Boaters hoping to rent small craft from Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay will have to look elsewhere.
The longtime West Vancouver marine operator is ending its boat rental and tour services as of the new year.
Sewell’s says the decision to end its rental business was a difficult one, and is due to a mix of decreasing demand for the service along with a swell of interest for mooring.
At the peak of its rental business in the 1980s, the company had around 70 boats, but in recent years that number has fallen to around 25 vessels, said Eric Sewell, a manager at the marina.
Meanwhile, Sewell’s has amassed a wait list of boaters seeking space to moor their craft.
“By expanding moorage availability to meet demand, Sewell’s will be allowing more customers with boats of their own to use the marina as a gateway to Howe Sound and the waters beyond,” Sewell said.
Still, the news of ending the boat rentals and tours has been sad for some, including local tourism associations, business associations and former staff, he said.
“They’re saddened by this news, but encourage us to keep doing what we do,” Sewell said. “More boats can come to our fuel dock, and we’re just going to be welcoming boaters in a different way.”
