Five Canadian Boating YouTube Channels for Winter Escape
Jan 7, 2025
By Mathew Channer
During Christmas break I was lucky enough to complete my third crossing of the Bass Strait, the notorious waters between mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania. It was a rip-roaring adventure, with two idyllic blue days followed by a thrilling eight-hour charge into port ahead of gale-force winds. Not surprisingly, as I now gaze daily through my window at my frozen lake, and then at the calendar on my desk, I find myself longing to return to those (admittedly chilly) waters. Up late every night with jet lag and sailing fantasies, I have turned to the only resource I have – my laptop.
Thank goodness for the internet. Tropical reefs, freshwater fishing, cross-ocean sailing, fully documented refits, all can be had through the magic of YouTube.
These days, boating and sailing vlogs are as numerous as they are diverse. There’s something for everyone. If you, like me, are whiling away the winter days wishing you were somewhere with un-frozen water, read on to find my favourite Canadian or Canada-themed sailing and boating YouTube channels, and start pretending you were there. You’re welcome.
82.5K subscribers
From their origins in British Columbia, Canadian couple Ben and Alie set their sights on warmer waters and bigger waves and set sail for Mexico. They’ve since headed west and are now cruising French Polynesia, offering viewers glimpses of crystal waters and sandy white beaches. Get ready for blue water, rich coral, waves, sunshine, and cute shots of their dog, Bruce. Most recently though, the couple ran into some trouble when they dragged anchor into a reef, and the surprisingly comprehensive footage of how they navigate this boater’s nightmare is truly gripping.
Reasons to watch:
- Classic, shameless tropical voyeurism.
- Great surfing footage as well as great sailing.
- Bruce. Just too cute.
23.7K subscribers
Dynamic duo Allison (Canada) and James (Australia) have extensively documented their time sailing through BC on their “back-to-basics” monohull. After initially starting their channel while renovating an Airstream into a tiny home, the couple switched to sailing life in 2022. Their channel documents their adaptation to life at sea and the challenges of teaching themselves to sail. 2 years later, they are happily cruising and adventuring on Canada’s west coast. Polished production and neat cinematic features including hyperlapses and map graphics complement their smooth narration as they navigate some of Canada’s most beautiful scenery. See their latest episode to watch them encounter icebergs for the first time!
- Watching two people who are still relatively new to liveaboard life get super stoked!
- Professional, polished production.
- Remote destinations throughout BC and Alaska.
6.8K subscribers (plus airs on Global TV & Sportsman Channal Canada)
Water Ways will shortly release its 3rd season, and for good reason. Journalist and boater Steve Bull is an engaging presenter, who seeks out all kinds of Canadian marine adventures, history, and culture. Season 2 of Water Ways begins in BC before travelling to Newfoundland, the Muskokas, Montreal, France and Fort Lauderdale, to name a few. A typical episode (Season 2, Ep: 4) includes the history of the “Mayday” call, the Royal St. John’s Regatta, “Pond Life” with a local, Picnic Table boats, and whale and puffin watching with a local tour operator. You might not know what’s coming next, but you can bet it’s worth watching.
Reasons to watch:
- Watching will make you excellent at marine trivia.
- Very Canada-centric.
- Great content from a passionate boater.
164K subscribers
Canadian Maya and Swiss/Italian Aladino are now into their 5th season and know how to put together a good episode. What’s coolest about their channel is that this is two hardcore boaters with their own unique backgrounds who have come together over their shared passion. Maya purchased and moved onto her first sailboat when she was 18 (for $1), and apprentice boat-builder Aladino found their future vessel, the 28-foot Magic Carpet, in pieces on a boatyard floor. Their earliest episodes document the finishing touches on the restoration of Magic Carpet, and by their third episode they are on their way to the Mediterranean. After a few years based in Europe, the duo returned to Canada and recently embarked on a west coast adventure on a new vessel. Check out their beautiful footage of British Columbia and the slow cruisy pace of their latest episode.
Reasons to watch:
- The backstory.
- Lots of episodes in coastal and interior Europe.
- Unique soundtracks that add to the mood.
26.3K subscribers
Powerboating enthusiast Paul has owned five Sea Rays, and he’s going to show you all of them. His channel kicked off in 2008, and if you’re really keen you can follow from the very beginning, when he makes his first YouTube video on an Ontario’s winter day that is so windy “we got whitecaps on the ice”. While this is not your typical escapism, it’s a great look at seasonal Canadian boating life. Over the years Paul has extensively documented his time cruising through Ontario and beyond, most recently in the Trent Severn Canal. While the filming is basic (predominantly handheld camera), his channel offers a trove of boating information, reviews, comparisons, and guidance from a seasoned veteran. Plus, he doesn’t shirk away from winter; on December 13 he posted a video standing alone behind Boogaboo in dry storage, like only a true Canadian boater would do.
Reasons to watch:
- Motor cruising.
- Loads of technical information.
- Lots of new content (usually four times per month).
Our newest team member, Mathew Channer, is an Australian writer and professional mariner with over 16-years experience working offshore. He recently moved to Georgian Bay, Ontario, to be with his Canadian life-partner. He is looking forward to spending more time on freshwater and contributing to Canada’s boating community. Matthew Channer is Canadian Boating’s Associate Editor.
