Hangdog Channel is a gnarly, narrow, inner passage on Georgian Bay’s Small Craft Route that is north of Pointe au Baril. It roughly starts at Nares Point and winds in a northwest direction along the coastline for five nautical miles until it meets Alexander Passage, Bayfield. It picks a path through a maze of islands and rocks. It is well marked with almost 50 assorted lateral buoys, cardinal buoys, beacons and ranges. The boaters reward for taking Hangdog is one beautiful vista after another, turn after turn. And you can claim that you ‘beat the dog.’

You have to love the name Hangdog. Georgian Bay is littered with names that suggest its past. Starvation Bay, Killbear Park, Dead Island, The Snakes, Bear’s Head. So its natural to assume that ‘Hangdog’ is a reference to this passage’s hairpin turns and narrow channels. In reality somewhere on or near Hangdog Point, there used to be a tree that was shaped like a hanging dog.

It wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that my husband Hugo and I were spooked by Hangdog Channel before we ever ventured to take Dauntless near its craggy entrance. Last summer, we had stopped at Killbear Marina to escape the weather and to fuel up. On the blocks in full view, were three cruisers – all with damage to the bottom of their boats. The largest was a 50’ Ocean Alexander from Tampa Bay, Florida. We knew this boat, having cruised with it weeks before in the Trent Severn Waterway. Tony and Jane had gone ahead of us and had come to grief at Buoy A58 on Hangdog, losing two props, drive shafts, drive boxes and even incurred hull damage. This cost them a lot – money (of course), an eight hour tow back to the marina and a year’s delay in their Great Loop trip. The granite rocks on Georgian Bay are unrelenting. It’s like that old game of “Operation” – touch the sides and you get burned.

It’s no coincidence that the same marina operator owns marinas near the south and north end of Hangdog. There are other marinas in this remote part of Georgian Bay but Wright’s and Killbear are really the only game in town for large cruisers who need a marina with a towing service, a big lift, a good mechanic and a variety of parts on hand. If the gods are good, a new propeller is all you need. These marina operators have heard it all, so don’t bother saying, “…but I was in the channel!” – when they come to tow you out of the rocks.

We were spooked again this summer. We were waiting at Britt at Wright’s Marina for a good weather window to go south through Hangdog. In two days, we saw two boats limp into the marina with dinged props. Looking at the boats up on blocks, Hugo asked the mechanic, “How often does this happen?” To that he replied it was actually a slow year. One Rosborough had minor hull damage which the mechanic said it shouldn’t affect its integrity. It’s owner had spent the night before at anchor taking on water. Yikes!

There are outer routes to avoid Hangdog. It is not the only game in town if you want to head up to the Bustards, the French River or the North Channel. Sailboats with keels and larger cruisers are advised not to take the route because of draft and beam. And many boats just take the outer passages because its quicker and easier.

As I write this, we have done Hangdog Channel twice. Despite all the stories about this infamous passage, we chose to do it and not the outer routes. We waited till the swells were down from the open Georgian Bay. Swells can temporarily drop water levels in an already shallow part of the passage. They can also catch your boat unexpectedly and push you out of a narrow channel. A sunny day is an advantage as shoals standout in the crystal clear water.

Hangdog requires concentration and attention to exactly where you are. Multiple types of charts help. Electronic charts have weaknesses. Their zoom feature can obscure important buoys and their ‘chart up’ or ‘course up’ options can be confusing in a route that constantly turns changes directions. Our Garmin often does not differentiate between beacons and buoys. The paper strip charts are a good check on routes but can be confusing too. There are intersecting paths and at those junctions, make sure you don’t head over to the wrong buoy. Give rocky points of land lots of room as their shallow sloping rocks extend well into the water. Don’t cut corners. All of these things are going through your head as you travel.

After a trip through Hangdog, we had earned ourselves a beer. Thanks to the water gods who got us through. And thanks to the Canadian Coast Guard out of Britt who maintains this route.