Maybe we’re a tad biased, but we cannot imagine life without boats and the ocean.

Boating is one of the best ways to bond with family and to have fun and relax. The memories made will be told and retold at family events for years afterwards and children will never forget their “firsts” on a boat.

When we first moved to the West Coast, our parents decided to buy a sailboat; (probably more my dad’s idea than my mom’s). We then took to the water for exciting family trips which created many never-to-forget memories, such as the first time that dolphins ran our bow, and when a tug came to West Bay in the middle of the night to remove the logs we were moored to, or the old rope swing in Centre Bay. Then there was finding the pirate’s chest at Pirates Cove, kids being towed behind the boat in a dinghy (what a smart way to keep the peace!), chili that burned twice, midnight cabin bailouts from those smells dad insisted were coming from the dog and poor mom putting up with it all. Those memories feed us today as we deepen our love of boating and move into another generation of family fun.

During our teen years our interest in boating waned; who wants to spend weekends on the boat with parents? They didn’t mind though! They started using it as a place to relax and reconnect with each other on weekends. Reading the log books years later, we could see the adventures they had without us, (wink, wink).

Later on, we kids rediscovered boating. This time it was going out with friends on Saturday trips to Boyer Island to play and swim, picnics at Keats Island or lunch at Bowen Island, and every kind of summer boating fun. Eventually, the sail boat was traded for a power boat; an older boat that needed a lot of work. This boat became the family pride by the time our father finished restoring the interior, installing new engines and talking us into helping on the exterior.

All just in time, because along came the first grandchild and a new chapter of boating began. The family spent many fun weekends in Centre Bay. By this time we had membership to one of the yacht clubs; no staying on the hook for the grandchildren! This led to new memories of hikes around the island, beach bonfires and Labour Day parties and many weekends spent collecting pine cones, reading books and unplugging from our busy lives.

We didn’t realize at the time, that we were making a lifetime of amazing memories. Now that our father is gone we will always remember the incredible times we had and the lessons we learned and we are looking forward to one day showing our grandchildren the pirate’s chest and dolphins. Thanks dad!

Now-a-days, we enjoy making new memories with friends and family with dinners on Bowen or just lazy afternoons floating in the dinghy. In this busy life, we make the time to spend on the water because it sure is worth it once you’re out there, relaxing and creating fabulous memories. We hope you are too. Enjoy!