False Creek Ferries, a division of Granville Island Ferries Ltd,[3] is a privately owned and operated ferry service that operates on False Creek near downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The False Creek Ferry fleet has grown from the four electric ferries that formed the company to a fleet that now consists of 17 ferries divided into three classes; the 20-passenger Balfry class, the 12-passenger Spirit class, and the open-deck Novel class. The service operates every day of the year, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Ferry service on False Creek was established in 1981 by Brian and Laura Beesley from Granville Island using four electric ferries. The ferries were 18 feet long and powered by 36 volt electric motors. Six, 6 volt rechargeable deep cycle batteries supplied the fuel . They were originally named after the Beesley's relatives: Alice May, Iris Maud, Nora Eileen and Juanita Dee.[4] Although the original fleet has since been removed from regular service, three have found new life in differing capacities. The Alice May was renamed the Shelagh Mary and remains in the False Creek Ferries fleet as a crew launch. The Juanita Dee was sold & now operates out of the Ganges Marina on Saltspring Island as "The Queen of De Nile". The Iris Maud has been completely rebuilt and is now the private steam launch "Crouton" in Kelowna, BC.
In 1982, False Creek Ferry Ltd was sold to George McInnis and George Pratt who incorporated the company as Granville Island Ferries Ltd and operated it as False Creek Ferries.[4] The company began operations at the Aquatic Centre dock in the West End on August 1, 1983 with two newly commissioned 12-passenger ferries, "Spirit of False Creek 1" and "Spirit of False Creek 2", which were built using designs by Jay Benford. These were the first two vessels of Benford's Spirit class.[5] In 1984 the "Tymac II" was leased by False Creek Ferries for the newly created Maritime Museum run to Kitsilano pending completion of the remaining three Spirit class ferries, "Spirit of False Creek 3", "Spirit of False Creek 4" and "Spirit of False Creek 5".[6]
In 1985, George Pratt sold his share in Granville Island Ferries to George McInnis. Following George Pratt's departure from Granville Island Ferries, his son Geoff Pratt incorporated Aquabus Ferries Ltd to compete against Granville Island Ferries.[7]
The Fleet
Spirit of False Creek 5Spirit of False Creek 3Spirit of George McInnis
The "Spirit Class" comprises seven 12-passenger ferries designed by marine architect Jay Benford expressly for False Creek Ferries.[8] Each vessel is 20 feet long, with a beam of eight feet, and draws two feet of water. Their maximum speed is about six knots. The first of the class, "Spirit of False Creek 1", was launched in 1982,[8] followed closely by her first sister ship, "Spirit of False Creek 2", both built by Paul Miller in Coal Harbour.[6] "Spirit of False Creek" 3, 4 & 5 were built by Independent Shipyards in Coombs, BC.[6] "Spirit of Cindy Lee" and "Spirit of Lil Bood" were built in Port Hueneme, California.
Spirit of False Creek 1
Spirit of False Creek 2
Spirit of False Creek 3
Spirit of False Creek 4
Spirit of False Creek 5
Spirit of Cindy Lee
Spirit of Lil Bood
The "Balfry Class" ferries are essentially enlarged versions of the Spirit class ferries. "Spirit of Cy Balfry", "Spirit of Nora O'Grady", "Spirit of George McInnis", and "TootSea" were built in 1989 in Port Hueneme, California by marine architect Bob Lyon at Harbour Hopper Ferries.[9] "Spirit of False Creek 10" was built in Richmond, BC in 2002. The two most recent additions to the fleet, "Spirit of Shelagh McInnis" and "Spirit of False Creek XVII", were built in 2018 by West Bay Marine of Delta, BC.
Spirit of Cy Balfry
Spirit of Nora O'Grady
Spirit of George McInnis
Spirit of False Creek 10
TootSea
Spirit of Shelagh McInnis
Spirit of False Creek XVII
The remaining three vessels in the fleet are open-deck boats referred to as "Novel Class": the converted commercial lifeboat "Spirit of Ned"; and the two converted Canadian Navy lifeboats "Stanley 1" and "Stanley 2".
Spirit of Ned
Stanley 1
Stanley 2
While no longer on the active roster, the "Shelagh Mary", one of the original electric boats, is retained as a crew launch and heritage vessel.
The stops are served by three routes. Passengers wishing to use multiple routes may purchase a through fare for transferring at either the Granville Island or Aquatic Centre hubs.
Blue Line (Granville Island - Aquatic Centre)
Yellow Line (Granville Island - Aquatic Centre - Maritime Museum)
Red Line (Granville Island - David Lam Park - Stamp's Landing - Spyglass - Yaletown - Plaza of Nations - Olympic Village/Science World)
See also
The Aquabus - operates passenger ferries from Granville Island
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