Powell River Queen, Bowen & Mayne Queen

[Koastal Karl]

Just curious looking at photos of the Powell River Queen and Bowen and Mayne Queens it looks like the PRQueen has a larger passenger deck. My guess is that's because she only has one passenger deck so it would make sense it would be a bit longer as the Bowen and Mayne Queen have one passenger deck and two little decks/lounges on each side. Look at these two photos
www.pbase.com/kstapleton/image/33212778
www.pbase.com/kstapleton/image/34304081

If you look closely you can see the PR Queen's, whole passenger area, looks longer. Was it always longer or did they make it bigger when she was redone to carry more overheights cause I do know at one point she was the same as the Bowen and Mayne Queens.

[Ferryman]

Yeah it's definitly longer than Bowen and Mayne and they would of had to do that to keep the same amount of passengers by making 2 decks into one. I think the Bowen Queen pic is funny that you posted on there with it at Deas because it looks like a little model ferry or something you would see in a little electric train set.

[kylefossett]

if you look at the powell river queen her inside lounge goes out as far as the top outside deck. the mayne queen and bowen queen have the outer deck sticking over the passenger inside area

[Koastal Karl]

If you look at the little holes in the side of the ship along the bottom there is 16 of them on all three ships. The Powell River Queens passenger area starts about the 4 and half mark where as on the Bowen and Mayne Queen it's 5 and half, counting inwards from each end of the ship, which means being it's at the 5 and a half mark it's more smaller than the PRQueens at the 4 and a half it bigger. Just another little way to figure it out. So it's only about 1 more difference, going by that way of figuring it out. If anyone else has another way, let me know.

[Koastal Karl]

The Powell River Queen reminds me of an older version of the Cumberland and Capilano except you can walk out in front of the forward windows not like on the Cumberland and Capilano and without the platform decks.

[Low Light Mike]

I think this is the answer:

- The Powell-River Queen was reconfigured to carry more overheight traffic, sometime in the 70's. Bowen & Mayne Queens only have 1 lane on deck available for overheights (the centre lane, where tall vehicles can squeeze in between the 2 lower passenger decks), where it looks like a notch in the superstructure in the middle.

For the Powell River Queen, the entire superstructure was lifted, so that all her lanes could carry overheight vehicles. This would have been necessary for heavy commerical traffic on the Jervis Inlet run, with freight trucks & RV's & bus going up to Powell River.

Because of this renovation, the passenger decks were extended outwards front & back, to make up for the passenger space lost on the lower passenger deck.

I can picture it in my mind's eye....I hope my words made sense.

[Curtis]

Does any one notice the black raillings on the top deck by the bridge on the PR Queen and her life raft stations are inches off the edges. When they rennovated her they probably lenthend the area and painted the raillings black insted of white.

Also being on the Bowen and PR Queen this year the snack bar is longer on the PR Queen then the Bowen Queen you can see the difference.

[NMcKay]

i think one ship just has a design to allow more trucks. where as the other ship has a limited Overheight vehicle capacity

[Koastal Karl]

The Mayne Queen dosent even have a snack bar anymore as it is is used as an information board and I thought the Powell River Queens snack bar was used for the same thing. I havent been on the Bowen Queen for a long time so I cant say. They should make the Bowen Queen and Mayne Queen like the Powell River Queen. Although I do like the little lounges down below on each side as they arent usually that crowded as everyone goes up top.

[kylefossett]

the bowen queen has a snack bar area. this is used when she is on route 9a(tsawwassen-ssi) in the summer. it is just an info board on other routes.

the lower lounge areas are real crowded in the summer on route 9a. this boat usually fills up with cars and as many foot passengers it can

[Balfour]

Although I've never been on the Bowen Queen, or Mayne Queen, I think they look kinda cool, they are ships I'd like to go on, but not at peak traffic times.

[jcachristian]

I have been on the Powell River Queen this summer and It took longer to load the boat than it did to make the 10 minute sailing.

