Want To Buy: Sailboat in British Columbia

[LonelyPlanet]

I have 15k.. I am looking for a sailboat on vancouver island that already has moorage. I don't have my license yet to sail but I want to get one, that is why it must be on a moorage. Looking for a 21'-30' for around 5k. Please reply

[hummingway]

You don't require a license, its called an operators card and is quite easy to get:
Operator Card (PCOC) - FAQ - Transport Canada

Good luck with your search.

[webejammin]

You might check with several or all marinas in your area and find out when they have there unpaid morrage boats go up for sale. You might need to bid on several but you can find some good deals, I saw a 36 ft Catalina I think about 1998 something go for under $20,000.00 US and a pressure washer and getting the pet hair cleaned up it was motoring around and needed it's sails cleaned but badly bird poop. That boat was at Cap Sante at Anacourtes Wa with lots of folks bidding on it.

[Jd1]

Moorage in the 20 to 30 ft range seems to be easy to get in the Victoria region. Some marinas even advertise that they have slips available.
I would look at Craigslist or Kijiji ....

[dleathem]

Check out yachtworld.com and localize to BC, most brokers advertise here. Craigslist is also good for private sales. Most sellers advertise if they have assumeable moorage. Make sure you speak to the marina to confirm though and get something in writing from them. Lots of boats and a good buyers market. I just bought a nice Spencer 35, well equipped for 15k. Good luck!

[highseas]

Nice Jouet Fandango 11M sloop on craigs list vancouver,boat at Orcas Is.

[koalla]

that's a really good deal dleat.......... where can i find one like that?

[dleathem]

Originally Posted by koalla

that's a really good deal dleat.......... where can i find one like that?

koalla, the Spencer was a combination of a couple of good things, the guys wife hated sailing and there was some financial issues on their side. it started last spring at about 35k and dropped in price from there, right place right time.

[koalla]

right on.........glad to hear someone is getting in for a song.

[bobofthenorth]

Don't buy into the nonsense that there's no moorage available on Vancouver Island and that you have to buy a boat with moorage in order to get moorage. I listened to all that bunk from my bro-in-law for several years before we bought Gray Hawk last fall. Within days after buying her we had confirmed moorage at Van Isle. We stayed there for three months but didn't particularly like the place so we moved up the island to Cowichan Bay. Once you can phone a marina and say "I need XX feet of moorage for YY boat" you'll be surprised what is out there.

[Sonrisa]

I agree with bobofthenorth, don't worry about getting a boat with moorage. There's a lot more moorage available around here than there was a few years ago. I regularly see ads for open slips in Nanaimo, Parksville, etc. We recently moved to Gabriola Island and got a 36 foot slip with no waiting at all.

In the 5K price range, craiglist is probably your best bet, there are several listings in Vancouver that you might find interesting, mostly in the 20-25 foot range.

[dleathem]

You guys are correct about Vancouver Island, I was thinking Lower Mainland. I'm looking right now over here and things are tough. Too many boats and no new marinas. I got as long as a 12 year waitlist from one!!

[ssanzone]

anyone who tells you how long a waiting list is just a crap talking jack ass.

a list is cleared when a boat leaves and no harbor master / marina manager can say with any accuracy when slips will open up.

that does not mean is wont be difficult to find an available slip at the marina you want (i have no idea up there) but a waiting list is not predictable.

in the san fran area, a lot depends on the size of your boat. when i was shopping for a 34-36 footer i was having a lot of conversations about waiting lists. when i pulled the trigger on a 41 LOA i had my pick of many marinas.

good luck.

-steve