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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 11, 2009 23:14:42 GMT -8
Regarding the idea of extending her 2 upper decks lengthways: Here's a visual of the wasted vertical space at each end of the passenger deck and the crew deck. With longer passenger and crew decks, there would be more room on top of the crew-deck for a sun-deck, to compensate for the outside pax space taken away at the bow & stern on the passenger deck.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Dec 11, 2009 23:50:24 GMT -8
The solarium could use a bit of a redesign, too, otherwise it might just make more sense to start growing tomatoes in it, since it obviously is a green house. The solarium is just a ploy to make it look inviting to tourists. The arcade was converted into a cooler last winter. The crew already have to share bunks, they don't even get their own bed let alone their own rooms. I remember the flyer we got, from one of those sundeck roofing companies, and one of the pictures illustrating their work was of the solarium on the ' Chilliwack. So the job was basically one step up from a do-it-yourself with materials from Home Depot. What is the layout of the crew deck above the passenger deck? Just looking at it, there seems to be a higher ratio of crew to passenger space than any other vessel in the fleet. An entire deck, as long as the one below, all for crew? I would think there would be ample room for sleeping quarters. The crew deck is a single hallway with rooms on each side of it, there are 18 crew cabins and two washrooms with showers. I believe the Master, chief engineer and the chief steward are the only people with their own rooms. So that leaves 30 or so crew to fight over the remaining 15 rooms, some of which only have one bunk. Approximately a quarter of that crew deck is taken up by a ventilation room, emergency generator, CO2 room, elevator machinery and machinery casing. The queen of Chilliwack has only one crew room, a mess, there are no lounges and gyms like the QPR/NorAd/NorEx. From the drawings I'd estimate that the crew quarters is about 1/3 the size of the main passenger cabin. I doubt they would be able to add to her in terms of added passenger cabins or enlarging the deck 3 structure. She is very narrow and she already has a hard enough time in Queen Charlotte Sound as it is, adding more weight might not be a good idea. Neil, I agree completely the solarium is simply residential quality solarium construction, but to me it seems to be working out fine, it stay nice and warm during the nights and isn't that bad during the day. The solarium's on most of our ships are quite overbuilt and this is a lighter option, so that might speak to her stability and maybe her inability to take much more addition. Cheers,
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Dec 12, 2009 0:17:31 GMT -8
Doesn't the ship carry two captains on route 40, or is it just a captain and first officer who both hold master's licenses. I would assume the first officer would likely get his own room, as well, or at least he would on other ships.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Dec 12, 2009 9:29:58 GMT -8
I'm not 100% sure how it works on route 40. From what I understand their is a Senior Master and two other guys that have master's licenses. The two lackeys spend most of the time on the bridge, and the Master is mostly just a figurehead/manager. I think this is how it works, but I'm not 100% sure, I don't have a picture of her crew numbers/list for route 40.
The Senior master is the only one who gets a room to himself, it is in the bow end of the crew deck, next to the chief engineers room. All the other rooms are little cabin. Like you said, the ship wasn't designed for a live aboard crew of this size, or a live aboard crew at all, but it seems to be making out alright.
Crew are not assigned to route 40, you volunteer and you have to sign a separate contract. If you sign up you get pulled from your normal run for the summer and they fill your old position with a seasonal or something like that. So, I am assuming that the crew must like the boat enough that they are willing to come back. I cant see why they would take the job if the boat totally sucked, considering the pay is no different than the NorAD/NorEX.
Cheers,
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 12, 2009 10:33:22 GMT -8
I can think of why they want to be on it. Guaranteed sea time and good pay because it's probably 12 hour rotations. Where as the puddle jumper routes barely qualify for sea time. The Deckhands are trying to get seatime for the Bridge Watch Rating. The Bridge Watch Rating Deckhands are trying to earn enough seatime to qualify to take the Watchkeepers program to be an Officer, and on and on it goes further up the ladder.
I'd also think it's alot more relaxed up there too, especially for the Stewards who run the Cafeteria at certain times of the day, instead of running it constantly down south. Ie: Less time dealing with passengers being picky about their meals.
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Post by c15cat on Dec 12, 2009 15:54:42 GMT -8
I think alot of them do it for the change. Being on the same route all year round probably is boring. Gaining sea time is also a benefit.
I was told when the Chilli is on the northern run it isn't pushed as hard so she doesn't viberate like she does on R7. So I imagine it is a little more comfortable to work on.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Dec 13, 2009 0:20:21 GMT -8
Yes the Chilliwack is worked really hard on route 7.
From personal experience I have seen the following conditions:
Route 40: -rear engines 60% -forward engines offline, props feathered -10.8knts
Route 7: -rear engines 100% -forward engines 95% 12.9 knts
So you can see they don't get much more speed out of her with all 4 engines running, and yes shes is quite smooth on route 40.
Cheers,
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 14, 2009 22:27:58 GMT -8
Queen of Chilliwack off of Helen Pt, Active Pass - c1992 [DOT collection] I believe that this photo was taken by my brother, Mr. DOT. I am not certain, however, and will check with him. This image is scanned from an 8x10 photo from his collection. The date is also uncertain but will be from between the time when BCF bought her, and when she was sent north to Jervis Inlet. I know for certain that she was on the Jervis Inlet route in the summer of 1993.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 27, 2009 16:39:54 GMT -8
While riding the Queen of Burnaby today, I chatted with a crew-member, and asked about the Chilliwack on the Comox route.
