The Boat Hunter

Had an amazing visit to the factory in . What an incredible team behind these vessels - they have an unparalleled dedication to quality. Can't wait to go back!....

Looking forward to to BC boat show - I'll be there with the Calibre Team showing off the amazing Helmsman Trawlers. Come say hi!

The Calibre Yacht Sales team are super excited about this week's BC Boat Show in Sidney, who's joining us🤚
The countdown is on!

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A very interesting and well-considered article. It looks like the new boat market is quickly moving out of reach of the average consumer. We will likely see a big surge in the used market as boat owners cash in on the rise in their vessels value.

I hope the federal government responds accordingly and reconsiders the Canadian luxury tax!

The Future of Boat Prices | BoatTEST Boating Business The Future of Boat Prices Apr 12, 2022 Twitter Share on facebook Email Following yesterday’s news on the inflation rate and the fact that many major financial institutions are now predicting a recession, it is natural for buyers to ponder the best time to purchase a boat. Should i...

This is from my brokerage sharing some kind words from one of my recent customers. Probably one of the hardest earned testamonials of my life, but well worth it to see the smile on their faces when they took the helm for the first time.

What our customers say about Calibre Yacht Sales.

“When we met you (Justin Mede) the first time to view this boat, we realized that you are in a different class. First of all, you were not pushy, but calm and knowledgeable, but also acknowledged things that you did not have an immediate answer to, and promised to come back to us on issues. That you did in quick time.

Your professionalism, calm demeanor and conduct set the stage for us to purchase our first boat without anxiety, fear or regrets.

We want to thank you for your excellent service. We will definitely pass your name on, whenever we have the opportunity to do so.
Looking forward to some more contact with you in the future. It has been a pleasure.”

For more information visit us at https://calibreyachts.com/testimonials/

Back after a bit of a hiatus. This was too interesting if a survival story not to share!

Personally I wouldn't have been so eager to take an unknown boat offshore, but you've got to give him some serious cred for how he handled the prep and the emergency.

Nacho chips, crackers and tiny fish: How a B.C. senior survived on the open sea for nearly 6 days | CBC News Don Cavers survived for nearly six days in a life-raft on the open water of the Caribbean Sea. The B.C senior was rescued by a passing merchant ship after his sailboat sank.

Boaters beware! If you are boating the Southwest side of Vancouver Island in coming days, be on the lookout for partially submerged shipping containers. Considering the weather this week, it's best just to stay at dock.

Coast Guard monitoring 40 adrift shipping containers off Vancouver Island The Canadian Coast Guard has issued warnings to vessels to be careful navigating waters to the west of the Strait of Juan de Fuca after 40 shipping containers went overboard in rough seas.

Having a great time at the BC Boat Show with the team at Calibre Yacht Sales. Looking forward to a full weekend of boats in beautiful Sidney BC. Stop by and say hi!
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Spent last week getting this new listing up, a 2006 Cruisers Yachts 340 Express. It was very cool to work with .cave getting the 3D virtual walkthrough done.

Check out the listing at :
https://calibreyachts.com/brokered-boat/2006-cruisers-yachts-340-express/
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Spent the long weekend sailing to and from Hornby Island with my wife for our anniversary.

It's awesome to see so many active boaters on the water! It was very cool to have a couple of close encounters with local super yachts, After Eight and Nova Spirit. I hear that each of these vessels feel like they are a floating palace.

I have to give a special shout out to the Harbour Store at French Creek for being so genuinely helpful all the time, and to the pub staff for serving up their delicious "Frings"!
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Had an opportunity to visit an amazing classic wood schooner restoration project in Richmond today. So much work has gone into this beauty! ...

This about sums it up!

I've seen a lot of custom boats, but this one has got to be one of the most interesting conversions out there.

Check out this Peterbilt Pontoon Custom... talk about horsepower!

https://www.boatblurb.com/post/weirdboats-the-peterboat-is-half-big-rig-half-pontoon-and-all-horsepower
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A European Green Crab has recently been found in Ladysmith. These creatures are a devistating to native sea life, and they are amongst the top most-hated invasive species in the world.

Distinctive characteristics include five points on each side of the shell, distinctive markings on its back, and two back legs that stay behind it.

It's not yet believed to have a significant local population, but the public is being asked to report all sightings to the DFO. Do not return these crabs to the wild if caught...

Invasive European Green Crab found in Ladysmith harbour - Vancouver Island Free Daily European Green Crabs listed as one of 10 of the most unwanted species by DFO

You think you have a hard time docking your boat? Try docking in 9 knots of current!...

