Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Private Yacht Charters in Vancouver, BC

Explore the coast on your own terms — English Bay sunsets, Gulf Islands anchorages, and the full arc of Vancouver’s waterfront. Fully private, BC-licensed captain included, departing from Granville Island.

 
25+
Years Operating
5
Curated Experiences
BC
Licensed Captains
Google Rated

Granville Island, Vancouver

For over 25 years, Blackfish Marine has been taking people onto Vancouver's coastal waters.

“Every Blackfish charter is yours alone. Your group, your pace, your captain, your day.”

An Occasion That Deserves More

A birthday, anniversary, proposal, or bachelorette, and no restaurant or rooftop has quite the right feel for it. The water does.

 

Showing Visitors the Real Vancouver

The kind of Vancouver experience that can’t be replicated from a tour bus or a downtown hotel balcony. What the city looks like from English Bay at golden hour.

A Group That Needs Its Own Space

A particular size, a particular energy, a pace that doesn’t match a public departure schedule. Sharing a boat with strangers doesn’t work for every group, and it never has to.

Why This Coast Is Different

Why Private Charters on the BC Coast Are Different

"In our experience with Vancouver's coastal waters, every outing is shaped by conditions that shift with the season, the tide, and the route, which is why every Blackfish charter includes a BC-licensed captain, not just a boat rental."

Vancouver’s cruising waters aren’t a single stretch of calm bay. English Bay behaves differently from Howe Sound. The Gulf Islands require tide-aware navigation and a captain who understands how the currents move between the islands. The Strait of Georgia has its own wind patterns that shift through the afternoon. These aren’t details that a map reveals. They’re the kind of knowledge that comes from years of actually operating in these waters.

Granville Island’s position at the mouth of False Creek works in your favour. From our berth at 1815 Maritime Mews, you’re minutes from English Bay to the west and Coal Harbour to the north. The Gulf Islands are a comfortable day-charter distance. You’re not losing time motoring through a marina to reach the interesting water.

 
BC-Licensed Captains
Tide-Aware Navigation
Granville Island Base
Always Fully Private

Routes From Granville Island

Five distinct cruising corridors, each with its own character and planning notes.

English Bay / Sunset Cruise
2–3 hrs · Protected water · Ideal for evening departures
Coal Harbour / Waterfront
Short-format · Canada Place · North Shore mountains
Gulf Islands Day Charter
6–8 hrs · Open Strait crossing · Island anchorages
Vancouver to Nanaimo Corridor
Full day · Crab & prawn habitat · Harvest add-ons available

Curated West Coast Experiences

Private Charter Experiences

Step aboard and experience Vancouver the way it was meant to be seen — from the water. Every charter is fully private, captain included, departing from Granville Island.

 

6–8 Hours

From $2,000

West Coast Harvest Experience

Pull crab traps, try your hand at fishing, and move through the same waters that have sustained this region’s marine economy for generations. The route runs the seafood-productive corridor between Vancouver and Nanaimo — guided by a captain who knows where the harvest windows open.

Optional add-on: Wild oyster foraging experience

Ideal for active groups, food-curious visitors, and families with older children.

2.5 Hours

From $1,500

Romantic · Intimate

Golden Hour & Champagne Cruise

There’s a specific quality of light that settles over English Bay in the hour before the sun drops behind the North Shore mountains. This cruise is designed around that window: champagne in hand, curated route, front-row views.

4 Hours

From $2,500

City · Waterfront

Vancouver Signature Cruise

From Granville Island out through False Creek, past Coal Harbour, along the North Shore skyline — covering the full arc of the city’s most iconic waterfront in four hours.

Families · Corporate groups · Hosting guests

4–6 Hours

From $3,500

Occasions · Celebrations

Celebration Yacht Cruise

Birthdays. Bachelorettes. Anniversaries. Retirements. Your group is the only group on board. Your playlist is the playlist. Your pace is the pace.

6–8 Hours

From $4,995

Full Day · Flagship

Pacific Northwest Day Charter

The Gulf Islands, custom route, wildlife corridors — orca, seals, bald eagles. No fixed itinerary. The captain works with you in advance to shape the route around your priorities.

Friends · Families · Corporate retreats · Anyone with a destination in mind

Interested in extending into a multi-day journey? The 2-Day Island Tour and 3-Day Gabriola Island Tour are available by request.

All Experiences at a Glance
ExperienceDurationFrom
West Coast Harvest Experience6–8 hrs$2,000
Golden Hour & Champagne Cruise2.5 hrs$1,500
Vancouver Signature Cruise4 hrs$2,500
Celebration Yacht Cruise4–6 hrs$3,500
Pacific Northwest Day Charter6–8 hrs$4,995

Charter Destinations

Your Backyard Is BC's Coast

From the mouth of False Creek at Granville Island, every destination below is within reach. The captain shapes the route around your group — not the other way around.

 

Ganges Harbour · Montague Harbour · Sidney Spit

Prideaux Haven · Tenedos Bay · Grace Harbour
Gibsons · Secret Cove · Pender Harbour
Bowen Island · Gambier Island · Anvil Island
Silva Bay · Malaspina Galleries

Burrard Inlet · Coal Harbour · False Creek

Areas we serve

English Bay · Coal Harbour · Burrard Inlet · Howe Sound · Gulf Islands · Gabriola Island · Sunshine Coast · Desolation Sound · San Juan Islands (WA) — all departing from Granville Island, Vancouver.

Yacht Sales Vancouver 

Your Blackfish Charter — How It Works

Here’s exactly what happens from your first enquiry to the moment you step off the dock. No ambiguity, no surprises.

