What we need in OP is a Ferry to Jax!

[pwhitford]

YOU CAN BE THE PROUD OWNER OF A STATEN ISLAND FERRY, IF YOU CAN FIND A PLACE TO PARK IT

04.04.2011

In 2008, Jacques Guillet, walked out of a Manhattan Municipal Building, $152,500 poorer, but the proud owner of a used 3,500-passenger Staten Island Ferry. The former marina owner and sailboat racer had a plan to convert the ferry into a floating dorm for New York City's college students. The numbers seemed be in his favor: the city was facing high real estate costs combined with limited space for student housing. But there was also a big problem. Mr. Guillet had nowhere to park the ferry and the city was asking $1000 a day for berthing privileges. So Mr. Guillet did what many of us do with unwanted items: he tried to sell the boat on eBay.
This February, Mr. Guillet posted an ad on eBay for the 300-foot long, 1,640-horsepower, 2500 ton, bright orange boat. For just $500,000, the ferry could have been yours (the price didn't including pickup or shipping). 9000 hits later, there were no takers. The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Guillet and his broker, Pat Doland, are still trying to sell the boat. Mr. Guillet and Mr. Dolan have spoken with a few interested buyers. There have been nibbles from an antique dealer, a Jewish wedding promoter (imagine the awesome bar mitzvas), and a hotelier who envisions a floating resort.

The ferries have had a history of purposeful reuse. During the 1970's, one ferry was reused as a floating methadone clinic, and another two ferries were reused as "prison ships" for overflow inmate housing of prisoners from Rikers, where inmates lifted weights and played ping-pong - think of a mobile Alcataraz combined rec-room.

Other repurposing attempts have been less successful. During the 1960s, plans to convert a ferry into a mall with a movie theater never materialized. Other ferry owners have had dreams of turning their ferries into waterfront restaurants, but decades later, their ferries sunk into the Hudson River or were disassembled for scrap.

Mr. Guillet, who made his money in the demolition business, could always sell the 1960's era vessel for scrap. But why should an old beauty go down like that? If you have ever dreamed of owning a ferry, having a floating casino, club or swimming pool, now could be your chance!

[wsansewjs]

How tall and wide is the ferry? Could it go under all of the bridges from Orange Park / Buckman Bridge area to the Downtown / Riverbanks area?

By the way, it is an ugly wanker bright orange ship.

-Josh

[blizz01]

I thought that's what Atlas Hovercraft (RIP) had in mind a few years back.....

[uptowngirl]

A ferry is a great idea! I go to Orange Park at least once a week, and trust me the bus service is LACKING (see Stephen's story about taking the bus to the Equistrian Center last year!), so I drive and hate it :-(


A ferry would be awesome, even if you had to load your car and drive it once in OP. Think of all the urban core neighborhoods that would take a ferry to Whole Foods or the Equistrian Center, or a number of other places.

[Timkin]

How tall and wide is the ferry? Could it go under all of the bridges from Orange Park / Buckman Bridge area to the Downtown / Riverbanks area?

By the way, it is an ugly wanker bright orange ship.

-Josh

Well Josh,,, we could buy it and paint it all white , or  Aqua with racing stripes

[wsansewjs]

A ferry would be awesome, even if you had to load your car and drive it once in OP. Think of all the urban core neighborhoods that would take a ferry to Whole Foods or the Equistrian Center, or a number of other places.

What is wrong with the Buckman Bridge if you are going to Whole Foods since it is the only one in Jacksonville (Mandarin)?

A ferry traveling north and south would be more effective. Voila! We have a natural road that PAYS for itself (St. Johns River) not like those so-called highways cost to maintain or trolls banging on your door for not paying the toll roads after years of abusing it.

If you can pretend a ferry is like a car on the road (water), then your car would be...

"HEY GUISE WE HEARD YOU LIKE CARS SO WE PUT A CAR IN YOUR CAR SO YOU CAN DRIVE YOUR CAR ON THE CAR"

-Josh

[Timkin]

It is actually a great idea.. It could even taxi to downtown...somewhere.

[blizz01]

The Zoo.

[wsansewjs]

Little Talbot, Big Talbot, Amelia Island Express Connection, Kingsley Plantation (There's already a ferry port compatible because of St. Johns River Ferry) at Fort George Island side.

-Josh

[RMHoward]

It might be a fun ride but is not practical from a time savings standpoint.  Folks arent going to sit idling in the Florida heat for an hour waiting on the next ferry to arrive.  They could have made it to their destination by driving long before this.  You would need on the order of 3-4 ferries just for the St. Johns crossing to make the wait bearable. 

[mtraininjax]

At 4 dollar a gallon diesel, the ferry would be better suited as an offshore wreck. Not even the Mayport Ferry can make money.

[ChriswUfGator]

Typical New Yorker, that guy is. Paid $150k for it, then realized he can't make any money with it, so immediately puts it back on the market...for $500k. Guessing he will be sitting on it awhile.

[Garden guy]

I'll give him a $100,000 for it and i'll live on it...it's bigger than my house and the views would be great....

[Timkin]

At 4 dollar a gallon diesel, the ferry would be better suited as an offshore wreck. Not even the Mayport Ferry can make money.

  Oh thats an excellent Idea .. Lets take your house and all your "properties" and make those offshore wrecks too... Perhaps you could join it all 

[Timkin]

I'll give him a $100,000 for it and i'll live on it...it's bigger than my house and the views would be great....

  Thatd be one huge ass house boat, Josh!