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Post by Kahloke on Jan 14, 2010 12:42:54 GMT -8
Does anyone know what's happening with Yakima this spring? She's scheduled to be layed up from March 15 - June 18, then in Eagle Harbor until June 25 for her Annual Inspection. Is she finally getting painted?
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Jody
Chief Steward
Ferry Foamer
Posts: 152
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Post by Jody on Jan 14, 2010 17:34:21 GMT -8
I was wondering the same thing. Hopefully someone "in the know" can shed some light on things...
J
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Post by Barnacle on Jan 14, 2010 20:40:06 GMT -8
I'd think that information would be available at WSF's own website in the RFP (Request for Proposal) section, or something similar...
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 14, 2010 20:44:55 GMT -8
Does anyone know what's happening with Yakima this spring? She's scheduled to be layed up from March 15 - June 18, then in Eagle Harbor until June 25 for her Annual Inspection. Is she finally getting painted? The contract hasn't been posted yet. (I just looked.) When it does, it'll have the specifications for what the work is going to be done. It just says "Dockside" so I'm not sure...I've been told that the regulations have been changed and all painting has to be done in drydock now. Keep checking back for the contracts and sooner or later it'll be up there.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 14, 2010 21:06:13 GMT -8
There was a (now removed) document in the Upcoming Projects section of the WSF website that did mention that the Yakima was going to get topside painting.
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Post by northwesterner on Jan 15, 2010 2:09:27 GMT -8
On a side note, at this point, I think we should just forget about painting the Hyak and let her become a Staten Island Ferry.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Jan 15, 2010 3:22:21 GMT -8
On a side note, at this point, I think we should just forget about painting the Hyak and let her become a Staten Island Ferry. She looks like one, to say the least. ;D I think we have a replica version of a Statue of Liberty at Alki. Tall buildings, too! Putting aside her SIF cosmetic similarities, her trips between Seattle and Bremerton lasts longer than a trip between Whitehall and Saint George, and she has padded interior seats while SIF have hard ones.
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Post by EGfleet on Jan 15, 2010 8:17:59 GMT -8
On a side note, at this point, I think we should just forget about painting the Hyak and let her become a Staten Island Ferry. Oddly though, it is just one side on the Hyak that looks bad. The other side doesn't look terribly bad.
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Post by northwesterner on Jan 15, 2010 11:34:48 GMT -8
If you're headed south on the Viaduct, you see the rusty side. If you're headed north - hey did they paint the Hyak? That side looks fine. Really odd.
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Rhody
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by Rhody on May 18, 2010 22:16:41 GMT -8
I was just riding on the Evergreen State two weeks ago in the San Juans, her paint looks PERFECT. I was really impressed and then the Hyak passed and that feeling went away
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Post by Barnacle on May 19, 2010 7:06:30 GMT -8
The Evergreen has had paint rather more recently, although if you look closely at the curtain plating you can tell they didn't do the exterior of the boat beyond the house. She's supposed to be getting the rest of her paint job soon. The Hyak is supposed to get hers next year during the scheduled major refit.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on May 19, 2010 8:31:16 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. The Hyak should be going out now for her refit. Why is it that WSF ships get so rusty. Are ships dont even get that rusty. There is obviously something wrong with WSF if they let their ships get that rusty. Sorry it just annoys me that they really dont seem to care about their ships.
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Post by Kahloke on May 19, 2010 8:53:41 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. The Hyak should be going out now for her refit. Why is it that WSF ships get so rusty. Are ships dont even get that rusty. There is obviously something wrong with WSF if they let their ships get that rusty. Sorry it just annoys me that they really dont seem to care about their ships. WSF is doing the best they can with the limited resources they have, as well as the limited availability of vessels. Because there are no relief boats outside of Hiyu, it's got to make it more difficult to schedule extended maintenance time. They are making progress on the painting front, though. Chelan got painted this winter, although they did not do the interior parts of the car deck. Yakima is out right now getting painted. Hyak is scheduled to get an MLU next year, so I suspect that is why WSF has deferred painting her. The rest of the fleet is in pretty good shape, paint-wise, so I would argue that WSF isn't just sitting back letting their boats go to pot.
