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Post by sean08 on Sept 8, 2004 16:59:14 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 8, 2004 19:16:53 GMT -8
Nanaimo is at Pender. (unless it's Mike Harcourt's private yacht. How do you define a conservationist? "Someone who already has his waterfront home!")
Capilano at Snuggles Cove
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Post by royal caribbean on Sept 8, 2004 20:44:59 GMT -8
capilano is always on the bowen run
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Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 8, 2004 21:31:30 GMT -8
Wouldent that be nice to have your own BC Ferry all to yourself? Just like your own private yacht. Which one would you choose?? I would choose the Cumberland, or Saanich, and a bit off topic, a WestJet 737, with Winglets! Your own private BC Ferry and a 737, what more could ya want??  |
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Post by The Ferry Man on Sept 9, 2004 15:04:10 GMT -8
QUEEN OF OAK BAY ALL THE WAY for sure with the private yaught thing
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Post by sean08 on Sept 9, 2004 17:30:21 GMT -8
I would choose either Kahloke or any "V" class ships  |
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Post by Harbourlynx Kid on Sept 15, 2004 18:41:44 GMT -8
do i even have to say? who wants a slow 22knot ship, when you can speed along @ 35Knots. Heh heh. MV Harbourlynx all the way
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 15, 2004 18:59:28 GMT -8
True, but I have also never been on the Harbourlynx as I am from Victoria, but I have been on the Victoria Clipper 5 which is almost the same as the harbourlynx. I would prefer a bigger ship, even though more slower.
Queen of Cumberland baby! I love the Cumbie!!! She's a neat ship, Capilano is too! I wish they would move the Capilano down to Swartz Bay to replace the Mayne Queen!
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 15, 2004 20:45:41 GMT -8
The Harbourlynx may be faster, but speed isn't everything. Size is more useful than speed. The Pacificats could operate at 38 knots, but never did, ONLY because of the wake they created. The Harbourlynx's route isn't all that much longer in distance then the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route and it's only 15 minutes shorter. Personally, I prefer one of the BC Ferries because of their size. You could turn the car decks into seperate rooms. Who knows what you could do. Add stabilisers and you can go out in the open ocean, no problem. Who knows what it would be like without the stabilisers in the open. I know the Queen of the North, with stabilisers had rocked quite a bit when she was hitting the open ocean swells of Queen Charlotte Sound, the open stretch of water between northern Vancouver Island and southern Moresby Island (Queen Charlotte Islands). But we were also going through the length of the "troughs," so that could be why it was rocking so much as the stabilisers are probably only good for going against the swells.
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Post by Harbourlynx Kid on Sept 16, 2004 15:18:03 GMT -8
isn't much longer??? do you not have a definition of Kilometers? the route is 4 1/2 KM's Longer,(maybe more) and the MV Harbourlynx does it in less time, albiet with only 294 passengars on board. but is size really all the matters? i have yet to see a BCFC employee do soemthing to go out of thier way to make the passengars feel more comfortable. have you ever seen a BCFC smile while on the job? the guys (and gals) @ Harbourlynx love to come to work. they enjoy it, not only because of the working conditions, but the fact that its fun. Try doing that the next time you go on the BC Ferries. they will use stuff like "Its not in my contract" or "Its not in my job description" not to pummel the BCFC but, if they continue to run the company like they do now. companies like BBL(Black Ball Line) and HL(HarbourLynx) will continue to grow, Duke point, Horseshoe bay, and all the nanaimo to Vancouver routes ARE DOWN in ridership. Meaning some people will pay more money for a nicer ride, with people that love to come to work. they also like that the ride is SHORTER meaning they can get to thier work places faster without having to spend 75$ per person to fly.
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Post by Dane on Sept 16, 2004 16:15:47 GMT -8
Well BCFC can't even handle the ridership it has in the summer months, so it's fine by me if it's down. I've taken Harbourlynx, I found the on-board staff exceptional but the Vancouver people left soemthing to be desired.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 16, 2004 17:12:01 GMT -8
I havent seen too many BC Ferries crew members who havent looked too happy on the job. There have been a few ones though that have gotten cranky as one time I drove into the wrong lane on the Queen of Saanich but they were just standing there not telling you where to go like you were suppose to know where to go. But let me say, you want to see cranky ferry employees. Go take a trip on WSF. I went down on the Anacortes ferry a few summers ago and they were pretty cranky, everything is so cramped on those car deck, they yelled at you and so on if you dident park straight or who know's what else. This was this one time for me, maybe they just had a bad day that day, who knows. But I am sure there are alot of BC Ferries empoyees who are happy to come to work. I was on the Queen of Naniamo on Tuesday and a crew member came up to me and asked me why I wasent snapping a photo of the SOVI as I was out on deck. Happy and friendly guy.
