Boating

An unmoored sailboat was spotted on Okanagan Lake Saturday morning, Jan. 2, 2021. (Corine Bru/Facebook)

Sailboat cuts loose on Okanagan Lake

RCMP were reportedly contacted about the runaway boat Saturday morning

 

The Okanagan Quality Life Society which usually gives tours of Okanagan Lake to seniors and shut-ins on its boat Heaven Can Wait has created a virtual tour video in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which shut down the tours in 2020. (Morning Star - file photo)

Vernon society launches virtual boat tour

Okanagan Quality Life Society normally gives tours on Okanagan Lake on its boat Heaven Can Wait

 

The 2020 Penticton Dragon Boat Festival will not be held due to coronavirus. (Western News file photo)

South Okanagan Dragon Boat Festival marks what would have been 20th year

COVID-19 forced the festival to postpone until 2021

 

Local sailors rescue Vancouver family from sinking Sea-Doo on Okanagan Lake

Local sailors rescue Vancouver family from sinking Sea-Doo on Okanagan Lake

Gregory Payne was on his boat on Sunday, Aug. 30, when he saw the family and their overturned Seadoo

Local sailors rescue Vancouver family from sinking Sea-Doo on Okanagan Lake
Boat taken off Wood Lake, alcohol found on board

Boat taken off Wood Lake, alcohol found on board

Conservation Officer encountered vessel operator they believed was impaired

Boat taken off Wood Lake, alcohol found on board
‘Head to the Playzone!’ is a new campaign to educate Okanagan power boaters on when to go slow and keep wakes slow, and why it matters. The campaign follows the completion of a 2019 study that found wakes could disturb the lake bottom up to a depth of eight metres. (Stock photo)

Local governments call on Okanagan boaters to keep wakes low in shallow water

Conclusion of study finds power boats can disturb lake bottom in water up to 8 metres deep

‘Head to the Playzone!’ is a new campaign to educate Okanagan power boaters on when to go slow and keep wakes slow, and why it matters. The campaign follows the completion of a 2019 study that found wakes could disturb the lake bottom up to a depth of eight metres. (Stock photo)
The remains of a houseboat that burned to the pontoons early on Aug. 4 sits smoking on Mara Lake on Aug. 5, 2020. All 21 people and two small dogs onboard escaped unharmed from the burning boat. (Grace Dixon photo)

Father recounts narrow escape from Shuswap houseboat fire

Saskatchewan group overwhelmed by kindness of Sicamous, Salmon Arm communities

The remains of a houseboat that burned to the pontoons early on Aug. 4 sits smoking on Mara Lake on Aug. 5, 2020. All 21 people and two small dogs onboard escaped unharmed from the burning boat. (Grace Dixon photo)
People watch around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 as a houseboat on Mara Lake burns to the water line. (Photo contributed)

Passengers escape unharmed from destructive houseboat fire in Shuswap

Cause of blaze on Mara Lake under investigation, flames erupt at 2 a.m. Aug. 4

People watch around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 as a houseboat on Mara Lake burns to the water line. (Photo contributed)
Boating (Stu Salkled/Black Press Media)

Amid summer sun, officials remind public to take water safety seriously

RCMP, Search and Rescue and BC branch of Lifesaving Society offer recommendations to those water-bound

Boating (Stu Salkled/Black Press Media)
American pleasure crafts unwelcome in B.C. this year. (BP File Photo, Susan Quinn)

B.C. boaters on lookout for unwanted American travellers

Ad hoc group scanning boat data to catch boaters violating border rules during COVID-19

American pleasure crafts unwelcome in B.C. this year. (BP File Photo, Susan Quinn)
Kalamalka Lake levels for June 2020 had the Kalavista Boat Launch docks under water all spring and up until July 22 when the launch finally reopened. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Coldstream reopens boat launches

More launches expected to ease congestion at Kekuli Bay

Kalamalka Lake levels for June 2020 had the Kalavista Boat Launch docks under water all spring and up until July 22 when the launch finally reopened. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
A new houseboat company has opened on the former Waterway property south of Sicamous. (Sicamous Houseboats/Facebook)

New houseboat company up and running on Shuswap Lake

Sicamous Houseboats has moved in to the former Waterway Houseboats property.

