There are only a handful of cruising grounds in the world that are guaranteed to fire the imaginations of boaters. The inner coast of British Columbia is one of them. With fjords like Scandinavia, blazing sun like the Mediterranean, hundreds of islands and winding channels among them, the B.C. coast is a boater’s dream. Coastal waters, as well as lakes and rivers have both spectacular scenery and a rich history, having been waterways for native dugouts and canoes, and pioneer paddlewheelers. Many are still busy commercial arteries. Ships from more than 90 countries call on the ports of the region. Marine facilities for pleasure boaters are both abundant and excellent.

Many ports have resort marinas with a pub/restaurant, general store, fuel dock, laundromat and showers. Red-painted railings identify a public dock, a popular option. Local charter operations run modern fleets of power boats and sailboats, offering both bareboat and skippered charters, as well as cruise and learn boat and flotilla cruises.

Boating in Vancouver, Coast and Mountains:
Power Boating
Boat Tours
Boat Charters
Boat Rentals


Download a PDF of our 2007 Boating Directory

Popular Waterways
Border Information
Anchorage
Boating Safety, Weather, Tide Guides, Charts, PSP closures
Green Boating

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Border Information:

Canada Border Services Agency:
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Canada Customs phone number: 1-888-226-7277.

Ports of entry to Canada: White Rock, Steveston, and Vancouver.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB):
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel
1300 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., RM 5.3A
Washington, DC 20229
1-877-CBP-5511
(202)354-1000

All U.S. Citizens and aliens seeking entry to the United States must report their arrival.

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Anchorage:

Free anchorage is available in False Creek in Vancouver with a permit. A permit to anchor is available for a maximum of 14 days during the summer (April 1 to September 30) and a maximum of 21 days in the winter (October 1 to March 31).
From May 1 to September 13, the Centre is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. From September 15 to April 30, the Centre is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Visitors can contact the Vancouver Boating Welcome Centre for their free anchoring permit:
Vancouver Boating Welcome Centre
604-648-BOAT (2628)
toll free at 866-677-BOAT
VHF channel 66
welcome@FCYC.com

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Boating Safety, Weather, Tide Guides, Charts, PSP closures:

For boating safety, regulations and other information in the pacific call the Canadian Coast Guard - Pacific Region Operations Centre (250) 413-2800 or visit www.pacific.ccg-gcc.gc.ca

Note that channel 16 (not 22alpha) is the emergency signalling channel.

Marine Forecasts: VHF: WX1:162.55, WX2:162.40, WX3:162.475, 21B:161.65

Environment Canada West Coast Weather Publications:   Mariner's Guide: West Coast Marine Weather Services,  Marine Weather Hazards Manual - West Coast: A Guide to Local Forecasts and Conditions.

For further information on weather products and services, contact Environment Canada at 604-664-9080 or at www.weatheroffice.com

Local tide guides:
The Government of Canada lists Canadian Marine Conditions including Weather and Canadian Tide Tables on its site www.marineservices.gc.ca/en/Con01.asp?Div=Rec&Info=Mar.

Charts:
Charts can be found at www.charts.gc.ca 

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Green Boating:

There are many simple steps boater's can take to ensure the health of our coastal waters. Click on the link below for simple guidelines to minimize your environmental impacts and help keep our marine environment healthy and clean.

Guide to Green Boating