MV Hyak

[Barnacle]

What needs to be updated in the cabin? The interiors have recently been redone on most of the Hyak. Granted, it's in the original 1967 colors, but the upholstery, light fixtures, ceiling, and flooring are pretty much all new material.

Just because they didn't change the color scheme doesn't mean they didn't do the work.

[SS Shasta]

barnacle said:

What needs to be updated in the cabin? The interiors have recently been redone on most of the Hyak. Granted, it's in the original 1967 colors, but the upholstery, light fixtures, ceiling, and flooring are pretty much all new material.

Just because they didn't change the color scheme doesn't mean they didn't do the work.

I didn't ride the MV Hyak this year on my annual trip to the Islands, but did last year. She was clean and certainly looked as good, if not better than the others in her class. I haven't been on MV Elwha since "her year off."

This year we rode MV Yakima and MV Evergreen State on our trip. I thought that MV Yakima could use some work on removing rust in spots. Oh, some folks have commented that MV Hyak's color scheme is a bit drab, but that doesn't matter to me.

I was just wondering what additional work is needed to bring her "up to speed" with her sisters? She has recently had several major renovations and is scheduled for additional yard work this winter. It would be stupid, in my opinion, if WSF retired her before her sisters!

[Kahloke]

The only thing I would like to see upgraded on Hyak are the movable chairs (not the benches) because they are hard and uncomfortable. They may have been refurbished and/or deep-cleaned during the retrofit, but they are still the original chairs that all of the Supers once had before their respective mid-life upgrades. It would be nice to see the new style of chairs that have systematically been installed on most of the other vessels, because the new ones are more comfortable in that they recline a bit, have thicker cushioning, and some have little side tables attached, which is very useful.

[hergfest]

While I do believe the Hyak should be saved, money would be better spent on new boats rather than refurbing her interior.

[Barnacle]

Okay, I'll put it in bold because I think people keep missing it or ignoring it:

The interior of the Hyak largely already has been refurbished. The ceilings and the old ice-cube-tray light fixtures have all been changed out, the benches have been reupholstered and repadded, the tile has been removed, the concrete beneath has been leveled after some steel replacement underneath, and new tile has been installed. It just hasn't been modernized.

Okay, the Eames-style chairs are tremendously uncomfortable, and I concur they should be replaced with something more friendly to spines. On the other hand, the cushy airport chairs are difficult to maintain or move around (they're usually in groups of three or four). I'd just as soon see new, comfortable SINGLE chairs in the cabin of the Hyak.

Anyway, Herg, you're closing the barn door after the cow got out.

SS Shasta, the Hyak still needs some steel renewal to happen. There are some that think the pilothouse windows need to be replaced with the angled glass like the Yakima and Kaleetan to reduce operational glare (the original windows are perfectly vertical), but I frankly don't think the advantage is significant enough to justify the cost, myself. It's better spent elsewhere. Besides, the old windows roll down instead of sliding from side to side... I'd really miss being able to roll down a window a couple of inches, gaining ventilation while remaining dry on a warm but rainy day.

[zman]

I do not look forward to riding the Hyak every day...there needs to be more power outlets onboard. There are only five or six of them in the passenger seating area. Three of those are in the galley, with the small, unstable round seats.

One good thing about the Hyak is the slightly reduced crossing time...it takes between 50 and 55 minutes. The Issaquah's usually take the full 60...unless they do not reduce speed through Rich Passage.

[Barnacle]

The number of outlets on board was based on the number of people who had laptops when the boat was constructed.

Which, I think, was zero.

There are eight power outlets in the lower passenger cabin that are accessible to the public, I think. Four of them don't have any seating nearby. I think there are three more in the upper cabin, but I'd really have to look.

I admit it's a drag for those who must have the laptops underway. But on the other hand, at least there's still a boat. For now.

[zman]

There are three outlets upstairs. One is in the bench seats and two are in the galley.
I only know of one downstairs that is next to a seat.

One thing that the Hyak has that can create problems are the drains. The drains on the outer deck on the top are almost always plugged when it is raining. The drain grates are exceptionally small and are meant for water only, not water and debris. The upper deck is slightly warped and very large puddles form, making it hard to walk up there.

[Barnacle]

Think of the outlet by a seat in the lower cabin... is it on the outboard wall, about even with the video games? That's one-quarter of the boat. There are three others in the same location, one in each quarter. I think. That's where they are on the Elwha, anyway, and I think they're in the same spots on the Hyak. The other four are cleverly hidden behind trash cans just inboard of the shelter deck doors.

There should also be at least one more outlet on the centerline upstairs... it may be behind newspaper machines or a trash can. Again, I'm going with what I know on the Elwha as I know her electrical didn't get significantly expanded.

[zman]

I think that sounds about right.

Anybody know why the Hyak's upper deck (outside) is so warped. The Kaleetan and Yakima are slightly, but the Hyak is awful. The ups and downs create some nasty puddles (although it is rather funny when the unsuspecting person walks into one).

