At high tide, it’s 16 footsteps from the new Squamish Paddling Club boathouse to the launch spot where watercraft and paddler can enter the water, according to Ian Lowe.
Lowe knows because he measured the distance from the boathouse at Xwu’nekw (Lot 1) on the Mamquam Blind Channel to the shore.
The structure, which is actually two dressed-up shipping containers, is in the final phases of construction, and once complete, it will house roughly 50 boats, Lowe said.
“There will be storage and areas to organize wet-weather paddling club functions,” said Lowe. “If you can use a paddle to move it, we can store it.”
To use the boathouse, paddlers have to obtain a Squamish Paddling Club membership, Lowe added.
On May 1, the facility will become officially operational, but Lowe said half of the space has already been accounted for by those eager to store their boats.
Currently, the club’s approximately 70 members store their watercraft at their own homes or in a shared storage container on a private piece of land well away from the water.
Lack of storage and places to launch have been deterrents for people to get involved with paddling, Lowe said, adding he hopes having a place to store their watercraft near an accessible launch will encourage more Squamish residents to get out on the water. He said he figures only about two per cent of Squamish residents have left the shore.
“A lot of people know our town really well, until they get on the water and it is a totally different perspective of our town when you are on that water,” he said. “You go out there on the Sound, up towards Woodfibre or going up to Watts Point, and there are some beautiful views. The sea life is unbelievable.”
The boathouse cost $30,000, which was raised through fundraising, district grants and legacy funds. Some local companies also gave in-kind donations, according to Lowe. For information, go to squamishpaddlingclub.com or look them up on Facebook.
