Klahanie, Inside and Out

[EGfleet]

Since there seems to be an interest in seeing what these old boats looked like on the inside, here's the Klahanie in the 1950's.
Here she is after WSF added the "port holes" with plywood:



and here is here galley, where, according to the rather buxom blond in the advertisement on they wall, they sold Coca Cola



and here's one of the passenger lounges.


All photos come from the Williamson collection, but weren't originally color.

[SS Shasta]

WOW, WHAT WONDERFUL PHOTOS! I was most fortunate to often ride on the beautiful Wooden Electrics as a kid growing up in Seattle in the 50's and 60's. They were wonderfully quiet and slow, valuable assets for those who wanted the ride to last as long as possible. The cabin and galley photos really jar the memory. I remember stepping into their cabins and thinking I was back in the 1920's or 1930's. The cabins tended to be a bit dark inside and they all lacked outdoor deck space. I don't think MV Kehloken had any outside deck for passengers and it was very limited on MV Elwa, MV Klahanie, and the "Old Chetz." On a sad day in September 1972, I took one last ride......Kingston to Edmonds on MV Kehloken. It is unfortunate that they had such sad endings.

[FNS]

Thanks for the neat photos of the KLAHANIE! Hope there are some more.

I always thought that the Wooden Electrics were quite unique ferries of an interesting design. Long stairways at each end, a long grand lobby down the center of the Saloon Deck, and various lounges at the corners. Neat cafe as well.

My last ride aboard a Wooden Electric came in the early 1970s from Clinton to Mukilteo at night. This was aboard the CHETZEMOKA and she smelled of strong wood! ;D

As most know, we got the wooden VASHON in 1973 for a good while until 1978 when programs changed once again.

I really hope the new 144-car ferries are named after the four big legendary wooden workhorses we had here on the Sound.

CHETZEMOKA II and KEHLOKEN II for the Mukilteo run. Their predecessors sported the biggest passenger cabins this run had ever seen until the Steel Electrics arrived and the I-Class. Also, the old CHETZY was very popular and a favorite among Whidbey islanders. The new ferries will sport a very handsome sized cabin ready for Sounder passengers (whenever Mukilteo Station finally opens). I hope I can say "I'll be aboard the CHETZY" again soon on this run!

KLAHANIE II for the Bremerton run. Such a refreshing name for a new gem for this run.

Let's name the last one VASHON II for use in the San Juans. The old one was the San Juan islanders' "own boat" and favorite. The new one will be their favorite with good features like a good cabin, shelter observatories on the Sun Deck, and good views. It is also very important that the old VASHON is memorialized in a new ferry of the same name as the old one set a pattern for the design of the EVERGREEN STATE, first of a large series of Nickum, Spaulding, McLaren, and current WSF designed northwest ferries as well as the beautiful new ISLAND HOME which has made her arrival in Massachusetts and awaiting public boardings beginning in March.

CHETZEMOKA II, KEHLOKEN II, KLAHANIE II, and VASHON II. These are the names that I have chosen for the new "Legacy-144" ferries.

[old_wsf_fan]

It is nice to see continued interest in the old vessels that helped move people across the Sound for so many years.

I rode the Wood-Electrics as a kid, but one wild ride still lingers in my memory. My mom, my sister and myself were coming back from Vashon on a stormy autumn night. I was very young at the time but distinctly remember being aboard the Klahanie because of the portholes and the creaking of her timbers.
The ride was very exciting to my sister and I, as we were jumping up and down in unison with the waves. My mother was deathly afraid that night and insisted that this ferry was going to sink.
As my sister was jumping and holding on to the back of the front seat, we hit a pretty good swell and she flew across the front seat and into the dash of the car. Luckily she didn't lose any teeth.
I feel fortunate to have ridden on alot of the older vessels. I just wish my family would have had used a camera at some point.

[zman]

I was not around then, but I love to learn about the vessels that sailed the sound. I am glad to see that there some photos floating around. Thank you very much for posting those!