01

Submit Your Enquiry

Use the form on this page or call the Granville Island office. Tell us your preferred date, group size, the occasion, and the duration you have in mind. No commitment required at this stage.
02

Receive a Tailored Recommendation

The team matches your group to the right vessel and experience. If you have a destination in mind, a Gulf Islands anchorage, the English Bay sunset window, that factors into the route plan from the start.
02

Receive a Tailored Recommendation

The team matches your group to the right vessel and experience. If you have a destination in mind, a Gulf Islands anchorage, the English Bay sunset window, that factors into the route plan from the start.
03

Confirm Your Booking

A damage deposit secures your date. Full vessel insurance is included in all charter rates. Peak season, late June through early September, fills ahead of schedule. We recommend reaching out at least four to six weeks ahead.
05

Sea Trials & Trade-In

All charters depart from 1815 Maritime Mews. Standard boarding begins on departure day; early boarding is available on request. Parking is available on the Island. The Aquabus ferry from downtown provides a direct water connection: a fitting way to start.
06

Enjoy Your Charter — Entirely Privately

Your BC-licensed captain handles navigation, route adjustments, and any decisions related to conditions. With over 25 years operating in these specific waters, the Blackfish crew has navigated every season the BC coast offers. Your job is to be on the water.
Why Vancouver Chooses Blackfish Marine

25 Years. The Same Waters. The Same Standard.

We’ve been operating private yacht charters from Granville Island for over 25 years. The fleet is maintained to a standard you’d expect from an authorized marine dealer, not a rental operation. The experience is genuinely private, every time.

Ferretti Group Certified

Authorized dealer for Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Riva, Sealine, Fjord, and Bayliner. The brand relationships that inform the charter fleet inform how the boats are maintained, equipped, and operated.

BC-Licensed Captains

In-house crew, not third-party contractors. Captains who know the Inside Passage tides, Gulf Island anchorages, and English Bay traffic patterns because they’ve navigated them for years.

Aluminum Hull Fabrication

Blackfish is the only yacht operator on the BC coast with its own aluminum hull fabrication capability. That marine engineering depth extends to how the fleet is maintained and how safety standards are applied.

Fully Private, Always

No shared departures, no strangers aboard, no schedule driven by anyone other than your group. Every Blackfish charter is yours: from the moment you board to the moment you step back onto the dock.

What Our Neighbors Say

We take pride in our 5-star reputation. Read about the Black Fish Marine experience from  locals.

Common Questions

Common Questions About Private Yacht Charters in Vancouver

Here’s exactly what happens from your first enquiry to the moment you step off the dock. No ambiguity, no surprises.

What's included in a private yacht charter with Blackfish Marine?

Every charter includes the vessel, a BC-licensed captain, and comprehensive vessel insurance. The galley is fully equipped with dishes, cutlery, cookware, and basic supplies for onboard preparation and serving — guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages.

Specific packages carry additional inclusions: the Golden Hour & Champagne Cruise includes champagne service and curated music; the Celebration Yacht Cruise includes a champagne welcome, décor styling, and music setup. For catered experiences or specialty add-ons, contact the Granville Island office.

All Blackfish Marine charters depart from Granville Island — specifically from 1815 Maritime Mews, Vancouver, BC. Granville Island’s location at the mouth of False Creek gives direct water access to English Bay, Coal Harbour, and Burrard Inlet without significant transit time.

Parking is available on Granville Island. For guests coming from downtown Vancouver, the Aquabus ferry provides a direct water connection to the island — a fitting way to start a day on the water.

Capacity varies by vessel. As a general guide: the Blackfish 685 accommodates up to 6 guests; the Blackfish 750 up to 8; the Sea Ray 400 Sundancer up to 10; and the Aquila Catamaran up to 15 guests. For larger corporate or celebration groups, contact us directly to discuss availability and configuration.

Regardless of vessel, every charter is fully private. No other guests are added to your booking, ever.

Yes. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages. The galley is fully equipped for onboard preparation and serving — cookware, dishes, and cutlery are included. If you have specialty ingredients or specific cooking equipment you’d like to use, bring it along.

For fully catered charters beyond the standard package inclusions, the team can advise on options — reach out before your booking is confirmed.

Blackfish captains plan routes around conditions, not the other way around. If conditions require a route adjustment, a change of pace, or a modified destination, the captain makes that call. That flexibility is built into every charter as a standard feature.

For cancellations: written notice at least 60 days prior to departure results in a full refund minus a 10% administrative fee. Within 30 days of departure, the charter can be rescheduled but is not eligible for a refund. Full details are available on request from the Granville Island office.

It’s one of the more effective corporate formats available in the city. When your group is the only group on board, the experience is entirely yours to shape. No strangers at the next table. No fixed venue layout. No 7 p.m. turnover.

Coal Harbour, Canada Place, the North Shore mountains reflected across the inlet — viewed from the water while you’re moving through it — creates a client entertainment setting that stands apart from any rooftop or private dining room the city offers.

The Vancouver Signature Cruise (4 hours) and the Pacific Northwest Day Charter (6–8 hours) are the most commonly booked formats for corporate groups. For catering, AV needs, or event styling, contact the Granville Island office to discuss your group’s specific requirements.

Departing from Granville Island, Vancouver

Book Your Private Charter

Every Blackfish charter is fully private and subject to availability. Peak season fills ahead of schedule. If you have a date in mind, the best time to reach out is now.
Prefer to talk it through? Call the Granville Island office: (604) 669-8081 — serving English Bay, Coal Harbour, Howe Sound, the Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, and beyond.
BLACKFISH MARINE