Statistics:
M.V. Sunshine Coast Queen | At Retirement: | |||
Previous Names | Vacationland (1951-59)
Jack Dalton (1959-61) Pere Nouvel (1961-1967) | Vehicle Capacity | over 180 | |
Place Built | River Rouge, Michigan | Passenger Capacity | 973 | |
Year Built | 1952 | Length | 344.6 ft. | |
Joined BC Ferries | 1967 | Gross Tons | 5,010 | |
Retired from BC Ferries | 1976 | Service Speed | 13 knots |
History & Notes:
When she joined B.C. Ferries, the Sunshine Coast Queen became the largest ferry in the fleet. (BC Ferries History - Nautical Milestones)
The Sunshine Coast Queen was the first " large 'double-ender'" in the fleet. She was also a "semi-icebreaker" when purchased by B.C. Ferries, making her quite heavy and costly to operate. (Bannerman, 172)
In 1959, the Detroit-Atlantic Navigation Corp. bought the vessel and renamed her, Jack Dalton. For the next year, the ferry was used to transport trucks between Detroit and Cleveland. In 1960, the Jack Dalton was "seized... for non-payment" and given back to her first owners. (from Great Lakes Vessels Index - Vacationland and Bob Bessey - Michigan RR History)
According to Gary and Patricia Bannerman, B.C. Ferries retired the Susy Q. in 1976, and sold her in 1981 for $1.3 million dollars (172).
The Sunshine Coast Queen was sold to Gulf Canada Resources Inc. and renamed Gulf Kanayak in 1982. (from Great Lakes Vessels Index - Vacationland)
Origin of the Names:
What happened to the Sunshine Coast Queen?
Works Cited & Sources:
Bannerman, Gary and Patricia. The Ships of British Columbia. Surrey: Hancock House Publishers, 1985.
Bessey, Bob. Michigan RR History. Available Online: http://home.att.net/~Alan.Bessey/MichiganFerry.html, June 10, 2003.
Bowling Green State University. Great Lakes Vessels Index - Vacationland. Available Online: http://129.1.59.220/lakes.htm (type in "Vacationland"), June 10, 2003.
Francis, Daniel, ed. Encyclopedia of British Columbia. Madeira Park: Harbour Publishing, 2000.
Griffiths, Garth, and H.L. Cadieux. Dogwood Fleet. Nanaimo: Cadieux and Griffiths, 1967.
Relevant Links:
Michigan RR History - Short history of Straits of Mackinac ferry service.
Great Lakes Vessels Index - Type "Vacationland" beside "Vessel." Detailed history and stats as well as a good picture of the Vacationland.
Early Ships - by Kevin Stapleton - Photo of the Pere Nouvel and Sunshine Coast Queen along with several other early BC Ferries.
Back to the Retired Ferry Profiles Page
or
Ferry Terminal (Homepage)
Page by John Hammersmark.
This page was last updated on September 10, 2003.