Come paint the Kalakala

[neverendingproject]

Taken from Kalakala Mv Facebook page:

Please join our volunteers on Sept 9th & or 10th. Bring your own lunch or a pot luck dish. Please notify Steve as the property is private and permission for each on site. The entrance gate may be locked at 1801 Taylor Way. So, call (contact me for number) to get inside the gate. Hope to see you at the Kalakala. If the weather is rain we will paint inside instead of the roof

PS: If you don't hear from me for a while I have fallen off the roof of an old ferry.

[neverendingproject]

More work to be done

More work? Yes imagine that
Here is where I was working cleaning the roof. That little tiny dark square is actually about 4' across and I almost fell in a couple times. Guess I should patch it first thing.



My next project is to get either the primary or secondary engines going. The primary is a 3000hp 2cycle direct drive diesel and the auxiliary is apparently 1600hp which seems much too large to be a generator so I'm anxious to see what is what down there. If you would like to see this old gem saved for future generations now is the time. I believe the poor thing is closer to ferry heaven than ever before

You can contact me through the forum or at alanfraz@hotmail.com thanks for reading.

[Helmar]

You know how sad it is to see her that way.

I am not from these parts and I think the first time I seen her was up in Lake Washington tied to a bridge - rusting away.

So, not to open a can of worms here, what happened to the group to save her?
Too bad that Bill Gates or someone from the Seattle area could save her.

That would sure make a sweet club house but hey, she would be better used in the Seattle area at least running a few trips.

I mean, whats with people, this Reeks Classic and a "Real" part of Seattle's History..
Too bad that we couldn't get her back in the news, maybe have some sort of club event or something to bring recognition to the fact she needs help.

[neverendingproject]

Hi Helmar, I figured this club out of any group of people would realize the potential of an old boat in need of restoration. Now to find a trailer big enough to tow it to your place...

The foundation that got the ferry down here from Alaska went bankrupt and it was sold at auction to the current owner. Now the project seems to be stuck in the mud, actually it IS stuck in the mud at low tide

A club event is a great idea and could show other people that it's more than just a lost cause. There isn't much to see inside but it's interesting nonetheless. The last time it had any press was when it nearly capsized. Here's the (very negative) article. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/118710844.html

These videos tell her story and IMO are worth 20 minutes to watch:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67O9U77qsFs&feature=related"]Flying Bird 01 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDBqQhFa7gg&feature=related"]Flying Bird 02 - YouTube[/ame]

[Helmar]

Looks to me once the media is against the project its a rough road back.
Same with the environmental do gooders that look for ANY possibility of it causing environmental damage.

If people keep looking at her that way, she is doomed.

Anyone have any ideas on how to turn that around, get the new media to help and not do them, is the head dead yet crap they do so well.

Reading what some of these do gooders have to say about it turns my stomach.

The press has to turn around on this some how.

[delvel]

They can't think outside the Box!

People would pay good $ for a ride on that boat. The Wash. State feery system should re-commission her and have it be an active part of their fleet. No vision ... just a bunch of bean counters. Very, very sad. This is what happens when envirnormental laws and stupid regulations etc. etc take preceedsense over entreprenerural vision. Why not create a " Historical Waiver" to by-pass the red tape?

[Skagitguy]

Out of 26 surplus ferries with the Black Ball Ferry Line and Washington State's Ferries ONLY 2 have had a successful life's after their ferry service days. ( see below ). The reason is when someone bids on them they first of all do not think where they will "park" it and the millions of dollars to restore it. They say they will be putting a new hull under it and spend $49 million dollars ? When the EPA finds out they are doing exterior work not in a shipyard drydock they will close them down in a "New York" second. I would call Peter Bevis in Alaska to see how he was coming along, when he was working on her so you can see i do like and care about ferries as i grew up on them like a lot of us.Chuck


http://www.evergreenfleet.com/skansonia.html

http://www.evergreenfleet.com/enetai.html

http://www.evergreenfleet.com/kalakalatoday.html