If you needed to move an aircraft on straight floats from BC to Ontario, what route would you take?

I found this route from an older BCP post but it's more an AK to MN route:



Is there a way to remain more south? Southern Alberta, Sask, and Manitoba seem less wet than the northern areas of the provinces.

Don't need 100LL so much as docks with clear boat fuel.

What’s the departure point in BC, and how much range do you have to work with?

C’mon Zane, you can’t just throw out that question without more details. Fess up!

G44 wrote:C’mon Zane, you can’t just throw out that question without more details. Fess up!

I bought one of Harbour Air's electric Beavers and I'm bringing it back to MN.

Porthill, Eckhart International 1S1 is a cool stop to clear into USA. Grass runway, but I have friend who has done it on floats in the river.

I imagine fuel is going to be tough on that trip.

Very few places to purchase fuel on the water. It will be easier to arrange for fuel on a more southerly route because it’s more populated and developed. But knowing the starting point and range of the aircraft in question is key to providing any specific advice.

Belloypilot wrote:Very few places to purchase fuel on the water. It will be easier to arrange for fuel on a more southerly route because it’s more populated and developed. But knowing the starting point and range of the aircraft in question is key to providing any specific advice.

Let's say PA-12-150 starting Nanaimo. Is this even an endeavor worth attempting?

Many years ago, while on routine flight around Kodiak Island, I spotted two Cessna 180s on floats, parked at the outlet to Karluk Lake. They were obviously using our cabin there at the outlet, so I dropped in to make sure the cabin was in good shape, and to see who the visitors were. Turns out it was two fellows from Maine, and several of their family members.

After they explained to me where they were from, I got to thinking about flying two straight float airplanes from Maine to Kodiak, which, granted, is fairly far south in Alaska. So, I asked how they did it.

They gave me a very detailed description of the process. They ducked up into Canada pretty early, as I recall, and mostly burned auto gas. THey came across the southern portion of the prairie provinces. I asked why not north.....no gas up north. They pointed out that even the lodges up there have to fly in their gas, so they're not likely to happily sell a bunch of gas to a couple airplanes moseying through.

They had done their research, and explained that they first located likely water bodies they could land/takeoff, at appropriate distances apart, based on their fuel range (both planes were early 180s with small tanks). Then, they looked around those lakes for towns that might have a gas station. Then, they tried to find names of farmers, towns people, or anyone who might be convinced to meet them, give them a ride to town with their gas cans, and give them a ride back to the lake. They each carried (if memory serves) five or six five gallon cans with them. So, they'd shuttle gas to the planes, refill the cans, and head to another lake they could land to refuel from the cans. Then on to the next refueling stop.

Frankly, I was astonished at the amount of effort and research they'd put into this project. I asked how they got in touch with people along the way. THey said they just located a small town, and called a number there that they could find....post office, city managers office, store, etc. They'd then explain their project, and they said the person on the other end almost always was helpful in finding someone who'd shuttle fuel for them. They always offered to pay for services rendered.

Their families met them in Anchorage, having flown commercial from Maine. So, they were crossing with empty planes, or mostly so.

What boggled my mind was that these guys were on their THIRD version of this trip! And, they were working guys, so didn't have unlimited time off for this project.

I gave them my contact information and told them to let me know when they were coming back next year. They did, and I met them on the island somewhere the next three summers.

Understand that this was before cell phones as well. So, they were making arrangements ahead of time for their "drivers" to meet them at the lakes.

I can't recall specifically where they stopped, but it was pretty close to the US/Canada border.

That said, IF you can land in the US, the crossing across the entire country really isn't too tough. The only stretch that's dry and long stretches to fuel is from the western Minnesota border to northwest Montana. Otherwise, there are lakes and gas over the whole route.

From the east, past Minnesota, the next stop would be the Missouri River at or near Bismark, ND. That can be a little tricky but I can put you in touch with folks who know that stretch of river well. I can put you in touch with people there who could get gas to you.

In eastern Montana, you'd need to stop at Fort Peck for fuel after leaving Bismark. You can land above the dam or just below the dam, and if you get going on this, I'll hook you up with someone who can arrange fuel. Last I heard, the marina above the dam has gas, but I can verify.

From there, you need to go either to NW Montana (Flathead River, at Polson). There is a POSSIBLE fuel stop on the Missouri River at Fort Benton, MT, but that stretch of river can vary from pretty technical on floats to near impossible, depending on river flows. That was the upper end of the river boats in the old days. It'd be better if you could make it from Ft. Peck to Polson, but that's a long stretch. There might be a lake in there somewhere you could get fuel. Let me know and I'll do some research.

That northern US route is really not that tough, just a bit of a stretch without a lot of lakes.

MTV



So, unless you really need to stay in Canada, eh?, I'd stay south of the border. Easy enough there.

MTV

Zzz wrote:

G44 wrote:C’mon Zane, you can’t just throw out that question without more details. Fess up!

I bought one of Harbour Air's electric Beavers and I'm bringing it back to MN.

