we'll be having an OPEN HOUSE in POWELL RIVER this SATURDAY AFTERNOON (MAY 11)~ come sail with us for 1.5 hours at either 1pm or 3.30pm



our boats are in NORTH HARBOUR on A & B dock - to register for a complimentary boat ride aboard one of our charter fleet boats,

~ interested in lessons? - one of our local instructors who's sailed 2/3 around the world is on hand ~

interested in charters? ~ our crew is happy to show you around the fleet ~

please register your interest so we may book you into a time slot

it's been a short week - although we managed to have the busiest boat shuffle in our 30 year history

over two million dollars in yachts added or changed hands
in the COOPER FLEET this week

with owners adding & even exchanging with eachother, we can barely type this- so let's share with some pictures:

  ARRIVED - RIGGED & LAUNCHING SHORTLY
(ALEGRIA - SEE HER AT VICTORIA BOAT SHOW)

PURCHASED -  BRAND NEW 2013
BAVARIA VISION 46 -SEE HER AT VICTORIA BOAT SHOW

ORDERED -  BRAND NEW 2013
HANSE 495 -EXPECTED SUMMER 2013

  DUFOUR 365

DUFOUR 385

MERIDIAN 490

HUNTER 31

GIB SEA 37

CATALINA 320

WHILE GRATEFUL THE MARKET WOKE UP, it was a bit odd to all happen same week

there are a few more items brewing that we can tell you about later, meantime, we're off to enjoy the beautiful EASTER WEEKEND weather on our legendary flotilla and recover from this week

SEEING AS THE GREAT WEATHER IS HERE - WHY NOT BOOK YOUR BOATING HOLIDAY NOW?

ps - odd as it sounds, we are still trying to find some mid 30 foot sail & power boats for the fleet - catch the wave

ps2 - MR COOPER will be BUSY shortly (like he isn't already - good thing we've also got the strongest team ever!)

when cruising on a power boat on our spectacular BRITISH COLUMBIA coast, sometimes it is the getting there that you enjoy -- and sometimes it is what you do when you get there - the TOYS!!



the flagship vessels at COOPER boating are charters with something special in every case - at the VANCOUVER LOCATION, you can charter MORIA and enjoy a few of the special extras (accessories) that make this boat special:



1) HOW ABOUT a couple cute KAYAKS? MORIA's got 'em

2) A GIANT RIB to explore further on the 'small boat' - this RIB has more equipment than some of our 30 foot charter vessels!

3) A CABIN FOR your very own CRUISE DIRECTOR (or CAPTAIN).... let's face it, some PERSONNEL can make all the difference between running the boat and feeling like work and taking someone along to handle all the details - big FUN option is a place to put your key PERSONNEL (they even have their own head and mini galley on this boat!)

4) SUN BRITE TV - yup - a TV optimized for watching outside... just in case it's MOVIE NIGHT on your private cruise!

5) GIGANTIC FLYBRIDGE with open CALIFORNIA KITCHEN and plenty of seating both open and under cover of the gigantic BIMINI

MORIA is visiting GRANVILLE ISLAND at the moment - DROP DOWN and check out this flagship.... also consider ISLAND ROAMER out of POWELL RIVER and LAST TANGO out of SIDNEY

Thursday, September 22 - 25

10:00 - 5:00 daily

 

Come enjoy our 4 day event intended to supercharge your boating lifestyle. 

From your first steps of learning to handle a boat through purchasing your dream boat, Granville Island is Vancouver's centre for all things marine. 

Step aboard new Catalina, Bavaria and Dufour sailing yachts. We'll have a good selection of pre-owned power and sailing yachts for sale and sail as well as select charter and club boats from Cooper Boating and the JIB SET sailing club. 

New to boating? Come on down and lets chat about getting you out on the water. Cooper Boating offers a full selection of courses from the basics like getting your boat operator's card to cruise and learns and offshore sailing courses for the more adventuresome.

Stepping up your game? Let's start planning your journey of a lifetime - Alaska next spring - circumnavigate Vancouver Island next June - attend one of our 'journey of a lifetime' seminars to start planning your big adventure.

For those with a serious sailing addiction and no boat, the JIB SET sailing club is the best value for sailing in town and a great way to meet some really fantastic people who share your addiction.

 

Enjoy a series of seminars conducted, with admission being your non-perishable food or cash donation to the Vancouver Food Bank.  The seminar topics include:

 

Stepping Stones to the Boating Lifestyle

 

Boat Buying Basics

 

Up close and personal with your marine head

 

When you’re working hard your boat should too (introduction to charter ownership)

 

MARINE ELECTRICAL 101

 

and more!!!

                       

 

The seminars will be held at the participants’ spaces on Mast Tower Road – a detailed schedule will be available shortly, but suffice to say we’ll have interesting topics daily. 

 

We look forward to seeing you - hot dogs courtesy of Yacht Sales West, refreshments courtesy of Cooper Boating and Bosuns Yacht Sales and cupcakes courtesy of JIB SET sailing club.

