False Creek Ferries

False Creek Ferries
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Established	1982
Location	1804 Boatlift Lane, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Website	granvilleislandferries.bc.ca

False Creek Ferries, a division of Granville Island Ferries Ltd., is a privately owned and operated ferry service that operates on False Creek in Vancouver, Canada. The False Creek Ferry fleet has grown from the four electric ferries that formed the company to a fleet that now consists of 12 ferries divided into three classes; the 20 passenger Balfry-class, the 12 passenger Spirit-class and a class of three open deck ferries.

History

The emergence of ferry service throughout False Creek occurred in the summer of 1979 when Brian and Laura Beesley began operating a tour and water taxi service around Granville Island and False Creek using four 18 foot Schock electric ferries. Ferry service was first implemented on False Creek by Granville Island Ferries between Granville Island and the former Boater's Village Marina on the north side of False Creek in the fall of 1982 after the company was bought out by George McInnis and George Pratt and renamed Granville Island Ferries. The company started operations at the Aquatic Centre dock on August 1, 1983 with two newly commissioned ferries "Spirit of False Creek I" & "Spirit of False Creek II". In 1984 the "MV Tymac II" was leased by Granville Island Ferries to serve on the newly created Maritime Museum run to Kits Point, pending the completions of the vessels "Spirit of False Creek III", "Spirit of False Creek IV" and "Spirit of False Creek V". In 1985 Jeff Pratt, the son of George Pratt who partnered with George McInnis in operating the ferry, left his employment at Granville Island Ferries to start a competitor called Aquabus, after George Pratt sold out his share of the company.

The Fleet

Spirit of False Creek V

Spirit of False Creek III

Spirit of George McInnis

• The "Spirit Class" consists of five 12-passenger ferries designed by marine architect Jay Benford. The Spirit class are symmetrically shaped at 20 feet long with a beam of eight feet and a draft of two feet. Their service speed is listed at six knots. Benford's 20-foot ferry design was intended for the False Creek Ferries and the ship of the line, the "Spirit of False Creek I" was launched in 1983, followed closely by her first sister ship, "Spirit of False Creek II", both built by Paul Miller in Coal Harbour. "Spirit of False Creek" III, IV & V were built by Independent Shipyards in Coombs, BC.
  • Spirit of False Creek I
  • Spirit of False Creek II
  • Spirit of False Creek III
  • Spirit of False Creek IV
  • Spirit of False Creek V

• The "Balfry Class" consists of four 20-passenger ferries that were imported from California. The Balfry class are essentially enlarged versions of the Spirit class. With the exception of the "Spirit of False Creek 10" which was built in Richmond, BC in 2002, the Balfry class ferries were built in 1989 in Port Hueneme, California.
  • Spirit of Cy Balfry (flagship)
  • Spirit of Nora O'Grady
  • Spirit of George McInnis
  • Spirit of False Creek 10

• The remaining three vessels in the fleet are part of a class of open deck ferries. This consists of the original electric False Creek Ferry, the "Shelagh Mary", The converted commercial lifeboat "Spirit of Ned", and the converted Canadian Navy lifeboat "Stanley I".
  • Shelagh Mary
  • Spirit of Ned
  • Stanley I

Stops and routes

False Creek Ferries
Legend 20px 20px Maritime Museum 20px 20px False Creek 20px 20px Aquatic Center 20px 20px False Creek 20px 20px Granville Island 20px 20px False Creek 20px 20px David Lam Park 20px 20px False Creek 20px 20px Stamp's Landing 20px 20px Spyglass Place 20px 20px False Creek 20px 20px Yaletown 20px 20px Plaza of Nations 20px 20px False Creek 20px 20px 20px Science World

Routes operate between stops at the following locations:

• Granville Island
• Aquatic Centre - at Sunset Beach on English Bay near Thurlow Street at Beach Avenue in the West End
• Maritime Museum - at Vanier Park in Kitsilano
• Yaletown Quayside Marina - at Davie Street and Marinaside Crescent
• David Lam Park - in Yaletown at the foot of Homer Street.
• Stamp's Landing - near Monk McQueens restaurant and Leg-in-Boot Square
• Spyglass Place - near the Olympic Village beneath the Cambie Street Bridge on the south shore
• Plaza of Nations - across from BC Place Stadium and the Edgewater Casion
• Science World - across from the SkyTrain Main Street-Science World Station

The stops are divided into three routes. Passengers wishing to make passage on multiple routes may purchase a through fare for transferring at either the Granville Island or Aquatic Centre hubs.

• Blue Line (Granville Island - Aquatic Centre)
• Red Line (Granville Island - Stamp's Landing - Spyglass - Yaletown - Plaza of Nations - Science World)
• Yellow Line (Aquatic Centre - Maritime Museum)

See also

• Aquabus - operates passenger ferries from Granville Island
• English Bay Launch - operates water taxis from Granville Island

External links

• False Creek Ferries
• Spirit Class Design Plans