I hope you have a long extension cord, the Western Provinces don't care much for EV's

I believe you're good to go on Mogas with that machine. If that's the case, you're laughing, no problem. Fly from Nanaimo to my place. Get lunch and I'll top up your tanks. Over to Kamloops, maybe top up there, on to Nelson. Through Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan it's a little trickier but the beauty is that a substantial lake is so rare and special there that any body of water is bound to have development on it. Just land as close as you can to the nearest town, or farm, and buy some Mogas. Probably hit Lake Newell, south of Brooks, it has a marina and resort, likely marine gas there. I think the lake at Old Wives is a bird sanctuary, so probably not there but use Diefenbaker instead. From Dief you should be able to make Lake Manitoba and now it's easy peasy again.

If you want Avgas on the water I think you'll have to go further North in the prairies, to where they're using a lot of float planes, probably Charlie Lake to Lesser Slave to LaRonge or Missinippi.

Stay in Canada, we don't bite but the blackflies & mossies do

Sask landing marina on lake diefenbaker could be a stop. Lots of landable water across southern Saskatchewan it’s fuel that could be a problem. We live near Duncairn dam in SW Saskatchewan the kids have premium auto fuel there. Lots of flying clubs and lakes across the south that would be happy to help.

Sask landing marina on lake diefenbaker could be a stop. Lots of landable water across southern Saskatchewan it’s fuel that could be a problem. We live near Duncairn dam in SW Saskatchewan the kids have premium auto fuel there. Lots of flying clubs and lakes across the south that would be happy to help.

Starting from Nanaimo and with a typical practical and safe range of 250-300 NM per fuel load, I’d say the trip is doable and concur with all the advice above. I believe there’s an FBO in Kamloops as well as Vernon that will pull you out of the water (for a price), fuel you (probably 100LL - no auto fuel option from the FBO) and put you back in the water.

The next stop after that might be biggest head-scratcher of the trip. You’ll want to have at least a plan B and C for routing through the mountain passes, and an option to put down on the west side of your chosen route if the weather isn’t your friend.

As for the rest of the trip, as suggested above, almost all the lakes are near towns if you’re generally following the #1 highway, and every stop over will be a bit of an adventure that will involve new friends shuttling you and your fuel cans between the fuel source and your airplane. It keeps getting better for water options as you go east but the refueling skit will still be the same. I doubt you’ll have trouble finding people more than willing to help and I can probably help you line that up if you like. I certainly agree with the comments that the south route has less water but I think there’s enough. The further north you go the more water, and less people and services.

But if you really want a northerly route, this guy managed it in a similar ride as the one you’re talking about. Looking forward to reading your book .

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Barrens-Win ... 205&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/True-North-Explo ... 202&sr=8-1

Belloypilot wrote: Looking forward to reading your book

Haha…I’ll post the Amazon link when it’s ready

Great response and info, thank you.

Fraser Farmer wrote: Fly from Nanaimo to my place. Get lunch and I'll top up your tanks.

Now this is the BCP of old! Thanks for the offer, Matt. Nothing is certain yet but I’d love to meet up.

Plan it for mid August and spend the weekend with some like minded aviator's on Lady Evelyn in the Temagami region.

The next stop after that might be biggest head-scratcher of the trip. You’ll want to have at least a plan B and C for routing through the mountain passes, and an option to put down on the west side of your chosen route if the weather isn’t your friend.

This is very true. I think Nelson airport though is directly adjacent to the lake and supports float ops. Unlikely to have fuel right on the water but you'll be able to fuel somehow. Still a long go from there over the Rockies but there's likely a couple marinas on the lakes a bit further East. A guy could always throw a couple cans of gas in the floats and set down somewhere and top up.

South Western side of Manitoba you could easily get someone to run gas out to Shoal Lake, CKL5 or I’m on Killarney Lake CJS5.
Selkirk has gas on the red river north of Winnipeg, Kenora or Sioux Narrows Ontario could be a good stop east of there. Sioux Narrows there is a camp owner that can help you out with either premium or Avgas.

Good Luck
Bkn.

Fraser Farmer wrote:This is very true. I think Nelson airport though is directly adjacent to the lake and supports float ops. Unlikely to have fuel right on the water but you'll be able to fuel somehow. Still a long go from there over the Rockies but there's likely a couple marinas on the lakes a bit further East. A guy could always throw a couple cans of gas in the floats and set down somewhere and top up.

Good point. It’s been a while since I was in Nelson but they have a sea plane base on the river basically right in town. CAD8. 260 NM direct from Nanaimo so maybe that’s even the first stop. From there Lake Newell at Brooks would be about another 250 NM following VFR routes through the Crowsnest Pass. I’d think tankering another 10 gallons of fuel would be a good idea for minimizing the pucker factor. Also want to push through Crowsnest early in the day. There’s a reason one of Canada’s first wind farms are on the east side of that pass.

Somebody better make this trip. At this rate we’ll have it flight planned, accommodation arranged, and a food menu worked out by Friday