[EGfleet]

zman said:

I think that sounds about right.

Anybody know why the Hyak's upper deck (outside) is so warped. The Kaleetan and Yakima are slightly, but the Hyak is awful. The ups and downs create some nasty puddles (although it is rather funny when the unsuspecting person walks into one).

I'll take a guess...it's 40 years old?

Seriously, I believe that the others have had deck renewals done, particularly the Yakima and Kaleetan, but I don't think the Hyak has.

[zman]

Okay...that makes sense. I was not aware of the work that has been done on other.
Thanks!

[zman]

Sounds like the Hyak has some issues... a coworker said they turned around after leaving Bremerton and spun again prior to the arrival in Seattle. The crew said something about rudder problems.
It is 2:10 and she is sitting alongside the Chelan in Seattle

[SS San Mateo]

Ugh... hopefully it's not rudder flop.

[Barnacle]

It may have been... but remember, rudder flop is the symptom, not the disease.

[SS Shasta]

She is scheduled to begin major yard/maintenance work in about two weeks. Perhaps it will have to begin a bit earlier than expected?

[In Washington]

Hyak heads to Eagle Harbor tomorrow at 1600hrs to be replaced by the Kaleetan/Walla Walla for the next two months or so.

Bye Bye Hyak!

[zman]

I like the Kaleetan better
I do admit, the Hyak is better than a smaller, more comfortable boat. She has served us very well as the No 2 vessel.

[Barnacle]

Well, I'll probably lose my coffee rights in the engine room on the Kaleetan for saying this, but the Hyak's a better handler than the Kaleetan... the Kaleetan's engines have electronic governing that limits the drive motor shaft revs more severely than the Hyak's old electromechanical system. I think the Hyak is marginally lighter, too (less steel ;D).

[EGfleet]

Ferry system steps up inspections
from the Everett Herald

Washington State Ferries announced late Friday it has decided to step up hull inspections on all boats in its fleet after concerns over cracks and corrosion sidelined its oldest boats.

The ferry system has decided to keep the 40-year-old Hyak out of service for an extra three weeks to allow additional time for hull inspection and repairs. The 144-car Super-class ferry already is in dry-dock in Anacortes.

State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond on Nov. 20 ordered all four of the state's Steel Electric-class ferries pulled from service for inspection and repairs. The move has shut down until at least February car-ferry service between Keystone on Whidbey Island and Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula.

"Our engineering staff and vessel crews work day and night to keep vessels in operation," said Paul Brodeur, director of vessel maintenance and preservation. "Now more than ever, it is important that we work hard to inspect all vessels in the fleet and rededicate ourselves to our regular maintenance program."

There are 28 ferries in the state's fleet.

[SS San Mateo]

Oh dear....

Pitting found in hulls of a second ferry

seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/341894_ferry01.html

By LARRY LANGE
P-I REPORTER

State ferry officials Friday said they've found pitting in the hulls of the 40-year-old ferry Hyak and will keep the vessel in an Anacortes dry dock three weeks longer than expected. It also will step up inspections of two other vessels of the same size and age.

It was the second case of unexpected hull pitting in a state ferry in two weeks. Last week, the state pulled three 1927-vintage steel-electric vessels for additional inspections after serious pitting was found in the hull of a fourth steel-electric boat.

The discovery on the Hyak means the Dakota Creek Shipyard will have to replace more steel in the boat's hull than anticipated. Ferry system spokeswoman Susan Harris-Huether said Friday that the Hyak was taken to dry dock a year earlier than normal after crews detected problems with its hull.

The additional dry-dock time may delay maintenance to other vessels that must substitute for the Hyak.

For the moment, it has been replaced on the Seattle-to-Bremerton route by the Kaleetan, which is the same size and same vintage as the Hyak. The Kaleetan and the Yakima, a third vessel in the class, also will have their hulls checked over the weekend, Harris-Huether said.

The system already stepped up inspections of hulls and steel on the other 21 vessels in its fleet as well, because of the problems with the steel-electric ferry Quinault, which is having parts of its hull replaced at Todd Shipyard.

[Political Incorrectness]

Well then, the state better get rid of the darn lawsuits and Martinec needs to get along cause we need to get building right about NOW!

[zman]

Okay...if they are finding this problem in the Hyak, how long until the Evergreen Class gets nailed...what about the other supers??
This could be a worse situation than everybody thought.

If the Hyak has enough going on to extend the drydocking, the SEs must have had BIG problems, on account of the fact that they are twice as old

[SS Shasta]

When the current drydock work and yard work are completed on MV Hyak, will this overhaul bring her up to the basic standards of her sisters that received upgrades prior to the decision to cancel modernization of the MV Hyak?

[SS San Mateo]

Highly unlikely. That would require much more work that would take longer.