Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on Feb 21, 2009 15:24:30 GMT -8
" this ferry isnt meant for 60 minute winter open water travelling anyhow. The Marine Group has already stated that the deck will freeze, cars will freeze and accidents are a concern.
The open concept of the vessal is not good for winter travelling. "
I hope who ever spoke this nonsense is really young, so he'll have an excuse for not knowing the Powell River Queen was on this run for 25 years. This is Jervis Inlet, not Baffin Bay. As for the slope on the gallery ramps, they use de-icer, or, at the very worst, don't use them, and the vessel takes 100 cars instead of 125.
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Post by Curtis on Feb 21, 2009 19:08:58 GMT -8
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 21, 2009 19:22:33 GMT -8
 Yeah, it says "Queen of Burnaby", but the silhouette is of a Sidney-Class vessel. |
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 21, 2009 23:04:21 GMT -8
Thank you very much to both 'Dane' & 'Ship-Rider 16' for their photos and impressions of the I-Sky.
This boat looks fine and well suited to this route. I have little doubt that she will serve both summer and winter without too many issues (apperently someone quoted above has confused Jervis Inlet with the Gulf of Alaska). I do expect at least a few 'teething' issues, however.
I agree that Jervis Inlet has the most impressive scenery found on any of the south coast routes. Hopefully I can arrange a trip on her in the not too distant future.
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on Feb 21, 2009 23:14:17 GMT -8
Yeah, it says "Queen of Burnaby", but the silhouette is of a Sidney-Class vessel. If anyone travels on the I-Sky soon, can you save me a copy of that safety first pamphlet? that's funny stuff!  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2009 23:32:06 GMT -8
A great picture story Ship-Rider 16 ! My observations are that she's a nice little package. Time will tell if any of the expressed concerns will be problematic. All coastal inlets are subject to strong winds and particularly strong outflow winds at times. Open deck ferries get wet, snowy and icy but so do our highways and we always manage to deal with it. First impressions can be lasting ones and I was quite comfortable with what I saw today.
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Post by Ferryman on Feb 21, 2009 23:35:53 GMT -8
Thank you for the photos, Ship Rider and Dane. Very much appreciated  . |
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Feb 22, 2009 10:38:18 GMT -8
Yes awesome photos from both of you. Ship-Rider, I think you should e-mail BCF and attach your photo of the erroneous safety brochure! I guess not many people would be bothered that the the silhouette doesn't match the Burnaby (although it certainly makes me crazy) but what's the point in offering a brochure explaining the safety features of a ship you're not even on?! If you decide to do this, wait a couple days. All going well, I'm travelling on her tomorrow and I'll grab a handfull of the brochures...just in case they get pulled off the racks.
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Post by Dane on Feb 22, 2009 12:34:37 GMT -8
They have brochures on for the Queen of Tsawwassen, too.
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Post by Shane on Feb 23, 2009 10:39:35 GMT -8
I really enjoyed the pics, Dane and Ship Rider.. I'm going to have to get out there one of these days and take a round trip on her.
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Post by northwesterner on Feb 25, 2009 18:08:45 GMT -8
Despite being another extremely ugly ferry from the same modernist style that is dominating today's maritime architecture, she's got a pretty nice looking passenger cabin.
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Post by Hardy on Feb 25, 2009 21:52:44 GMT -8
As for the slope on the gallery ramps, they use de-icer, or, at the very worst, don't use them, and the vessel takes 100 cars instead of 125. If they would have been a little more forward thinking in their design and construction (and they could still retro-fit this), they might have included electric heating elements on the underside of the ramps (or even between the deck-plate and the "grit strip") to assist in de-icing the surface. There are several ways that this can be accomplished, not the least of which would have been heating elements or routing exhaust gasses or even hot/warm lube oil or other such arrangements. Again, as Neil states, decreasing car capacity by 30 or so is not a huge thing in winter (low) season. |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887 
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Post by Mill Bay on Feb 26, 2009 0:26:14 GMT -8
Despite being another extremely ugly ferry from the same modernist style that is dominating today's maritime architecture, she's got a pretty nice looking passenger cabin. That might even be postmodernist styling but, to keep it fair, just call it brain-drain. I just had a sudden curiosity, since the Island Sky sort of fits in the same class as the Capilano and Cumberland, and since her passenger areas vaguely resemble theirs: I wonder what the comparison is between the two types of vessels in terms of the size of the passenger lounges. How does the enclosed cabin space on the Island Sky compare in terms of actual floorspace? |
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Post by Dane on Feb 26, 2009 0:28:00 GMT -8
Much larger. More seating too, couldn't quantify it - but at least 100 extra seats.