It is quite a shame that such a big ship is used for such a short crossing. What I mean is I go to Gabriola Island regulary on the mv Quinsam and on this ship which takes 20 minutes to cross, you have a very limited view from the lounges.

The Lounges are located on the car deck, 2 on each side, fore and aft. Inside you can basically only see out the side of the ferry.

On the Bowen, Mayne and Prqueens you are high up and have almost a unlimited view. It is always a treat to have the Bowen Queen.

I sometimes wish the Quinsam would move up to the Quadra ISland run and the PRQ would move to Nanaimo to Gabriola.

With a 10 minute crossing to Quadra ISland, you hardly have time to go upstairs, so I think the Quinsam would be better off up there.

[Balfour]

I agree, the Powell River Queen should be used on a longer route, like on the southern Gulf Islands or on the Route to Gabriola Island. There is more time to move around the ship and go upstairs on that run.

[Low Light Mike]

re the Quadra route, I think they need a "big strong" ship, because of the strong currents thru Discovery Passage. It's only a 10-minute crossing, but there's a lot of muscle required to make it to the other side.

I don't know if the Quinsam would have the power needed to navigate the currents in Discovery.

However, it would be neat to see the MV Quinsam on the Campbell-River - Quadra route, if only because of the name "Quinsam". You could have a beer at the Quinsam (hotel), and then drive 5-minutes to catch the Quinsam (ferry). Along the way, you could maybe take a detour and fish on the Quinsam (river)

[Koastal Karl]

I have been on the Mayne Queen quite a few time on the Southern Gulf Islands run, and most times those two lounges down below are pretty empty. Most people go up top to sit or out on deck if it is nice out. I remember there have been times when I have been on the Mayne Queen and I have had those lounges all to myself which was nice.

But the Quinsam would be better suited for the Campbell River run as there is no need for a larger passenger lounge/big ferry like the Powell River Queen, Quinsam carries the same amount of vehicles but has smaller lounges which would be good for the amount of people who actually go up top. I have also been on the Powell River Queen a few times and you board the ferry, go uptop for 5 mins then have to come back down. Although most commuters would stay in their cars for the trip. But I dont doubt that it takes longer to load the ship than the actual sailing.

Does anyone think the Capilano is too big for the Bowen Island run as far as passenger area?? I know there is waits sometimes for vehicles and the need for more vehicle space would be good. Same sort of thing as the Campbell River run. Only 20 mins, she has a snack bar, alot of people stay in the cars for the trip. The Skeena Queen would be good for the Bowen Island run I think. Sailings in the southern gulf islands can be over and hour long to some islands on the Mayne Queen without a snack bar, except for vending machines. Does the Snack Bar on the Capilano do a good business, anyone know??

[kylefossett]

they count the people in the cars and the foot passengers. sometimes the lounges might look empty but they are at capacity then with the vehicle passengers.

[NMcKay]

the quinsam has Z-Drive technology, and is on the run that she is on right now partly because it has the ability to be sliced and diced, or made bigger for when the need calls for it. and the Z-drive boats become VERY expensive if they have to be towed...

[Curtis]

Probably if I had my way with those ferries we've been talking about id move them in these types of ways.
Campbell River-Quadra,Quinsam. Gabriola-Nanaimo Harbour,build a purpose ferry for the run like the Cap (or move the Cap there). move the PR Queen to the Texada run or something. Horseshoe Bay-Bowen Isle, Keep the Cap or build a purpose ferry for the run.
These are just my suggestions but there are other ways like buying the albion ferries and using them for Quadra-Campbell R. lol.

[Koastal Karl]

I really dont think the Albion Ferries would work on the Campbell River run as they carry alot less vehicles than the Powell River Queen. But personally small ferries like those would be better, I guess in a way they could work, have two ships, one out of Quadra and one out of Campbell River and just have more sailings.