thing around.

I've sailed the Great Lakes for years and can confirm that the black flies can be a real challenge. they seem to forecast storms about as well as weather radar.

[JimJohnston]

Hi Mac a tac. Some years ago (I can't remember how many) an article appeared in GAM magazine about a 45 ft steel hull boat that sailed from Toronto to Hudson Bay via Nfld, the labrador coast and Hudson Straight. If you can find the article it may give you some insights into sailing in the area. As I recollect they encountered gale force winds with blizzards. And I think it was 'summer'. I think the boat was named Northern Star.

[pierrrre]

I grew up in an area of Quebec with mosquitoes, horse flies and moose flies around by the tonne. I always use repellent with 99% deet. The type I use is called ''Muskol''. I would not go in the wood without a bottle of it. All of my brothers and my mother (she is an all out fisherman) have a bottle of it in their fishing gear boxes also. I You can't get it in Canada anymore but I believe you can get it in the states (This is where I got mine the last time). It works well for mosquitoes, black flies and horse flies. For moose flies, I can only recommend a 12 gauge gun....

[AiniA]

I think all of the Muskol you can buy now (Canada and US) is 30% DEET. The original stuff was a very potent and not very safe chemical. Had some leak in a pocket once and partially dissolve the shell of a Swiss army knife.

[MAC-A-TAC]

Originally Posted by JimJohnston

Hi Mac a tac. Some years ago (I can't remember how many) an article appeared in GAM magazine about a 45 ft steel hull boat that sailed from Toronto to Hudson Bay via Nfld, the labrador coast and Hudson Straight. If you can find the article it may give you some insights into sailing in the area. As I recollect they encountered gale force winds with blizzards. And I think it was 'summer'. I think the boat was named Northern Star.

Thank you for the info. I'll follow up with a friend who has years of GAM back issues. With luck it will help. Blizzards in summer ... egads. The boat would be back on the trailer and headed South if that was the case.

[MAC-A-TAC]

Originally Posted by AiniA

I think all of the Muskol you can buy now (Canada and US) is 30% DEET. The original stuff was a very potent and not very safe chemical. Had some leak in a pocket once and partially dissolve the shell of a Swiss army knife.

Deet is still the best it seems. I've a "deep woods working" relative who I'll get to find me the best that can be had, ( without dissolving anything important that is )