Float Replacement

Float Replacement procedure

updated: 10 May 2026

Complete In late April or early May each spring.

Note: if an adequate high tide (more than 3.5m/11.5 ft) is available during weekday business hours (so Lonnie’s truck is available), Steps 3 and 4 below can be completed at the same time and Step 6 can be skipped ! Schedule the work crew based on a timeline to get the floats from the park to the harbour and then to the Wharf of APPROX. 90 MINUTES.

1. Tools & Supplies

  • Tools & Supplies
    • Electric screwdriver with Robertson & Philips heads – to replace transition boards & mats
    • Rachet with 3/4” & 5/8″ sockets – to re-install swim ladders on float and raft
    • Long Adjustable Wrench & Long (non-flathead) screwdriver – to turn bolts on shackles
    • Hammer & Heavy Punch – to get connector pins in & out
    • Knife for cutting rope if needed
    • Pliers – to remove cotter pins
    • Brooms – to sweep floats and pier
    In Chest on Wharf Patio
    • Long Ropes
    • Plastic jugs with pins, screws, bolts, flanges, shackles
    • Big cotter pins / hitch pins
    • New deck screws for transition boards
    • New stainless screws with collars to secure rubber mats
    • Wire to secure shackle pins
    • Rollers – to move ramp along pier to Floats

Electric screwdriver with Robertson & Philips heads
  • Equipment
    • Work gloves – Everyone
    • Come-a-long / winch – Al
    • Shop Broom – Vince
    • All other tools – Tony

2. Check Tides 

  • for a LOW or MEDIUM TIDE up to 8′ (or even 10′) – to put floats on beach at Harbour
    • during weekday work hours for truck
    • no volunteer work party required
  • followed by a HIGH, minimum of 12′ (or 14′) – to tow floats off beach and enable easy ramp install
    • daytime, include evenings and weekends if needed
    • volunteer work party required
  • Example: generated on April 18, 2022 for the following four weeks (fixed) and found the most ideal times on April 21/22 and May 5/6 (see image and URLs below) 

Updated Site URL = https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Gibsons-British-Columbia/tides/latest
BUT can only view next week or next four weeks – as above – no further flexibility for dates !

Alternative Site URL = https://www.tides.gc.ca/en/stations/07820/2025-05-01?tz=PDT&unit=ft
Can view arbitrary dates BUT only one week at a time and simpler presentation (no day/night indication) !

3. Arrange Hauling: Elphinstone –> Gibsons Harbour

  • At LOW Tide (start 30 min before), weekday work hours
  • Call/Txt Lonnie Allen: 604-740-1012
  • Example Text sent this morning (waiting to hear back):
    • Hi Lonnie. Tony here. Would you be available to haul our floats back to the Harbour on Monday May 6? About 1pm. Low tide at 1:30. We will arrange to unlock pillar on Headlands. Thanks.   

4. Arrange Towing: Gibsons Harbour –> Wharf

  • AT HIGH Tide, weekday work hours preferred but may be available otherwise (in daylight)
  • Once Lonnie is confirmed, Call/Txt Erik Hammond: 604-741-5493
  • In future, we could look at GWA member with an adequate boat to tow the floats instead for greater flexibility and lower cost?

5. Organize Work Party

  • Promote Float Replacement event via GWA email list
  • see previous emails for content
  • Provide day and time (around same time as Eric’s float pickup time) 
  • Need 5 or 6 able-bodied people
  • Purchasing come-a-long from Eric to help with ramp for spring 2019

6. Arrange Access to Harbour

  • Email Tracey Hincks <thincks@gibsons.ca> (or call her at Town office at 604-886-2274) to ensure Headlands Ave will be accessible so we can get to the Harbour beach (e.g. no film crew)
  • Check pillar at end of Headlands Rd to see if it is unlocked. Note: lock chain broken at present (Oct 2021) – Tyler says they will eventually weld it back – but happy to unlock whenever needed
    • Tyler (good interested coordinator) – 604-741-1089
    • Tracee or Penny? (responsible event manager) – town: 604-886-2274
  • Check pillar at end of Headlands Rd to see if it is unlocked
    • If locked, call Town of Gibsons (Engineering Dept) – 604- 886-2274 or 2210
    • Backup: Wendy (Parks Dept) – 604-886-8587
    • She will unlock at specified time or lend us the key

7. Project Lead

  • gather tools (#1 above)
  • make arrangements above
  • meet Lonnie at Elphinstone Park
  • meet Erik at Harbour
  • get supplies down to dock or from chest near boat rack: shackles, locks/keys, tools, come-a-long
  • lead work party – need firm clear leadership to avoid confusion and accidents
8. Tasks

1. Help Lonnie with Floats at Park – Bruno, Vince
2. Help Erik with Floats at Marina (with Broom) – Bruno, Vince
3. Winch-master – Al
4. Reattach dolphin rope to floats (initially with slack) – Erik, Bruno, Vince
5. Slide Ramp towards Floats – Al, Brent, Chris, Hans, Rob, Tony
6. Receive Ramp on Floats – Bruno, Vince
7. Pass wharf chain lines to floats – Hans, Rob
8. Cross ropes from pier and tie to opposite corners of floats to keep close to pier – Hans, Rob
8. Reattach wharf chains to floats – Bruno, Vince
9. Replace transition boards & mats – Brent, Chris
10. Re-install float and raft swim ladders – Hans, Rob
11. Sweep debris off Floats, Raft, & Pier – anyone available
12. Tie Raft to anchor line – Erik ?
13. Tie safety lines from end of pier to top of ramp – Tony
14. Oversee Tasks & Safety – Tony