Marina Services - General Information

Planning and Weather

Regular marine weather broadcasts are heard on VHF channels 1 through 5.
These are continuous broadcasts that are regularly repeated. For more in-depth weather information, we have access to the weather channel on the television in the pub, and there are more sites available via the internet, including Environment Canada, with satellite photos.

We have prepared a list of waypoints and routings with distances, to some of the more popular places going both north and south. These are for your assistance and information, not to replace your own navigational planning.

It is always prudent to check and confirm each and every waypoint and the areas between them. To determine the best times to transit the local passes such as Dodd Narrows or Sansum Narrows, check the tide tables first to determine the time of slack water (noted as the time it “turns”) then apply your boat speed to the route distance to determine your desired departure time. Remember to add one hour to the times shown in Canadian Tidal Tables when daylight savings time is in effect

Google Satellite map here

Please note the routes used by BC Ferries, which are annotated on Canadian Hydrographic charts. Give the ferry the right-of-way, and do it early with a clear and unambiguous turn to show them you will remain clear. The ferry is both constrained by its draft, and limited in it’s ability to maneuver, which de-facto gives it the right of way over pleasure craft regardless of their relative position, or whether it is power or sail. Remember they are working; make their job easier by staying well clear of their path, and always passing astern of them. One other small incentive; there will be an audience on each and every ferry looking at your vessel and how it is handled.
Impress them.

We endeavor to help all our customers have a pleasant and safe time in and around our islands. Ask any of the staff, and if they don’t know, they can refer you to someone who does, for detailed information.

Navigating the "Cut"

If you are contemplating transit of “the cut” between Thetis and Kuper:

It should be done at or near high water.
The tidal reference port for this area is Fulford Harbour in the Canadian Tide Tables.
When you have 3 feet at Fulford Harbour, the cut is dry.
You need to add your draft and your safety factor, to the 3 feet to determine safe water to transit the cut. So if your boat draws 4 feet, You need more than 7 feet at Fulford to clear the cut; how much more is your safety or comfort factor.
It helps if you do a reconnaissance of the cut in a dinghy at mid-tide to get a good feel for the route through.
One last word of advice: go through the “goal posts” at the east end. Do not turn prior to reaching the two last posts. The rocks are heaped up along each side right up to the final posts. This is clearly evident if you look at it in your dinghy at less than low tide.

Charting

Many are now using some form of electronic charting system to aid in navigation. If you are using GPS in addition to a hydrographic (paper) chart, take a moment to check the datum for the chart. There are still charts in use with NAD 27 as a datum. Most GPS sets will be set by default to WGS 84, and this can create significant errors in placement on a chart based on the older NAD 27 datum.

Check your chart, and set your GPS to the corresponding datum for best accuracy. Most electronic charting using raster charts is based on WGS 84.

Anchoring

The holding in Telegraph Harbour is generally good in sand and mud.
There is some space in the inner harbour, but it quickly becomes congested in the busier times of summer.
The area to the south of Thetis Island Marina has adequate holding, and is still quite well protected from all but the very strong southerlies, which are quite rare.
The area just to the north of the marina docks is an area for float plane traffic. There are scheduled and unscheduled floatplanes using the end of G/H dock daily at a variety of times. Please do not anchor in the area between the docks and the first set of moorings to the north. Floatplanes cannot stop or back up, and they have very limited ability to maneuver. Give them a wide berth, and ensure they are given the right-of-way at all times. It is prudent to occasionally glance over your shoulder when motoring in the harbour, as often you might not hear the planes as they approach from your rear.

Moorings

There are a number of moorings throughout Telegraph Harbour.
They are all privately owned, and are not designed to meet any particular standard of holding power other than that required of the owner. It is prudent to rely on your anchoring gear rather than hooking onto a mooring for two reasons: first, should the owner return, you will be asked to vacate the mooring, and second, the anchor used on a mooring is an unknown, and could be designed for a very small vessel, or be in very deteriorated condition due to neglect.
If you cherish the solitude of anchoring rather than being at a dock, then rely on your anchoring gear, which you know.
The marina provides extensive services for guests. It does not provide services for you should you choose to anchor out. Consider it to be much the same as a hotel. If you park in their parking lot but don’t rent a room from them, you don’t really have any right of expectation to use the pool, showers or other facilities that the regular customers paid to enjoy. A marina is no different. Each facet of the marina operation needs to contribute to paying for itself. That means there are no services such as food that will pay for something else. Restaurant pricing is designed to pay for restaurant services and costs. Moorage pays for showers, water, laundry and garbage.

As serious boaters ourselves, we respect your rights and desires should you choose to anchor in Telegraph Harbour rather than use our marina docks.

Should you choose to anchor, we ask that you respect our position as well. Facilities such as showers, laundry, garbage, water and recreational facilities are available to those who pay moorage to use them.

We do welcome anyone to use the restaurant, pub, store etc, and provide several dinghy docks for your use at no charge. If you wish to leave a dinghy for an extended period in order to take the ferry to Chemainus, for instance, please advise the dock attendants prior to leaving it so we can do our best to ensure it remains secure and safe for your return.

Pets

Many boaters travel with pets. Pets are welcome at Thetis Island Marina, but your pet may not be a favorite with other boaters, so please ensure it is on a leash anytime it is off the vessel.
We provide plastic bags and a small dumping pail for doggy droppings, located right at the top of the ramp. Please use it.
If you wish to take your pet for a stroll to do it’s business, please do not take it into the park area where kids are playing; take it up the road or in the direction of the dumpsters across the parking lot. Kids often don’t pay attention, and it isn’t nice for them to end up with dog droppings on their clothes or shoes.
Keep your pet out of the recreation areas. Health department regulations do not permit pets in the restaurant, or on the deck, which is a licensed food service area. If your pet needs to be close to you, then it can be left on the walkway right below your deck seats where you can pet it and care for it while you eat.