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 26, 2009 9:40:50 GMT -8
 Heck, the power lines in this shot allow it to be easily geotagged (N 49°46'22.4" W124°08'29.0"). |
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Post by Curtis on Feb 28, 2009 21:22:06 GMT -8
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Post by Canucks on Feb 28, 2009 21:30:29 GMT -8
Awesome videos Curtis! Thanks for sharing them. The IS sounds like a really noisy ship but that could be partially due to the video I guess. I see they put a bench in front of the sloped slidey thing on the outside deck instead of a kids slide. |
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Post by Curtis on May 9, 2009 22:57:58 GMT -8
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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 May 19, 2009 10:00:27 GMT -8
Well I took my first trip on the Island Sky on Victoria Day. We did the circlepac route starting at Swartz Bay on Sunday and ending in Comox Monday evening with an extra footie roundtrip on the Island Sky. My overall impression of the Island Sky is that she is a nice ship. She reminds me of the Cumberland as far as looks, Alberni as far as interior with the table and chair seating on one side of the passenger lounge and also for being able to walk outside on the main passenger deck with what looks like mini pickleforks so to speak, mixed in with the New West as far as smell she smells like the New West did the first time I walked on her. She also reminds me of the Queen of Chilliwack too on the upper deck with the superstructures on each side that holds the exust pipes or whatever you call them.
The only thing I dont like about the Island Sky is the lack of food services and the Coastal Express and Gift Shop type setup will be a pain on busy sailings during the peak season as yesterday it was pretty busy and the lineup was pretty long. I noticed like a few others that the signage on the Island Sky says Cafeteria. That is very misleading as I wouldent consider the Coastal Express a Cafeteria. I think a more appropriate name would be Coastal Cafe Express or Snack Bar. I did find the ceiling tiles seemed to rattle alot on one end which would be the opposite end which we were going. But overall I dont think she is as bad as everyone thinks she is. I dont really think she is ugly either like alot of people say she is. She is unique and interesting just like the Queen of Chilliwack. We did 3 sailings on her one we drove over and parked at Saltery Bay and went back on for a roundtrip. But it was good to finally get on the Island Sky.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 24, 2009 9:26:58 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 24, 2009 19:05:07 GMT -8
Some pictures from May 23, 2009 at Saltery Bay: ================= The bridge-wings that extend out to the funnels look like handles, so that God can reach down and pick up His favourite ship to move it from route to route.  Nelson Island reminds me of Meares Island, with the mountain and the low-land next to it.  I like the look of this ship. Very interesting for the eye.  |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on May 24, 2009 19:24:01 GMT -8
You can see the lineage of the Island Sky. She's definitely an updated version of the classic double ender that we've had many of, on both sides of the border. I kind of like her.
You're getting good results from that camera you bought, Mr Horn. Good choice.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on May 24, 2009 22:11:40 GMT -8
19 Feb 09  I love this picture! Incredible mountains!! I think this photo would win in a contest. |
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Post by c15cat on Jul 10, 2009 12:20:11 GMT -8
Have you heard anything ?
I guess the Rich people want a new ship to ride on even thou they probably don't have enough traffic volume to warrant it.
Will be curious to see what they put on R#7 besides the Chilliwack.
The route needs a ship that can handle upto 7 semis and 30 cars and lots of oversize loads. The Chilliwack doesn't handle oversize loads like things that are 14 feet wide.
The rumor is the Cumberland will be put on R#7 not sure if that ship is any good. Hope its better at handling heavy weight than the I Sky which is very weight sensitive nothing heavy to one side or on the bow that is moving forward. Not a easy ship to load when you have trucks with loads that are 100 feet long not including the truck. Not a well thought out ship why do they make something that can't take any weight.
I'am a regular traveler (truck) and heard that the I Sky is going.
The crew will benefit from the Cumberland more over time from the slower speed and slower loading the ship burns more fuel so the suppliers will be happy. More frustrated people thou when they get left behind from the less capacity.
The I sky is definatly not perfect but I hate to be riding on it in any kind of weather better hand out the barf bags lol.
Have to wait and see what happens. As a regular traveler the Chilliwack has to go.
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 10, 2009 12:25:31 GMT -8
Gulf Islands? I always heard that I-Sky was designed with Horseshoe Bay-Bowen Island in mind as her eventual destination, to replace the Capilano. I have no idea if that's still BCF's current thinking.
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