Grady White 306 Canyon30' 6"
View Specs & ReviewStage for Dodd Narrows — a 40 to 70 foot port built around slack water
Yachting in Nanaimo
A Minted Location · Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is where you wait for slack water, and it is very good at that job. Dodd Narrows sits four miles south of the harbour and runs to 9.5 knots on the flood. You do not force it; you time it. So you come in the evening, clear customs on VHF 67, fill the tanks off a fuel barge, walk to a chandler and a grocery, and leave on the morning slack.
Plan around the sizes this harbour actually berths. Townsite publishes "vessels from 12 to 70 feet." Stones publishes 70 feet in-line. The Boat Basin sends anything over 50 feet across to W.E. Mills Landing on the Cameron Island breakwater pier. The largest haul-out in town is 83 US tons. The one 150-foot figure in Nanaimo belongs to the Petro-Canada fuel barge — 150 feet over 14 feet of draft at low tide — and that is a fuel stop, not a berth.
That makes this a 40 to 70 foot port, and a genuinely good one. It is a Canada Border Services port of entry, it has three boatyards, a real chandlery, a mooring-buoy park half a mile off downtown, and a fuel barge that takes 14 feet of draft at low tide.
It is not an 80-foot-plus berthing market. Above 70 feet, W.E. Mills Landing is the town's designated big-boat pier and the length is settled on the phone — call the wharfinger on 250-754-5053 before you plan a berth around a number.
Where to keep a yacht in Nanaimo
The Nanaimo Port Authority runs the two downtown facilities and splits them by size. The Nanaimo Boat Basin in Commercial Inlet takes vessels under 50 feet, with a Petro-Canada fuel barge inside the basin, gates locked 22:00–06:00, and an 11:00 checkout. Anything over 50 feet is sent across to W.E. Mills Landing & Marina on the Cameron Island breakwater pier — the town's designated big-boat pier, described as "over 50 feet" with no upper limit stated. Power there is "30 amp available on all floats – 50 and 100 amp limited availability."
Both take reservations with a minimum of 48 hours' notice, and both are hailed on VHF 67 — which is also the customs channel, because the Boat Basin is a CBSA port of entry. There is a three-hour courtesy tie for vessels 20 feet and under, twice in any seven days. Space on the big-boat pier is not guaranteed: "Vessels over 50 feet will be accommodated subject to availability." Settle it with the wharfinger on 250-754-5053 rather than on arrival.
Townsite Marina at the entrance to Newcastle Channel is the largest private facility — 185 slips for vessels from 12 to 70 feet, with 50 amp confined to the large vessel pier and 30 amp elsewhere. It sells monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual moorage; call for anything shorter.
Stones Marina on Stewart Avenue holds over 300 boats on a 15-acre site with 70 feet in-line, covered slips 20 to 46 feet and open slips 26 to 55. Main docks are 11 feet, fingers 5 feet; power is 110V/30A or 220V/50A, metered. Its own Gas & Go fuel dock is on site, and it is "a three minute walk to the BC Ferries Departure Bay terminal." Newcastle Marina next door runs over 130 slips and its own boatyard.
Nanaimo Yacht Club has moorage for 370 boats and about 750 members. Reciprocal berthing is restricted to the south side of K dock only — none on the Newcastle Channel docks — and requires a current club card plus proof of CDN $2 million liability cover. A 2012 rearrangement, in the club's own words, "provided more moorage for larger boats which were becoming more abundant in the club."
Fuel is the market's standout figure. The Petro-Canada marine fuel barge at 10 Wharf Street inside the inner basin takes 150 feet and 14 feet of draft at low tide, selling marine diesel and marked midgrade gasoline, walk-up, 07:30–17:00 seven days. It is the longest vessel any Nanaimo facility handles, and it handles it for fuel rather than for the night — which tells you exactly what kind of port this is.
Haul-out caps at 83 tons. Stones Boatyard on Stewart Avenue runs an 83 US ton Travelift with 40 marked hardstand stalls, emergency haul-outs and a yard open 08:00–17:00 six days a week — the largest lift in town. Confirm length, beam and draft with the yard when you book the lift. Newcastle Marina Boatyard runs a 60-ton Travelift year-round and claims "the longest history of any boatyard in the Nanaimo vicinity", with dryland storage from mid-October to mid-March.
The Harbour Chandler covers supplies, and it is the reason this is a provisioning stop rather than just a place to wait for slack.
