Can’t Get Enough of These Floating Marinas – Return Visit Kwatsi Bay Marina, Broughton Islands, BC Canada

Return Visit Kwatsi Bay Marina

More fog greeted us this morning. We watched it slowly roll into Viner Sound the night before. Never have seen this much fog in our lives! So, today was another exploration cruising day. We enjoy poking into little coves, around islands, up bays, rivers, or sounds, just to see what’s there. It must be the inquisitive nature and wanderlust in our blood and our ongoing desire to see as much of the Broughtons as we can this summer. Our end goal today is a return visit to Kwatsi Bay Marina.

Soon after we departed Viner Sound, we cruised through a group of islands called Burdwood Group. We were scouting potential anchorages for when we come back through. We moved slowly east into Tribune Channel, once again, but saw no whales, however, we did see a great many dolphins jumping in and out of the water, way off in the distance.

After a delightful afternoon cruise, we traveled the final 16 miles for a return visit to Kwatsi Bay Marina.

If you’ve read our previous post, on our first stay at Kwatsi Bay Marina, you’ll know why we planned a return visit. Kwatsi Bay is situated in a picture-perfect postcard-like setting, two miles from Tribune Channel. The owners, Anca and Max, always make boaters feel at home. Nothing fancy here, rustic but comfortable and friendly, just the way we like it.

The social aspect of staying overnight at these floating marinas is very enjoyable. The docks are a great place to meet other boaters, and exchange stories and cruising knowledge on the Broughtons or the Pacific Northwest. We joined the other boaters for happy hour at the outdoor “Boater’s Lounge,” held daily at five o’clock.

During our first visit to Kwatsi Bay Marina, we joined other boaters in the outdoor Boater’s Lounge for a potluck affair. Tonight it was an appetizer Happy Hour. Anca and Max like to switch it up every few days so it’s not always the same thing.

During Happy Hour, we were surprised by a black bear, it was foraging for food on the shore behind the docks, about 50 feet away. We all had a good view as we watched the bear turn over rocks, oblivious to our presence and loud “oohs and ahhs.” You might have thought the boaters were actual wildlife paparazzi with all the photographs being taken of that impressive animal.

Most of the boaters at the dock with us pitched in and helped Anca replace rotten boards on the main dock with brand-new timber. Looks like it is an ongoing project.

We have been fascinated with how the docks, home floats, and marina facilities at these floating marinas are lashed together to make a structure that withstands the tidal changes and the sometimes extreme elements.

We were sad to wave goodbye to Anca, We’ll never forget the home she and Max carved out of this majestic Canadian wilderness.