Comparing the Cs

[jwjsamster]

Hey forum,
So I've been wandering about the threads looking at pictures and catching up on various discussions and there is one thing that hasn't popped up. I may also have missed this.
So my question is this, what was the reason for the alteration in design in the two later C class vessels to extend the passenger decks? If you don't understand what I mean it's how on the Queen of Oak Bay and the Queen of Surrey there is less distance between the passenger area and the front of the ship.

To add onto this, did BC ferries ever contemplate extending the passenger area on the Queen of Alberni, which from what I gather is a little tight on passenger space when it has a heavy load, to resemble that of the other Cs.

Again, sorry if this has already been covered and thank you.

jwj

[WettCoast]

Aug 11, 2015 19:05:09 GMT -8 jwjsamster said:

Hey forum,
...
So my question is this, what was the reason for the alteration in design in the two later C class vessels to extend the passenger decks? If you don't understand what I mean it's how on the Queen of Oak Bay and the Queen of Surrey there is less distance between the passenger area and the front of the ship.
...
To add onto this, did BC ferries ever contemplate extending the passenger area on the Queen of Alberni, which from what I gather is a little tight on passenger space when it has a heavy load, to resemble that of the other Cs.

jwj

According to the Bannerman book (The Ships of British Columbia, 1985), it was to move the wheelhouses closer to the ends so as to improve visibility for navigation.  I had always thought that it was simply to increase the amount of inside passenger space on the main passenger deck as compared to the original 'C's.  I always wondered if they ever considered adding enclosed passenger space on the upper (Sun) deck. 

As for the Alberni, it did have its passenger space expanded somewhat, I think at the time they added the upper car deck.  It was not expanded enough however and remains inadequate in that respect today.  I shake my head just a little when I think about the contrast between the two vessels that serve on route 30.  One old 'cattle boat' with precious little cabin space, and the other, as new & fancy as they get, with twice as much cabin space as is needed.  In fact almost all of one whole deck is closed off almost all the time.