[EGfleet]

I have some interior shots of the Chippewa. If anyone would like to see them, I"ll post them.

I agree about reusing the names...But I don't think I'd use Kehloken because she is now mostly known for her unhappy role in loading off all the Japanese residents off of Bainbridge Island in WWII for relocation into internment camps (Google "Kehloken" and you'll see what I mean.)

Vashon isn't Native American/Chinook jargon, which they have stuck to since the whole Evergreen State/Vacation State/Washington State debacle in '58.

Besides, in my book there was only one Vashon, just like there was only one Kalakala. I'd actually like to see Enetai, Willapa, Malahat, Quilcene or Quillayute used again.

[old_wsf_fan]

Yes, any old photos of the Blackball/wsf early years would be greatly appreciated. I like all of the different vessels that have sailed here, all unique in their own way.

[FNS]

evergreenfleet said:

I have some interior shots of the Chippewa. If anyone would like to see them, I"ll post them.

I agree about reusing the names...But I don't think I'd use Kehloken because she is now mostly known for her unhappy role in loading off all the Japanese residents off of Bainbridge Island in WWII for relocation into internment camps (Google "Kehloken" and you'll see what I mean.)

Vashon isn't Native American/Chinook jargon, which they have stuck to since the whole Evergreen State/Vacation State/Washington State debacle in '58.

Besides, in my book there was only one Vashon, just like there was only one Kalakala. I'd actually like to see Enetai, Willapa, Malahat, Quilcene or Quillayute used again.

We'll go ahead and scratch the name of KEHLOKEN from the list. She didn't have an open prom for passengers like the others had.

Let's put the KLAHANIE II with the CHETZEMOKA II on the Mukilteo run instead.

If all possible, keep the VASHON II name for the San Juans. Otherwise, name that one MALAHAT II.

For the Bremerton run, use CHIPPEWA II as the original predecessor spent so many years on this run.

Can't use ENETAI or WILLAPA yet as these aren't quite deceased yet (ENETAI is alive and well in San Francisco in her original name of SANTA ROSA. The WILLAPA in her original name of FRESNO is slowly dying but might be resurrected.). All the others mentioned above are deceased vessels.

That should do it.

[EGfleet]

ferrynutseattle said:

We'll go ahead and scratch the name of KEHLOKEN from the list. She didn't have an open prom for passengers like the others had.

Let's put the KLAHANIE II with the CHETZEMOKA II on the Mukilteo run instead.

If all possible, keep the VASHON II name for the San Juans. Otherwise, name that one MALAHAT II.

For the Bremerton run, use CHIPPEWA II as the original predecessor spent so many years on this run.

Can't use ENETAI or WILLAPA yet as these aren't quite deceased yet (ENETAI is alive and well in San Francisco in her original name of SANTA ROSA. The WILLAPA in her original name of FRESNO is slowly dying but might be resurrected.). All the others mentioned above are deceased vessels.

That should do it.

Well, again, "Vashon" won't be considered because it isn't Chinook. Same with "Chippewa." I feel "Enetai" and "Willapa" are fair game because they're no longer in the fleet and furthermore registered under their original names.

Oh, I forgot, I like"Kulshan" as well.

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

I think the Kehloken is a great name! It sounds so cool. Even if the originally ship has a bad past, I don't think to many people would know about that so.... oh well. But otherwise they should use Quilcene and Klahanie again, those are great names to.

[Barnacle]

Well, there is considerable support for the idea of recycling names within WSF; after all, we're on the second Tacoma, third Kitsap, second Issaquah, Hyak, Elwha, Hiyu, Chinook...

Kehloken is, for reasons previously stated, right out; I wouldn't be averse to our own Kahloke, though.

A name that has come up with considerable frequency is Kulshan, much to my surprise. Nobody liked the boat, but apparently many liked the name.

Chetzemoka has strong support among those I've spoken to, as does Enetai with its meaning of "across; over on the other side." The name Enetai can be re-used, as her current owners are not involved in a restoration effort and are using her under her original name of Santa Rosa. The Willapa is struggling to survive as the Fresno.

