Distinguishing differences of the V's for Dummies

[Ferryman]

ferryman said:

tsawwassenterminal said:

I'm going to leave this to the experts and not examine photos to notice the differences, but I'm a little surprised, as a fan of the Vs' Spaulding-design, that I haven't yet learned to tell the difference between the 'Saanich and the 'Esquimalt these days, other than, say, by seeing the drapes or not through the windows.

Ok, here we go. How to tell the 3 V-Class sisters apart.

We'll start with the Queen of Vancouver, as she has the most obvious differences out of the 3. The Queen of Vancouver has car deck windows at the platform deck level (deck 3 in other words), which all 4 V-Class Ferries once had from the early 1980's to mid 1990's.



Now for being able to tell the difference between the Saanich and Esquimalt, you have to look really close at a specific car deck window. This one window on both the Port and Starboard sides of the ship, is slightly shorter than the rest of the windows.







Edited: Quote

[Hardy]

Kudo's for the EXCELLENT photo-illustration of the differences! Even to a pseudo-vet like myself, it is nice to have things reinforced with a good presentation like this!

[Low Light Mike]

For me, I don't see the shortness in the circled window, in the first photo of the Esquimalt.

The middle window, in the front set, is the short one....but that's the same with Saanich too.

Please do a Special-Ed class for me.

[Hardy]

flugelhorn said:

For me, I don't see the shortness in the circled window, in the first photo of the Esquimalt.

The middle window, in the front set, is the short one....but that's the same with Saanich too.

Please do a Special-Ed class for me.

Short = height-wise, not length-wise. The other two windows are TALLER if that helps .... ;D

[Ferryman]

flugelhorn said:

For me, I don't see the shortness in the circled window, in the first photo of the Esquimalt.

The middle window, in the front set, is the short one....but that's the same with Saanich too.

Please do a Special-Ed class for me.

Ay, the middle window is shorter....in length. What I was referring to with the 3rd window, is that its shorter in height, compared to the rest. It's hard to find a good picture of this, because it's not something I really focus on. But I managed to find one that might do the job. But next time you are near the Esquimalt, have a good look at these windows.



Stay tuned, because later tonight, there will be an episode of "Distinguishing the 5 C-Class Ferries apart, for dummies" ;D

[Low Light Mike]

Thanks for the vertical nudge.....I was locked onto the horizontal for some unknown reason.

[Hardy]

flugelhorn said:

Thanks for the vertical nudge.....I was locked onto the horizontal for some unknown reason.

"Do not attempt to adjust your sets. We control the vertical! We control the horizontal! We control the variable pitch propellers! However, we do not control the breakdowns, the increasing fuel surcharges, nor the on time performance of any particular sailing!"

<DARFC>

[Mirrlees]

Another way to tell the difference between the Vancouver and Saanich/Esqimalt are; the three ventilators on the roof of the upper aft lounge. The Vancouver doesn't have them.

[WettCoast]

B-V Quiz Time

Identify the class of ship in each photo, and if possible, what ship it is.

I list the classes as:
- Proto V's (i.e. Sidney Class)
- V-1's (Vic/Van)
- V-2's (Esq/Saanich)
- V-3's (the B's)

Note all pictures are mine except * by Scott

Pic 1


Pic 2 - identify both ships...


Pic 3


Pic 4


Pic 5


Pic 6


Pic 7


Pic 8


Pic 9


Pic 10*


Pic 11


Pic 12

[Mill Bay]

I couldn't even hazard a guess for most of these...

But I must say the Queen of Queen is the most creative name I've seen yet for a ferry...

Simple, plain, straightforward...

Maybe that is the long lost eighth sister of the class.

[Balfour]

I think we had this discussion before. The long lost 8th sister is the Queen of Richmond. ;D ;D

[Ferryman]

I'll save naming all of the above ships for everyone else.

Thanks Jim, it was fun naming them off in my mind.

There's at least one giveaway hint to each ship in each of those pics as well.

[Retrovision]

Thanks for the help (and commentary), guys; I'm sure many others are thankful too.

[BCFCBCCSSCollector]

Hi all, I'm back for a visit....

I saw this thread and could not help comment, that there is a huge difference between the V's (Seen in the photos, but not mentioned). You need not look any further than the bow. Queen of Vancouver (And ex Victoria) has front bridge windows not only the same height as the sides, but the three middle are lower than the three on either side. Easy to spot at great distances. Esquimalt and Saanich's front windows are longer than the sides.

[BCFCBCCSSCollector]

Oh and one more thing.. the quiz.....

1)Queen of Vancouver
2)Queen of Vancouver and Queen of Saanich
3)Queen of Vancouver
4)Queen of Victoria
5)Queen of New Westminster
6)Queen of Esquimalt
7)Queen of Saanich
8)Queen of Tsawwassen
9)Queen of Nanaimo
10)Queen of Burnaby
11)Queen of Nanaimo
12)Queen of Esquimalt

HOW'S THAT?

[Curtis]

I Bet I'll Get The Brim of them Right.
If My Structure Knowledge is Correct...
1, Vancouver
2, Saanich Left, Vancouver Right
3, Vancouver
4, Victoria, Possibly Vancouver
5, New Westminster
6, Esquimalt
7, Saanich
8, Tsawwassen
9, Burnaby, Possibly Nanaimo
10, Burnaby
11, Nanaimo
12, Esquimalt, Disguised as Queen of Queen

[BCFCBCCSSCollector]

Actually,

2)Vancouver is at left, Saanich is at right
4)IS the Victoria

[Curtis]

D'oh! Left and Right Confuse Me Sometimes. One moment it's left the next it's actually right.

[WettCoast]

V's & B's for dummies, cont...


DOT photo - 1986

You should have all the info needed above to identify this ship.
Sorry Chris and BCFCBCCSSCollector must refrain from jumping in until others take a crack at this.

[Low Light Mike]

re Reply #18 quiz:

Here's some process of elimination:

- it has an upper car deck, so it's one of 5 possible ships.

- The bridge windows are all "in line", so that eliminates the Vic and Van. So there are 3 possibilities left.

- But the funnel has the Expo-86 logo on it. The Queen of New Westminster wasn't lifted until 1991, and so that eliminates her.

So that leaves us with 2 possible ships....

[Scott (Former Account)]

flugelhorn said:

re Reply #18 quiz:

Here's some process of elimination:

- it has an upper car deck, so it's one of 5 possible ships.

- The bridge windows are all "in line", so that eliminates the Vic and Van. So there are 3 possibilities left.

- But the funnel has the Expo-86 logo on it. The Queen of New Westminster wasn't lifted until 1991, and so that eliminates her.

So that leaves us with 2 possible ships....

And by looking at the height of the left upper car deck window at the bow, it now can only be one...

Excuse me, I think I am going to get a Sandwich...

[Mirrlees]

And, the winner is......... Queen of Saanich. ;D

[bcfcbccsscollector]

wetcoastkidjst said:

V's & B's for dummies, cont...


You should have all the info needed above to identify this ship.
Sorry Chris and BCFCBCCSSCollector must refrain from jumping in until others take a crack at this.

Thanks Jim, I am quite flattered! It's best I stayed out as I had it in about 15 seconds

Cheers,

Darren