The search has now been suspended for a 46-year-old Surrey man who rented a boat from Granville Island around noon Wednesday.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said crews have been searching for 24 hours but the file has now been turned over to Vancouver police as a missing person.
Vancouver police said the man set out along toward Bowen Island and when he failed to return the rental boat by 3 p.m. the marine unit was dispatched to assist the Coast Guard and search and rescue boats.
The rental boat was found drifting near Point Atkinson, but there was no sign of the boater, police said.
The boat was found with its keys inserted and its throttle all the way forward.
The search involved four Coast Guard vessels, one VPD vessel, and two vessels from Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.
In addition, RCMP Air One helicopter and the Coast Guard Cormorant helicopter were also used.