MV Coho

[Koastal Karl]

I have seen the Coho come into the Inner Harbour before with her side door open or just opening even before they even dock. I dont know what the car deck is like recently as my last trip was just a walk on but I dont remember if there was a fence/gate thing on the car deck so people dont get to close to the edge.

[Low Light Mike]

Coho, on October 28, 2010:

[Low Light Mike]

I took the MV Coho from Port Angeles to Victoria on October 28, 2010. At this time of year, there are 2 daily round-trips. Our trip departed the Port of Angels at 2:00pm.

Photos and comments on the next few posts by me.....
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Arriving in PA town from Port Townsend the night before, we were surprised that the road was a 4-lane freeway between Sequim and Port Angeles. Busy place.

We found this sign amusing, mainly because we always associate those words with a certain company with a mating-slugs logo, not with another ferry company:



The simple bridge and berth structure.



The footie-building is on the left, and you can see the overhead walkway that connects to the ferry.



Traffic arriving from Victoria at this time of year includes many snowbirds on their way south for the Winter.



The holding area at Port Townsend Angeles (thanks Dan for spotting the result of my brain cramp):
- the vehicle toll booth is the left-side of the building. The vehicle entrance is very poorly signed, so it's easy to miss when you're driving up the street.
- Customs/Immigration for arrivals is on the right-side.



Port Angeles breakwater visible in the background:



That iconic company flag:

[Political Incorrectness]

Nov 7, 2010 17:32:08 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Arriving in PA town from Port Townsend the night before, we were surprised that the road was a 4-lane freeway between Sequim and Port Angeles. Busy place.

Except through Sequim, it is a two lane and it really is more of like Highway 17.

The holding area at Port Townsend:
- the vehicle toll booth is the left-side of the building. The vehicle entrance is very poorly signed, so it's easy to miss when you're driving up the street.
- Customs/Immigration for arrivals is on the right-side.

Ummm, did you mean Port Angeles?

[Low Light Mike]

Here is "Phil's Phish" arriving at Port Angeles around noon.
- she takes a wide path to set herself up for the dance into the berth.
















At this point, she's ready to toss a line from her bow, to the jetty.
She'll then go astern, pivoting on the turning-dolphin while the bow rope goes tight.

Here's video #1:
www.facebook.com/v/457548593646





Here's video #2:
www.facebook.com/v/457554608646





Here's video #3:
www.facebook.com/v/457559178646



Here's video #4:
- notice how fast those stern-doors open.
www.facebook.com/v/457561003646



Berthed, and ready for the slow process of disembarkation.
(slow, because of traffic backing up while they go through customs/immigration).

[lmtengs]

It looks like the stern doors are spring-loaded or something. Kinda odd though.

[Low Light Mike]

Coho car-deck:

- full length of the car-deck, viewed from the stern, as seen from shore at Port Angeles.



On board view of the bow area:



Looking back at the traffic that's awaiting disembarkation @ Victoria:


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Time to walk upstairs using the forward staircase....



- look back down to where we came from:



Pursar's square
- the 'Tsawwassen had vending machines here.



Video tour from forward stairs, into forward lounge, and out from the lounge side-doors.
www.facebook.com/v/457604693646


The forward lounge:

[lmtengs]

Great pics, Flug! It's fun to compare other ferries of similar design with ours.

[Neil]

Last time I was on the Coho was about 35 years ago. Whenever anyone posts photos of her, she looks to me like a very plain-jane ship that's kept immaculate.

Is there any rust on her outer passenger deck? It looks like they really keep on top of that.

[Kahloke]

Excellent pics! I was on Coho a mere two weeks ago. They really do keep her in immaculate condition. I was even impressed by the cleanliness of the washroom.

[mrdot]

wow, to think Coho predates Sidney & Tsawwassen, and all the Spalding designed boats of that vintage, and she still looks great in the original black ball livery, we went down the US pacific coast starting on her voyage after we left the Empress hotel on our wedding trip, all those years ago. mrdot.

[Low Light Mike]

Nov 7, 2010 19:57:23 GMT -8 Neil said:

Last time I was on the Coho was about 35 years ago. Whenever anyone posts photos of her, she looks to me like a very plain-jane ship that's kept immaculate.

