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Victoria Weekend Getaway: Floating Boat Show, Marine Garage Sale

Written by Hilary Henegar

Check out Canada’s largest floating boat show, April 24–27, in Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

Looking to buy a boat? Need a new windlass—or maybe even a used one? Two events this month offer boaters a reason to make a weekend of it—in Victoria.

With the cruising season on the horizon, buyers and gawkers alike will find plenty to see and do as the Victoria Floating Boat Show hits the Inner Harbour April 24 – 27. Canada’s largest floating boat show—for 18 years and counting—will pack more than 200 new and pre-owned sail and power boats into what promises to be the largest show to date.

Hosted by the BC Yacht Brokers Association (BCYBA), the Victoria show has been building in size and attendance ever since moving to its current location from Sidney Marina in 2004. Boasting a boat for every budget and lifestyle, the show offers lots of opportunities for seeing and boarding a wide array of boats, from luxury power cruisers to no-nonsense fishing machines.

In addition, the land exhibits at Ship’s Point provide a wide variety of products and services to complement the boats on display at the docks.

Visit the Victoria Floating Boat Show, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10:00–19:00, and Sunday, 10:00–17:00; admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. More information is at www.floatingboatshows.com.

More treasures will be found at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia’s fifth annual Massive Marine Garage Sale, April 26, at Victoria’s Ogden Point. All manner of pre-loved marine-related items will be on display.

Each seller will be provided with a table for a fee of $25 ($20 for early birds). Parking is free. For further information or to register, contact Ann Jones at 250-385-4222, ext. 102, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tourism Victoria offers visitors an easy way to find accommodations. Visit www.tourismvictoria.com and click “Accommodation” for a comprehensive yet easy-to-use guide to the city’s inns, hotels, B&Bs and so on; you can even book online at http://reservations.tourismvictoria.com or by calling 1-800-663-3883.