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Post by whidbeyislandguy on May 19, 2010 9:32:06 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. The Hyak should be going out now for her refit. Why is it that WSF ships get so rusty. Are ships dont even get that rusty. There is obviously something wrong with WSF if they let their ships get that rusty. Sorry it just annoys me that they really dont seem to care about their ships. There is something that you also might not be aware of with the Hyak, and that is not all of that is rust it is also the under coating, in BC yours is a dark red here it is a peachy rust orange color. WSF also might not always have their boats looking the best but looks can be deceiving. WSF takes very good care of the fleet and the crews work their butts off taking pride and care of their boats! If they didn't we'd have to replace them every 30 years like others do........
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Post by Barnacle on May 19, 2010 12:24:46 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. The Hyak should be going out now for her refit. Why is it that WSF ships get so rusty. Are ships dont even get that rusty. There is obviously something wrong with WSF if they let their ships get that rusty. Sorry it just annoys me that they really dont seem to care about their ships. Okay, I've explained this many times before, but obviously I have to do it again. One: WSF has been deferring maintenance for ten years as a result of a lack of funding. Two: WSF has no spare vessels to allow for a boat of that size to step out for the three months it would take to do a full paint job. Three: if the lack of funding and spare vessels were not an issue, there would still be drydock time. Exterior paint jobs on Supers, Jumbos, and Mark IIs can only be handled by two yards in Washington State that I know of. Both yards are extremely busy and one doesn't particularly like to do businesss with government bureaucracy. Four: The HYAK is, as pointed out, scheduled for a major MLU next year. To spend time with it out of service specifically for paint when the work could be done concurrently with the MLU would be a complete waste of time and resources.
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Post by lmtengs on May 19, 2010 18:19:29 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. The Hyak should be going out now for her refit. Why is it that WSF ships get so rusty. Are ships dont even get that rusty. There is obviously something wrong with WSF if they let their ships get that rusty. Sorry it just annoys me that they really dont seem to care about their ships. Do remember the Queen of Burnaby's condition... If anything, I'd say it's worse.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 19, 2010 18:20:19 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. When it comes to being rediculas, it might just be unaware of how rediculas it appears to be. Or maybe it just doesn't care and can't be bothered about outward appearances and doesn't care about the simple efforts available to look more ship-shape.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on May 19, 2010 21:36:07 GMT -8
Next year is a bit rediculas! No ship should look like that! Washington State Ferries should be ashamed. When it comes to being rediculas, it might just be unaware of how rediculas it appears to be. Or maybe it just doesn't care and can't be bothered about outward appearances and doesn't care about the simple efforts available to look more ship-shape. Touché.
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Scott2
Voyager
Missing everyone. Glad to see some newer members on here.
Posts: 48
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Post by Scott2 on May 20, 2010 0:31:40 GMT -8
I know the reasons we don't do it, but I still think that some long handled rollers dipped in regular old marine paint during the night would at least make the old girls look better from a distance until such time they could be dry docked and painted correctly. As I mentioned before, when I have ridden cruise ships (into Canadian ports) crew members would do this even during short calls to port, always covering even the smallest rusted area. I do this to my own construction equipment (touching up rust spots using rattle cans, brushes, whatever it takes) till I can find the downtime to take them in, sandblast them, prime them, and then professionally paint them. As such, my equipment usually looks much sharper than the competition. I can understand the regulations against sandblasting the boats when they're not in dry dock, but touching them up wouldn't hurt a thing. I recognize the moisture problems, the fact the boats are almost always moving, etc., but I find it hard to believe there's never a time the weather wouldn't allow for this. I know it hurts for WSF employees to hear this (it's not their fault and I know they have tremendous pride in the vessels) but there is no excuse to let any of our ferries look like the Hyak does. She looks like she belongs in a third world country. Perception is everything. She could be the best maintained ferry in the world but the rust makes her look unsafe, and certainly uninviting to tourists. Would anyone want to go up the Space Needle if it was all rusty looking? Even if it was otherwise perfectly maintained? I don't think so! Nothing better than seeing one of the old girls with perfect makeup on to hide the age and wrinkles. Let's hope the situation WSF is in is a once in a lifetime deal and we move forward from here.
