Resurrecting the Queen

Despite currently being ruled by spiders, the Fintry Queen is looking for a makeover and a trip to Penticton next spring to start a new life.

Andy Schwab operated the Fintry Queen as a lease holder in 1999 and 2000. Nearly a decade later, finding it abandoned and under threat of demolition, he decided to try and resurrect the Queen. 

After sitting unused on Okanagan Lake since 2008, the ship needs a coat of paint, life boats, a hull inspection and a myriad other "cosmetic" issues rectified. However, Schwab says the previous owner did update all the mechanical systems and the vessel is sound. With new batteries, she could be sailing tomorrow, claims Schwab.

He says the previous crew just walked off the vessel because they weren't being paid. And, with one quick walk inside the vessel, it's clear that the Queen's final days weren't planned.

Christmas decorations adorn windows and wreaths hang from handrails. There are boxes of spices in the kitchen and canned vegetables in the pantry. There are tourist booklets from 2008 in the magazine racks, and there are spiders everywhere.

"It was in receivership, it had multiple legal actions against the ship itself and the city was going to put another one on it," Schwab says. "I thought it was going to be demolished so I offered to be a caretaker, and it's like an old car, you get attached to it again. So I settled all the legal actions against it and acquired title." 

"I had to settle with all the legal entities. Lots of lawyers, it was a process." 

Recently, Schwab was able to get Penticton City Council on board with revitalizing the Queen and council agreed that if he could build a new dock with the necessary infrastructure for the pseuo-paddlewheeler (it's got a paddle wheel but is powered by an engine which turns propellors) he could secure a five year lease.

"Now that it has a new home, it's a business once again. Now it makes good economic sense again," says Schwab. "To build a dock it's expensive, it's almost 1,000 feet underground from city streets to where we have to be for the dock, so sewer, water and power. Still a whole bunch of permitting needs to be done including environmental permits and finishing dock design, but it's all very doable now." 

Schwab is currently looking for investors but says there is "no doubt" in his mind that come May 2015, the revamped Queen will be pulling up anchor and making its inaugural trip down the lake to its new resting spot.

"I'm looking for half a million dollars through interested people. I'm willing to share as much of the ship as necessary. It's likely not going to be me who operates it in the end, but I like the marketing side and trying to get people on the water." 

Schwab also says he is open to holding a public competition for decoration and design of the vessel.

If the money does not appear, part of Schwab's lease agreement with the City of Penticton includes a backup plan.

"Either take it apart for scrap or sink it in the north part of the lake as an underwater reef," Schwab says. "I don't think that would ever happen because I think other opportunities would open for it, but it was a condition of my lease to have a demolition plan." 

For Schwab, it's one giant labour of love.

"I just want to get on the water everyday, I just love being out here. If I have to bring 325 other friends to get here, so be it. I just enjoy the outside and I enjoy sharing that experience with other people too." 

Photo: Carmen Weld