Smaller boats mean longer waits on ferries this Thanksgiving
SEATTLE -- While you juggle your holiday plans, the state ferry system is juggling its boats.
One of the largest boats in the fleet, the Walla Walla, suffered serious damage while out of service for maintenance.
Pictures show just how much damage was done when a drive motor failed. Parts around that motor ended up melted and charred.
"I'm not sure what's going on, they seem to have a lot of problems this year," said ferry passenger Barbara LaDue.
The state routinely rotates its boats in and out of maintenance during the fall and winter months. But this year, not getting the Walla Walla back from its maintenance as planned, means more shuffling.
The Walla Walla is one of the state's largest ferries, able to carry 188 cars and 2,000 passengers. With that boat out of service, the ferry system's now juggling its other boats to handle a high volume of holiday travel.
"Holidays are a little stressful anyway so you know," said ferry rider Bryan Hood.
Beginning Monday -- kicking off the busy Thanksgiving holiday week -- two routes have to carry passengers back and forth with smaller than usual boats.
"Yeah I don't know how they're going to do all that boat shifting, because there's a lot of traffic on this ferry," LaDue said.
The Edmonds-Kingston run will lose 58 car slots, for the next month, while the Seattle-Bremerton runs will lose the capacity for 54 cars, which equals about one third of normal capacity.
"We're going to have long waits, yeah," Hood said.
So what's the best advice from regulars?
"Try to get up early and get on the first ferry," LaDue said. "I've done the Thanksgiving and Christmas one before and yeah you want to be early."
And now the Problem Solvers have also learned that state legislators asked the ferry system to return the Rhododendron to service.
It's currently on the auction block, but so far without a bidder. That auction expires on Tuesday. A state ferries spokesperson told me that they are now considering a return to service, since lawmakers asked.
And what will happen December 16 after this shift of boats? Ray Deardorf, who does the scheduling for the ferry system told me they're still working on that plan.
One of the largest boats in the fleet, the Walla Walla, suffered serious damage while out of service for maintenance.
Pictures show just how much damage was done when a drive motor failed. Parts around that motor ended up melted and charred.
"I'm not sure what's going on, they seem to have a lot of problems this year," said ferry passenger Barbara LaDue.
The state routinely rotates its boats in and out of maintenance during the fall and winter months. But this year, not getting the Walla Walla back from its maintenance as planned, means more shuffling.
The Walla Walla is one of the state's largest ferries, able to carry 188 cars and 2,000 passengers. With that boat out of service, the ferry system's now juggling its other boats to handle a high volume of holiday travel.
"Holidays are a little stressful anyway so you know," said ferry rider Bryan Hood.
Beginning Monday -- kicking off the busy Thanksgiving holiday week -- two routes have to carry passengers back and forth with smaller than usual boats.
"Yeah I don't know how they're going to do all that boat shifting, because there's a lot of traffic on this ferry," LaDue said.
The Edmonds-Kingston run will lose 58 car slots, for the next month, while the Seattle-Bremerton runs will lose the capacity for 54 cars, which equals about one third of normal capacity.
"We're going to have long waits, yeah," Hood said.
So what's the best advice from regulars?
"Try to get up early and get on the first ferry," LaDue said. "I've done the Thanksgiving and Christmas one before and yeah you want to be early."
And now the Problem Solvers have also learned that state legislators asked the ferry system to return the Rhododendron to service.
It's currently on the auction block, but so far without a bidder. That auction expires on Tuesday. A state ferries spokesperson told me that they are now considering a return to service, since lawmakers asked.
And what will happen December 16 after this shift of boats? Ray Deardorf, who does the scheduling for the ferry system told me they're still working on that plan.
The motor drive didn't just fail, it had some human error involved.
I've held off posting to see some comments.
This is a holiday, and the ferries run on a holiday schedule. Just like all public transit.
Washington has the largest ferry system in the world.
Ferries are expensive. Ya can't do a simple brake job on them or change the tires.
They are houses on water. Ever seen a bathroom on a bus? Concession stand?
Ferries require a HUGE amount of upkeep.
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No doubt the system has its problems with wasteful spending. Every other system does as well.
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If ya wanna be fair (readers and KOMO), try to put it in perspective.
Metro and Sound Transit deserve at least as much attention.
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you get what you pay for or make that don't pay for.
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The state is broke! They don't have the option of writing bad checks and claiming welfare and moaning that the state needs to give us more, while we sit at home watching Judge Judy and Jerry Springer. These low lifes, and the tax dolloars we all pay out for these amoebas, are why we are in this fiscal mess. And yet, Olympia keeps spending. And the tax payers will keep on footing the bill. 5,000.000 just to re finish the Governors desk? Hey, Chrissy, ever heard of Home Depot and do it your self? No, more interested in kissing Obama's back side to get a cabnet position. What a mutt.
someone explain how the walla-walla was ruined during "maintanence"? job well done by the liscenced employees?
Bring back the Rhododendron by all means, the boat means so much to the people who rode her in the past, I'm certain she could bring a smile to many holiday travelers this winter season.
YES, the Rhody might come back? I miss our Rhody!
Should have never come to this. The state needs to make the ferry system a top priority,once and for all, and that means getting the fleet up to par, for starters. Has "ZERO" flexibility as it stands now, and that is unacceptable...
 @Throbbinhood The state would have to do one or two things for that to happen  One, they'd have to raise taxes on the top earners and corporations in this state. Or, they'd have to strike Initiative 695 down completely. Nearly half of the entire revenue stream I-695 rescinded, was towards the ferry fleet.
@StevenRosenow @Throbbinhood I would much rather have paid more for plates once a year than the additional taxes we have to pay now in place of those taxes. In comparison it was a better deal.
Oh yeah, the Edmonds-Kingston run capacity gets reduced, and as usual, the Bremerton-Seattle run too. Bainbridge Island residents consider themselves lucky to be seemingly immune to temporary capacity downsizing due to problems elsewhere in the fleet.
I would absolutely LOVE to see the Rhody come back out and into service! what a slap to legislatures face for tying up the most fuel nimble boat in the fleet. (560gal/day)@ pt def. @ most! and a ship that is realistically less than 25 years old with new steel back in the early 90's. it is a waste just like the steel electrics! and thanks to the steels the rhody would have spare engine parts for many full rebuilds! BRING BACK THE RHODY
 @swashbuckler I agree. The Rhododendron should be brought back post-haste.Â
On this Thanksgiving holiday I look back and lament
At all of the state ferry budget that was spent
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On overtime, pork and waste
By bureaucrats without a face
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For smaller boats I have to thank Tim Eyeman too
For squeezing the neck of the budget, until it turned blue
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Now we pay more and wait and wait and wait
For service that borders on suckage, it sure ain't great
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But if I'm a Tea Party wing nut on this I will dote
Be self-responsible, buy your own damn boat!