Is there any rust on her outer passenger deck? It looks like they really keep on top of that.

Good observation on a neat simple ship. I didn't notice any rust or other ugly things.


One thing that I did notice (actually it was my wife who noticed, but we didn't get a picture of it):
- above one of the doors to what I think it the first aid room is a tiny plaque that says "Barbara Streisand used this room".

Maybe it was just a quiet room for her to escape from the Port Angeles truckers.....

[Low Light Mike]

The Coho's deck plans:

- main passenger deck


- crew cabins and sun-deck



The licence:
- 975 passengers


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The cafeteria:



- the menu:



Ship-shape neon sign for the gift-shop:



Old school stairs:


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The door outside the end of the lounge (behind the gift-shop), to the outside deck.
- the outside stairs lead to the sun-deck.

[Low Light Mike]

Outside photos of Coho:

Sundeck:



- I have no idea what the yellow pole is for.




Outside the forward-lounge, looking aft.



Looking forward:
- the 2 doors to the forward area (one right to the lounge, and 1 to the stairway that leads down to the car-deck)



Love that name board:



The little bell that hangs below the bridge window:




The main bell:

[Low Light Mike]

There is plenty of Coho memorabilia on display on-board and at the terminals:
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Coho shipyard photos:









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Some on-board memorabilia:

- the shape is a bit off ;D


















- Here's something I found on the Coho, that you can't find on a BCFerry.

[Low Light Mike]

Some more current and future memorabilia on the Coho:
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[tom98250]

Awesome pics of an awesome vessel! I lived in Port Angeles for three years, and the Coho is a local institution. I especially remember midnight on New Year's Eve, listening to the ship's whistle, intermingled with the whistles from the local pulp mills...

[Low Light Mike]

Nov 8, 2010 8:19:26 GMT -8 tom98250 said:

Awesome pics of an awesome vessel!

Thanks sir.

I really enjoyed the ship. It was the first time that I've traveled on a private-company car ferry since the mid 1970's on the old CPR Princess of Vancouver.

I liked the differences between a Government fleet and this pampered little ship.
- more focus on the ship & company history (more than what we see in BC)
- less security propaganda (none of those WSF posters showing a package under a bench).

We paid $71 approx for a car & 2 people. That's 4% LESS than a 90 minute trip on a BC Ferry.
- a small company with simple operations has some efficiencies apparently.

[Kahloke]

Nov 7, 2010 22:09:39 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Coho shipyard photos:

This is an interesting photo. It's taken from the sun deck of a Jumbo, either Walla Walla or Spokane. The telltale signs are the long length of the pickle fork in the foreground, and the visible portion of the exterior stair railing down to said pickle fork, which only the Jumbos have. The other interesting item of note is that the paint on the pickle fork railings appear to be all dark, which means this is not an old photo. I believe it was during the 90's when all of the WSF vessels were painted with green railings. Prior to that, only the top cap was painted green. The screens were all painted white.

[ferryfanyvr]

Great photos!!! Having never been on the COHO before I really appreciate you taking the time to post them!

[Koastal Karl]

Did you need or have a reservation???

[Low Light Mike]

Nov 8, 2010 9:46:25 GMT -8 Koastal Karl said:

Did you need or have a reservation???

We did an online reservation the week before, and the fee was $11 for that.

It sounded like reservations were required, but I think that they do stand-by traffic too.
- but when there are only 2 round-trips per day, we wanted to be safe. No chance for us to wait for a later sailing.... ;D

The sailing ended up being maybe 75% full.

[Low Light Mike]

Arriving in Victoria on Coho ferry on Oct.28, 2010.
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The Coho terminal on Belleville St.




Video of horn sounding, as we pass Laurel Point.
www.facebook.com/v/461183928646

[Low Light Mike]

2 old pictures of Coho @ Victoria harbour (berthed on the opposite side of the harbour, compared to her current dock).
- from BC Archives website.

www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_26/i_26409.gif


www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_26/i_26420.gif

[Koastal Karl]

For anyone who is on Facebook I have uploaded some photos of the Coho Thursday morning during the snow of her departing Victoria! In my Victoria Snow album if you want to check it out!