Hi to everyone from Vancouver, BC

[Ljbuckers]

Hey

I used to fly float planes and fixed wheel aircraft around this area and one thing always stuck with me, buy a boat! It’s cool to fly but when you get to your destination you still have to find accommodation.

So, after many years of procrastination, not nearly enough sailing experience and less than ideal purchasing methods, I’m buying a yacht; 1990, Hunter 33.5.

I hope to grow with her and learn as I go, so hopefully using this forum can be part of that process.

Lee

[Stu Jackson]

Welcome aboard. Good thinkin'!

Stop by when you get over here. Have a good friend with a newer Hunter e33 here, too.

[Ljbuckers]

Thanks, will do.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy and welcome aboard CF Lee!

You have come to the right place for knowledge sharing.

Good luck navigating the waters and the forum.

[robert sailor]

Welcome from another Vancouverite..who also flies it's a pretty good bunch here

[Plangstraat]

Welcome from Victoria. Plenty of great help and advice here. Some lively debate too!

[redhead]

And howdy from south of the border - US that is. Lots of cross addicted pilots/sailors here.

[yalla]

Aloha from North Van!
Seeing as this is your first (sail)boat, and you are a pilot, may I throw out a little advice from one newbie to another?
Learn/practice to take off and land (docking,anchoring,maneuvering) - with boats and planes, most of the action and danger is close to land. The strait of georgia is pretty benign in summer - a little too benign, you will be wishing for more wind as you get tired of motoring.
As a pilot you have no doubt tons of training re safety, navigation, weather etc... so your fun challenge there will be to transpose that to the sailing environment. You also have a great idea of the lay of the land here.
Fantastic move on your part, you will love the new perspective on your home waters.

[VanIslandGuy]

Greetings from another fellow aviator/sailor. We sail a Hunter 410 and live in Ladysmith. Hope to see you this summer at the Hunter Rendezvous on Thetis Island. It is a great place to meet other sailors and learn all about your boat.

[Cheechako]

As you know, you are in the middle of some great cruising grounds. However, I used to be envious sitting at anchor in a quiet mini bay up there and a private float plane would land, They would throw an anchor out (I didn't know planes had anchors!), go ashore with a tent etc and camp for the night. Why envious? It took me a week or more of cruising to get there. They left after work!

[deblen]

Welcome! from N.B. / Len Ingalls

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

As you know, you are in the middle of some great cruising grounds. However, I used to be envious sitting at anchor in a quiet mini bay up there and a private float plane would land, They would throw an anchor out (I didn't know planes had anchors!), go ashore with a tent etc and camp for the night. Why envious? It took me a week or more of cruising to get there. They left after work!

But a hungry and/or curious bear won’t bother swimming out to your boat!

I’m originally from Victoria and the cruising grounds in the San Juan’s and Southern Gulf Islands are close by and wonderful. Further north and the west coast of Vancouver Island are awesome stretch goals for extended cruising. A bit of lack of wind in the summer and cold on the fingers during the rest of the year when the winds are better. But mostly too cold for swimming, hence my move to NZ.

To the OP, best wishes for your new boat!

[Ljbuckers]

Hey everyone and thanks for all your welcome replies.

Definitely sailing is better than flying, way too stressful when flying and you can’t sleep in the plane very well, although I’ve done it a few times.

Sadly the Hunter 33.5 was completely destroyed by my surveyor and I had to walk away from the deal.

So, I’m on the look out again for a nice 30’ ish, boat and moorage - as the best part about the last deal was having moorage included for a year.

[jackdale]

Welcome fellow Canuck.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by fxykty

But a hungry and/or curious bear won’t bother swimming out to your boat!

I’m originally from Victoria and the cruising grounds in the San Juan’s and Southern Gulf Islands are close by and wonderful. Further north and the west coast of Vancouver Island are awesome stretch goals for extended cruising. A bit of lack of wind in the summer and cold on the fingers during the rest of the year when the winds are better. But mostly too cold for swimming, hence my move to NZ.

To the OP, best wishes for your new boat!

Very true. Bears do love to get into things...