A new houseboat company has opened on the former Waterway property south of Sicamous. (Sicamous Houseboats/Facebook)
The propeller of a motorized boat encrusted with invasive mussels. Zebra and Quagga mussels can thrive in tiny crevices and even inside outboard motors, meaning very thorough cleaning is required to prevent their spread. (Contributed)

Okanagan and Shuswap MPs want federal funds to help stop invasive species

Concerns raised that spending favours Eastern Canada.

The propeller of a motorized boat encrusted with invasive mussels. Zebra and Quagga mussels can thrive in tiny crevices and even inside outboard motors, meaning very thorough cleaning is required to prevent their spread. (Contributed)
Vernon Search and Rescue was called to help Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP search Kalamalka Lake Saturday evening, july 5, for a report of an abandoned Seadoo on Kalamalka Lake. Despite an extensive search of the shore from from Vernon to Oyama by boat and on the Okanagan Rail Trail, no seadoo was found. (VSAR Facebook photo)

No abandoned Seadoo found on Coldstream lake

Vernon Search and Rescue crews and RCMP unable to find reported abandoned Seadoo on Kal Lake

Vernon Search and Rescue was called to help Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP search Kalamalka Lake Saturday evening, july 5, for a report of an abandoned Seadoo on Kalamalka Lake. Despite an extensive search of the shore from from Vernon to Oyama by boat and on the Okanagan Rail Trail, no seadoo was found. (VSAR Facebook photo)
RCMP crest. (Black Press Media files)

Drunk boater facing charges after incident on Okanagan Lake

The man was reportedly operating his vessel in an erratic and dangerous manner

RCMP crest. (Black Press Media files)
Kalamalka Lake levels for June 2020 have the Kalavista Boat Launch docks under water. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

No wakeboards urged on Okanagan lakes

Lake Country councillor calls for wakeboarders to hold off during high water

Kalamalka Lake levels for June 2020 have the Kalavista Boat Launch docks under water. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
The retaining wall of Coldstream residents Lauren Lypchuk and Ward Strong’s Westkal Road property is under eight inches of water due to high levels on Kalamalka Lake. Lypchuk is calling for boaters to temporarily refrain from the popular activity because of the levels to protect properties and shoreline erosion along the Okanagan Rail Trail. (Contributed)

Coldstream resident asks for temporary boating refrain

Lauren Lypchuk would like boats to stay off north end of Kal Lake to protect properties, shoreline

The retaining wall of Coldstream residents Lauren Lypchuk and Ward Strong’s Westkal Road property is under eight inches of water due to high levels on Kalamalka Lake. Lypchuk is calling for boaters to temporarily refrain from the popular activity because of the levels to protect properties and shoreline erosion along the Okanagan Rail Trail. (Contributed)
The District of Coldstream’s municipal offices will open June 1 amid COVID-19. (Morning Star file photo)

Coldstream boat launches closed due to high water

All boat launches at the north end of Kalamalka Lake have been closed effective immediately

The District of Coldstream’s municipal offices will open June 1 amid COVID-19. (Morning Star file photo)
The boat launch on Kildonan Avenue in Enderby has been closed due to a risk of flooding with rain expected over the weekend, the city’s Emergency Operations Centre said Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Google Maps)

Enderby boat launch closed ahead of rainy weekend

The city’s Emergency Operation Centre is addressing the risk of flooding along the river

The boat launch on Kildonan Avenue in Enderby has been closed due to a risk of flooding with rain expected over the weekend, the city’s Emergency Operations Centre said Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Google Maps)
Rob Winder took a video of some unconventional boat travel as this boater appears to have taken to the water with his trailer still attached. (Rob Winder/Facebook)

VIDEO: Boat crosses Shuswap Lake with trailer still attached

Local resident films bizarre boat. Clip viewed over 6 million times.

Rob Winder took a video of some unconventional boat travel as this boater appears to have taken to the water with his trailer still attached. (Rob Winder/Facebook)