Travel directions to Stones Boatyard

Our centrally located boatyard in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island is just a short trip from Victoria BC , Comox, Courtenay and Campbell River, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and the rest of Vancouver Island.

We are readily accessible from Vancouver and Seattle by ferry or a short flight by seaplane as well as regular aircraft.  And of course we’re at the head of the Gulf Islands enabling easy access to some of the most spectacular cruising in the world.

If you’re not coming by boat you have several options:

• A scheduled flight (20 minutes) from the Vancouver International Airport to Nanaimo Airport.
• Several float plane services from either the Vancouver Airport or downtown Vancouver to the Nanaimo Harbour and Departure Bay dock. Visit Westcoastair.com or Harbourair.com and from Vancouver Airport to Nanaimo only: Seairseaplanes.com
• A  seaplane service between Seattle-Lake Union and Lake Washington terminals (Washington State) and Nanaimo. Kenmoreair.com
• The M/V Coho is a passenger and vehicle ferry from Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria – it is then a very picturesque hour and a half drive from Victoria to Nanaimo. Cohoferry.com
• Regular (18 per day) ferry departures (car and passenger) from both Tsawwassen (nearest to the airport and the US border) to Duke Point, Nanaimo or from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Departure Bay, Nanaimo. BCferries.com

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Stones Boatyard

Stones Boatyard is a professional, clean and environmentally friendly do-it-yourself boat haulout and marine repair facility, located in Nanaimo on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Before you arrive there is a fuel dock on the approach to the boat lift dock.

The boat yard features include:

• Modern, remote controlled 83 US ton Marine Travelift
• Waiting dock adjacent to the Travelift with an easy-access gangway for boaters
• Water filtration and cleaning system to filter runoff water from the washdown area
• Safe pedestrian access to the dock and boatyard
• Fully paved and clean boatyard with up to 40 marked stalls
• Each stall has 110V/15AMP, 110V/30AMP power and potable water available
• Some stalls have access to 220v and 50 amp power
• On-site equipment rental: scaffolding, ladders, tarps, power tools, shop vacs, etc.
• Forklift service available and cranes can be brought on site as required
• On-site chandlery for all your haul out supplies including zinc and aluminum anodes, paint and painting supplies, stainless steel nuts, bolts and screws fasteners.
• Garbage, oil and hazmat disposal in the yard
• Do-it-yourself owners and contractors are welcome
• On-site mechanical and boat-care services available through Nanaimo Yacht Services
• Friendly, knowledgeable staff
• Liveaboards welcome in the yard
• Fax and parcel receipt services
• Toilet and washroom facilities on-site
• Plentiful parking available

See our Boatyard Rates page for the travel lift charges.

The yard is open from 8 am until 8 pm daily, 7 days a week, and after hours yard customers may enter through a locked gate.

Stones Boatyard is one of the cleanest facilities on the waterfront in BC. We’re proud to be environmentally friendly and we work hard to comply with Environment Canada’s “Best Management Practices” for boatyards. Together with our customers we aim to reduce and even prevent the contamination of our aquatic environment.

We give priority to emergency haul outs for boaters in distress and those brought to our dock by the RCMSAR, the Nanaimo Harbour Patrol and towing companies. See our Boat Yard Rates page for relevant charges.

Amenities nearby include bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation, boat brokers, kayak rentals, supermarkets and shopping malls, banking facilities and plenty of coffee shops! The yard is surrounded by two pubs and a mediterranean restaurant offering a variety of drinks and cuisine.

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Handy Tools to Have on Your Boat

Your boat may be in tip-top condition, but before you leave the dock it is always a good idea to have some basic tools on board.

Hopefully, nothing will go wrong, but like safety equipment, it’s always better to have the equipment on board than not. Some simple tools might make the difference between a fun day being over way too early.  This isn’t a complete list of tools designed to cover every possible problem, these tools will just cover the most common complications. Start off with a robust, waterproof toolbox so that your tools stay dry and are all in one place.

