Sechelt Rapids Transit Info

Sechelt Rapids, also known as Skookumchuk Rapids

Please use extreme caution when transiting through the Sechelt Rapids. If you are using the tides.gc.ca tables you will need to add one hour to the posted times, as the site does not take into consideration the Daylight Saving Time change.

Remember the plus sign (+) is for the Flood while the minus sign (-) is for the Ebb flow. Flood means the current is flowing thru the Sechelt Rapids from Egmont towards Narrows Inlet; Ebb means the current is moving away from Narrows Inlet toward Egmont and Jervis Inlet.

Example: April 28, 2024

April 2024 current chart Sechelt Rapids

The same from Ports and Passes with Daylight Saving Time already adjusted for the same date:

Day (Sunday)Slack (Turns)MaxFlood/Ebb
281:28a3:07a-3.8
284:53a7:01a+5.1
288:54a12:48p-12.9
285:58p8:51p+14.2

From the above two tables you can confirm that the best transit times to catch the “Slack” (or as the government tables call it, the “Turns”) would be 08:54 or later in the afternoon at 5:58. Or if you are an early bird you could catch the 04:53 slack.

I always check these two resources then match up with a third resource on my Simrad navigation chart plotter. Most current chart plotters will give you another reading of tides and currents. You might have to take your cross-hair or cursor over a current symbol or a tide symbol and hit “Enter”.

Please take this information and use it with caution as you and only you are responsible for safe passage. As always file a Sail Plan and do a Securite-Securite as you are about to transit. Sometimes you might encounter a Dive boat with divers that like to catch the Slack current for a special scuba dive experience.


Best Sechelt Rapids Transit Routes

Below charts: Navionics N-Up

Sechelt Rapids route Flood 01

Route Name: Flood 01

Safe Passage on a Flood Tide for Sechelt Rapids: follow the Red course.

Flood tide (Rising Tide) coming from Georgia Straight over and down the Skookumchuck Narrows.

**Think of a water hose with full pressure, then bend the hose and the pressure is increased yet more.**

Flood brings standing waves downstream of the green marker. Course of flood current here is 150 degrees. Max: 16 knts.

Sechelt Rapids Ebb Route: Back Door

Ebb Route: Back Door

Safe Passage on an Ebb Tide for Sechelt Rapids: follow the Red course.

Ebb tide (Falling Tide) coming from the lower Sechelt Inlet, pushing out thru the Rapids with a bearing of 330 degrees.

Ebb brings strong whirlpools downstream of the green marker.

Sechelt Rapids Ebb Route: Rowland Pt Passage

Ebb Route: Rowland Pt. Passage

Safe Passage on an Ebb Tide for Sechelt Rapids: follow the Red course.

Ebb tide (Falling Tide) coming from the lower Sechelt Inlet pushing out thru the Rapids with a bearing of 330 degrees.

Ebb brings strong whirlpools downstream of the green marker.

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