Gail Warning Charters owners Neil and Gail Woloschuk have welcomed guests from all over the world to the Powell River area for more than 30 years. Their business provides fishing, diving, sightseeing and dinner cruise excursions year-round aboard Gail Warning. The 28-foot Luhrs cruiser is fully equipped with a stable fishing platform, swim grid, food preparation and eating area, propane heat and an electric head.
Neil refers to what the couple offers as entertainment rather than charters, due to the amenities, package options and menu items available.
“Gail has many years of experience in the hospitality industry,” says Neil. “She knows how to entertain people.”
While guests from outside of Powell River are common, Gail says area residents are becoming a bigger part of the clientele.
“We are getting more local guests all the time,” she adds. “Some people can’t afford harbour moorage, but still like to get out on the water.”
Gail and Neil enjoy meeting new guests and showing them what the Sunshine Coast has to offer. After a few hours together, camaraderie develops, sometimes to the point where guests do not want to step off the boat.
“When we pull into Lund or Westview, sometimes they don’t want to leave,” says Neil. “By the time we drop them off, they are like family.”
The business has been nominated for Powell River Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on three occasions, twice for hospitality and once for small business of the year.
“We haven’t won, but we’re pretty proud of the nominations,” says Gail.
Fishing charters start from the boat harbour in Westview. For shorter tours of four to six hours guests are taken to local areas around Harwood and Texada islands to maximize fishing time.
“We keep track of where the hotspots are and take guests where they will have the best chance of catching fish,” says Neil. “If they want to go longer, we can run out to Grant Reefs.”
Guests are required to purchase a fishing licence while all rods and tackle are provided, says Gail.
Spring and coho salmon are targeted, while catching bottom fish such as cod, ling cod and red snapper is avoided on principle.
“We don’t bottom-fish anymore. I don’t feel good about it,” says Neil. “It has cost us business, but we feel better.”
Retaining halibut is another aspect of fishing Neil and Gail refrain from allowing.
“We take pictures and release them,” says Neil. “We believe we are doing it for everyone’s grandchildren.”
Available for charters six hours or longer, a menu includes hors d’oeuvres, a meal and dessert. Guests also have the option of bringing their own beverages and food. Alcohol cannot be supplied, but guests are able to bring their own. Coffee, tea or cocoa is always on the house, says Gail.
On diving charters, if necessary, Neil arranges for a dive master to be onboard to ensure guests are properly insured.
“We stay in the local area for diving guests,” explains Neil. “There are excellent spots close by.”
Before any guest steps on board, a safety demonstration takes place, including lifejacket sizing for children and adults.
“Safety is our number one priority,” says Neil. “We are going into our 31st year in business and have never had an incident.”
Gail Warning is Transport Canada-approved, fully insured and a member of Tourism Powell River and the local chamber of commerce. In addition to charters, the business offers a confidential boat-check service.
“If people go away and want their boat checked weekly, or before and after storms, we can do that, too,” says Neil.
Gail and Neil met in Lund when Gail was working as a bartender at Lund Hotel.
“Neil came out for lunch and was smitten; he kept coming back again and again,” says Gail.
The many return trips eventually led to marriage, as well as the business name.
The couple agrees that the greatest reward they receive is the handshake or hug from guests at the end of a trip.
“We feel good about entertaining guests for the past 30 years,” says Neil. “We enjoy what we do; it is a lifestyle for us.”
For more information:
• gailwarningcharters.com
• [email protected]
• 604.485.4468
