FNS
Voyager 
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 24, 2006 12:13:41 GMT -8
Greetings, ferry fans! A new Seattle - designed ferry was launched in July by VT Halter Marine in the greater southern gulf coast region of this land of ours. Her name is MV ISLAND HOME (Woods Hole, MA). This was a side launch which is quite a splashy event. The ISLAND HOME is 255 feet in length and is destined for Martha's Vineyard. She like a miniature "QUEEN OF COQUITLAM" with a totally enclosed car deck with doors at each end (something Keystone needs in a larger sized vessel on the sometimes high seas there). The Saloon Deck ends are about the same as the QOC. The wheelhouses are full beam wide as the vessel. Quite an interesting vessel to look at. She was designed by the Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle and is slated for first service in January 2007. Neat launch articles are at: www.mvgazette.com/news/2006/07/25/island_home_launch.phpwww.mvgazette.com/front/?edition=20060725web2.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/web2.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/documents/island_home_launch.pdfQuite neat that an east coast ferry line choses a Seattle designer. Enjoy! |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 24, 2006 16:45:49 GMT -8
she definately has a "west coast look" to her, although I thought she looked more like a WSF vessel than a BC C-Class ferry....but that's just me being picky.
Thanks for posting this.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 24, 2006 17:31:01 GMT -8
Greetings, HMCS Nanaimo!
Appreciate your neat pickyness. She actually looks a bit like the Jumbo Mark II WSF ferries at the ends on their Saloon Deck level. I used the QUEEN OF COQUITLAM as the template on this one due the enclosed car deck and end doors.
This vessel is designed to carry 76 vehicles and 1200 passengers. There are portable 16 car tween decks on the car deck that can be stowed or deployed by hydraulic lifts. 16 knots is her target cruising speed. So, quite a remarkable ship MA is getting. Now, I can't wait to hear what her whistles will sound like!!!
-ferrynutseattle
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Post by hergfest on Aug 24, 2006 23:01:29 GMT -8
Looks like a mini Issaquah class with an enclosed car deck.
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Post by hergfest on Aug 24, 2006 23:08:56 GMT -8
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Post by In Washington on Aug 25, 2006 8:01:19 GMT -8
It may be just the way the picture is taken but it looks like she has a small wheel and small rudder.
The Kulshan suffered with a small rudder when WSF had her making landings in any kind of current an exciting proposition. I remember many aborted landings and the boat being unable to move over against dolphins at Hood Canal back in the days of the Kulshan. The good boat handlers made some very creative approaches to South Point!
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 26, 2006 1:54:09 GMT -8
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Post by Starbucks Queen on Aug 26, 2006 12:39:45 GMT -8
Oh my, WHO´s BATHTUB DID GET A CONVERSION ? ;D No... looks quite nice, I think - but I did look at the price, that´s pretty expensive for such a small ferry, or have they built in some special features ? Reminds me a bit in that here: www.faktaomfartyg.com/viggen_1998_b_1.htm |
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Aug 27, 2006 21:52:49 GMT -8
That thing wishes it was the Coquitlam.  |
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Post by NMcKay on Sept 1, 2006 7:48:11 GMT -8
i was thinking the same thing doug
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 14, 2007 21:38:47 GMT -8
Ok, my apologies for digging around to find this thread, and dragging it out again. Maybe it will get thrown into the North America and abroad section...
I'm now booked to fly out to MA this October to visit some family in Cape Cod for 12 days. One of the things on my agenda is to ride this Ferry to Marthas Vineyard. I also hope to get on to the Ferry to Nantucket as well. This will be a totally different experience for me, as I've never been on any Ferries besides BC Ferries!