 

For more information on the event, please contact 

 

Yacht Sales West

info@yachtsaleswest.com 

 

Cooper Boating

crew@cooperboating.com

 

Bosun’s Yacht Sales & Service 

db@bosuns.ca

 

JIB SET sailing club

jibset@jibset.org

 

 

 

Long weekends are great, but lo-o-o-ng weekends are better!! Planning for the May Long Weekend Flotilla is underway!
Typically, we sailors make it a five day weekend ...why not? The fun is in the journey-- and we here are all happiest if that journey is on a sailboat! Especially with a group of boats and friendly sailors. A couple of seasons ago we had a flotilla of 12 boats go into the San Juan Islands and we'd like to do a return trip for this year's May Loooong Weekend, May 20-24 2011.

The boats will be leaving downtown Vancouver on Friday May 20th. First port of call will be Point Roberts Marina. Here we can get our cruising boat permits to enter U.S. waters. Make sure you bring your passports and all the proper boat paperwork. There are local bar/cafes here for an evening social gathering. 
The next morning we head off for Roche Harbour! This is a BIG favourite of Canadian sailors due to the charm of the buildings and services, walks of historical interest, food and drink spots, a spa and some fun shopping.

On Sunday the 22nd of May we have a short haul down to Friday Harbour: there are bike rentals, art galleries, afternoon movies at the theatre, shopping, and maybe some good old relaxing on your boat with your favourite book or a friendly game of cards.

Monday is the 23rd of May and our journey takes us into Bedwell Harbour to become Canadian again, and then it's up to Montague Harbour for an overnight on a mooring buoy or at anchor. Montague Harbour is at Galiano Island and is a lovely marine park for hiking and photo taking. If we're lucky the famous BAKERY BARGE will be there! They make incredible cinnamon buns and pies! We'll have to order ahead.

On Tuesday the 24th, slack water at Porlier Pass is at 1039... plenty of time to have breakfast and get up Trincomali Channel, through the pass and then home to Vancouver by the end of the daylight.

The enjoyment of life exponentially increases with the vacations you look forward to ... one every six months should do it!
Contact Marla@cooperboating.com for information on which boats are available for this spring vacation.

The new Bavaria 32 Arcturus has arrived from Germany and commissioning is underway.  This is the first of the new generation Bavarias designed by Bruce Farr to enter a local charter fleet.  
Arcturus will be based out of our Powell River location this summer.  In the meantime, she is here in Vancouver.  Very exciting!

The Siren Song of the British Virgin Islands in the sweet Caribbean is calling to us again! We Canadian sailors need a bit of sun, sand, surf and sailing before the Christmas season hits our west coast. It's Cooper Boating FLOTILLA time!! December 3 to 13th 2011.
This year we are going to arrive on the island of Tortola on Saturday the 3rd of December in the afternoon OR if you can get an early flight, the morning of Sunday Dec.4th, 2011.The flotilla schedule is for ten days so we'll be departing the boats on the 13th of December, 2011.
Our itinerary will take us to all the favorite stops and spots .... the Baths for snorkeling, Norman Bight, the Indians for diving, Virgin Gorda Sound, White Bay and Sandy Cay, and socializing in Cane Garden Bay!
Charter your own boat with friends and family OR join one of the boats with a mentoring skipper from the Canadian Yachting Association and work on mileage and certifications if so desired. 
For bareboat pricing or for per person pricing, contact marla@cooperboating.com. Phone: 604.683.6837 ext. 19 or cell at 604.789.2995.
TIPS to be supplied:
Flight routing - What gear to take - Where we'll be visiting - Provisioning info - Sailing certs available - Assistance with BOAT choosing

Cooper Boating welcomes Lagoon PowerCat 43 NIKKO BELLA!

It is no secret that the popularity of catamarans has been growing in recent years. Why? Their wider beam and double-hulled stance offers more space and stability compared to a monohull of the same length. But Nikko Bella, as a *power* cat, has an extra advantage over a single-hull powerboat: better fuel economy. This is a result of the reduced drag of two shallower hulls, which give you the speed you want while consuming less fuel in the process. With 3 staterooms, each with its own head, this boat is a perfect choice for couples!

More space, comfort, privacy and stability. Less fuel. What could be better?

Nikko Bella joins us at the end of May.

Just added - the second Bruce Farr designed Bavaria model.  ACappella is under construction at the Bavaria yard in Germany and will feature this massive power (up/down) swim platform: 
 (how cool is that?)
and she's got 2 rudders and 3 heads!  You can also split the boat between 4 couples or a large family with the 4 cabins.  
 ACappella (sistership)
ACappella will join her smaller sister Arcturus - landing in our Powell River base once thorough sea trials are complete.  
 Arcturus (sistership)
One favourite change to see back 'in style' (thanks in part to this fold down platform) is a big transom (of sorts)  - a place to put the name!

A big welcome back to Steve Cropper - back in the lead of the Sidney dock after a break from Cooper the past few years (to build a home on Mayne Island).   Steve started as a few of our regular crew did - first as a client - renting boats out of Granville Island, then becoming an instructor, followed by some time working in the office.  He spent some time nearby as captain of small commercial vessels.    
Now he's back taking the lead for the care of our boats based in Sidney for spectacular boating courses and bareboat charters.

Steve also has a background - pre boat biz - of TV and film production - we think our You Tube channel shall benefit by better material this season!

Steve can be reached via email and through our main dock number in Sidney -  2 5 0 . 8 8 3 . 2 6 2 8  ( 8 8 3 .  B O A T )