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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking a service, using the yard, and working with our team. If your question is not here, call us.
Boatyard Questions, Answered
Browse common questions about haul-outs, lift preparation, storage, moorage, yard rules, and working on your boat at Granville Island Boatyard.
Before your lift, all owners, captains, tenants, contractors, and sub-trades must review and sign the Boat Yard Rules and Regulations. If you are a contractor or commercial service provider, you must also provide current insurance and WCB documentation before work begins.
Yes. A signed copy of the Boat Yard Rules and Regulations is required before any lift or work takes place. Once your signed copy is on file, you generally will not need to sign again unless the rules are updated.
When you book online, you will receive an email with a link to the Boat Yard Rules and Regulations, along with instructions for returning your signed copy. Completing this step before your appointment helps us provide the fastest service.
If you book by phone, please download and review the Boat Yard Rules and Regulations before your appointment. You can return your signed copy by email, fax, or in person at the boatyard office.
Haul-out pricing varies depending on the length of your vessel and the type of lift required. Please refer to the Boat Yard Pricing Sheet for current rates.
A round trip haul-out means lifting, blocking (putting your vessel on boat stands) and launching your boat. This is the standard service for work that requires extended time out of the water.
We understand schedules change. If you cannot make your appointment, let us know as soon as possible. Travel lift appointments require specialized equipment, trained operators, and dedicated time slots. Giving us advance notice allows us to offer your slot to another customer on the waiting list and keeps the yard running efficiently. During the busy spring and summer seasons, availability can be limited and it may take several weeks to secure another booking. Our team will help you find the next available time.
Yes. You are welcome to work on your own vessel while it is in the yard. All work must follow our Yard Rules, particularly around cleanup and waste disposal. We provide designated disposal drums for contaminants including oil and antifreeze. Read the posted signs and use the correct drum for each material to keep the yard safe and environmentally compliant.
A one-way lift means lifting the boat and keeping it in the slings for an inspection or quick repair job, then launching it. No blocking or extended yard storage time is involved.
The first four hours in a holding bay are free. After four hours, the cost is $50.00 per day. No vessel over 32 feet will be allowed in the holding bays at any time as they block lift access for larger vessels.
Storage rates are listed on our Rates page. Visit /rates for current pricing or contact the yard office for a quote.
Contact the yard by phone or through the booking form on our contact page. Tell us your vessel details (length, beam, vessel type), the service you need, and your preferred dates. We will confirm availability and schedule your appointment. During spring and summer, we recommend booking at least four to six weeks in advance.
For special handling requirements, please note if your vessel has a full keel (tie straps required) or is a heavy boat (double straps required).
Spring and summer are our busiest periods. We recommend booking as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks ahead for haul-outs during peak season. Quick lifts and one-way lifts can often be scheduled with shorter notice depending on availability.
Vessel name, length, beam (width), vessel type (sailboat, powerboat, or other), the service required, and your preferred dates. If your vessel has any specific requirements for sling placement, let us know at the time of booking.
For special handling requirements, please note if your vessel has a full keel (tie straps required) or is a heavy boat (double straps required).
Yes. After-hours emergency lifts are available subject to staff and equipment availability. An additional charge of $500.00 applies. For emergencies, call the yard directly at (604) 685-6924. Do not use the contact form for emergency situations.
Our travel lift has a 50-metric-ton capacity and can handle vessels up to approximately 75 feet in length. The maximum beam (width) is 18 feet. While length is generally not a limitation, vessels must not exceed the beam restriction. If you are unsure whether your vessel qualifies, contact the yard with your dimensions before booking.
Yes. In addition to recreational and commercial vessels, our travel lift can accommodate a range of marine-related equipment and structures. Contact the yard to discuss your specific requirements.
Larger boats (36 ft and over) must approach the lift bay aft first.
Yes. We regularly haul sailboats of all sizes. Owners should ensure sling placement positions are discussed with yard staff prior to the lift, particularly for fin keel and bulb keel configurations.
We offer three types of storage: indoor storage during active maintenance (weather-protected, suitable for ongoing projects), outdoor yard storage during maintenance (accessible for owners and contractors), and winter outdoor storage for the off-season. Contact the yard for current availability and rates.
Yes. Winter storage is available in our secure outdoor yard. This is a central Vancouver location, which means your vessel is easy to access throughout the winter and ready for spring without the logistics of retrieving a boat from a remote storage facility.
Storage is typically offered in connection with a haul-out or active maintenance work. Contact the yard to discuss your situation and we will let you know what options are available.
Yes, with conditions. All contractors and tradespeople must present proof of insurance and WCB coverage to the yard office before work begins. Copies must be provided prior to the vessel being lifted.
There is no open sanding or grinding permitted anywhere on site. All fiberglass, painting, or sanding work must be properly covered and sealed, and a tarp or ground sheet is required to prevent paint and debris from falling on the yard surface. Paint debris must not be flushed with a hose.
The yard provides designated disposal drums for contaminants including oil and antifreeze. Posted signs above each drum identify the correct fluid. Hazardous waste must be disposed of lawfully. Environmental contamination at the yard results in a $500.00 fine.
The yard operates a Marina Wash Treatment System installed over 20 years ago as part of the False Creek Cleanup Program. All wash water is captured and filtered before entering the sewage system. We use only environmentally friendly boat soap for cleaning. These standards are not optional. They apply to all owners, contractors, and visitors.
Yes. An additional $1.00 per linear foot may be charged for boats with heavy growth, such as when staff need to scrape mussels or barnacles.
