British Columbia Affordable? Where?

[Ernest Skublics]

It is my second year searching for a place in BC -- preferably on Okanagan Lake, but almost anywhere on the Lower Mainland or Coast -- where I can put a boat from Spring to Fall to live on, without spending over $2,000 just for moorage, plus the other costs. There is a wide choice of acceptable, even attractive boats for under $20,000, but the cost of moorage, hauling out and keeping on hard for the Winter -- as I don't live in BC -- is unacceptable. Do any of you know of a way -- and place -- to do what I'd like to do, without spending an immoral amount of money each year, which I really cannot afford? The choice of a boat is secondary -- a one-time expenditure -- depending on where I can find affordable survival. Thanks for any info/tips you can help me with!
Ernest

[Lodesman]

Have you considered the island. Victoria is probably expensive but some of the smaller places like Ladysmith or up-island like Campbell River offer better rates.

[Cheechako]

Let's see.... 6 months in the water? So... $2000/6 is about $335 per month. Then you need to store out of the water another 6 months. No way.
How about storing , launching and cruising instead of paying moorage? Still may not work.
Sounds like you need a trailerable boat.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Ernest Skublics

It is my second year searching for a place in BC -- preferably on Okanagan Lake, but almost anywhere on the Lower Mainland or Coast -- where I can put a boat from Spring to Fall to live on, without spending over $2,000 just for moorage, plus the other costs. There is a wide choice of acceptable, even attractive boats for under $20,000, but the cost of moorage, hauling out and keeping on hard for the Winter -- as I don't live in BC -- is unacceptable. Do any of you know of a way -- and place -- to do what I'd like to do, without spending an immoral amount of money each year, which I really cannot afford? The choice of a boat is secondary -- a one-time expenditure -- depending on where I can find affordable survival. Thanks for any info/tips you can help me with!
Ernest

Where do you live? Only know it's not in BC.

And back to basics. Boats come with costs on an ongoing basis and some things can and will be quite expensive, especially if you can't do them yourself. What do you call an immoral amount of money to spend annually maintaining and docking your boat?

[Lancerbye]

I liveaboard at a marina in Ladysmith (45 ft. slip). The marina allows a percentage liveaboard. It costs me approx. $6000 a year including liveaboard fees and power. We have a lot of boats here that are owned by people from Alberta and Sask. There is a small chandler at the dock with reasonable prices. He also does boat maintenance for a lot of boats left at the docks year round.

[bobofthenorth]

Ocean Falls.

R.J.(Bob) Evans
www.travellingwithgeorge.blogspot.com

[roland stockham]

Harbour Authority | The District of Port Hardy

$16 per meter per month (plus change)

[CLady]

Yes for Ocean Falls--very cheap there. Lots of hydroelectric power available. The ferry goes there. It's pretty there. 'Near Roscoe Inlet--gorgeous cruising in the area.

Or, Euclulet, east of Tofino on Vancouver Island. Very pretty! Lots of old docks. Or, Winter Harbour! NW part of Vancouver Island. A bit remote, but well protected and inexpensive--accessible by road or floatplane. Lots of fun every other year with the VanIsle 360 race.

[chile1]

Ocean Falls? I lived and worked there for few years. Yes, I a suppose it might be a good place to hunker down in. Hmmmm ... the more I think about it the more appealing it becomes. All that rain ...

[CLady]

'Sorry-- I misspelled "Ucluelet", Vancouver Island, B.C.

[northwestsailor]

If you want super cheap, try Oona River. If you want an inexpensive nice place try Campbell River. Hartley Bay has no official charge at all but probably no security either.

Obviously amenities, access and other services make a location more attractive for some and therefore more expensive due to the basic economic law of supply and demand.

Even less expensive than all of BC practically is SE Alaska. Wrangell, St. Petersburg even Sitka, Ketchikan, Hoonah and Juneau (Auke Bay) have very reasonable yearly rates, decent access by air and ferry and fair amenities.

[ramblinrod]

Your balking at $2000/yr for moorage? What is your boat, a CL14? he further away from the metro areas the cheaper, but if you want the location to be in reasonable repair, you have to pay enough for it to be kept that way. Somebody has to pay for the land the dock is connected to ya know. Right now, a new 30' slip costs about $12 to 16K. If you were charged only $2K is would take 6 to 8 years to break even with no maintenance costs, and there are always maintenance costs. That's just for the dock and nothing for the land it is connected to, that somebody has to be taxes on, nor power or pump out, that you will want and need. Whoever tries to run a business like that, won't be in business long.