I wouldent fly to Vancouver cause it's too much to fly and you dont have your vehicle, might be faster, either which is probably why I havent been on the Harbourlynx. It's only 15 mins faster but cost more for a passenger.
A bit off the topic for this message board but you want to see people who love their jobs and love being at work and are so friendly and funny, and all around great people, take a trip with WestJet!! I wouldent go any other airline. Fly WestJet Fly!!!!
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 16, 2004 18:07:40 GMT -8
The Harbourlynx's employees probably are quite happy, as they have only been on the job for, what, a year now? Some of the BC Ferry employees (probably very few, if none) have been there since 1960, so it can probably get more boring. Yes, most employees I have seen at BC Ferries smile. You can't eat on the Harbourlynx, unless your getting something from the coffee shop, I don't know the selection. All Mainland-Vancouver Island BC Ferry routes have cafeterias and snack bars. (The "S" Class vessels even have buffets.) The Black Ball Line does not exist today.... Of course, some of the ridership out of Nanaimo may have decreased aboard BC Ferries because of the Harbourlynx, but that's not a bad thing, more good than bad. By 2010, BC Ferries expects to carry 30 million passengers, 8 million more than it is now. While Nanaimo ridership has decreased, Victoria ridership has increased. Even ith four vessels on the route - two carrying 470 cars and two carrying 338 cars, There is always sailing waits in the summer, maybe two or even three. When the three new "Super C" Class vessels are built, there may be five vessels on the route, mainly leaving every hour but once in a while there will be a sailing once every half hour. Are you allowed on the front of the Harbourlynx while in motion? You probably have a much smoother ride on a BC Ferry in fall and winter than you would on the Harbourlynx. Anyways. Where is Harbourlynx planning to expand service to in the future? A useful route might be from say Nanaimo to Gibsons. But who knows.
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Post by carole on Sept 16, 2004 22:52:43 GMT -8
Well Harbourlynx guy , you dont know to much about ferry workers do you?
Most of us are happy especially on the minor routes, and most of us have gone the extra mile for passengers, only it goes unoticed; as for the Harbourlynx ferry I wouldnt step a foot on it, I havent heard to much good things about it.
Give me a good old slower ferry ride anyday!
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Post by jim on Sept 17, 2004 7:17:53 GMT -8
Here here! I happen to work on the Horshoebay Nanaimo run & all my crewmates are a pretty happy lot. Myself included. I am very happy with my job & love the interesting people I get to meet on a daily basis. Sure we all have off days, as does everybody, but to paint us ALL with a negative image like that I take offence.
I'm sorry you had an unpleasant experience one day with a particular crew, but maybe you should spend a little more time amongst us before you go painting us ALL with the same brush!
- jim.
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Post by Harbourlynx Kid on Sept 17, 2004 16:48:30 GMT -8
I hated everytime i had to go onto the BC Ferries, just cause of the way the BC ferries operates. The Harbourlynx has a much smoother ride, and starting in January they are supposed to go onto 4 sailings a day. from 3. there has been some talk of buying a second boat to replace the MV Harbourlynx, and putting the MV Harbourlynx on the gibsons run  . The snack bar on the Harbourlynx does have stuff like sandwiches and coffee, and hotdogs, but just like the Pacificats, they are not allowed to carry things like Deep Fryers. the HL takes only 15 minutes less, because they go from Downtown Nanaimo, to the seabus terminal in Vancouver, lets see a BC ferry DO that. (not meant ot offend anyone) Which is a lot longer run. and the Blackball line still does exist today. the MV Coho runs from Downtown Victoria, to Port Angeles Washington. Does not exist? id say thats existance. and dont say that the trip is rougher. the harbourlynx may have a worse ride in rough weather. but Ive seen days last december during that wind storm where the BC Ferries was not running, but the HL was, albiet with a slightly rougher ride. |
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Sept 17, 2004 17:49:56 GMT -8
Ahh yes, I forgot about the PW-Vic. run. But remember this. BC Ferries is a huge company compared to Harbourlynx or Black Ball Line. They carry 22 million yearly. It's not always easy keeping all vessels in excellent maintenance. The employees are not bad. I'll bet when BC Ferries was created in the '60s, they were much better than the Black Ball Line in going further for passengers. It's not always easy doing that today as they have so many services, employees are more limited. BC Ferries most likely don't sail in rough weather due to complicated docking. Some have open windows in the car decks, so it's safer to halt service. In another location on the internet...I seen than when the MV Nicola (past sister to the MV Nimpkish, smallest vessel in the fleet) was sailing in a storm in between the Island and Mainland, the swells were about three stories (about 9 m) high. She kept sailing until she arrived at her destination. If she could do it, any BC Ferry could do it.
