The CBC reports that the Kitsilano coast guard station will be closed in DFO layoffs. Oh my. You’ve probably seen their hovercraft go past now and again when they’ve been on their way to rescue somebody. There was that time at Whalebone a few years ago and… and…. Well, no more. Boaters had best take [...]
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From the Nanaimo Bulletin: Entrance Island Lighthouse nominated for heritage designation. For nearly 140 years the Entrance Island Lighthouse has been a beacon shining across the waters of Georgia Strait to guide seafarers and aviators safely to their destination. The lighthouse, which has been manned since its construction in the mid-1870s, is located off the [...]
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I rowed around an island, once. It was not my idea, against my better judgement, and I’ll never do it again. It was a smaller island than Gabriola, too, so I sure won’t be doing anything of the sort here. But serious rowers do circumnavigate islands. Jordan Hanssen and Greg Spooner recently rowed around Vancouver [...]
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The Daily News has a story about the lighthouse we see from Berry Point: Lighthouse keeper will remain in place at facility on Entrance Island. The Entrance Island lighthouse, just one of approximately 50 manned lighthouses left in Canada, and its keepers will continue to provide services for the local marine community. Gabriola boaters, and [...]
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Thinking of building a little boat to paddle at Descanso or Drumbeg? Here’s news of unusual canoes that might inspire, or at least boggle: canoes made out of concrete. I know you’ll want one.
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From physorg.com: Materials inspired by Mother Nature: A 1-pound boat that could float 1,000 pounds. Combining the secrets that enable water striders to walk on water and give wood its lightness and great strength has yielded an amazing new material so buoyant that, in everyday terms, a boat made from 1 pound of the substance [...]
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Ha! Have you heard? MIT offers a Pirate Certificate. It’s for students who have completed courses in pistol, archery, sailing, and fencing. Now that I’ve had a bit of wine, I think perhaps we should be offering a pirate certificate on Gabriola. Prospective pirates could learn to build their own wooden pirate ships at Silva [...]
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Here’s some vintage fun from a 1950 issue of Boat Builder’s Annual: Corky, a Pint-sized Sailer. It’s the smallest sailboat ever – built around an inner tube, in which the sailor sits. The article begins: Here is a non-sinkable sailboat for the youngsters that can be made easily in one or two evenings in the [...]
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Oh, boats. If I win the lottery, I’ll buy a sailboat big enough for you and me, and we’ll cruise the local waters. You guys can be in charge of bringing the wine, and maybe cooking up something for dinner. I’ll be in charge, of, um, something else. So anyway. Yes I do have a [...]
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Anyone who’s lived in Vancouver will have seen the Straight newspaper. This week’s issue includes this article: Head to Gabriola Island’s Silva Bay Shipyard School to build a boat. Burnaby Mountain and the Point Grey peninsula have their charms, but B.C. boasts no prettier campus than the one that hosts Gabriola Island’s tiny Silva Bay [...]
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Here’s some geeky news for all you Gabriola boaters. From eurekalert: Effortless sailing with fluid flow cloak. Duke engineers have already shown that they can cloak light and sound, making objects invisible — now, they have demonstrated the theoretical ability to significantly increase the efficiency of ships by tricking the surrounding water into staying still. [...]
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This is the water taxi that’s serving Gabriola at the moment, going back and forth between Descanso Bay and Nanaimo Harbour. (This because of the accident that damaged the trestle where the Quinsam normally docks in Nanaimo Harbour. The Quinsam is running as well, but it goes to Duke Point at the moment.) Here’s some [...]
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Do you remember the boat that washed up on the rocks at Drumbeg a few winters ago? It was near the Stalker Road end of the park, and it came in after a storm. It stayed right where it landed for a very long time, because apparently we lack the legislation to get rid of [...]
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There are an awful lot of kayaks on Gabriola, and a couple of places to rent kayaks as well. But if you want your own kayak, if you want it to be super-cheap, ready very quickly… well, here’s your answer: the Four-Hour Grip Clip Kayak! Doesn’t that look like fun? Just the thing for paddling [...]
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If you’ll be on Gabriola this weekend, here’s something you might want to attend: the Silva Bay Shipyard School’s Launch Festival. Who can resist traditionally-built boats?
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This Gabriola boat is an unusual one, and not just because she seems to be motoring about at Folklife Village. Do you know her story? This is Li’l Gabe, the boat that won’t float. The Gabriola Island Power and Sail Squadron built her this spring, to help promote their classes. (See photos of the boat’s [...]
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Look what’s turned up at Gabriola’s Folklife Village: the Silva Bay Shipyard School. They’ve taken over the space Take Two used to occupy. Apparently it’s a temporary (two week) thing. Stop by next time you’re at Folklife. Maybe you’d like to buy one of the two boats on display, which would be a huge favour [...]
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Gabriola’s Village Liquor Store is collecting wine corks, and they’re offering a discount on purchases if you bring in four corks. I’ve heard it’s because somebody’s thinking of building a wall out of wine corks. Well. All fine and dandy, but we can have way more fun with wine corks. They float, right? I therefore [...]
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