Pender Harbour Anchorages

Pender Harbour Anchorages.  Pender Harbour is a natural stopover for boats heading north or south in the Strait of Georgia.  For northbound boats, it’s just the right distance for a day’s run from Nanaimo, Silva Bay or Howe Sound.   For boats southbound from Desolation Sound, it’s a good place to prepare for the long, exposed legs across the Strait of Georgia or down the Sunshine Coast.  Boats bound to or from Princess Louisa Inlet often use Pender Harbour both going and coming

Pender Harbour has good marinas, good anchorages, good eating, and good shopping.   It has fuel and a haulout and repair facility.  Diving services are available through West Dock Divers.  The harbour is nestled against steep mountains; the scenery is beautiful.  It’s a good place for walking and hiking.  If you carry trail bikes, the Madeira Park Public Wharf has a map of the nearby Suncoaster Trail, built and maintained by volunteers.

Pender Harbour is not a single large bay.  It is a complex of coves, each with its own personality.  Most cruisers will go down the north side.  At the back, Hospital Bay and Garden Bay have marinas, fuel, shopping, and dining.  The best anchorage is in Garden Bay.  John Henry’s Resort & Marina is the only place for fuel in Pender Harbour.  Madeira Park, in the southeast corner of Pender harbour, has moorage, haulout and repairs.   A shopping center is a short walk from the Madeira Park dock.

Pender Harbour has several drying and underwater rocks throughout, but most of them are marked.  With Chart 3535 (or good electronic charts), and a little care, you should have no problems.

For more information visit our partner site Waggoner Cruising Guide.   For all your yacht provisioning call our concierge desk at 778-432-0477.   If you’re looking for a superyacht marina we accept 65′ to 220′ vessels.  Phone or book online to reserve your slip or book the ultimate yacht Rendezvous.