KELOWNA, B.C. – The Fintry Queen has been in retirement for the last eight years but the current owner is holding out hope 2017 holds promise for the aging ship.
Next year, the Fintry Queen turns 70.
The old ferry was on the move to her new winter home on the north arm of Okanagan Wednesday after being kicked out of Sutherland Bay by the City of Kelowna and Gellatly Bay by the City of West Kelowna.
“I didn’t even know there was any wind or waves. It was steady as a rock up the lake,” said owner Andy Schwab of Wednesday’s trip.
Schwab has so far not been able to secure funds for a permanent wharf to dock the vessel.
Federal and provincial permits are in the works to allow the vessel to be docked in Summerland, at least temporarily.
“We’re still looking for locations to operate from,” Schwab said. “This coming Monday, we’re approaching the District of Summerland. There’s a community heritage pier in Summerland that could be an ideal location for us. We’ve also approached Naramata – the planning committees in Naramata – in the past. Penticton is still very much in the cards at this point and time. We’re working with some new groups to pull some financing together to make this all happen.”
A crowdfunding campaign to build a permanent dock fell flat this summer, with only $5,000 raised through advance ticket sales to ride the Fintry Queen in 2017.
READ MORE: New efforts to keep fintry queen afloat
Schwab said all funds are being returned and a free ticket issued.
The Kelowna man dreams of sailing the Fintry around Okanagan Lake visiting wineries and parks.
“As soon as we’re assured we have a place to operate from, that we can properly service and that people can get on and off, then we’ll start the ticket process.”
The Fintry was once a car ferry built to carry passengers and vehicles between the east and west shores of Okanagan Lake prior to a bridge being built across the water in 1958.
The next owner added a paddlewheel to transform the vessel into a tour boat that began to host parties, events and excursions from its dock by downtown Kelowna.
Extensive upgrades required by Nav Canada have weighed down the vessel’s business plans over the last two decades.
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