Boat pressure washing helps clean the hull and remove marine buildup. Boats with heavy growth, such as mussels or barnacles that require scraping, may be charged an additional fee.
Yes. Granville Island Boatyard staff are experienced in cleaning hulls using a professional washing system.
Boat pressure washing should usually be done once per year. Racing vessels or boats with heavier use may need to be pressure washed more often.
Please provide your vessel length, beam, preferred dates, expected storage duration, and the reason you need covered storage.
It is best to ask about covered storage when booking your haul-out or planning your boatyard work. This gives the boatyard team more time to confirm availability and coordinate your stay.
Covered storage availability may depend on vessel size, timing, and current yard capacity. Please contact the boatyard office to confirm whether covered storage is available for your vessel.
Covered storage can be useful when a boat is out of the water for maintenance, repairs, inspections, seasonal work, or while waiting for scheduled service.
Maritime Market & Marina is located at Suite 100 – 1676 Duranleau Street, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC.
Yes. The marina is located near boatyard services, technicians, marine contractors, and other marine service providers on Granville Island.
If a suitable slip is not currently available, visitors can contact Maritime Market & Marina to join the waitlist for future availability updates.
When submitting a moorage inquiry, provide your contact details, vessel type, preferred move-in date, and any relevant vessel or moorage requirements.
Moorage inquiries are handled by Maritime Market & Marina. For current availability, pricing, and eligibility, visitors should contact Maritime Market & Marina directly.
Yes. Granville Island Boatyard is located adjacent to Maritime Market & Marina, which offers moorage at Granville Island in the heart of False Creek.
Boatyard Rules & Site Policies
To keep Granville Island Boatyard safe, clean, and environmentally responsible, all owners, skippers, contractors, tradespeople, and visitors are expected to follow the site rules below.
No open sanding or grinding is permitted. Wet sanding is not permitted anywhere on site.
All fiberglass, painting, and sanding work must be properly covered and sealed. A tarp or ground sheet must be used to prevent paint, sanding dust, and debris from falling onto the boatyard grounds. Paint debris must not be washed into the yard or flushed with a hose. Wash water must go down the drain and must not spill over the seawall.
All work must be carried out in a safe, responsible, and orderly manner. Work must comply with all applicable laws and regulations and must protect the safety of boatyard staff, contractors, vessel owners, visitors, property, and the general public.
Granville Island Boatyard reserves the right to stop unsafe work practices at its discretion. If necessary, offending workers may be asked to leave the site at the owner’s or skipper’s risk and expense.
Unsafe equipment, including improperly grounded power tools, is not permitted. Any work that may create a hazard must be clearly marked or contained to prevent injury or property damage. All accidents must be reported to the boatyard office.
Only boatyard staff may adjust boat stands. Owners, skippers, contractors, and visitors must not adjust, move, or tamper with stands or blocks.
No one is permitted to go up a mast while a vessel is out of the water, and sails must not be raised while a vessel is on blocks in the yard.
Work areas must be cleaned at the end of every work day or work session. Areas left untidy may be subject to a cleanup fee.
Oils, antifreeze, and hazardous materials must be placed in the correct marked containers. Hazardous waste must be disposed of lawfully and responsibly. Environmental contamination may result in fines.
Only environmentally friendly boat soap may be used for cleaning.
All water hoses must have nozzles. When finished, hoses must be turned off and returned neatly to where they were found.
All tradespeople must provide proof of insurance and WCB coverage before performing work in the boatyard. Copies must be provided to the marina office before the vessel is lifted.
Owners and skippers are responsible for ensuring that anyone working on their vessel understands and follows the boatyard’s rules and site policies.
There is no parking permitted in the boatyard. Vehicles left parked in the boatyard or on the side deck may be towed at the owner’s expense.
Granville Island Boatyard is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the boatyard, including inside the red barn and throughout the yard area.
Noise must be kept to a reasonable level. Please be respectful of people working on neighbouring boats. This includes radio, stereo, and other non-work-related noise.
Owners and skippers are responsible for identifying any specific lifting requirements before their vessel is lifted. This includes ensuring that lift slings are placed away from gear or equipment that may be damaged.
Granville Island Boatyard is not responsible for sling damage.Emergency after-hours lifts may be subject to an additional charge.
Granville Island Boatyard has the right to move or reposition any vessel at any time without notice.
For customers without charge privileges, all invoices and bills must be paid in full before launch.
Granville Island Boatyard is not responsible for theft, loss, or damage to items left on, in, or around vessels.
Owners, skippers, and contractors are responsible for securing outboards, equipment, and other valuable items. At the end of each work day, ladders must be pushed away from vessels.
Granville Island Boatyard is not liable for damage to a vessel resulting from the vessel’s inability to withstand the stresses of haul-out or launch due to age, construction, or condition. Granville Island Boatyard is also not liable for damage to wooden vessels.
All persons entering the boatyard do so at their own risk.
Violation of boatyard rules may result in penalties, fines, cleanup fees, towing, or removal from the site. Any penalties or outstanding charges must be paid before the vessel is launched.
Specific fees and penalties may apply for items such as cleanup, environmental contamination, tampering with boat stands or blocks, emergency after-hours lifts, and other rule violations.
By entering the boatyard, arranging a haul-out, performing work on site, or authorizing work to be performed on a vessel, owners, skippers, contractors, tradespeople, and visitors agree to follow Granville Island Boatyard’s rules and site policies.
All work must be performed safely, respectfully, and in a way that protects the boatyard, neighbouring vessels, the marine environment, and everyone on site.
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