Welcome Aboard At The Balboa Island Ferry! Feel free listen to these ferry sounds!

After the recording of my Wind Sound on this Island, I knew there was the ferry point that connects Balboa Peninsula with the Balboa Island. It was almost midnight and I knew they closing the ferry at 12 pm. I was on the island site and only 5 minutes away so let’s give it a shot and see if they are still open.

I had luck, parked the car and walked over to the ferry point! The Captain was sitting in his little house from the right site of the street. I smiled and took my camera and audio equipment out of the car and he asked me what is this for?

“I love the sounds of ferries and how it connects with the pier, the water and I think a recording like this at nighttime gives them an unbelievable unique feeling and special sound!

He looked at me and said “Oookey” and smiled. So I made a full video of this recording so don’t miss this. It’s really cool. After the Intro, you can see when the ferry slowly arrives. See and listen to the impact of the ferry on the pier. Amazing Sound!!

The Captain goes in reverse and you see the water bubbles coming up in front of the boat and he slowly entered the dock. After that, his son( I am guessing) pushed some buttons and opened manually the gate. Now you can listen to all these different machine chain sounds, plus when the Audi left the ferry you hear the bumping!

After that, he and the Captain left the ferry and turning the lights off! I thought the pier is closed now and I can pack my stuff but after I put everything in the car, they came back ( of course) and started the ferry. I had enough time to get the Zoom out and could record the moment when they left the dock to the other site. So we have this leaving sound of the ferry as well.

You can download this part separately.

A little story about The Balboa Island Car & Pedestrian Ferry!

As I mentioned before the Balboa Ferry connects the Island with the Peninsula in Newport and that since 1919 when Joseph Allan Beek obtained the rights from the city of Newport Beach to provide this ferry service.

What makes this vintage sound so unique is the factor that the boat is from the 1950s. Yes, Joseph Allan Beek built three double-ended wooden boats. The Admiral, the Commodore, and the Captain and all of them are still in use and have transported over two million pedestrians and many thousand cars. If you ever come here and you take the boat just close your eyes and imagine you travel back in time. Welcome to the 50s Marty McFly.

Each ferry holds three cars and 75 people. Sadly, we had only one car and 2 pedestrians by the time I was recording this sound, but better than nothing.

Also, what I should mention is, that it is still a family-owned business and Beek’s three sons running the business. In 2019 is the 100 years family anniversary and I guess time to celebrate.

The Distance and How much it cost!

The trip from the Peninsula to the Island is a short 800-foot trip ferries and the ferry makes over 3,200 miles a year, what is almost 200 times a day leaving every 5 minutes. If you work full time you do this trip over 22500 times a year. That is a lot!

The top speed of the boats is 4 miles per hour and the maximum allowance of the speed in the harbor is 5 miles per hour.

In 1919, the fee was a nickel. That is what it costs now.

Adults a pay $1

Children 5 to 11 – 0.50 cents

Children under 5 – No Charge

Vehicles (Passengers are Extra)

Car and Driver $2

Motorcycle and Driver $1.50

Bicycle and Rider $1.50

Bicycle and Child .75

Operating Hours!

Monday: 6:30 AM to Midnight

Tuesday: 6:30 AM to Midnight

Wednesday: 6:30 AM to Midnight

Thursday: 6:30 AM to Midnight

Friday: 6:30 AM to Midnight

Saturday: 6:30 AM to 2:00 AM

Sunday: 6:30 AM to 2:00 AM

Here is the phone number if you like to give the Balboa Island Ferry a call (949) 673-1070 :).

What makes this location a Hollywood film and movie location is the factor that the ferry took part in the 1949 Movie “The Reckless Moment” with starring James Mason and Joan Bennett. Also John Garfield newest version of “The Breaking Point” took places at the Island and Ferry. We should also mention Arrested Development took places on the Island as well.

NOTE: If you feel like I should mention a Movie that was shot here please, send me a message and I fill it in. I know that many Movies that are shot in Malibu for example, but some reshoots took places in Newport or Balboa and are often times not mentioned in the credits. So just let me know.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain,

…and now I invite you to download these free ferry sounds Boat Sound Effect from the “Balboa Island Ferry “!

3 versions of the first sound!

Orginal Files in Mono.

Download File

Orginal Files in Stereo.

Download File

YouTube Version.

Download File

Second Sound Ferry Leaving!

The Second file is only in Stereo but you get the Orginal File plus the YouTube File as well. In the YouTube File, I just raised the Amplitude a little bit and used an FTT Filter to get rid of the mic rumble.

Orginal Files in Stereo.

Download File

YouTube Version.

Download File