Kelowna

When Castanet News reported the Fintry Queen was moving from its downtown location to a mooring in Sutherland Bay, we asked for your thoughts on the future of the iconic paddle-wheeler.

A recent poll on Castanet showed 87% of respondents would take a two hour cruise on the Fintry Queen

However, your responses varied from nostalgic to angry after its new home was revealed:

Photo: Wayne Moore

The Fintry Queen is now moored in Sutherland Bay.

It's ridiculous that boats anchored in Sutherland Bay for the last few years have been forced to leave at the city's request and then the Fintry Queen is told to moor there.  Kelowna make up your mind.

--Al Cotton

I certainly hope it can one day ply the waters of Okanagan Lake again. 25 years ago, people could take a dinner cruise and enjoy the bar, music and dancing as well.

There are many times when we have had friends and family in town, and we miss not having the opportunity to take them out on the Fintry.

At the very least, with the right ownership maybe we could have an anchored floating seafood restaurant with a museum of pictures and artifacts inside representing the era of paddle-wheel boats on Okanagan Lake.

--David Kuhn

Nothing is more iconic on Okanagan Lake than the Fintry Queen. It's rise and fall, changes in ownership and massive amounts spent on making it lake worthy again all tell a tale of woe over the years.

My own experience with actually going on the cruise was when my parents were somewhat desperate to entertain out of town guests.

If I remember correctly we paid an absurd $17.99 for a buffet dinner, which was comprised of warmed over food (they weren't allowed to cook on board) and limp salads.

We all went to the upper deck to watch the scenery go by, the thrill of which lasted about a minute or so. Seeing the bored look on everyone's faces my mother and father got everyone up to do the bird dance, and soon everyone was laughing and having a good time.

This continued with other songs and dances and at one point my father even went downstairs to tell the band to turn down because they were interrupting us.

As we disembarked the boat the captain was there to say good-bye to everyone. When he saw my mum and dad he asked if they would stay for the next cruise, free of charge. They politely declined.

Now that my mother and father are gone the only hope for the Fintry Queen to survive is to allow gambling and drinking. A three or four hour cruise would surely be successful and provide Kelowna with a much needed tourist attraction.

--Gary Jones

I think it should be sunk as an artificial reef for fish and divers. Would bring more divers to the area. Enough already with trying to rescue it as a cruise ship!

--Dale Lockhart

I believe the Fintry Queen should again ply the waters of Okanagan Lake… this is a piece of our heritage that should not be ignored, stored, or sold to another community!

For years as our children, nieces and nephews were growing up, we were on the Queen every summer. My son even had his first ride on the Fintry Queen, before he was born.

I really don`t want to lose this piece of our history, it would be so sad.

--Joanne Greenhough

When I had my little 25 foot in Sutherland Bay, I was threatened with laws suits and having my boat forcibly removed and stored at my expense, now the city has the audacity to moor a huge boat there.

Is it one rule for one, and one rule for another?

--Raymond Keen

The Fintry Queen is a beautiful piece of local history. How lovely to watch her touring the lake. She deserves a place of honour, for all to enjoy, whether that be right where she has been (with the new pier), or another suitable accommodation in City Park.

--Wendy Holling

Send your thoughts to news@castanet.net.