If you frequent Granville Island or False Creek in Vancouver, chances are high that you’ve taken an Aquabus or ferry just for the heck of it. And if you haven’t—I highly recommend it—though you might be wondering what’s up with those delightful little boats that take people all around False Creek.
With sailing times between three and 15 minutes, both vessels are a great way to get around if you want to save time and your feet from a significant amount of steps.
False Creek’s OG Ferry Fleet
Believe it or not, False Creek Ferries and the Aquabus initially started out as one and the same. Aquabus General Manager Jake Pratt tells me that his grandfather, George Pratt, helped get False Creek Ferries started alongside George McInnes in 1982.
At the time, there weren’t the high-rises or parks lining the shores that there are today, according to the False Creek Ferries website. However, the area was transitioning from its years as an industrial hub to a place where people lived and worked, so thus came the need to connect them with downtown, and vice versa.
Soon realizing they made better friends than business partners, George Pratt decided to break off from False Creek Ferries and start his own venture.
“My dad, Geoff Pratt, started Aquabus Ferry’s LTD in 1985. The business has stayed in the family ever since, with the entire family currently working here.”
Fast forward 40 years and tons of development in the area, and the four electric ferries have become a whole fleet of tiny blue vessels with nine docks to board from.
Isabelle Vauclair
The ferries sail rain or shine every five minutes from West End to Granville Island and every 15 minutes on the remaining two routes. At peak times, ferries sail every two minutes from the West End and every seven to 10 minutes on other routes.
And then there were two: The Aquabus
When the Aquabus came into the picture, owners Jeff and Margot Pratt started out with just one boat in June of 1985, according to their website. By the time EXPO 86 rolled around, the service added three more Jay-Benford-designed rainbow boats — now a staple sight to see while you’re strolling around False Creek.
Pratt tells me that the Aquabus has even been featured in high-profile projects such as Mission Impossible 4 and Amazing Race!
Edwin Poulston
During EXPO 86, the Aquabus and False Creek Ferry were both vital in connecting visitors of Vancouver to the various attractions at the World’s Fair. Since False Creek was an up-and-coming metropolitan in its own right, the pair left a memorable impression in getting people from Point A to Point B in just minutes.
Isabelle Vauclair
Today, there are a total of 14 rainbow-coloured Aquabuses, eight of which are Cyquabuses, which offer greater accessibility. “Over half of our fleet is wheelchair, stroller, and bike-friendly,” Pratt explains. “We can also handle larger group bookings as we have multiple boats with larger capacity.”
Pratt shares that the majority of Aquabus riders are pass holders who use them year-round for regular transport. However, many are also summer tourists. “We have been fortunate to have seen steady growth over the years.”
As a family-owned and -operated service for nearly 40 years, the Aquabus has connected passengers in more ways than one. According to Pratt, the company has even seen “multiple staff connect on the job who are now happily married with children.”
Isabelle Vauclair
Ready to make a day of it? False Creek Ferries and the Aquabus have day passes available for $20 a pop, allowing you to ride an unlimited number of times. Individual tickets for the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries can be purchased at their respective websites or onboard via card or cash.
Like False Creek Ferries, the Aquabus runs every day of the year except for Christmas Day, with reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Aquabuses sail seven days a week from 7 am to 9 pm.
Both services continue to serve their community well as beloved modes of transportation in the city. The only question is, which tiny boat are you hopping on?!