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Post by YZFNick on May 28, 2005 15:52:37 GMT -8
Would a Bowen Island Seabus be popular and sustainable?
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Post by Balfour on May 28, 2005 16:35:09 GMT -8
Well they are thinking about it
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Post by Curtis on May 28, 2005 18:31:08 GMT -8
Probably good for commuters that take the Bowen Island run alot
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Post by YZFNick on May 28, 2005 18:40:04 GMT -8
Are there enough commuters to justify the service?
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Post by Dane on May 29, 2005 15:23:41 GMT -8
Not financially, but that being said there are not enough to justify the current ferry service if you're looking to break even. The service, I think, would be a huge hit, but cost a lot to sustain.
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Post by NMcKay on May 29, 2005 18:41:17 GMT -8
what are you talking about? the Seabus is like the only thing in Translink (- the WCE) THAT makes money
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Post by Dane on May 30, 2005 1:09:53 GMT -8
a 12 minute run with crush loads is a lot cheaper than a boat providing hourly service to 1/3 the amount of people per sailing. You'll have like 10% of the ridership. Think about it.
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Post by YZFNick on May 30, 2005 11:20:54 GMT -8
How about a private operator doing a commuter run with a couple trips into the harbour in the morning and a couple out in the afternoon?
Say a 30 passenger vessel with a $8.00 fare one way. If the vessel is 2/3 full every run then income would be $640 for the day. Fuel and vessel depreciation would be $200 a day. A deckhand would pay around $100/day give or take. A small operation would have an owner/operator be captain. So the owner/operator would have around $340 to pay himself and cover things like advertising and moorage rates. Not bad if you operate 22 days a month
Passengers would pay the $8.00 fare because of the time saved over using the ferry and taking the bus downtown.
Has anything like this been done?
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Post by Balfour on May 30, 2005 15:45:50 GMT -8
I don't think so and it sounds like a good idea
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Post by Dane on May 30, 2005 15:46:17 GMT -8
Costs for moorage, advertising, you need more crew, maintenance. All thsoe make it not soo practical. Short, frequent hauls work for things like the WaterTaxi but the fair is double what you've posted.
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Post by NMcKay on May 30, 2005 19:36:12 GMT -8
Lets think
10$ would be more select
300 Pax
3000$
600L per hour @ .95$ per l = 570 $ for gas per hour
1 hour (1 rt each day) 570$ for gas. 2430 Remaining
Wages.
1 Captain 50 - 75000 Per year
5 - 7 Deckhands = 200 000
1 Engineer = 60 000
Wages 335,000$ per year
200 Avg per day for 5 days = 1000 * 10 = 10 000 per week * 52 = 520, 000 Base Revenue
Coffee Etc per week = 2500 * 52 = 130,000
Total Revenue = 650,000$ per year – 335,000 = 315,000$ Profit (if the ship is no moorage and no Maint (or covered in other route expenses)
Moorage = 1400$ per month
Maintenance = 400, 000 per Year
= - 86400 (LOSS)
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Post by Dane on May 30, 2005 20:37:40 GMT -8
... and Transport Canada certifications, overtime, training costs... Face it, it's pretty much impossible to make a service thats hourly practical fiscally. I'm not saying don't do it, I support it. However, you need to understand the fiscal realities of it.
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Post by YZFNick on May 30, 2005 20:43:42 GMT -8
whew, tough business to be in
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Post by NMcKay on May 30, 2005 21:14:10 GMT -8
i think if i can get the financial to make money, then ill pitch it at the next Harbourlynx Stockholders meeting.
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Post by YZFNick on May 30, 2005 21:15:03 GMT -8
For a 30 passenger vessel, they wouldn't need 5-7 deckhands and an engineer. The Dogwood Princess ran with a master and a deckhand and it was around 35 passengers.
It does look like fuel would be the largest cost.
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Post by NMcKay on May 30, 2005 21:30:08 GMT -8
Yeah, i was thinking that the Lynx might handle it, take some extra time every morning and evening to make a bowen run.
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Post by YZFNick on May 30, 2005 22:24:00 GMT -8
If the crew are being paid already then it would be a very good idea.
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Post by NMcKay on Jun 1, 2005 6:42:33 GMT -8
yeahm but if your going to use the lynx. translate it to 800L per hour, and max capacity to 297
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Post by YZFNick on Jun 1, 2005 7:24:08 GMT -8
yeah, that's a pretty big boat for so few people. How bout a Gibsons or Sechelt run?
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Post by Curtis on Jun 1, 2005 7:33:42 GMT -8
Wasn't there a Gibsons run by a different company
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Post by Balfour on Jun 1, 2005 7:47:49 GMT -8
I think so but I'm not sure. It might still be going.
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 1, 2005 19:49:28 GMT -8
I think there's a taxi service that can take you anywhere around there, to Gibsons, Port Melon, Gambier, Keats and all those places from Horseshoe Bay at the old Government Warf
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Post by harbourlynx on Jun 6, 2005 19:30:00 GMT -8
I rode the Seabus with my brother once in January, and it looked ugly at first, but it looks realy cool when you see it some more times.  |
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Post by BrianWilliams on Jul 5, 2005 18:24:52 GMT -8
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