Thanks to gracious hospitality of Dick & Colleen Hardman, Club members have the use of their docks at the south end of Silva Bay on Gabriola Island in British Columbia. When you visit their dock please leave the area better than you found it and mail a note card to the Hardman's thanking them for their hospitality.
Check in: Call ahead to make sure space is available. The Hardmans may not be there to take the call all the time so slips are available on a first-come first-served basis. Their phone number there is 250.247.9228. Their email address is dickcolleen@shaw.ca, which the Hardmans check regularly year ‘round.
Facilities: With the new dock configuration there will be space for several boats at a time and two 30-amp power sources. Vessels are welcome to anchor and dinghy in or to raft-up at the dock. One boat may hook into power and the rafted boat can use an extension cord to the first boat. Just keep in mind that there is only 30-amp service. Water is usually plentiful, however, being on an island makes water a precious commodity and should be so considered. The water is piped to the dock and everyone is welcome to use it judiciously. It is excellent water which is tested regularly and is safe to use.
Courtesy: Please limit your stay to a 72-hr maximum. There are usually other boats docked or anchored close by. Some will be partying late. Please use your judgment if you are up early or staying up late so that our noise doesn't disturb others.
Other Features:
• There is plenty of open area to walk your dog. Please clean up after your pet.
• There are nice walking trails for your enjoyment. The Hardmans usually have a vehicle available but expect people to purchase gas to replace what they use.
• There is a beach fire pit adequate for cooking oysters over an open fire. Guests are welcome to bring oysters or clams to cook. There is a large oyster bed available in front of the neighbors house and oysters can be easily gathered at low tide, but make sure you have a Canadian shellfish license.
• There is a coin laundry for boaters available at all three of the marinas in Silva Bay: Page's, Silva Bay Resort, Silva Bay Inn.
• Boaters will also find a pharmacy, hardware store, lumber yard, groceries, bank, optician, liquor store, gas and propane for sale, and a gift & ladies wear shops in the town of Silva Bay. There is also now a walk-in clinic for emergency use.
• There are two sources of fuel in Silva Bay. One is Page's Marina and the other is Silva Bay Marina. There are marine mechanics, electricians and divers available in Silva Bay.
• There was a shipyard with a small lift and a large rail for taking boats out of the water.
• Moorage can be found at Page's Marina (250) 247-8931, and at Silva Bay Marina (250) 247-8662,
Enjoy your stay and kindly write a short thank you note to the Hardmans when you use their docks.
Approaches to Silva Bay ~ There are two ways most people arrive here. If you are coming from one of the Gulf Islands, you will no doubt be coming up on the West side of Valdez Island and approaching through Gabriola Pass. This is quite narrow and swift but plenty of water. You should be aware of the current before you come through. Anyone coming should consult their current & tide book and have an up-to-date chart of the area. When you come through the Gabriola Pass you want to stay with the light/marker to your port as you get to the East side. When you have given it plenty of room, due to a kelp bed, turn left and head for the next light/marker you see on the chart. Before you get to the light/marker, you will notice an entrance between Gabriola Island and Sear Island. This is where we most always enter, even if the tide is fairly low. It does get pretty shallow at low, low tide and if you draw more than 4', you should avoid it and go on around and come in from the East entrance. If there is any tide at all, most anyone can enter and not touch bottom. The secret is to stay near to Sear Island. There is a reef that extends out from the left side so you want to stay pretty much in the middle until you get a couple hundred yards down the entrance and then it opens up. When you get to that point, you are virtually at our dock. Ours is the first one on your left with pilings. Anchoring is good any place from in front of our house on into Silva Bay. If there is room at the dock, you're welcome to tie up there on a "first come, first served" basis. There are two 30 amp power outlets available, as well as fresh water. Like I said, the anchoring is on muddy bottom and fair holding, if anchor is set and sufficient rode is out. Sometimes the wind does blow a bit, but I've not seen it that bad in the summer. Good anchoring is always a wise investment, however. I know I sleep better feeling I have it well set.
Now, for those who might be coming up the straits directly from Blaine to Gabriola's Silva Bay. Again, watch your charts and stay to the West of the Gabriola Reef, that is well marked. The west end has a buoy marking it and if you stay to the west of that buoy (keep it to starboard), you will be just fine. You will be coming in on the North end of Breakwater Island almost directly into the South entrance to Silva Bay, as I have already described.
A word of caution if you go on around and come into Silva Bay from the North East entrance. There is a reef that goes dry at low tide and so you must stay to the right of the marker (it is well indicated on charts). It is a narrow entrance, as well, but plenty of water in all tides if you keep the marker on your port side. Again, check your charts for this.
It isn't difficult to come in either of the entrances but caution should be observed, as always. There is another entrance from the North, when coming from Nanaimo or points north. It is marked with a buoy at the entrance and you want to stay close by the buoy when you come in that way. You can come either side it as long as you stay close. There are rocks off to the West and East of the marker buoy but as long as you hug it pretty close, it will be fine. There is probably a 50' cushion, but don't push it!
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