Marinas
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W.E. Mills Landing & Marina (NPA)Nanaimo's designated big-boat pier on the Cameron Island breakwater, described as "over 50 feet" with no upper limit stated. Power is 30 amp on all floats, with 50 and 100 amp of limited availability. Space is not guaranteed — the Port's customs page reads "Vessels over 50 feet will be accommodated subject to availability" — so settle length and a berth with the wharfinger on 250-754-5053 before you plan around it. | Cameron Island breakwater pier, downtown | — | — | — |
| Nanaimo Boat Basin (NPA)A CBSA port of entry — all vessels clearing customs hail on VHF 67. Vessels over 50 feet are sent across to W.E. Mills Landing. Gates locked 22:00–06:00. Downtown starts at the top of the basin ramp. | Commercial Inlet, downtown | 50 ft | — | Petro-Canada fuel barge inside the basin |
| Townsite MarinaThe largest private facility in town, publishing "vessels from 12 to 70 feet." Fifty amp is confined to the large vessel pier; everything else is 30 amp. A homeport, not a visitor berth. | Entrance to Newcastle Channel | 70 ft | 185 | — |
| Stones MarinaOver 300 boats on a 15-acre site: 70 feet in-line, covered slips 20 to 46 ft and open slips 26 to 55 ft. Main docks 11 ft, fingers 5 ft; 110V/30A or 220V/50A, metered. Three minutes' walk to the BC Ferries Departure Bay terminal. | 1690 Stewart Avenue, Newcastle Channel | 70 ft | — | Gas & Go fuel dock on site |
| Newcastle MarinaOver 130 boat slips with its own boatyard on site. Length is settled on the call. | 1300 Stewart Avenue | — | 130 | — |
Yacht clubs
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nanaimo Yacht ClubMoorage for 370 boats and about 750 members. A 2012 rearrangement, in the club's own words, "provided more moorage for larger boats which were becoming more abundant in the club." | 400 Newcastle Avenue | — | 370 | — |
Fuel docks
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petro-Canada marine fuel bargeThe longest vessel any Nanaimo facility handles — 150 feet, with 14 feet of draft at low tide — at 10 Wharf Street inside the inner basin. It is a fuel dock rather than a berth, and that contrast is the clearest statement of what kind of port this is. Call to confirm current hours. | 10 Wharf Street, inner basin | 150 ft | — | Marine diesel and marked midgrade gasoline; walk-up, 07:30–17:00, seven days |
Figures are as each facility publishes them on its own site; blank cells mean the facility doesn't state a number. Confirm slip availability and current rates directly — or ask us to make the calls.
Cruising from Nanaimo
Dodd Narrows is the reason this page exists. ⚠️ It runs to 9.5 knots on the flood and 8.5 knots on the ebb — you transit it at slack, and you plan the day around that. CHS reference current station index 7487, 49°08′N 123°49′W, flood 355° true; Canadian Tide and Current Tables Volume 5, 2026, Table 4, with daily predictions at pages 68–71.
False Narrows (7488) is a secondary station on the same system and runs much softer — 50 percent of the reference flood and 55 percent of the ebb, turning to flood 10 minutes later and to ebb 25 minutes later.
The Port Authority itself links to that exact CHS publication from its tide tables page, and adds a line worth taking literally: "For further information regarding passage through Dodd Narrows, contact the Wharfinger's Office" — 250-754-5053. Work from the published tables rather than a web reading of the station.
The rest of the network, so you can plan either direction. South and east toward Vancouver: First Narrows (7721) 6.0 knots flood and ebb; Second Narrows (7745) 5.4 flood, 6.7 ebb. North, Volume 5 stops at the top of the Strait and the run continues into Volume 6 — Sechelt Rapids (7845) reaches 16.5 knots flood and 16.0 ebb.
Tide. CHS Volume 5, Table 3, Nanaimo index 7917 — a secondary port on Point Atkinson, offset +0h04. Mean range 10.8 feet, large range 16.4 feet, mean water level 10.2 feet. That large range is markedly bigger than Victoria's 10.5 feet, 37 nautical miles south, and it is the reason the passes here run as hard as they do.
Harbour rules, from the Port Authority: "Anchoring is allowed within designated anchorage areas only – see nautical charts. Anchoring is not allowed within the designated seaplane water aerodromes." Nanaimo Harbour is an active seaplane aerodrome and should be treated as one. Floating sewage pump-out is at the central breakwater.
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Park at Mark Bay is the anchoring and mooring destination, half a mile off downtown. Forty-three mooring buoys, marked 30 or 40 feet, and "vessels over 40 feet must anchor outside of the Park." The dock berths more than 50 boats, with no water or power. First come, first served, 14 days per calendar year maximum, and "no rafting is permitted, single tie only." Buoys are $14 per vessel per night; the dock is $2.00 per boat-length metre, roughly $0.61 per foot. Chart #3447.
A practical detail from the operator that catches people out: "Mooring Buoy Rings and Chains do not lift up." Run a line through the eye from the stern and walk it forward. The office is staffed 15 June to 15 September, 09:00–21:00; shoulder seasons 15 March to 15 June and 15 September to 15 October, 09:00–16:00; and 16 October to 14 March it is self-registration by QR code.
Anchoring in Mark Bay itself is a phone call. BC Parks writes that "private boat owners can simply tie up to the wharf or anchor at Mark Bay." The park operator states only that vessels over 40 feet must anchor outside the park. Confirm with the operator before you plan a night on the hook there.
Departure Bay is a ferry approach, not a yachting venue.
- Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Park — Mark Bay — Mark Bay, about half a mile off downtownForty-three mooring buoys marked 30 or 40 feet, plus a dock berthing more than 50 boats. "Vessels over 40 feet must anchor outside of the Park." Buoys $14 per vessel per night; the dock $2.00 per boat-length metre, about $0.61 per foot. Chart #3447. A practical detail that catches people out: "Mooring Buoy Rings and Chains do not lift up" — run a line through the eye from the stern and walk it forward. On anchoring in Mark Bay itself, BC Parks and the park operator do not say the same thing; confirm with the operator before you plan a night on the hook.