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Post by Barnacle on May 20, 2010 6:42:48 GMT -8
I know the reasons we don't do it, but I still think that some long handled rollers dipped in regular old marine paint during the night would at least make the old girls look better from a distance until such time they could be dry docked and painted correctly. Except we can't legally paint over the side for fear of spilling pollutants into the Sound. Otherwise we wouldn't have to drydock them to perform exterior paint like we do. See above.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on May 20, 2010 7:32:00 GMT -8
Speaking of painting, I remember when WSF would paint some red or orange kind of covering on rust spots on the ferries back in the 1970s. This was most noticeable on the OLYMPIC and RHODODENDRON on the Clinton run. This was all covered over or blasted off during paint jobs.
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on May 20, 2010 11:30:57 GMT -8
I wonder why external painting on the water could not be legally done with the following practices:
1. With a brush or roller dock so not to overspray.
2. Dock or float side with masking and/or tarping so no paint can reach the water.
3. In proper weather, no rain or winds over 10 mph
4. Topside only
5. (Not recommended) With non toxic water based paints.- Yes, this would likely be a temporary "fix", but there are some really good new water soluable paints and they are still not as expensive oil based Marine Paints.
Sure make the boats look better and inspire more confidence in the operation.
Jim
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Post by Barnacle on May 20, 2010 11:56:22 GMT -8
Because proper prepwork would still result in debris entering the water, no matter how carefully you do it. And without good prep, you're only covering rust for about six months before it starts bleeding through the white paint. And that's just one practical problem.
A lot of the methods you mention were employed at Eagle Harbor until they were banned. We're pretty much stuck with drydocking at this point.
And I don't think fresh paint would 'inspire more confidence' so much as allow WSF to fade into the background. People only notice us when it's a negative event, a lot like electricity, running water... and air.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on May 20, 2010 14:45:34 GMT -8
I doubt that anyone has ever driven up to the Anacortes terminal, looked at the rust steaks on the Hyak and said, "Whoa, I'm not taking that thing to Orcas".
Structural deficiencies on the steel electrics didn't deter people from taking them across to Port Townsend, so I doubt the rust on the Hyak has any effect on customer confidence or ridership. Ferry fans get perturbed by less than shiny ships; the public just thinks it's a bit gross, and gets on board to go where they want to go.
Hyak is 43 years old. Surface rust on a ferry is like wrinkles and age spots on people. You want perfect boats, all the time? Then pay higher fares, or higher taxes.
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on May 20, 2010 15:12:19 GMT -8
I once bought a Volvo at wholesale prices from a large car dealership, because it was the dirtiest car I had ever seen. They had taken it in on a trade and because it was so dirty, just wanted to unload it without doing anything. In fact even then none of the usual low ball car lots wanted it either. I heard about it, from a friend who worked there and had the same impression, until I looked under the hood, the running gear was perfect and well maintained. It took me over a week to get it cleaned up, but once it was, it shined. I drove it for over 150,000 miles until I got hit by a plumbing truck. I walked away, but it died protecting me. Had I acted like the other potential buyers did, I would have missed out.
I agree with Scott, perception is everything. Like the potential Volvo buyers, most people believe the bad condition of the exterior is indictative of lack of care for the rest of the vessel. No rider is going to going or able to look below the surface. Even patch up painting looks as if someone cares. There has to be a way or a way made to economically do this.
Jim
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