And, of course, "Vashon" is the surname of one of Puget's officers, not a Chinook word. "Chippewa" came from the midwest and is well outside the region. (Besides, like Evergreenfleet said... there's only one Vashon.)

Let's see... Chetzemoka, Enetai, Kulshan... we need a Q-boat to continue a century-old legacy that will end without the Quinault (a boat whose name begins with 'Q')... I like Quillayute myself, but I'd be willing to audition Quilcene. I'd pass on Klahanie because in addition to the fact that she was a relief boat with no real popular sentiment attached to her, the Issaquah region already has a boat name.

With any luck the fracas for names will begin this summer... with these boats phasing out the last of the Peabody legacy, it would be nice to keep some of his names around.

[SS Shasta]

Name for a new Q Boat: Just wondering if you considered a new name for a new Q Boat? What about MV Queets?

[EGfleet]

shasta said:

Name for a new Q Boat: Just wondering if you considered a new name for a new Q Boat? What about MV Queets?

Hmm. Dunno...here's what it means:

Queets is a community near the mouth of the Queets River on the Quinault Indian Reservation in the southwest corner of Jefferson County. It was named for the once-powerful Quiatso Indian tribe which inhabited the area when the first white explorers came to this coast. The name is from a Indian legend in which The Great Spirit waded across a river and rubbed his legs to restore circulation. He then threw the rolls of dirt which came from his legs, and they landed in the river. Out came a man and a woman to form the Qu-itz-qu or Qu-ai-tso tribe. The name literally means out of the dirt of the skin.

[Barnacle]

Well, one of the details I look at in my favorites for vessel names is their subjectivity to nicknames... Queets would take about a half-hour to be known as a rather vulgar word for a specific type of flatulence.

[edit] Or 'Queeg,' hardly an improvement.

The fourth Jumbo Mark II (no Queen of Richmond jokes, please) was to be known as the Sequim... which, to the uninitiated, would probably have been nicknamed the "Sink or Sequim" (which gives you a clue as to its pronunication versus its spelling).

And just for the record, I say 'pass' on Duckabush, Bogachiel, Humptulips, Dosewallips, and Hoh. ;D

[SS San Mateo]

One possibility for a Q-boat name is "Quilceda", which is from the Tulalip Indian Tribe and means "salt water people"

[FNS]

I think we have some good candidates for names of the new 144-car ferries. The ballot box can now be closed.

MV QUILLAYUTE II for the San Juans. The old one was quite a neat vessel and is worth naming a new one after her.

MV CHETZEMOKA II and MV KULSHAN II for the Mukilteo run. Both 240 foot predecessors of the same rename came from California.

The old KULSHAN is remembered for establishing overheight service on this run. The new one will continue this. Bad memories of miserable crossings in cold damp weather will be brushed aside as the car decks on the new one will be covered over and superb passenger amenities will be provided. The "eyes" of the open deck predecessor had spotted a Wooden Electric most of her west coast career. The SILVER STRAND in San Diego (formerly GOLDEN SHORE in San Francisco and ELWHA I on Puget Sound) from 1954 to 1969. The CHETZEMOKA on the Mukilteo run in the early 1970s. So, it'll be good to see the new CHETZEMOKA II and KULSHAN II working together on the Mukilteo run, their predecessors' home for many years.

History note: While the KULSHAN was on Hood Canal in 1980, the Kingston Superferry made overnight visits to Mukilteo to handle the oversized traffic to Whidbey, tide permitting. Just wondering what the apartment owners next to the dock thought of having bright fluorescent lights illuminating their living rooms in the middle of the night from that big 382 foot monster! They were used to seeing incandescent light bulbs on the ferries then.

I will be very happy to be stood corrected on all theories in the naming of Bremerton's new gem, the MV ENETAI II . Both old and new have great Saloon and Sun decks. The new ENETAI II will be even better! It'll be great to see an "ENETAI" in Rich Passage once again.

