I rode it yesterday and I found it very smooth and stable (but I don't think it was too windy or choppy). The small windows are a major let-down. It feels like there are more seats because the middle aisle was removed and the center of the vessel is much more open. Also, the doors line up with the seats differently which makes loading a little weird. I found it weird that the columns don't line up with seats like they do on the older ones.

Got to ride it today. As someone who rides it at least 10 times a week, I was impressed. It fixed a lot of the niggling little issues that only a regular user would notice. To address other points:

-I like the seats, but it'll take one idiot with a pocket knife to cause thousands of dollars of damage.
-There is way more capacity. A crowd that would've packed the old seabus seemed to barely fill half. Didn't stop a Chinese guy from almost hitting me in the face with his snowboard before deciding sitting right beside me was unnecessary though.
-The seabus rocked forward and back at first but otherwise was just as good as the old ones for stability.
-It ran 3-5 minutes slower for some reason. Nothing was in the way.
-The enter/exit doors are way too small. I'm 6'0 and almost hit my head.
-Smaller windows was a crazy decision.

Otherwise a very nice improvement, but would've rather had three old ones than one new one and one old one.

Some pics:

http://www.canuckscentral.com/photos/seabus1.jpg

http://www.canuckscentral.com/photos/seabus2.jpg

http://www.canuckscentral.com/photos/seabus3.jpg

Gold star to the girl on the left for a very suave "oh shit I don't want to be in the photo" hair adjustment.

http://www.canuckscentral.com/photos/seabus4.jpg
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I am very concerned about the "Build Quality" of the new SeaBus. The old ones were build by the "Army Core Engineers" which made the original SeaBuses tanks. They should have designed the new one as well as designed the mid-life refit of the old ones as they have 20-30 years left in them (the Army Core will be able to determine that though, as they are the experts).

It seems like it's high quality at least superficially.

Are they even gonna re-fit the old ones? I thought that was scrapped too.

The new seabus was very slow to leave this morning (at least five minutes later than usual) and made me late for work. This has never happened to me on the old seabus.

Good job Translink. Not only unimproved service - worse service!

Relax... maybe it's just a one-time thing? It's not continuously late at least.

If there were three SeaBuses out then timing might be an issue... i mean... aren't they all supposed to park at the same spot in each terminal? (or do they use both platforms now?)

Mac Write is on to something. The transportation specialists I have spoken to have all indicated that the old Seabuses are truly best in class vehicles, built to withstand virtually all kinds of weather-induced or manmade disasters.

When seen from afar, they truly suit the environment, and look very aerodynamic.

The new Seabus, on the other hand, looks like a bathtub toy ferry, or some kind of floating block. It is also much choppier at the dock.

The new Seabus is lighter, which might explain some of that. Is there a reason to think the actual design is any worse than the old ones?

Well, thanks to the new seabus being considerably slower than the old ones, about 300 parents and kids (and me) were stuck on the north side bus loop while all the buses pulled away before we got within 30 feet (big F U to the bus drivers, since when did you care about being on schedule?).

So not only does Translink make me lose 1.5 work hours in the morning, and wait 30 minutes to go home from work on Sunday, they also make me wait another 30 minutes on the north shore now... for a goddamn 10km commute!

Seriously, retire the new one and keep the old ones. Or get more buses on the north shore finally. That five minute delay is killer.

And for the record I ended up walking home, despite having about 30lbs of wall compound in my backpack.


It is continuously late. If you want me to relax, let me use your car.

What a disaster.

Memo to TransLink: Your new SeaBus is a LEMON.

Oh...

Hmm... maybe TransLink can use the warranty to complain...

Built in BC with pride.

If we can't even build a seabus right it's a good thing we didn't even try full sized ferries. Our quality craftsmanship has really gone downhill since the 80's. It's like no one cares about what they build anymore.

I'm guessing whoever designed it just didn't realize how crucial it is to match up with the buses coming in and out of the north side bus loop. Or he thought there'd actually be three seabuses as planned, crazy guy.

It just doesn't work when you still have sailings every 15 minutes and buses leaving the loop every 15 minutes with a seabus that takes 20 minutes to cross.

Every time I go home now I sigh when I see it. It's nice to ride, but it's really the last straw for us in our current location. Combined with three separate leaks flooding our crappy old condo, we're looking at moving somewhere near the skytrain (Brentwood area is looking appealing at the moment).

double post.

Can confrim all 3 seabuses are working right now, don't know when they switched to 3 seabus service but it's interesting watching them.

:rolleyes:

Yes, I'm on one as I type. Great to see the two old workhorses back in action along with the new boat

Happy to report they have figured out how to make the new seabus run on time too.

Now if only we could keep all three running. :( It's so nice. :(

I think I'll start a Facebook group in the near future and see if I can envoke enough anger about this to actually do something. Stay tuned.

I have a nice view of Burrard Inlet from my office in downtown and can see the Lonsdale Quay Seabus terminal.

All 3 of the boats are in action today and the new one appears to be keeping 30 minute schedule for the return trip. I saw the new one leave LQ at 11:55 and saw it return at about 12:21 and leave again at 12:25.

Pinion,

Why not start the Facebook group now? You would gain much more traction now (while three seabuses are running) rather than after the fact.