What to have in your toolbox…

1. A flashlight – invaluable for fixing things when it’s dark or finding out what’s going on in the bilge. Magnetic retrievers are perfect for getting screws or other metal items out of the bilge or other hard to reach places.
2. Mirror on a stick – how many times have you wondered what is going on in a hard to reach area? A small mirror in your toolbox could be very useful.
3. Pliers – if you have the room it could be handy to have more than one size.
4. Hacksaw – a small hacksaw could be invaluable for cutting metal, wood or even fibreglass.
5. Spare fuel filter – if your engine is spluttering the first thing you do is check there is fuel. After that, the next thing to do is change the oil filter.
6. Spray lubricant – the most well-known brand is WD40 and it can be used for everything from releasing corroded, locked fasteners to spraying a protective film of lubricant on the engine. It’s also good for protecting your tools from rust.
7. Sealant – a boating caulking compound is an easy and effective way to temporarily fix leaking deck fittings. There are some which will also cure underwater.
8. Multi-tool – invest in a good quality multi-tool.  Check for robust pliers, screwdrivers, knife and saw.
9. Range of cloths – keep some spare cloths on board that can be used for the messiest jobs. A few pairs of disposable gloves won’t go amiss.
10. Oil-absorbent pads – if you have an oil leak you’ll be glad you can stop any oil going into the bilge.
11. Wire strippers and crimping – you’ll be in a dire situation if you’re having to do a major re-wiring job out at sea, but for the occasional wiring problem, a set of wire cutters with a crimping tool and a few spare crimp connectors will suffice.
12. A range of wrenches – wrenches are used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening and loosening things like pipes, fittings, nuts and bolts. At the very least have on board the wrench that came with the engine. An adjustable wrench can also be useful.
13. Hose clamps – it’s always a good idea to have a few spare and they take up very little room.
14. Heavy-duty adhesive tape e.g. duct tape. It’s amazing how useful a bit of tape can be!
15. Electricals – If you’re out at sea, your engine fails and all that’s needed is a new fuse you’re going to be having a bad day. Check your owners manual for the correctly sized fuses and always keep some spare. If you’ve got room then a basic multimeter will help you track down the electrical fault, tracing live circuits and testing the state of the battery.
16. Screwdrivers and nutdrivers – keep on board at least a small selection of what’s most likely to be useful.

Every boat has its own special requirements. If you’re not sure what to have on board simply think of what most often seems to go wrong and what tools make the difference.

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Boat Cleaning & Boat Detailing

 At Nanaimo Yacht Services @ Stones Boatyard, we offer a wide range of boat and marine repairs, as well as maintenance such as boat detailing and cleaning. We can provide simple boat washing, compounding and waxing and boat detailing where we will buff, protect and polish all the hardest to reach places.  Our boat bottom cleaning services are second to none! 

Our boat detailing services include:

• Interior and gel coat repair and fibre glass cleaning
• Hull cleaning
• Waxing, buffing/polishing
• Applying new boat sealants
• Removal of mold and seaweed
• Polishing of all metal

We have an excellent team of highly skilled boat cleaners and we also have the on site expertise of Pro Boat Clean for a deeper and more protective clean on your sail or power boat.

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Tide Knowledge for Boaters

Tides are the result of the interaction of gravitation pull between the earth, the moon and the sun. If you’ve done any boating in this part of the world you will know that knowing what is going on with the tides is critical to planning a successful trip. Tides are one of the essential areas of knowledge for boaters. Know your tides or risk getting your boat stuck in the mud or damaged by rocks.

Tide times and heights can vary throughout the month so you can be easily caught out if you haven’t checked them. A passage may have plenty of water one day and then on the next at the same time may be quite different.  Tides can be accurately predicted up to a year in advance and tide tables are widely available both online and in print.

Do you know your vessel’s draft? It’s a good idea to make a permanent note of the draft somewhere near the helm so there is no confusion for whoever is driving the boat.

What you need to know about tides from Nanaimo:

• Check a tide table before going out on the water.
• Learn how the tide affects your boating environment, especially channels and water levels. Be aware of your surroundings and the tide’s direction.
• Learn how to read which way the tidal current is moving in the water.

Just a tide table on its own isn’t enough information. You will still need the relevant chart and don’t be shy about asking for local knowledge.  A good example of where tide information alone isn’t sufficient is for example if the tide moves through a small channel where the surge of water will cause much rougher conditions. For some channels in British Columbia, tidal changes make the water so fast-moving you will need to plan your passage completely around the direction of the tidal flow. The opposite of too much water is too little, and so if the tide is going out of course you will want to be aware of when your boat could be grounded but also if there are any large rocks or other large sunken objects which need to be avoided.

The scenery from Nanaimo is spectacular and as part of owning a boat, you will want to spend time ashore exploring.  Before you jump into your tender to go ashore check the tides. The coast can appear to be a vast natural playground but the tide can come in quickly and then not only does your walking back to your dinghy become wading through water, but more worryingly you could find that the surge of water through narrow channels makes getting your dinghy back to the boat a real problem. Our coastline of steep cliffs may also mean going inland is not an option.

If you’re already out on the water it is easy enough to work out what is happening with the tides especially if you are close to the coast.  If you look at the water and the shore the tidal current is visible as the water flowing in towards or ebbing away from the land. It looks like the ocean is chasing itself onto or away from the shore.

