Canoe Cove History
May 24, 2018
In the 1920s, a small cove in Canoe Bay was used as a shipping point and safe-haven for rum runners during US. prohibition. contraband liquor was shipped to the San Juan Islands and several other locations in Puget Sound. By the end of the 20s, a sheltered marina had been established in Canoe Cove, the birth of what is now Canoe Cove Marina.
In the early 1930s, a boatbuilding operation specializing in construction of small wooden vessels began operations as Canoe Cove Marina. In 1958, the Marina was sold and the new owners continued to build a complete line of wooden boats, including sailboats. The last wooden boat was launched in 1964, heralding a succession of popular fibreglass powerboats called the “Canoe Cove” line of vessels.
The Marina, excluding the boatbuilding section, which continued operations with the previous owners, was sold in 1974 to the present owners. As the popularity of pleasure boating increased over the years so have the facilities and services of Canoe Cove Marina which currently offers over 450 wet slips, including 132 boathouses and 20 covered slips as well as a 120-vessel dry-land storage yard. As moorage and storage facilities expanded, so too have support services.
The marina now operates one of the largest full-service yacht repair facilities in British Columbia, providing services from bottom paint application to major mechanical installations, structural repair and modifications of fibreglass, aluminium and steel vessels. Other onshore amenities include a fully stocked marine-hardware chandlery, Canoe Cove Joe’s seaside restaurant and coffee bar, full service fuel dock as well as laundry, shower and washroom facilities.
More than a million dollars worth of upgrades to the haulout and yacht repair facilities were completed in March 2008 including a travelift and a completely revamped drainage system to capture run-off and boat washing water making the facility eco-friendly. In 2013, Canoe Cove again upgraded to 75-ton marine travelift, the largest on Southern Vancouver Island. It is capable of hauling boats up to 80 feet in length and weighing 186,000 lbs. Since then, owners with boats larger than 50 tonnes can avoid going to Vancouver, Nanaimo or Campbell River to get lifted.
When the natural setting of the property, the character of the buildings and the activity of the repair Yard is mixed with the holiday mindset of boaters, the atmosphere is always welcoming and definitely unique to Canoe Cove Marina.
If you haven’t been to Canoe Cove Marina and Boatyard recently, drop by and get acquainted.
