Newbie from British Columbia

[Canoeguy]

Hello all, glad to take this first step and finally connect with other like minded people. As my username suggests I have always had a love for the water and boats...especially canoes and sailboats. I have paddled all my life and as I am getting older the attraction to letting the wind move me has been getting stronger and stronger. About 15 years ago I had a small dinghy that I would sail on small lakes in Northern Ontario but other than that my sailing has been very limited. However, my desires to sail have been getting stronger and stronger...and I have become an excellent armchair sailer!....I receive all the sailing magazines, I know where every sail boat is located in our small community in the interior of British Columbia, and I have accumulated a pretty good library of sailing books. I watch Craig's list daily looking for that perfect opportunity to buy the boat that will fit my wife and my plans for the future. I am literally driving my wife crazy with something that resembles cabin fever but is sailing based. Nice to connect with you and looking forward to meeting people from the sailing community!

Canoeguy

[canuck1955]

Yeah I got the bug too. As a kid I had wooden sailboats I played with in the tidal pools at White Rock. My brothers had electric power boats.

I finally started on my dream. Took CYA beginners cruising, and bought a smaller older sailboat this summer (my birthday present to myself). Each weekend I drive 2.5 hours to get to it (small laidback community-Gibsons), didn't want moorage in Vancouver. Slowly learning more, doing minor repairs and getting to know my boat and practicing sailing close enough to the marina I can scream for help LOL.

2 years hence and I move up to my 30' boat, advanced lessons, and hopefully live aboard (semi-retire). Besides craigslist you might want to look at
BuySell Classifieds : Buy and sell new used Sail Boats in British Columbia
BC Boats Yachts and Sailboats by Passage Yacht Sales
Yacht Sales: Sailboats, Powerboats:
Welcome to Windward Yachts:
Vancouver new & used boats for sale -Kijiji

Hope links are allowed. One suggestion: don't wait forever, start somewhere, soon LOL. Its the best thing I have done in a long time. Each Sunday I come home totally relaxed (sleep over on Saturday- its only a 25' and work calls). Even in the rain and miserable weather the comfort and relaxation is wonderful. She's no ocean cruiser and not a paradigm of beauty, but she is mine and its fantastic.

[Cadence10m]

Canoeguy,

What town in the interior are you in? I grew up in Castlegar (surprisingly active sailing community there) and lived many years in Kamloops. Kamloops is great but there seems to be no wind or a hurricane blowing. Great place for exciting dinghy sailing though!

Craig

[Canoeguy]

I live just outside Quesnel, on 10 Mile Lake, which is about an hour south of Prince George. Love the area for the outdoor activities and love being on the lake but at some point I think we will relocate to a bigger lake...say maybe the Pacific ocean! 10 Mile Lake has puufs of wind that come up but they are pretty inconsistent and come from different directions.

Hey Canuck1955, I have a really good friend who grew up in White Rock the same time as you and I know that it was quite a small community 40 years ago...wouldn't know the Woodruff family would you?

Thanks for the links...whenever I get down to Vancouver I head to the sailing/chartering companies and walk through many of their boats that are for sale...my wife says..."Keep dreamin", but she is starting to come around!

[Solitude]

Welcome!

There is quite a few boats down here in Vancouver.. of all shapes, sizes and prices. Another idea is to look in the Puget Sound area and on the Island. To bring something back from the states is easy and you only pay tax. If you buy something in BC you need to pay tax as well. (even used) and they come after you! Prices are good in the states when the Canadian $ high. Get a survey on whatever you want to buy.

Check out Thunderbird yacht sales as well


As Canuck55 said don't wait too long.
Get someting to start with and then move up when your comfortable. My good friend has been looking and talking about his ultimate boat to buy for 5 years!... While I have been sailing!

See ya out there!

By the way heading out to Plumper cove on the weekend. I'll look for ya Canuck 55.

[Solitude]

Oh yeah.. there are boats listed in 48 North.

[canuck1955]

Originally Posted by Solitude

Welcome!

As Canuck55 said don't wait too long.
Get someting to start with and then move up when your comfortable. My good friend has been looking and talking about his ultimate boat to buy for 5 years!... While I have been sailing!

See ya out there!

By the way heading out to Plumper cove on the weekend. I'll look for ya Canuck 55.

My brother took his lessons 30 years ago and still doesn't have a boat. My OLDER brother at that. I mentioned in an email I had one and sent pictures. Not that there is any sibling rivalry at all, but he wrote back "its not yours". He can't believe his little brother did what he is still dreaming about.

As NIKE would say, "Just Do It"

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
Looks like you've found some Canadian shipmates already.
regards

[fatrob]

I just sold a riveria star 24
I would like a brent swain 36 twin keel. Covered helm cruiser for wet and cold .
Hard to find. People that have them like them and don't sell often.

[Solitude]

There is a Cooper 31-32?? with a pilothouse for sale at reed point.