Preparing for Extended Cruising
If you are new to extended cruising – more than a week or two into unknown waters – it can be a lot to take in with everything that needs to be done and learned. The combination of the internet, classes, podcasts, YouTube, and experienced boater friends has made it easier than ever to gain […]
Genoa Bay Marina
Have you ever visited a destination and after a couple of days you just don’t want to leave? Where the service is second to none and the people operating the marina love what they do. That’s the experience first time visitors have when visiting Genoa Bay Marina. Genoa Bay is a quaint little settlement […]
Safety First
For many boaters, Spring is when they begin to daydream about their upcoming summer adventures, it’s also a good time to inspect and update safety equipment. The following is an 11-point checklist, but feel free to add to it and use it in the future to ensure the season ahead is as safe as possible. […]
Portland Island
A popular anchorage in the Gulf Islands is Portland Island, located less than 5-nm north of Sidney. Good anchorage is in Royal Cove on the north end of the island and Princes Bay on the southern side of Portland Island. The entrance into Royal cove is unobstructed and offers protection from the northwest by Chad […]
All About the Survey
The most important aspect of your due diligence before closing on a boat purchase is the pre-purchase vessel survey. You wouldn’t buy a home without a building inspection and conducting a market analysis. The same holds true for a boat. It’s key that you hire a credentialed surveyor to look out for your best interests […]
Otter Bay Marina
On the west side of North Pender Island visiting boaters enjoy a variety of services and activities at the Otter Bay Marina. It is open year-round, providing full service from May 15 to September 30 and reservations are recommended during the summer. Visiting mariners will discover 15-, 30- and 50-amp power, water, washrooms, showers, laundry, […]
Tenedos Bay, Desolation Sound
Located within the boundaries of Desolation Sound Provincial Park and only a 7.3-mile passage for Refuge Cove on West Redondo Island, the first glimpse of the Tenedos Bay leaves a lasting impression, with its steep encompassing rock cliffs, emerald-green water, and a view of 483-meter Mt. Spooner to the southeast. All the ingredients are here […]
Decision Making While Cruising
Decision making is never easy aboard a boat. If there is more than one person aboard your boat, how do you resolve conflicts about go/no go, routing, anchoring, and the like? Yes, the captain is the ultimate decision-maker. But that doesn’t mean that they operate in a vacuum. Everyone’s thoughts and feelings need to be […]
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island
Known as the “Harbour City” for its incredible downtown harbour district, Nanaimo is the second largest city on Vancouver Island and a popular cruising destination. It was first known as Snuneymuxw – meaning “great and mighty people” in the language of the Salish natives – and the first settlers who arrived in the mid-1800s translated […]
Maintaining Your Boat’s Attitude – Trim Tabs
Regardless of its size, if your boat has a planing or semi-planing hull, its degree of trim can significantly impact its operation. Trim tabs look and function in much the same way as the flaps on an airplane, adjusting lift by raising or lowering the boat’s attitude to improve boat speed, fuel economy, accommodate weight […]