- Nanaimo Harbour — designated areas only — Nanaimo HarbourThe Port Authority: "Anchoring is allowed within designated anchorage areas only – see nautical charts. Anchoring is not allowed within the designated seaplane water aerodromes." Nanaimo Harbour is an active seaplane aerodrome and should be treated as one. Floating sewage pump-out at the central breakwater. Departure Bay is a ferry approach rather than a yachting venue.
Service, refit & supplies
Shipyards & refit
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Dockage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stones Boatyard / Nanaimo BoatyardAn 83 US ton Travelift — the largest lift in Nanaimo — with 40 marked hardstand stalls, emergency haul-outs, and the yard open 08:00–17:00 six days a week. Confirm length, beam and draft with the yard when you book the lift. | 104-1840 Stewart Avenue | — | — |
| Newcastle Marina BoatyardA 60-ton Travelift running year-round on scheduled or emergency hoists, with dryland storage from mid-October to mid-March. Claims the longest history of any boatyard in the Nanaimo vicinity. | 1300 Stewart Avenue | — | — |
Chandleries & specialty suppliers
- The Harbour Chandler — Downtown NanaimoTrusted since 1986. A retail chandlery, and part of what makes this a genuine provisioning stop rather than just a place to wait for slack.
On the Nanaimo calendar
The port's own hours draw the season more honestly than any calendar. The NPA marina office runs 1 May to 30 September, 07:30–22:00, and 1 October to 30 April, 08:30–18:00. Saysutshun peaks 15 June to 15 September, with shoulder staffing 15 March to 15 June and 15 September to 15 October, and self-registration by QR code from 16 October to 14 March. Newcastle Marina's dryland storage runs mid-October to mid-March. The farmers' market is Fridays, May to mid-October. The Bastion cannon fires at noon daily in summer.
One event genuinely defines this harbour. The Great International World Championship Bathtub Race, part of the Nanaimo Marine Festival, has run since 1967 over a 58-kilometre course with 100-plus boats and a Sunday 11:00 start, departing the Inner Harbour. BC Parks places it in July. Confirm the date with the organiser before you plan a passage around it — as with the regatta calendar generally, the date comes from the organiser rather than the port.
Yachts we'd shortlist for Nanaimo
Reviewed the same way as everything on this site — specifications verified against the builder's own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size yacht can berth in Nanaimo?
Realistically 40 to 70 feet. Townsite Marina publishes vessels from 12 to 70 feet across 185 slips, Stones publishes 70 feet in-line, and the Nanaimo Boat Basin sends anything over 50 feet across to W.E. Mills Landing, which is described as "over 50 feet" with no upper limit stated. The longest vessel any Nanaimo facility handles is 150 feet, and that is the Petro-Canada fuel barge rather than a berth. Above 70 feet, the length is settled on the phone: call the wharfinger on 250-754-5053 before you plan a berth around a number.
How fast does Dodd Narrows run?
Canadian Tide and Current Tables Volume 5, 2026, Table 4 gives Dodd Narrows a maximum flood of 9.5 knots and a maximum ebb of 8.5 knots, at CHS reference current station 7487, with the flood setting 355° true. Daily predictions are at pages 68 to 71. False Narrows, the secondary station on the same system, runs at 50 percent of the reference flood and 55 percent of the ebb. Work from the published volume, transit at slack, and take the Port Authority at its word: for passage through Dodd Narrows, contact the Wharfinger's Office on 250-754-5053.
Can a yacht be hauled out in Nanaimo?
Up to 83 US tons. Stones Boatyard on Stewart Avenue runs an 83-ton Travelift with 40 marked hardstand stalls, emergency haul-outs and the yard open 08:00 to 17:00 six days a week — the largest lift in town, with length, beam and draft confirmed when you book. Newcastle Marina Boatyard runs a 60-ton Travelift year-round with dryland storage from mid-October to mid-March. Both are sized for the 40 to 70 foot fleet this harbour actually serves.
Where do you clear customs by boat in Nanaimo?
At the Nanaimo Boat Basin in Commercial Inlet, which is a Canada Border Services Agency port of entry. All vessels clearing customs hail the Port Authority on VHF 67 — the same channel used for arrivals generally. Reservations at either of the port's facilities require a minimum of 48 hours' notice, and the basin gates are locked between 22:00 and 06:00.
Can you anchor at Newcastle Island near Nanaimo?
The buoys are straightforward; the anchoring is a phone call. Saysutshun Marine Park at Mark Bay has 43 mooring buoys marked 30 or 40 feet, at $14 per vessel per night, plus a dock berthing more than 50 boats at about $0.61 per foot — first come, first served, maximum 14 days a year, single tie only, no rafting. Vessels over 40 feet must anchor outside the park. On anchoring in Mark Bay itself, BC Parks and the park operator do not say the same thing, so confirm with the operator before you plan a night on the hook.