Channel Surfing to Alaska

Can You Really Cruise to Alaska in a Ranger Tug?

‍

Many have asked, is a Ranger Tugs R-27 a great boat to tackle Alaska’s Inside Passage? Is a Ranger Tug even capable of cruising to Alaska? Martin and LaZina Nethkin set out to answer that question and came home with not only a resounding “YES” but with a set of experiences and stories that have inspired others in their own cruising conquests. Their journey began, like many others, at the Seattle Boat Show. They compared models, features, and eventually landed on a brand new Light Gray, R-27. Since then, they’ve started a thriving YouTube channel and even a community surrounding their adventures in Puget Sound. When Martin and LaZina first met, they flew to Alaska on a whim and vowed they’d venture back by water. Now that they had their R-27, Channel Surfing, everything had aligned to fulfill that dream.

‍

The pair are seasoned boaters, Martin even served as a Naval Submarine Engineer. They didn’t have many reservations about embarking on a trip this ambitious, even if it was their first time cruising the Inside Passage. That being said, they wanted to ensure they had community along the way, so they invited Janet aboard MV Lemon Drop to join their armada.

‍

Their strict plan for the voyage revolved around, not having a strict plan. The crew felt that a rigid itinerary spanning the entire duration would constrain them to a schedule that couldn’t allow for weather delays and would dampen exploration. Instead, they took a freeform approach. Fuels stops, distance between ports, and sightseeing destinations all came into account, but with the ability to select each run on a daily basis during the trip.

‍

Everett Marina was their setting off point, from there they headed northbound through Deception Pass, into Thatcher Pass to meet up with their boat-buddy Janet. The group ventured onward, across the US-Canada border and into Ganges, BC to clear customs.

‍

They documented their entire journey through the Inside Passage, into ice-scattered fjords, and stunning destinations such as Lowe Inlet, the LaConte Glacier, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Glacier Bay to name a few. If you’d like to see the complete video series documenting their Alaska Adventure spanning 55 days and 2,600 miles, check out their YouTube channel: Lets Go Channel Surfing

‍

Here’s a short-list of just a few destinations the Channel Surfing Crew visited during their time cruising the Inside Passage, from Washington to Alaska

• Lowe Inlet
• Ketchikan
• LaConte Glacier
• Juneau
• Glacier Bay
• Margerie Glacier
• Tracy Arm Inlet

‍

‍

‍

Watch the updates from their trip here: YouTube.com

And click here for their presentations covering preparation, provisioning, and helpful tips in hindsight.

‍

‍

‍