The world's last turntable ferry has a really clever design In Glenelg, on the west coast of Scotland, there's the Skye Ferry: the last turntable ferry in the world. And the reason for that turntable is a lot more cle...

Spent the afternoon with the photographer capturing this beautiful Tiara 3300 Open. I'm excited to see how the 3D tour turns out - DevOcean is a very special boat....

These are probably the best zincs I've seen so far this year in a haul out.

Electrolysis is a big problem in many marinas, and zincs act as a sacrificial anode to protect boats from this rogue energy. Nearly every boat I've seen this year has had little to no zinc left... and most of these had their zincs replaced only a year ago!

If you have this problem there are a number of solutions out there. Zinc paint is a good option for propellers, and also zinc "fish" are amazing at dealing with energized water.

Whatever you do, make sure you protect your boat from electrolysis. The consequences can be catastrophic if this is neglected!
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Check out the stitching on this classic tall ship sail. Can't imagine how long it would take to finish something like this!
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This is the corner of a hand sewn sail made in the 1800s. The craftsmanship and quality of the work is amazing. This is a lost art. The canvas sails were made of h**p along with clothing, ropes, and the caulking used to fill gaps between planks among other things. H**p is 3 times stronger than jute and was preferred because it was unaffected by salt water. The work done by sail makers was demanding and left no room for error as their sails would be what brings fishermen home safely. 🙂

More of this please!

Very glad to see that the efforts to deal with this issue are being increasingly supported by the provincial government.

Derelict boats are a problem in so many ways, from the pollutants they release to the physical danger they can pose to people and animals.

The people and organizations who work to dispose of these vessels put untold blood, sweat, and tears into their efforts... and can still use much much more support as many operate with little to no budget. Because of this most are very thrifty, and this money will be stretched to go a long way towards solving the problem.

Thank you to those that pull these things out of the murkey depths and off of the far-off beaches of BC. Your efforts are appreciated, and this is a big win for all of us!..

B.C. government puts $9.5M toward removing more than 100 derelict boats | CBC News Concerns over abandoned vessels, mooring buoys, polystyrene foam, aquaculture debris and single-use plastics were first raised in 2019.

Saw this awesome little cutter cruising English Bay in Vancouver today. Those red sails are something else!

Do you think they're pirates? 🤺 ☠️
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There sure are some incredible boat names out there.

With decals so easy to print, and the internet as an endless resource for ideas; people have come up with some pretty awesome names.

These ones gave me a chuckle... what are your favourites?
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Looks like I lucked out big time for my workspace setup today! 😍

It's very tricky balancing COVID-19 safety measures with the responsibilities of a yacht broker. Because many rural areas have no local brokers my customers are spread out over hundreds of kilometres. Although much of the work can be done remotely there's no getting around visiting boats in person. With many sit down establishments shut down and out of desire to keep distance from others, I end up using my car as my office most of time.

Fortunately some of the marinas still have patios open where I can do some admin without a steering wheel in my lap.

This one at False Creek Yacht Club is one of my favorites... I'm sure you can see why!
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Someone should tell them that's not how you install piling 😂
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Looks like I have the opportunity to list a beautiful Valiant 40-foot Cutter in Port McNeill. Sailing Vessel "Starship" will be ready for a new owner in May!

These safe and comfortable trans-ocean sailing yachts were game changers for the bluewater community. Capable of consistently cruising 250 km per day with loads of living space below decks.

Anyone fancy a trip to Hawaii?
⛵🏝️🌋
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Check out the woodwork on this mahogany steering tiller...

This 7-foot masterpiece is attached to a huge hung rudder on a boat that's built like a tank. I love the hand-carved monkey fist.

Today I went out for a fun cruise on Eventyr, a 1979 Noon Ocean 34-foot cutter. These boats are well known for being reliable and safe expedition cruisers. Made in North Vancouver and re-homed around the globe... they have been the subject of so many amazing adventures. These boats are built super sturdy, they remind me of pirate ships... so cool!

I'm very excited to have found this beautiful vessel to showcase over the next few weeks.

Special thanks to the crew at for helping us with the lines!

🌏⛵....

Very excited to go for a cruise on a rare sailboat today... the North Vancouver-built Noon Ocean 34. These vessels are sisterships to True North and Trade Wind cruisers which are well known for being hardy and comfortable global expedition cruisers. Bring on the gale!
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