DIY boatyard BC Canada?

[massnspace]

Anyone have any recent experience doing DIY work on your sailboat in a yard in British Columbia, CA?

Yard prices here in the Seattle area have become “only for the wealthy.” We take our boat up to Canada frequently so maybe better to wait and do the work there?

Also. I assume it is ILLEGAL to paint the bottom on a tidal grid….is that the case? If not, any grids that allow this would be good to know about.

David
Seattle

[PippaB]

If you are willing or intend to venture further north, we hauled in Wrangell, AK in 2021. Back then it was $12-14/ft round trip for the haul, I see now it is $16-18/ft. They also charge hardstand per square foot per month (prorated for short stays), was $0.35/square foot/month, looks like they are now $1/sq ft/month.

Don't know about now, but they were very DIY-friendly, allow living on the boat in the yard for up to two weeks. And labor rates at their vendors were so (relatively) cheap that we paid someone to do the actual bottom painting after we did our prep and other work.

Their lift well is about 28-29' wide.

https://www.wrangell.com/port/port-a...d-vendors-list

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by PippaB

If you are willing or intend to venture further north, we hauled in Wrangell, AK in 2021. Back then it was $12-14/ft round trip for the haul, I see now it is $16-18/ft. They also charge hardstand per square foot per month (prorated for short stays), was $0.35/square foot/month, looks like they are now $1/sq ft/month.

Don't know about now, but they were very DIY-friendly, allow living on the boat in the yard for up to two weeks. And labor rates at their vendors were so (relatively) cheap that we paid someone to do the actual bottom painting after we did our prep and other work.

Their lift well is about 28-29' wide.

https://www.wrangell.com/port/port-a...d-vendors-list

OK got it.

We are planning to go that far north in a couple years, so mainly looking for yards much further south. But I will keep the info….good to know and thank you.

David
Seattle

[mcpusc]

have you checked Canal Boatyard's rates, in Ballard? they're still DIY friendly & not crazy prices. several chandleries & lots of marine businesses in close distance too makes haulouts quicker



edit: Hylebos Boatyard in Tacoma used to be reasonable rates & DIY friendly as well, i hauled there in 2018

[Tsuru]

Not BC, but how about Astoria? Great DIY yard, reasonably priced.

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by mcpusc

have you checked Canal Boatyard's rates, in Ballard? they're still DIY friendly & not crazy prices. several chandleries & lots of marine businesses in close distance too makes haulouts quicker



edit: Hylebos Boatyard in Tacoma used to be reasonable rates & DIY friendly as well, i hauled there in 2018

Canal: $4400 per month yard fees for my size boat, plus haul out, plus environmental fees, plus tarp fees, plus shore power fees, etc. and you are calling that “not crazy”? Those are exactly the kind of prices I cannot afford any longer.

Hence the thread continues….

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by Tsuru

Not BC, but how about Astoria? Great DIY yard, reasonably priced.

That’s a long haul out into open ocean and bar crossing….looking for yards not that far away.

Thanks anyway, good to know in case we ever go south….whats the name of the yard?

[sv_pelagia]

Many boatyards allow DIY (with environmental regs). We have had experience with Thunderbird Marina (West Van), Lions Gate Marina (North Van) and Stones/Nanaimo boatyard (Nanaimo) .

We've heard from others that DIY allowed (even, the norm) at Newcastle Marina (Nanaimo) and Jacks (Lund).

I'm sure there are many others.


Painting bottom on tidal grid: further north, this is done. Environmental regulations require boat be fully tarped underneath. Any runoff/colouring in water should cause trouble. Nevertheless, many harbours do NOT allow painting on tidal grid (and certainly none will in BC south).

A real issue with painting on tidal grid (beyond the major environmental issues) is that the paint does not have much time to fully dry. (In the early 2000s, we used to paint on a tidal grid. Bot allowed anymore.)

[Putt-Putt]

Shelter Island Marina & Boatyard, about 10 miles up the main arm of the Fraser River lists a monthly (power included) rate for a 30’ boat at $710.00. Out and back in costs about $305.00.

All in CAD, so x .70 puts it in USD.

Shelter is about a 30 min. drive up the freeway from the Border crossing in Blaine.


I’ve had my boat there for 3 weeks, once 17 years ago. No issues then, no idea what it’s like now although from appearances, it has not changed.

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by sv_pelagia

Many boatyards allow DIY (with environmental regs). We have had experience with Thunderbird Marina (West Van), Lions Gate Marina (North Van) and Stones/Nanaimo boatyard (Nanaimo) .

We've heard from others that DIY allowed (even, the norm) at Newcastle Marina (Nanaimo) and Jacks (Lund).

I'm sure there are many others.


Painting bottom on tidal grid: further north, this is done. Environmental regulations require boat be fully tarped underneath. Any runoff/colouring in water should cause trouble. Nevertheless, many harbours do NOT allow painting on tidal grid (and certainly none will in BC south).

A real issue with painting on tidal grid (beyond the major environmental issues) is that the paint does not have much time to fully dry. (In the early 2000s, we used to paint on a tidal grid. Bot allowed anymore.)

Thanks for the reply. Very helpful.

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by Putt-Putt

Shelter Island Marina & Boatyard, about 10 miles up the main arm of the Fraser River lists a monthly (power included) rate for a 30’ boat at $710.00. Out and back in costs about $305.00.

All in CAD, so x .70 puts it in USD.

Shelter is about a 30 min. drive up the freeway from the Border crossing in Blaine.


I’ve had my boat there for 3 weeks, once 17 years ago. No issues then, no idea what it’s like now although from appearances, it has not changed.

Very helpful. Thanks!

[Portage_bay]

Have you considered Skyline in Anacortes? https://www.skylinemarinecenter.com/rate-sheet/

[osprey877]

Originally Posted by Putt-Putt

Shelter Island Marina & Boatyard, about 10 miles up the main arm of the Fraser River lists a monthly (power included) rate for a 30’ boat at $710.00. Out and back in costs about $305.00.

All in CAD, so x .70 puts it in USD.

Shelter is about a 30 min. drive up the freeway from the Border crossing in Blaine.


I’ve had my boat there for 3 weeks, once 17 years ago. No issues then, no idea what it’s like now although from appearances, it has not changed.

👍👍. All marine services and a chandlery are onsite. No restrictions on diy and you can even liveaboard while on the hard. I was there for three weeks this October. Can’t remember the cost but very reasonable compared to anything in USA.

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by Portage_bay

Have you considered Skyline in Anacortes? https://www.skylinemarinecenter.com/rate-sheet/

Thanks for this. I have been by that area many times, but had no idea they also had a work yard. Thought it was just a marina.

But. $2000 per month. The yards I am learning about on this thread in Canada are about $650 a month for my sized boat. So I am leaning towards that option, as I think I would need it be out for about 3 months.

Thanks,

David

[massnspace]

Originally Posted by osprey877

����. All marine services and a chandlery are onsite. No restrictions on diy and you can even liveaboard while on the hard. I was there for three weeks this October. Can’t remember the cost but very reasonable compared to anything in USA.

Yes, this place looks ideal.

Canada is like US was 25 years ago (In a good way!). I think Shelter island would be ideal for my upcoming projects.

Thanks for the input.

David
Seattle