Diane, Sylvio and Nathalie Richard aboard the Quyon Ferry on June 21 with Eddie McColgan at the controls.
Deborah Powell
Diane, Sylvio and Nathalie Richard aboard the Quyon Ferry on June 21 with Eddie McColgan at the controls.
Deborah Powell
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – After many delays the new ferry began crossings, June 21. “We’re really happy to be underway,” said ferry owner, Don McColgan. “It was the electrical systems that gave us the biggest challenge and held things up. There is 3.5 kilometres of wiring in the boat and it wasn’t a simple matter to get it all set up.”
While all is not yet running perfectly, further corrections can be made at night when the ferry is not in operation. “I don’t like being dependent on anyone. We knew the old ferries inside out but we’re at a very different level in terms of technology now; we’ve had to call in the guys from Techsol Marine in Quebec City who installed the panels. We’re looking to develop local expertise so we can get things fixed ourselves, but we’re not there yet,” said McColgan.
Quyon can now boast the largest ferry in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. At 120 feet in length, the ferry can carry transport trucks, large farm equipment, RVs and 5th wheel campers, dump trucks and buses. Although currently running on a generator, the ferry will soon be battery-powered making it much more environmentally-friendly.
“It’s great to serve local business clients like Mountain View Turf and Ralph Lang who have large trucks and trailers to cross. We also had 5th wheel campers crossing on Sunday,” commented McColgan.
Boaters in the area are reminded it is a cable ferry and it is never safe to pass in front as the cable is being raised from the river into the bow end of the ferry. Passing may be done at least 800 feet behind the ferry but it is safest to pass when the ferry is not moving.
A grand opening celebration for the ferry is planned for July 10.
