Bay Ferries suspends CAT

[98288]

never took the cat, but i won $400 dollars on a slot machine when i was 17 on that other slow boat that got fined for all the health code violations. that was our senior class trip, portland to yarmouth and back in the remnants of a hurricane. i was one of the few that didn't get sea-sick but i also slept right through the stop in yarmouth because i stayed up all night gambling and not being sea sick.

proof, I suppose, that the old system was waaaay more fun! Hard to get memories like that in 5 hours

( I know that I just left the field wide open for exceptions on that one but we're talkin' boats ....right?) -Bob

[36654]

proof, I suppose, that the old system was waaaay more fun! Hard to get memories like that in 5 hours

( I know that I just left the field wide open for exceptions on that one but we're talkin' boats ....right?) -Bob

I think you're talking ships

[36654]

proof, I suppose, that the old system was waaaay more fun! Hard to get memories like that in 5 hours

( I know that I just left the field wide open for exceptions on that one but we're talkin' boats ....right?) -Bob

Question. Where does the ferry from Sydney (I believe) dock in Newfoundland?

[98288]

Question. Where does the ferry from Sydney (I believe) dock in Newfoundland?

Two Major Choices:

North Sydney to Argentia, Nfld (long row to the east side .... St. John's)
North Sydney to Port aux Basques, Nfld (short row to the west side ie Gros Morne National Park, L'anse aux Meadows etc)

http://www.marine-atlantic.ca/en/schedule/pabnsy.asp

[98288]

I think you're talking ships

..."this is my rifle; this is my gun; this is for etc...."

[36654]

..."this is my rifle; this is my gun; this is for etc...."

And you guys have such a fine maritime school at Memorial.........shame on you

[xp8103]

There's actually a ferry between St. John's and Digby NS which makes the round trip more like 800 miles. And I hear the Airline was repaved in the last few years (if you know what the Airline is, you'll know what I'm talking about)..... But I am sad to see the CAT go. I think it will be a BIG loss to NS more than Maine.

[98288]

And you guys have such a fine maritime school at Memorial.........shame on you

I know that this digresses a tad but here on the mainland we have various other related programs but not as highly evolved as the Memorial one. However, if you are ever in Halifax be sure and take in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. ..... now, if only all those boats would move aside I could get this tub...uh....I mean ship, out of the harbor (aka harbour).

Now back to the topic: todays news clearly states that both Nova Scotia and Maine remain committed to not contributing to that fast moving hole in the ocean. I think that some interesting and more economically viable alternatives will emerge. It is also likely that our Transport Canada will become a stronger partner in the arrangement if a clear commercial link can be made that is not entirely tourism based in its vision. - Bob

[98288]

There's actually a ferry between St. John's and Digby NS which makes the round trip more like 800 miles. And I hear the Airline was repaved in the last few years (if you know what the Airline is, you'll know what I'm talking about)..... But I am sad to see the CAT go. I think it will be a BIG loss to NS more than Maine.

That's Saint John, New Brunswick (not to be confused with St. John's, Nfld). It all really depends on what you're traveling to and from. For instance, you can ride about 2 1/2 hours from Halifax to Digby (140 miles) or, leaving from Halifax, ride
to Saint John in about 4.5 hours (250 miles). Faster by land but maybe the ferry is a big part of the adventure so who cares?

Route 9, The Airline, between Calais and Brewer (starting 60 miles south of Saint John) is not a bad 90 mile ride. Route 1 is more interesting but much slower and longer. I like both but depends on my travel plan. - Bob

[36654]

I know that this digresses a tad but here on the mainland we have various other related programs but not as highly evolved as the Memorial one. However, if you are ever in Halifax be sure and take in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. ..... now, if only all those boats would move aside I could get this tub...uh....I mean ship, out of the harbor (aka harbour).

Now back to the topic: todays news clearly states that both Nova Scotia and Maine remain committed to not contributing to that fast moving hole in the ocean. I think that some interesting and more economically viable alternatives will emerge. It is also likely that our Transport Canada will become a stronger partner in the arrangement if a clear commercial link can be made that is not entirely tourism based in its vision. - Bob

BC Ferries faced a similar problem about a 10-years ago. To my knowledge, they eventually sold the high speed vessels for conventional ferries. Seems, we always have to repeat history, especially when the glamor and speed factors are used in the marketing campaign.

[xp8103]

Yes, I did not mean to imply that St. John was the Newfie version but the one in NB! I took my (now) wife there on one of our first dates - I was attending the University of Maine in Orono and she was teaching near Bangor. There was a restaurant right on the water in the harbor there that had the BEST liver and onions I'd ever had. When we got there (would have been the fall of 1986) they were closed!! Was a Sunday afternoon and we ended up finding a snack someplace else but it was a good time anyway!

[tommcgee]

BC Ferries faced a similar problem about a 10-years ago. To my knowledge, they eventually sold the high speed vessels for conventional ferries. Seems, we always have to repeat history, especially when the glamor and speed factors are used in the marketing campaign.

The CAT goes elsewhere in the winter. Someplace warmer, no doubt. Before the CAT, the old ferry took twice as long, but it had the most amazingly loud horn I've ever heard in my life.

[36654]

The CAT goes elsewhere in the winter......

You put your toys away at the end of summer.

While a regional / touring thread, this subject interests me on a technical level. While, in the past, a lot of us have been drawn to BMW motorcycles for their reliability, the brand was often criticized for in it's modest power levels. Today, BMW seems to be doing pretty well in the horsepower races, but I wonder if something has been lost. The older bikes seem to be like the old ferries, they got the job done without a lot of flash. The new bikes seem to be here for a few years, then change to some new variant. They seem to be a bit like the CAT..........flashy, but costly.

Just my opinion.

[98288]

You put your toys away at the end of summer.

While a regional / touring thread, this subject interests me on a technical level. While, in the past, a lot of us have been drawn to BMW motorcycles for their reliability, the brand was often criticized for in it's modest power levels. Today, BMW seems to be doing pretty well in the horsepower races, but I wonder if something has been lost. The older bikes seem to be like the old ferries, they got the job done without a lot of flash. The new bikes seem to be here for a few years, then change to some new variant. They seem to be a bit like the CAT..........flashy, but costly.

Just my opinion.

maybe it's an age thing ........ but I really do know what you mean Go with the rolls rather than skipping over the surface I suppose. - Bob

[36654]

maybe it's an age thing ........ but I really do know what you mean Go with the rolls rather than skipping over the surface I suppose. - Bob

No, it's not an age thing. I was just taking a tangent and drawing parallels between some of the new BMW bikes and the CAT. IMHO, these vehicles/vessels are developed for a niche market and might soon be forgotten.

BTW - what is your tub?