Captain Johns

This is what Captain John's looks like right now

The fate of Captain John's, the now fossil-like former floating restaurant docked at the foot of Yonge St. remains up in the air as entrepreneur James Sbrolla attempts to get an extension on moving the boat out of the harbour by August 22nd. Sbrolla and his brother John acquired the rights to the boat on July 31st with a $3000 deposit of the $33,051 they bid in total for the vessel.

The deadline to pay the remainder was yesterday, but the buyers are still working with the Port Authority on a possible deal to close on the boat and get it moved, though the destination remains unclear.

There are a host of complications related to moving Captain John's, not the least of which is unhooking the ship from its Hydro connection. "During a recent storm, the stern on the boat moved significantly," explains Sbrolla. "The water is very deep in this slip." It will need to be towed, of course, but rumours that the boat is stuck in mud appear to be baseless.

As for the interior of the ship, it's mouldy, dilapidated, and just plain spooky. One can still imagine the grandeur the vessel enjoyed when it first arrived in the 1970s, but it is now in a state of ruin, and quite possibly worth more as scrap than anything else. For his part, Sbrolla would like to save it, but that appears a long shot right now.

Take a tour below decks at Captain John's in this photo gallery.


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

A brief history of one of Toronto's pioneering industrial families

Canadians rip on the wealthy upset by the capital gains tax hike

Japanese person shares brutally honest guide to living in Canada

Most Canadian millennials think conventional approach to retirement is outdated

Here are all the Toronto parks where drinking will be permanently allowed

Alcohol in parks in Toronto is now permanent but some neighbourhoods are not happy

Video shows Ontario police throw flashbangs at suspect car in movie-level takedown

City of Toronto has been awarding multimillion-dollar contracts to single bidders