The Wife and I visited the Sunshine Coast a few times back in the 90's. The first time we were on a planned trip to Vancouver Island in July and it was dumping rain which was getting old. We were perusing our BC guidebook and read about the Sunshine Coast across the Strait. We could see across and the sun was shining. We caught the ferry near Campbell River. Halfway across in route to Powell River, the sun came out. We spent the rest our trip over there in the sun and enjoyed it so much, we came back a few more times.
Once with a kayak.
On one trip we found a primitive public campground on a bluff between Lund & Powell River that had a few sites, picnic tables and an outhouse. Spent a relaxing afternoon sitting on camp chairs on the bluff about 50 feet above the beach, reading, sipping beer and looking out across the strait to Vancouver Island watching the sailboats and yachts cruise by. Occasionally, I'd pull up my binoculars to check a boat out or look at a bird flying by. At one point, I caught a glint of light from a small object which appeared to be moving slowly. Periodically I'd check the movement and it appeared to be heading strait toward the campground. Eventually, I could see that it was someone in an open canoe. After quite some time he got close enough than I could see he had an innertube for flotation and a mountain bike strapped over the gunnels. Eventually, he made it to shore and proceeded to beach it below me and carry the mountain bike up the bluff. He then went back down to get the canoe, hauled it up the bluff and stashed it in the trees. I spoke with him briefly and he hand paddle across from Vancouver Island. He then got on the bike and road away. While I don't know where he departed from, the distance between Powell River and the Comax Ferry Terminal is 17 nautical miles. I've done a fair bit of canoeing, but one couldn't pay me to paddle an open canoe across that strait. Granted, he picked a stunningly calm & beautiful day for his journey. However, I'd never take the chance that it would remain calm across that great a distance. That area is beautiful and well worth a visit.