“We boat here often and the family memories on the island have been great, between the hikes the summer market, friendly people at the marina and in the town. We look forward to coming back.”
Three of Bowen Island’s marinas – Union Steamship Company Marina, Bowen Island Marina, and the Bowen Island Municipality Wharf – are in Snug Cove. The cove is located on the east side of the island where BC Ferries and water taxis arrive. The marinas are available year-round. Snug Cove is just 5.6km/3 nautical mi from the Horseshoe Bay marina in West Vancouver.
A fourth marina, Mount Gardner Dock, is located in Galbraith Bay on the northwest coast of Bowen Island. It provides monthly berthing with a licence.
Marine fuel is not sold on Bowen Island. Head to nearby Horseshoe Bay, Gibsons, or Vancouver to fuel up. For more information on marinas and moorage on Bowen Island, contact the Visitor Centre or the individual marinas.
Union Steamship Company Marina
Ringed by boardwalks and heritage buildings, the Union Steamship Company Marina (USSC) is Bowen Island’s largest marina. It’s named after the company that used to operate Bowen Island as a holiday resort until the mid-20th Century.
The shoal-free marina provides moorage with stable floats for boats between 10ft/3m and 200ft/61m. To get a slip reservation, call (604) 947-0707 or VHF Channel 66a, and report to the chandlery to check in after arriving. Amenities include 30 and 50 amp outlets, garbage disposal, sewage pump-out facilities, water, showers, and laundry. Yachting gear and gifts are sold here.
Different rates apply for temporary, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly moorage rentals. Contact the Union Steamship Company Marina for details at (604) 947-0707.
Bowen Island Municipality Wharf
Offered on a first-come nonreservable basis, the Snug Cove Wharf offers limited day use and overnight moorage year-round. Monthly moorage may be available from September 16 to June 15 but live-aboards are not permitted. All moorage fees must be paid in advance and are mandatory. The wharf is monitored and nonpayment is subject to fines.
Ways to pay:
When you arrive, you can pay in cash via the payment envelopes at the Wharfinger Hut at the top of the ramp, or by e-transfer.
For e-transfer payments:
• E-transfer to finance@bimbc.ca.
• Provide a clear reference in the message field (i.e. name, length of boat, date, duration of stay, and contact information). We are unable to process a payment without this information.
• E-transfers are auto-deposited, so no security answer is necessary for receipt of funds.
Mt. Gardner Wharf is a small one-boat dock that is for unloading or loading only. Owner/operator must remain on boat at all times.
For full moorage details, go to Bowen Island Municipality Government Docks.
