After a lifetime at sea, Ian Rogers knew when he finally retired it needed to be on the water.
When he found the Dolphin Ferry for sale, he knew it was the right fit for him.
Ian bought the business 12 months ago but since then his workload has skyrocketed and his partner Heidi Moore runs the ferry most of the time.
Ian is a Master Mariner living on his own boat at Kawana as he pilots the big ships from Mooloolaba to Brisbane and back again.
“He is a marine pilot now, but he has been a captain and a skipper since he was 15,” Heidi said.
“He spent a lot of years overseas working as a captain on big transport ships crossing over to Dampier from overseas. He has worked in Africa; he has worked everywhere around the world really.”
Heidi said she is just helping him run the business and when she’s not working on the ferry, she is down at the Sunshine Coast house painting.
“I worked at the Tin Can Bay marina for a few years and was the Villa Manager and I also worked in the marina office and we have always had boats, so I have had a lot of experience.”
She said the business had been busy over Christmas but is very quiet at this time of the year until April and if you add Covid and all the disasters, it’s been a quiet six weeks.
Ian and Heidi have several cruises on offer including the Dolphin Cruise which takes you from Carlo Point, Rainbow Beach over to the Tin Can Bay Houseboats to feed the dolphins at 6.30am on Wednesday to Sunday however all cruises depend on numbers so make sure you book.
The Sunset Cruise is held Wednesday to Sunday at 5pm and the popular Cruise and Dine takes passengers from Tin Can Bay over to Quay Carlo Rainbow Beach for a relaxed quality meal and return.
This cruise, which needs to have a minimum of ten bookings, is one of the locals’ favourites as it leaves at 11am, returns at 2pm and includes a meal and all for $45.
“We also have a cruise to bring people from Carlo Point to eat at Sails at the Yacht Club which is also $45 and then we take them out for an hour and a quarter cruise around the bay.
“We do group bookings. family group bookings, wakes, hens’ groups where we take them out for three hours, with the price differing depending on the time.”
“I can supply cheese platters and seafood platters for the guests while they enjoy the cruise.”
She said all their guests seem to be happy when they hop off.
“It’s an experience in lovely calm protected waters, with brilliant sunsets at Snapper Creek.“
“We eventually do want to make a regular ferry service back and forth between Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach with regular times but that is in the future.“
Dolphin Ferry Cruises are based at Tin Can Bay Houseboats and the website is www.dolphinferrycruises.com.au
