Balboa Island Ferry

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The Balboa Island Car Ferry. In the background at left is the ferry terminal on the Balboa Peninsula.

The Balboa Island Car Ferry is a ferry service in Newport Beach, California.

The ferry boats travel under 1,000 feet from Balboa Island to the Balboa Peninsula (Fun Zone area) and vice versa, reaching a top speed of four miles per hour. The speed limit in the harbor is 5 miles per hour, and the ferry docks about every 5 minutes. A full time captain will dock the ferry at least 22,500 times every year, traveling at least 3,200 miles every year.

1 History
2 Other Nearby Historic Sights
3 References
4 External links
- 4.1 External Images
- 4.2 Historical External Images

[edit] History

In 1919, Joseph Beek obtained the rights from the city of Newport Beach to provide a ferry service between Balboa Island across the Newport Harbor to the Balboa Peninsula. Before starting the ferry service, Mr. Beek owned "The Ark". The Ark consisted of a giant rowboat and a small engine. Joseph Alen Beek used the Ark as his first ferry vessel. The Ark carried oars in the event of engine failure. There was no regularly scheduled service; customers telephoned Beek when they needed a ride across the harbor.

In 1919, Mr. Beek charged a nickel (5 cents) per person. Three years after commencing operation, Mr. Beek built the "Fat Ferry". This vessel held twenty passengers. Joseph Beek further built a small, one car, barge. The Fat Ferry pushed the barge across the channel between Balboa Island and the Balboa Peninsula.

In the 1950s, Mr. Beek built three double-ended wooden boats for his ferry service: the Admiral, the Commodore, and the Captain. These three boats are still presently in service and have transported over two million persons. Each ferry holds three cars and 75 people. As of 2007, the Beek family charges $1 per adult, $2 per vehicle, $.50 for children ages 5-11, $1.25 for adults on bikes, $.75 for children on bikes, $1.50 for motorcycles, and children under the age of 5 are free.

The ferry boats need constant maintenance, but this does not usually interrupt the ferry service. For two weeks in 2008 the ferry service shut down for an extended period, for the first time in 50 years, to rebuild the automobile ramp leading to the boats.

Currently, Mr. Beek’s three sons all run the business. It has been in the family for close to 100 years.

[edit] Other Nearby Historic Sights

Balboa Fun Zone (Est. 1936). Rides, food, shops, merry-go-round, and Ferris wheel.
Balboa Pavilion (Est. 1906). Newport Beach's most famous landmark.
Balboa Pier (Est. 1906). Built as a sister project with the Balboa Pavilion to attract landbuyers to the Balboa Peninsula.

[edit] References

"Balboa Island Ferry Rides Now 20 for $1", Los Angeles Times, June 13, 1954.
"Skipper Tells Hazards of 2-Minute Crossing", Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1964.
"Balboa ferry service began with rowboat-size craft", Orange County Register, May 22, 1989.
"Balboa ferry offers rare, old-style transportation", Orange County Register, August 19, 1989.
"Balboa Island residents make waves about ferry traffic", Orange County Register, August 25, 1989.
"Hidden treasure ferrying between Balboas: a short hop for big fun costs a buck or less", Orange County Register, October 4, 1997.
"Orange Slices: Classic OC ferry tale", Orange County Register, May 29, 2005
Terence Loose, "Happy Birthday Newport Beach", Coast Magazine, October 2005.
"Halt in boat rides makes waves", Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2008.