Hike Metal is among the best in the Canadian shipbuilding industry. Whether you need a commercial fishing boat for Lake Ontario or an large project ferry boat, we can make it. Our Canadian shipyards on Lake Erie are here for you. But what options are out there for energy-efficient ferries or tour boats? Are all ferries also tour boats? Learn more about different kinds of tour and ferry boats and how we can make them for you below. Here is an example project the H192 193 Niagara Thunder & Wonder.
Why Ferries?
Unlike cruise ships, ferries are quicker. Many of them go from Point A to Point B—that’s it, a routine route that is per-scheduled. That said, they are surprisingly versatile and can deliver people and cargo across bodies of water like Georgian Bay or Niagara Falls.
Some places are only accessible by ferry. For example, Lake Erie has ferries that go to Pelee Island. There is also an express ferry between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan in the United States. The Transdev Sydney Ferries and Amsterdam GVB ferries are water taxis that allow people to avoid traffic. Sometimes, it is easier to travel over a body of water.
Ferry lines have well-defined routes, making them a convenient, predictable mode of transportation. Experience the luxury of ferry travel for yourself!
Who Uses Ferries?
The biggest thing to think about for a large ferry project build is what it will be used for. Will you use your ferries in upper Canada? Or will it be part of a tour in South America? There are two major kinds of ferries that you need to know about.
One class of ferries is meant to carry passengers. This is used for tours and quick rides along the coast of British Columbia, around Lake Ontario, and Nova Scotia along the East Coast. Please keep any weather conditions in mind when planning your ferry, especially if your Rice Lake ferry has people on board. Staten Island ferry gives tours of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and other major attractions using the same NYC ferry line that brought immigrants into New York City. There are plenty of ferry lines throughout the United States and Canada.
Another class of ferries does not involve passengers at all. Instead, they transport goods or vehicles. These are often called RoRo ferries and do not carry passengers. These will often have an adjustable ramp or an apron ramp on the ferry slip to make unloading their cargo, especially vehicles, easier.
A conventional ferry often does both. You will find ferries carrying people as well as vehicles in Canadian waters.
But maybe you want something a little different. If conventional ferries are not what you are looking for, maybe chain ferries are for you. Also known as “cable ferries,” chain ferries are a class of small ferries. They are so named because they are connected from one shore to the other with a chain or cable. Lake Simcoe Island has one of the most famous chain ferries in Canadian waters. If you’re from the States, Elwell Ferry is another example.
If you want to learn more about the different types of ferries in the domestic shipbuilding industry, many ferry publications will show you the latest models and information. Our Canadian shipyards are waiting for your ideas.
Tell Me More About Electric Ferries
Hybrid vehicles are trendy, and ferries are no exception. Hybrid or electric ferries reduce the number of emissions and fuel use. As time goes on, energy-efficient ferries will become more common. The use of a hybrid engine will remove many costs from the contributions of ferry travel.
For example, Hong Kong’s Star Ferry line is the busiest ferry route in the world. As per TransitJam, they have upgraded Morning Star into an energy-efficient hybrid. Electric ferries might not be the biggest all-electric ships, but the size of a boat is not everything—especially when it comes to fuel!
How We Work
Now that you know what kind of ferries and tour boats we can make, here is how we will work with you to make your boat:
1. Contact us with your project. We will give you a quote and contact you every step of the way. According to this report from Washington State Ferries, you can expect to pay from $840,000 to 13 million dollars for a brand-new ferry.
2. Our shipwrights will sketch your design. We will show you the sketch for your approval.
3. After that, we start making your boat. We have worked with every class of ferries.
4. Be patient! Ships can take years to make. We will stay in contact with you throughout the entire process. Conventional ferries and pontoon ferries are generally faster to make than other types of boats but allow at least a few months.
Are Ferries A Good Investment?
The answer to if BC ferries are a good investment depends on what you want to use them for. A private boat will be a non-repayable investment. But if you want to make a ferry for tours along the Mississippi River or Panama City, that will be another matter.
Contact Us
At Hike Metal, we have the highest level of shipyard workers in the Canadian shipbuilding industry. Our boats can handle any body of water and weather conditions that you need them to float in—just let us know! We can make chain ferries and electric ferries.
We have made ships for the Canadian Coast Guard and several national services in the United States and are trusted across North America. Contact us about making ferries for any body of water in North America today!
