New Kalakala - website

[EGfleet]

bcinnj said:

Cascade, does the "where is it" refer to, "where does the project stand financially to finish", or "where is it physically?"

Just asking because I figured it was the former, in which case I will ask, where is it physically? The website shows it to be located at 47°15'3.15"N, 122°25'55.50"W, or 47°15'38.10"N, 122°25'54.44"W, but when I google either of those locations, there is no sign of her.

Now, I recognize the google images might be out of date, and she might be there, or is she at a different location?

Google Earth still shows her on Lake Union. The photos are out of date.

Last I heard the total restoration of the ferry would range between 3 and 5 million. And the longer she sits there, the more that price inches higher.

At the very least when the Kalakala Foundation had her there were monthly work parties that helped keep the elements at bay...and she was open for tours, which kept the interest in her up. I had a lot of fun doing tours on the ferry and was always surprised to see how much kids loved that boat, even in the shape she was in.

[EGfleet]

cascade said:

Sorry - but what I was looking for was the cost of getting the Kalakala - into a condition - where it could be open for the general public to view - and maybe use.

Is it only $3 to $5M - for the refit ? seems very light?

Except when you're trying to get people to donate money.

[Barnacle]

evergreenfleet said:

Last I heard the total restoration of the ferry would range between 3 and 5 million. And the longer she sits there, the more that price inches higher.

Inches? Yards. She's back in salt water, don't forget.

But yes, it was fun doing tours--especially since the one time I did tours, I was in my 1960's WSF uniform of green pants, gray shirt, necktie, and steamboat cap. ;D

[Starbucks Queen]

Thanks for the compliment for the enthusiast's Kalakala - website - we had a very difficult start, and we even got a rather unfriendly reply when we applied at www.geocities.com/uksteve.geo/award1.html for an award that we are trying to fool people by the artistic images and colored ex. black and white images.

Not very encouraging so it is very good to hear some nice words, or at least some constructive critic.

As far as the real ship, as far as I know they talked once about 15 Mio US $ to restore it fully. That is an amount, which certain people in Seattle would regard as pocket-money, but those seem not to be interested in restoring it as a present to the public. It's probably too local - these folks are for my taste far too much into doing something more for theinternational press.. help children in Africa etc..

Interesting to hear, children liked the ship - plenty of empty space around ?

It's nice to hear from you folks who used to do the tours, as you have for sure met many interesting people and learned alot about the ship from what people have been telling. That's actually the sort of story we collect for the website, so that they do not get lost, but are readable for people who are interested.

[Barnacle]

I first met the mighty Kalakala on a warm, sunny June day in 1994 when the longtime guardian angel and caretaker of the ship, Gil Reel, took me on a tour after he got off work. He took me all around the car deck and up to the passenger cabin, but I really couldn't get a feel for the size of the vessel or what it looked like--Peter Bevis and company hadn't yet begun to remove the trash and artificial bulkheads that had been installed some 20 years prior.

I wish I could've explained to people--or better yet, shown them--how much work the Dream Team had already done, and why it was a worthy cause.

Say what you like about the old Kalakala Foundation, but I do think Peter had the best chance of getting the project done with the right administrative guidance. He certainly made a good public face for the boat. It's just unfortunate that the economy began to slow down about the time he finally got her home. I think two years earlier, and things might've been different. Or if the business plan had been concocted before the Kalakala left Kodiak instead of years too late like it was.

[EGfleet]

cascade said:

It seems strange as to why it can't get some sort of backing from the people of Washington State. Given the number of people who made fortunes during the dot.com boom and some are still making a sizable fortune.

Maybe Federal Governments need to look at Tax breaks - given to people who rescue Historical land marks ?

We always wondered the same thing. It seems that very few people who were capable of funding such a project couldn't see past the rust.

There is also the fact that Seattle has a horrible record when it comes to acknowledging its maritime history. I still am greeted with looks of disbelief from folks out of state when I tell them there is no maritime museum in Seattle.

[Barnacle]

Not to mention that a fair number of those making the dot.com bucks (a) weren't born when the boat disappeared from WSF service in 1967, (b) aren't from Seattle or (c) both.

[Starbucks Queen]

barnacle said:

Not to mention that a fair number of those making the dot.com bucks (a) weren't born when the boat disappeared from WSF service in 1967, (b) aren't from Seattle or (c) both.

I think one does not have to be born in the era, nor have to be travelled onboard, and probably it's even not needed to be interested in ferries that much..

but an interest in the history should be there, I think. I just fear, that many folks who made the big $$$ do have a very limited view of the world, they focus on their business, and they focus on alot of mainstream - stuff, if you see HOW many rich people donate to art-exhibitions, to golf - courts etc.. oh well, to their ears and to their fellow rich guys and girls it does simply SOUND much better to have donteed for that.. than donate a huge amout to an old rusty ferry that has some historic meaning.

Correct me if I am wrong .. I'm not from the area after all, and born in the 70ies ) - so I could easily be wrong, my view based on what I heard people saying and what I read in the newspapers.

[Northern Exploration]

I vaguely remember some kind of display or photograph at Ivars with a mention of the ferry. Was Ivar involved somehow? I was chatting about floating restaurants in another thread and it reminded me of this.

[Barnacle]

Ivar's has a photo of "Their Flounder" with the Kalakala in the background. I swear if he were still alive the Kalakala would've been on much firmer fiscal (fishcal?) ground.

[EGfleet]

barnacle said:

Ivar's has a photo of "Their Flounder" with the Kalakala in the background. I swear if he were still alive the Kalakala would've been on much firmer fiscal (fishcal?) ground.

The Ivar's restaurant down town also has a model of the Kalakala in the restaurant.

[Starbucks Queen]

Well, here's that photo - Marilyn went down and took a photo of the model which is at the top of the bar - and unfortunately we didn't get any info on who has built it.

That's not the only Kalakala stuff in the restaurant, there are at least 4 other images of different sizes on the wall.

The second model I have still here would be a good addition to their collection and the most important - be seen by people ;D - since the museum, the owner of the actual ship had planned, did never materialize.

[Barnacle]

At one point, Ivar's also had a lovely model of my baby, the Evergreen State. I really should go see if it's still there.

That's a cool Kalakala model though... I should really finish carving mine one of these days.