Skip to content

Rennell Sound boat launch no longer accessible

Islanders and tourists can no longer access the popular boat launch in Clapp Basin (Rennell Sound) due to the access road being washed out. Larry Duke, engineering officer at the Ministry of Forests office said the road washed out last fall, but because it runs through private land, the government's hands are tied.Clapp Basin is to the left at the bottom of the Rennell Sound hill, but within a few metres of the turn, the road runs three kilometres through private land.Mr. Duke said the Forest Service has received several letters from islanders who use the site, but a solution is not in sight.The area used to be a logging camp, he said, and over the years a makeshift recreational area has been created. It's designated as a recreational reserve (holding it for recreational purposes), but this has no other status nor does the Forest Service have any obligation to maintain it. Mr. Duke says it's not a forest recreation site, mainly because the Forest Service has no control over the access.The boat launch was put in place by the users, he says.Queen Charlotte resident Brad Schultz, who uses the area for camping and fishing, says he heard a business had offered to fix the road, but the property owner said no.He knows industry uses the boat launch to move supplies if they are working in the area, as do some fishing lodges. He also has seen 10-12 large recreational vehicles with boats using the area. These visitors come from off island every year, he said, and they will be very disappointed to learn it is inaccessible. It is the only boat launch on the West Coast.Mr. Schultz said if a boat launch was available in another part of Rennell Sound, it might address the issue, but he said the area in question offers better conditions for launching. He wants the area to be declared a Forest Recreation site. It already has outhouses, a cement ramp and fresh water available.Mr. Duke said he's trying to communicate with the land owner, but he's not sure if a solution can be found. Not only has the road been washed out by the ocean for half a kilometre, but it's also very old and may present other liability issues."We don't have the solution yet. There is nothing ready to get that access restored this summer," he said. People need to be aware of this and take that into account for their travel plans.