Devon Discovery

[dalelakin]

The new boat Devon Discovery underwent full sea trials near Albany, New York.


Devon Discovery - Brightcove


The new boat Devon Discovery was lowered into the Oklahoma River on Wednesday Oct. 31, 2007.


Devon Discovery - Brightcove

My understanding that now it is available for hourly rate of $150 per and in the spring that rate jumps to $950 per. Might be a good time to get a group of people to go in on an hour before the rate hike?

My source for the current rate is the water taxi driver this evening so take it for what it is worth?

[kevinpate]

An hour would be what - a roundtrip from meridian area to the boathouse area, or is the lock process alleged to be more rapid than that?

I'm still a tad lost on the attraction of a boat to near nowhere, or are shuttles into bricktown from the existing boathouse on the table?

I suppose it's just a matter of not having read enough about it.

[JLCinOKC]

I hadn't seen the Devon boats in person until this week. There are two so far... Devon Discovery & Devon Explorer. Really impressive seeing them moored downtown. I can't wait for my first boozecruise! ;-)

[kevinpate]

I looked up the other morning from where i was perched on Shields to see two of OKC's finest cruise by on their cycles, not a normal morning view. Right as i wondered about it, along came the truck hauling the Devon boat. I meant to post about it but I got sidetracked and forgot about it until this thread caught my eye again. A right big critter when it's playing piggyback to a hauler.

[Pete]

That's a cool photo!

Just another in long list of good things that are coming to downtown.

[CuatrodeMayo]

I can't believe that photo was taken in inner-city OKC.

[dalelakin]

Where is that picture taken?

[metro]

Don't these officially launch next month? Good times.

[JLCinOKC]

Pic was taken at Regatta Park by the Chesapeake Boathouse.

[JLCinOKC]

This will help put the location in perspective:

[Patrick]

I'm afraid we might be a little early in launching these. I'd think we'd need a better connection between the river and the canal, before something like this works well. Oh well.

[dalelakin]

JLC were you there about 1:30 taking that picture?

[John]

I wonder when the back of the boats will be branded with devon's new logo...

[JLCinOKC]

One boat has the new logo and one has the old one.

[kevinpate]

> need a better connection between the river and the canal

Is there currently ANY connection? Will there EVER BE a connection, in light of the the rerouting of I-40 between the south end of the canal and the river spur?

[BDP]

I'm still a tad lost on the attraction of a boat to near nowhere,

I would normally agree with you, but think how well the water taxis have done, especially initially when they certainly went nowhere. And think about how many people already cruise the multitude of man made lakes in Oklahoma that essentially go nowhere.

There is juts some attraction to being on a boat and if you combine that with a party or dinner, I think they can get $150 for it and more when there are actually destinations involved. It actually would be a fairly cheap corporate diversion for partyies, small award ceremonies, or receptions. And I think placing some sort of attractions along the way, be it art or destinations or cool interestingly lit bridges and it begins to sounds like a nice afternoon or evening on the river.

[JLCinOKC]

I'm not really sure how this fits in the plans to get people from the riverside landing to the end of the canal but this is the only way to get under the new I40 bridge under construction.

From the south/river:


From the north/canal:


I've got a bunch of photos from my walk by the river on Tuesday. I'll post shortly for those who are interested.

[Patrick]

> need a better connection between the river and the canal

Is there currently ANY connection? Will there EVER BE a connection, in light of the the rerouting of I-40 between the south end of the canal and the river spur?

The two will never be connected, but there will be a connection via walking trails or possibly an extension of the end of the south canal to abut Zone G that comes up from the river. The new I-40 has a small bridge going over this area.

[dalelakin]

This is the most current info I was able to find in regards to the startup anyone else have a better link with info?

http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/cache/2...8032928184.PDF

[RabidRed]

This is the most current info I was able to find in regards to the startup anyone else have a better link with info?

http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/cache/2...8032928184.PDF

I couldn't get this link to work...

[dalelakin]

City of Oklahoma City's Meeting Management System

I couldn't get that one to work today. If you go to the above link and then to OKC Riverfront Redevelopment Authority click view and then it brings up several PDF files it is "Oklahoma River Water Transport Mobility Program Up" one that I linked to in the previous post.

[kevinpate]

Seems like it would be a mostly underground trail, with the rr track and the new highway in between the two, but yeah, string up a few lights and maybe a camera or three, and I can see the charm in it. I enjoy strolling the plaza area by the boathouse about as well as the BT canal after a nice meal.

[Pete]

The documents say they will officially start service on April 1.

[Pete]

I found these renderings for Meridian Landing at the other end of the river:

[kevinpate]

Nice ... real nice. thanks for posting Pete.