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 14, 2007 23:29:42 GMT -8
Ok, my apologies for digging around to find this thread, and dragging it out again. Maybe it will get thrown into the North America and abroad section... I'm now booked to fly out to MA this October to visit some family in Cape Cod for 12 days. One of the things on my agenda is to ride this Ferry to Marthas Vineyard. I also hope to get on to the Ferry to Nantucket as well. This will be a totally different experience for me, as I've never been on any Ferries besides BC Ferries!  Hope you enjoy your trip! Here is the SSA's webpage for schedules (be sure to set your watch to Eastern Time as they don't operate really late like ours!): www.steamshipauthority.comBe sure to call them and make sure the MV ISLAND HOME is slated to being in service when you get there. Sure is quite a northwest ferry to us here living around our Washington and BC waters! ;D One more note: Her Main Deck has a 60 car capacity. Add 16 more when her stowable tween decks are deployed. There are tween deck passenger lounges at each side just above the cars. The Saloon Deck has the heads and a galley, seating, and end observatories. The Sun Deck has an unbelievable amount of seating. There are stairways at the corners, like you see on the COQUITLAM and TACOMA, that leads you down to the Saloon Deck and the end proms. She has horizontal sliding doors at the ends of the Main Deck, I think what the ALBERNI has. And, finally (for the ADA aficionados), she has an elevator! Quite amazing features packed on a ferry that is one foot shorter and ten feet slimmer than the Steel-Electrics! |
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Post by Barnacle on Aug 15, 2007 6:56:33 GMT -8
If she's truly ten feet narrower than a Steel-Electric, then... hmm. I'd guess she only has one pair of stairwells and six lanes for traffic. What's the draft? Maybe we should look at this design for a certain flea-bite route... ;D
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Post by SS San Mateo on Aug 15, 2007 7:48:49 GMT -8
If she's truly ten feet narrower than a Steel-Electric, then... hmm. I'd guess she only has one pair of stairwells and six lanes for traffic. What's the draft? Maybe we should look at this design for a certain flea-bite route... ;D The beam is listed as 64'. Couldn't find the draft. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 15, 2007 7:54:49 GMT -8
I will dig into my sources on the draft tonight when I get home. In the meantime, all I can say is that her draft is nice and shallow.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
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Post by Mill Bay on Aug 15, 2007 7:56:38 GMT -8
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 15, 2007 8:14:16 GMT -8
You'll be happy to know she is sold to to the ferry operator that provides transportation services to the Governors Island historical site from the south end of Manhattan, New York City. She'll be modified, though. She'll probably be backup to the geometrical marvel MV COURSEN (see my Mukilteo ferry timeline on the NW section on this forum for the COURSEN's looks). |
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 15, 2007 21:32:06 GMT -8
Thanks for the info, and illustrations, Ferrynut! Much appreciated. I'm really looking forward to wandering around this Ferry, if she's in service once I'm over there. I'll have a look around that website, that you posted the link to.
On a few side notes....
I'll also be going on the Nantucket Island Ferry, MV Eagle as well. My Aunt just happens to be really good friends with one of the Captains aboard the vessel, and I might even get a bridge tour out of that trip.
Also, that same Aunt is also writes articles for a Monthly Magazine for the Cape Cod area, and shes now thinking about writing an article regarding a "Ferries of British Columbia Online Forum Member is coming to MA to ride the Ferries". Should be fun.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 15, 2007 21:53:40 GMT -8
If she's truly ten feet narrower than a Steel-Electric, then... hmm. I'd guess she only has one pair of stairwells and six lanes for traffic. What's the draft? Maybe we should look at this design for a certain flea-bite route... ;D The beam is listed as 64'. Couldn't find the draft.  The draft of the MV ISLAND HOME is 10.5 feet. Quite shallow, indeed. Well within the fitting standards at Keystone. She is also fitted with bow thrusters at each end. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 15, 2007 23:20:59 GMT -8
 Here is what I have come up with in a design of replicas of the ISLAND HOME for the Keystone run. Features include the same basic arrangements. The Saloon and Sun decks would be the same. The Tween Deck lounge on this illustration's side would remain. The other Tween Deck side would house crew staterooms. Even though "Barnacle" doesn't like bow doors, they remain in this design. They could stay open during calm conditions, but close during rough conditions. An additional green stripe would be added along the Tween Deck windows and would be rounded down on the doors, just like the original "Dogwood Fleet" ferries of BC had (a beautiful touch for ferries having doors at each end). The stowable tween decks for cars remain and used during peak periods. Same car space (60-76), a little less passenger capacity. Most importantly, a shallow draft! Perfect design for a high amenity compact ferry for the Keystone run. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 15, 2007 23:34:34 GMT -8
Thanks for the info, and illustrations, Ferrynut! Much appreciated. I'm really looking forward to wandering around this Ferry, if she's in service once I'm over there. I'll have a look around that website, that you posted the link to. On a few side notes.... I'll also be going on the Nantucket Island Ferry, MV Eagle as well. My Aunt just happens to be really good friends with one of the Captains aboard the vessel, and I might even get a bridge tour out of that trip. Also, that same Aunt is also writes articles for a Monthly Magazine for the Cape Cod area, and shes now thinking about writing an article regarding a "Ferries of British Columbia Online Forum Member is coming to MA to ride the Ferries". Should be fun. SOUNDS TERRIFIC! ENJOY!!! ;D Hope they sound the Nobska Whistle aboard the MV EAGLE for you! |
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Post by shipchandler on Sept 9, 2007 9:05:20 GMT -8
that one is definately more famous as it appeared in the movie "jaws" |
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