Interesting (geeky) Tide Facts

• Currents created by incoming and outgoing tides can be dangerous for swimmers.
• The Astronomer Seleucus of Seleucia was the first scientist to identify that tides were caused by the moon in 150 BC.
• The moon is the most relevant factor in the creation of tides (the sun’s gravitational force on the earth is less than half of the moon).
• The most dramatic tides happen at the times of the new moon and the full moon.
• In most geographical areas, because of the movement of the moon and sun, tide changes happen twice per day so the time between high and low tides is around 6 hours.
• The wavelength of a tidal wave is around 12,430 miles.
• The tidal cycle 24 hours and 50 minutes.
• Some of the highest tides in the world are in Nova Scotia, in the Bay of Fundy, with a difference of about 53 feet between high and low tide.
• Spring and neap tides – the moon exerts the largest influence on tides but when the sun and moon are aligned (during a full or new moon) the sun enhances the moon’s gravitational pull creating higher tides than usual. These are called spring tides and they have the greatest depth range between high and low water. Neap tides have less variation so there is less change in water height.

As always at Nanaimo Boatyard and Chandlery we are always happy to share our knowledge about everything to do with boating and enjoying the local area. Please do talk to us.

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Boat Storage in Nanaimo, Vancouver – 17 Expert Tips

To help boats and yachts retain their value it’s important every owner knows the best practices in boat storage. Having a boat is a lot of work. We have compiled a list of expert-recommended tips for storing your boat.

BEST PRACTICES IN BOAT STORAGE

The right boat storage is a major factor in determining how long a boat will last. Below are 17 expert tips and best practices you should try when storing your boat: 

1. Clean your boat : Keeping your boat clean is one of the most basic rules of storage. Even when you are only storing it for a little while, it is imperative that you clean your boat to avoid the build-up of grime. Doing so will also help you avoid staining and moulds from growing.
2. Wax your boat : After cleaning the entirety of your boat, it is a good idea to add protection by covering its body with wax. This will help you avoid rust, especially if the boat will be stored outside.
3. Leave the keys with someone locally : To ensure the safety of your boat, make sure to lock it into the facility and leave the keys with someone you trust.
4. Protect your boat from vermin : Small animals like mice can cause a huge amount of damage to your boat, so it is best to keep them away. To do this, make sure that your boat’s storage facility cannot be easily accessed by these climbers. Never leave ladders, ramps, and other possible passages for these critters to climb onto. You may also want to put a repellent down.
5. Clean out the cabin : Even if it’s just for a short time, clean up the cabin, turn off the fridge and store everything away how you know it should be done.
6. Clean up on deck : Check the sails, mast, line, and fenders before putting your boat into storage. The sails should be dry and properly rolled before being stored inside the boat. The mast should be removed and secured inside the vessel or in a separate storage area. Fenders, lines, and other equipment should be cleaned and dried first before being stowed into storage where there isn’t any sunlight. Never forget to secure any other boating equipment that is to be left on deck.
7. Secure the engine : When securing the engine, empty the fuel tank by running the engine after closing the fuel outlet to prevent the substance from harming its injectors or carburettors. It is also recommended to fog the engine to avoid moisture build-up. The boat’s propellers and motors should also be secured. Remember to remove the propellers and outdrives.
8. Change the engine oil : To prevent engine corrosion, make sure to change the oil and oil filter. To do this, flush out remnants of the old substance with water. Then drain it entirely before adding new oil.
9. Flush the coolant system : The cooling system should be flushed with water. Make sure to replace the antifreeze solution with one that is diluted based on the chemical’s specification to prevent the boat’s engine from freezing and corroding during winter.
10. Use fogging oil : Spraying fogging oil onto the spark plug holes or carburettor can help protect the engine’s moving parts from freezing from extremely cold temperatures during winter. To do this, turn over the engine without starting it and spray the oil while it is still rotating. You may also refer to your manual for the proper use of fogging oil based on the boat engine specifications.
11. Take off the drive belts : Drive belts tend to crack from being kept under tension for extended periods, so make sure to loosen or remove them before you store your boat. This is best done for winter storage.
12. Check over the steering : Grease your steering so that when you want to use your boat the steering will work smoothly.
13. Disconnect the battery : This will prolong the life of your battery. If your storing your boat for long periods of time it is worth recharging it occasionally.
14. Check over your gas : Your tanks should either be completely full or empty. Stabilizers will ensure that you can use the fuel again once you decide to start bring your vessel out.
15. Plug up exhaust holes : Use duct tape to protect the boat from small animals.
16. Take home as much of the interior as possible! : We’re talking electronics and any soft furnishings. The less on the boat the fewer things get damaged from the cold.
17. Cover the boat : Boat covers should be used to prevent the accumulation of dirt, grime, dust, and moisture.

How to prepare your boat for haulout at Nanaimo Boatyard

Even if you’re lucky enough to keep your boat somewhere you can sail all year round, you will still want to have your boat hauled out for annual checks and maintenance. For most of us having the boat hauled out for a few months a year is just part of normal boating.

If you’re planning to have some work done on your boat then you may need to store the boat in a different part of the boatyard and there may be a higher storage charge. If this is the case then try and assess what work you need to be done before you take the boat out of the water so you can brief contractors and get work immediately planned in to minimize your storage costs. Work out what work you are going to do and what work you are going to outsource. You can even get parts and supplies pre-ordered.