Queen of Capilano

[Koastal Karl]

Just wondering, I have heard stuff about a new ship for the Bowen Island route, just wondering besides capacity, if there is anything wrong with the Capilano now? If there is anything other than the capacity problem. And also heard something about if they ever build a new ferry for the Bowen Island route and redeploy the Capilano to the Saltery Bay route to replace the Tsawwassen dosent make sence why they would decide to put a smaller ferry on that route. What do you guys think?

[John Hammersmark]

Karl, I was wondering the same thing. I don't think there's too much wrong with the Capilano. She doesn't handle as well as the Powell-River-Class vessels... I think they experimented with the Capilano from Campbell River - Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Is.) in the strong currents there and she didn't handle it very well. I think the Skeena Queen was built with this in mind, and is more like the Powell-River-Class in manuverability and handling. I heard that they would install platforms on the Queen of Capilano if she went to Earls Cove - Saltery Bay, and she would have the same capacity as the Queen of Cumberland. Then there would be room for 127 cars approx. The Queen of Tsawwassen has a capacity of 138.. so it's not too much difference. Does anyone know if that route regularly overloads? The passenger capacity, however, would be cut in half (900 something to 400 something). I don't know if that is too significant though, since it still allows for about 3.5 people per car, and there aren't many walk-ons on that route.

[Koastal Karl]

Do you think because the Capilano dosent handle to well in strong currents, that the Cumberland would be the same? I have never been on the Capilano but I have been on the Cumberland many times. I dont know if the Gulf Islands have strong currents through there, but I was on her one time and it was a bit rough. Although when I was younger I got a tour of the bridge and they said that the wind doesent effect her very much. The Cumberland is one of my favorite gulf islands ferries, I think it's kind of a neat little ship, I think it would be kind of cool if they built more of them, just like if there were to ever build more Spirit class ferries. The Powell River Queen is almost like the Cumberland except it was originally like the bowen and mayne queens before, but are still neat ships. Also if they put the Capilano on the Saltery Bay route, it's a slower ferry too so the crossing time would be longer which they might, have to have more sailings if it's a smaller ship.

[Koastal Karl]

Have you ever looked closely at the Bowen Island schedule? I have noticed that, well right now for example the last sailing out of Bowen Island is at 10:05pm. Do you know where the Capilano is based at, Snug Cove or Horseshoe Bay? Because how can the last sailing be out of Bowen Island at 10:05 and the first sailing be out of Bowen Island at 5:35 if there is no ferry coming back from Horseshoe Bay after 10:05pm or early the following morning. That's what is looks like on the schedule, I was just curious, it's doesent seem to make sense.

[Political Incorrectness]

I think it ties up at Bowen Island there is a Bowen Island Ferry Cam you know. In Washington, the vessels tie up at where there is enough room for the vessels.

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah I know there is a Bowen Island ferry cam. Some of the other Gulf Islands I think that the ferries are based on the islands, in case of emergencies or something. Like the Skeena Queen is out of Fulford, the Quinsam is at Gabriola, and so on. But I was looking at the schedule and I just noticed that.

[Scott]

I didn't know about the Bowen Island cam. I'm sure I'll find it on google!

Regarding the Capilano, it is crewed out of Horseshoe Bay. I worked on it for one week way back in 1997 as a school work experience program (I had to arrange it myself since the people at school said it wasn't possibe;) . I was assigned to the afternoon/evening crew and it was crewed from Horseshoe Bay. You can tell by where it has its mid-day break. For 2 hours it sits at Horseshoe Bay during the crew change. In the morning, I think they take the ferry to Bowen Island... that's interesting that its not a scheduled sailing though. But I do know it ties up at Horseshoe Bay.

Lots of the ferries are based on the Gulf Islands. The Queen of Nanaimo is based out of Saltspring, and as Karl pointed out, so is the Skeena and the Gabriola ferry. You can usually tell by the schedule but the Bowen Island one is a bit confusing!

John

[Scott]

Go to this URL for some information on the design and construction of the Skeena Queen. It talks about how it was built and how they used the Powell River Queen and Queen of Capilano as models to determine the best design. As far as hull design, the Powell River Queen was superior for handling the strong currents.

www.nautican.com/skeena_queen.htm

[Koastal Karl]

ok, that's interesting, I sort of thought that the Capilano was based out of Horseshoe Bay. The schedule kind of got me though. I just happened to be on the current conditions page one day and I saw they had the first sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island was at 5:05, but that was the only day I saw that. That's wierd the dont have a scheduled sailing if they take it Bowen Island in the morning. I did see it though I was up early one morning and saw on the bowen island cam a ferry coming in at like 5:30am.
I wonder why it is based out of Horseshoe Bay? It's like the Mayne Queen and the Cumberland are both based out of Swartz Bay to the Outer Gulf Islands. I tried to get work experience at the ferries but they wouldent do it. That is good you were able to.

By the way the Bowen Island ferry cam is at www.bowenisland.com

[ferryfreak]

on the saltery bay route on the queen of tsawassen in the summer it usualy overloads. once in a while traffic is back up about a kilometer,the reason is that the queen of tsawwasen is either running late or it is having engine problems