How We Found a Live-Aboard Boat in B.C.

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

VICTORIA & VICINITY: This includes everything from Ladysmith on the east coast of Vancouver Island to Sooke on the South. The roads north of Sooke are bad, but I'm told that there are some good buys up that way in Port Renfrew, Bamfield, etc. Get there if you can. Remoteness does have an effect on the price of watercraft.

Note that many boats in remote places are owned by Indians, and for "legal" reasons you should consult the Indian agent before finalizing a purchase from anyone who may be a Reserve Indian. The fact that some red brothers do not have the right to sell you their boat is deplorable, but there it is.

In Victoria itself, check the Fisheries Wharf, downtown. Northwest-toward Sooke—both Pedder Bay and Beecher Bay are worth a look. In Sooke, go to Palister's Place. People there, especially Mr. Palister, know most of the craft for sale in the whole area and just might be able to point you at your ideal boat.

I found that Sydney offered very little. It's north of Victoria, on the Saanich Peninsula and has three or four marinas . . . but they hold mostly yachts. The Gulf Islands, judging from Saltspring—which we visited—are sparce pickings, but . . . well, who knows?

We found our boat at Cowichan Bay, near Duncan, which is north of Victoria.

THE REST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND: The west coast of the island—the strip accessible by the Port Alberni Road, and Port Alberni itself—are probably worth a trip. Ucluelet, Tofino and Port Alberni are small and can be checked in a long day if you have a car,

Nanaimo: check Newcastle Marina for sure, as weft as the rest of the strip from the Departure Bay ferry landing south to the center of Nanaimo. At Newcastle Marina we found that a $750 price tag for a fully equipped small gill netter was reduced to $450 when the owner learned we didn't want the rigging, girdles, etc. Which brings up a point: sometimes you can convince the owner to sell you either a boat or its rigging separately.

Look over the government wharves at Chemainus.

French Creek, a few miles out of Nanaimo, should be good for fall buys. So should Deep Bay, a short distance past Qualicum Beach, and Courtney Slough in Courtney just behind the English car center.

Comox was mostly yachts and huge fishing boats when we were there, but try anyway.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print