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Post by royal caribbean on Sept 17, 2004 19:07:55 GMT -8
how many cars could a harborlinx carry if a harborlinx could carry cars? . . . . . . 0
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Post by Harbourlynx Kid on Sept 17, 2004 19:40:37 GMT -8
well, shes only 40m long. thats short compared to the BC Ferries. i would wager probably 10 or so. lol but why would you want to carry cars? shes better as a Passengar carrier. and today for example, the ship was out for 2 sailings (for a reserved thingy) and they took every passengar that was willing to, and flew them to vancouver for 25$. try to do that with BC Ferries.
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Post by Fenklebaum on Sept 17, 2004 21:15:42 GMT -8
Actually, I hate to burst your bubble there, but the Black Ball line which operates the MV Coho is NOT, in fact, the same company that ran the Nanaimo and Langdale routes.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Sept 18, 2004 0:12:32 GMT -8
Harbourlynx is a welcome addition to the Vancouver-VI service, as are the more costly floatplane and helicopter operations.
Harbourlynx is not competing with BC Ferries: they are offering a service that CP abandoned 35 years ago. Downton to downtown passenger travel, without the hassle of cars.
I hope they prosper, so we'll have another option.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Sept 18, 2004 0:42:33 GMT -8
..and I can't avoid adding:
In my limited experience (40+ years as a BCF passenger); I have yet to meet a BCF worker who was less than professional.
The toughest jobs are the least-appreciated: at the ticket booths, in the marshalling area and car boarding.
Something about gasoline+passengers brings out the worst in people. But, sometimes, we are surprised.
On a stinking-hot afternoon in this July, we raced to Departure Bay, just missing the 4 pm sailing. Ahead, we saw a few parties, raging at our ticket-taker.
We rolled up, quite happy to accept 6 pm. Lovely woman. She saw our dogs hanging out the windows. She took our payment, then turned her lane to red, so she could pet them ..
Behind us, the other lanes took traffic while she schmoozed with our dogs. She needed a few friendly moments after the abuse...
And there was an extra 5 pm laid on, so the impatient jerks got boarded early anyway ... but we were directed to the first lane. Ferry workers are people, too, and often the best folks you will ever meet.
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Post by Fenklebaum on Sept 18, 2004 21:08:14 GMT -8
Harbourlynx Kid, I must confess that I am somewhat perturbed by your aggresively negative attitude towards not only BC Ferries, but also their employees. It's one thing to have an opinion; it's quite another to ram it down other people's throats with taunts and challenges.
This message has been written respectfully and without any intent of insulting your person.
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Post by Harbourlynx Kid on Sept 19, 2004 21:47:47 GMT -8
Im not meaning to Insult the BCFC or thier employees. Im just pointing out from my personal expierience. Dont take what i have to say, as anything remotley resembling coherience. But I do admit that there were times that the BCFC employees acted. Extremely high. higher than my expectations.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Sept 20, 2004 20:53:49 GMT -8
We really want to ride Harbourlynx. For now, it's not possible as weekend travellers. We have two smallish dogs (20-lbs each); and Harbourlynx requires that pets be crated for the short trip.
I understand the problem. As a passenger-only service, HL does not have a segregated pet area onboard, like BCF's gloomy car deck.
I do hope that Harbourlynx is a success .. as their ridership grows, HL may be able to experiment with pet travel. If they have some problems, they can stop it; though I think they'll find that well-behaved dogs travel well under proper supervision.
Translink (BC Transit) is slowly moving this way. They now allow mutts, in crates only. Perhaps they will move to leashed, calm dogs on busses and Skytrain. If that happens, my dream will be closer.
We live in New Westminster. Our nearest Skytrain station is a 7-min walk. If Skytrain and Harbourlynx both allowed leashed dogs, we could zip from home to downtown Nanaimo in less time than it takes us now to drive and park at Horseshoe Bay. No gas, no hassle.
C'mon Harbourlynx, give the mutts a chance!
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. The snack bar on the Harbourlynx does have stuff like sandwiches and coffee, and hotdogs, but just like the Pacificats, they are not allowed to carry things like Deep Fryers. the HL takes only 15 minutes less, because they go from Downtown Nanaimo, to the seabus terminal in Vancouver, lets see a BC ferry DO that. (not meant ot offend anyone) Which is a lot longer run. and the Blackball line still does exist today. the MV Coho runs from Downtown Victoria, to Port Angeles Washington. Does not exist? id say thats existance. and dont say that the trip is rougher. the harbourlynx may have a worse ride in rough weather. but Ive seen days last december during that wind storm where the BC Ferries was not running, but the HL was, albiet with a slightly rougher ride.