So, there it is. We have the names:

MV QUILLAYUTE II - San Juans
MV CHETZEMOKA II - Mukilteo
MV KULSHAN II - Mukilteo
MV ENETAI II - Bremerton

Let's build these!!!! ;D

[EGfleet]

vashondude said:

One possibility for a Q-boat name is "Quilceda", which is from the Tulalip Indian Tribe and means "salt water people"

I like Quilceda, and have it on the list for potential Q-boat names. Interestingly, "Quilceda" and "Quilcene" mean the same thing.

Quilcene and Quillayute have the added advantage of having once sailed Puget Sound before, but I'm not at all opposed to an entirely new Q-boat name, either.

Incidentally, a great place to look up place names for Washington State is here:
search.tpl.lib.wa.us/wanames/placopent1.asp

this is how I found out "Wollochet" meant "Squirting clams" and probably wasn't the best name for a ferry--even if there was one before. It later became the Fox Island and then went up to become a B.C. Ferry...

[FNS]

This neat thread on the MV KLAHANIE would not be complete without profiles and a layout of this neat Wooden-Electric.

With many thanks to "Evergreenfleet" for posting interior photos of the KLAHANIE, I was able to do a layout of this vessel. The only accuracy in this is what I see in the photos. The rest is a guesstimate (including corner lounge bench arrangements using my knowledge of what the KLAHANIE's former Marin County workmate and now museum preserved EUREKA has at one of her Saloon Deck corners). The galley arrangement not seen on the photos is left blank for now until I can find more info sometime down the road. I also chose red for the flooring and stained benches as this is what the VASHON had and might have been carried over to the ex San Francisco ferry (it's been too long since I rode the CHETZEMOKA in the early 1970s to remember the colors).

Both sides of the KLAHANIE are shown and the Saloon Deck layout.

I hope you all enjoy this!



And, just for fun, here is the KLAHANIE with her WSF family of Wooden-Electrics!



Notice the external exposed rudder tillers. The rudders of these vessels required the use of a manually inserted locking pin and applied to the bow rudder each directional sailings.

ENJOY! ;D

[EGfleet]

Nicely done! And thank you for sharing! Excellent work!

[Barnacle]

Thank you very much for your work, ferrynutseattle! The interior drawings you have put together look very similar to what I'd roughed out on paper when EGF came up with these photos a year or so ago--though I prefer how you've allowed for a proper galley space whereas I'd assumed it was more of a lunch counter (and placed the heads on opposite sides of the boat). Thanks again for sharing!

[FNS]

My pleasure!

It is great that we have a neat forum of fun ferry loving folks sharing their thoughts and histories of past and current ferries of not only ferries here on Puget Sound and British Columbia, but elsewhere like California, New York, and Massachusetts where our new favorite MV ISLAND HOME is readying for service.

Let's continue the fellowship of us owners of APC's, CPU's, Mice, Keyboards, et al.

-ferrynutseattle ;D

[Deleted]

This finally answers my questions on what the Wood Electrics looked like inside. Thanks for the pics and the drawings they're great! The next one that is on my list of the layout of the cabin would be the Sechelt Queen. I have see some pics but does anyone have any of her front lounge, snack bar and other interior areas after she was transferred to BC?

Here's a list of some others that I would like to see interior pics and/or drawings of if anyone can help that would be great:

Smokwa
Sunshine Coast Queen
Langdale Queen
Queen of the Islands

Thanks!

[FNS]

I have updated my layout of the MV KLAHANIE. Returning visitors to this thread should click refresh on their browsers if the mentioned additions in my next paragraph are not present.

I have looked very closely to additional photos and have added some details of the heads. The stalls should be correct as seen behind the "frosted" windows on the photos. The entries are added as well after looking at a pic in the Bayless book. The rest of the fittings are estimates and may not be true, just to give a complete look.

I remember my little sister then telling me not to go in this particular lounge. This was the Ladies Lounge. Most likely the upper right one on the layout.

The uptakes have been detailed a bit.

No other changes will be made in the foreseeable future on these drawings.

Enjoy!