The crew member said that the problems are: - problems loading with low-tides, and problems with the tight-squeeze loading doors. - problems keeping the schedule - problems with the ship's rolling style in moderate waves and wind, and bigger problems that she'd have with winter storms on the Comox route.
Apparently during the Queen of Nanaimo's refit, the 'Burnaby will replace the 'Nanaimo, and the 'Chilliwack will replace the 'Burnaby.
However, the company would want to avoid using the 'Chilliwack during winter storm season, and so this means that the 'Nanaimo & 'Burnaby refits would probably happen in Spring, with a rush to complete everything in time for the start of the summer Route-40 season.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 28, 2009 19:50:35 GMT -8
From the Northern Sunshine Coast ferry advisory committee minutes, from June 19, 2009
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Post by c15cat on Dec 28, 2009 23:17:11 GMT -8
The old Tsawwassen is surely missed because it could do more routes than the Crappawack.
As said many times there should have been a closed deck ship built something that could be used on open water routes like the Comox run or some of the southern routes. It also could have been used on the Saltery Bay run.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Mar 16, 2010 8:55:53 GMT -8
The same artist that did the QPR and Queen of the North paintings also has done one of the Queen of Chilliwack. I guess we can all speculate what will be on somebody's Christmas list this year.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Mar 16, 2010 11:41:20 GMT -8
The city of Chilliwack has a copy of it in one of the basement board rooms. I have pondered getting one myself.
Cheers,
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Mar 16, 2010 20:37:13 GMT -8
Little bit off topic (very off topic), but on the website it says he is willing to do a painting of a ferry if there are 10 commited people. Anybody interested? I wouldn't mind the Queen of Nanaimo being done, but I'd be interested in quite a few other ships as well. I think this is something that should be considered!!
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 5, 2010 11:39:47 GMT -8
Here is a photo from the camera of my brother, Mr. DOT, taken at Deas Dock, circa 1997. DOT photo © - date c1997The V class in behind is probably the Victoria. Note the blue tarps covering the upper car deck windows. In behind that, I see a tall pointy mast belonging to the Queen of Prince Rupert.
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 5, 2010 18:03:21 GMT -8
That photo is really odd. Why is the Chilli's stern IN the water, while her bow is way out of the water? Had she sprung a leak? that definitely looks abnormal.
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 5, 2010 18:20:43 GMT -8
They intentionally have it setup like that, with weights at one end of the ship. That way they can pull out the RAD's without worrying about flooding the ship I'm assuming. Here's photos of the process. www.pbase.com/kstapleton/queen_of_chilliwack
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 5, 2010 18:32:40 GMT -8
That's a really cool process! It must be risky, since they actually have water just a few inches from the vehicle deck. What if the day turned stormy? The bay wouldn't give them that much protection, would it?
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 5, 2010 21:28:09 GMT -8
Another Q Wack item from the DOT collection... This time an article from The Dolphin* from some time in 1990. * The Dolphin was the BCFC's employee newsletter. BCFS's still has a newsletter but like most everything else they gave it a different name.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Jun 5, 2010 21:39:41 GMT -8
Yeah, in order to get the RADs out they have to sink the opposite end of the ship to stop water from coming in the manhole. It also allows for them to do work to the inside of the RAD Housing's, Housing. They use a thing called the extractor to get the RADs out because she has the enclosed car deck they cant use a crane like on the other ships.
WCK, I have seen that picture many times, but I have Never seen on that clear, thanks for posting it.
Cheers,
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jun 9, 2010 22:53:01 GMT -8
Queen of Chilliwack en route to Departure Bay.Queen of Chilliwack and Coastal Inspiration.Queen of Chilliwack waiting for the Oak Bay to enter Departure Bay.Queen of Chilliwack approaching Departure Bay.Queen's of Cowichan, Oak Bay and Chilliwack at Departure Bay.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 7, 2010 18:00:44 GMT -8
Here is a request for Scott:
I've got a feeling that later on this evening you will be close to the Queen of Chilliwack (but yet from a safe distance, given your disdain for the ship).
Once you get rid of your sea-legs and have some time for photo-work, can you please post some of your shots that you'll be taking of the Chilliwack as your pass her somewhere north of Hardy Bay tonight.
Thanks. no rush, but I don't think I've ever seen any action shots of the Chilliwack in Queen Charlotte Strait before.
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Post by lmtengs on Aug 7, 2010 19:36:26 GMT -8
Here is a request for Scott: I've got a feeling that later on this evening you will be close to the Queen of Chilliwack (but yet from a safe distance, given your disdain for the ship). Once you get rid of your sea-legs and have some time for photo-work, can you please post some of your shots that you'll be taking of the Chilliwack as your pass her somewhere north of Hardy Bay tonight. Thanks. no rush, but I don't think I've ever seen any action shots of the Chilliwack in Queen Charlotte Strait before. Request seconded... I've got some photos of the 'Wack just outside of Bear Cove, Mike, if that's what you mean...
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 7, 2010 19:45:49 GMT -8
I've got some photos of the 'Wack just outside of Bear Cove, Mike, if that's what you mean... Yes, but photos where the Chilliwack is actually on her own voyage, and not just milling-around in Hardy Bay waiting to use the berth.
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Post by lmtengs on Aug 7, 2010 19:47:44 GMT -8
I've got some photos of the 'Wack just outside of Bear Cove, Mike, if that's what you mean... Yes, but photos where the Chilliwack is actually on her own voyage, and not just milling-around in Hardy Bay waiting to use the berth. Sorry, don't got none of those...
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