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Post by Kahloke on Oct 10, 2013 7:23:55 GMT -8
The agents have been known to "trade space" in the past, but the Orcas-Shaw connection is about the only place where it would work due to the very short connection time. According to what I've been told by Lopez staffers past and present, the Lopezians tend to see the scheduled departure printed and think, "let's see; I should be able to get there X minutes before then and make the boat." Thus if Lopez were to give away, say, ten spaces to Friday Harbor, the boat leaving Friday Harbor will take its thirty minutes to transit to Lopez and in that time, the traffic on Lopez starts popping up out of prairie dog holes and Lopez really wishes they still had those ten spaces. In short, unless it's Orcas-Shaw, the lag time makes bartering more of a problem than it is worth to try and swing. As it is, we on the boats tend to keep an eye on the traffic count at each stop... I've had a few occasions where I've had to say "I don't care what your count is; you're done. I have to leave X number of spaces for Y island, and that's all we have left." And then run away like my life depends on it... it often does.  Thanks for the explanation. You're absolutely correct in that a "trading spaces bartering agreement" would only work between Orcas and Shaw due to the very short crossing time between the two. And, really, it only becomes an issue on sailings that stop at Shaw after leaving Orcas on the way back to Anacortes, which, on the fall schedule, is the 6:45am, 8:50am, and 12:20pm departures (leaving Orcas). Narrowing the parameters even further, such a trade would really only work on the 12:20pm departure because the other two morning sailings stop at Lopez after Shaw, at which point it's just easier to strictly adhere to the vehicle quotas allotted to each island regardless of actual loads. And, I suspect it's only an issue on Sundays when traffic levels are at their peak. So, perhaps this isn't as big of an issue as I was making it out to be. If anything, it makes a good argument for arriving at the ferry terminal early so you make sure you will be on your intended sailing. |
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Post by Luke on Oct 17, 2013 16:57:14 GMT -8
I know it's a small issue, but I am wondering why Hyak is currently boat #2 and Yakima #3?
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Post by Barnacle on Oct 23, 2013 9:30:38 GMT -8
I know it's a small issue, but I am wondering why Hyak is currently boat #2 and Yakima #3? I wouldn't classify it as an "issue" at all, really. Both boats are homeported in Anacortes; someone involved in scheduling is convinced that the two boats operate at different speeds, so the vessels are positioned to take advantage of the schedule as written. Somehow. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't buying into the explanation, so I stopped listening after the first five minutes. It's possible that the Hyak is running slightly slower (it was last time I worked on it), and thus takes advantage of the mid-day tie-up to reset any lags in the schedule. |
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 26, 2013 15:39:43 GMT -8
2013-10-26: A few pics from Orcas this morning as we were boarding the 8:50 sailing back to Anacortes. I was a passenger this time so I got to take pictures as we were driving on. This shows the unique boarding process at Orcas, in that the staging area is up the hill from the dock, and you have to drive down the hill to board the vessel. driving onto MV Hyak    |
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Post by Luke on Nov 10, 2013 1:02:36 GMT -8
A few videos from my trip to the Islands last week.
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Post by Kahloke on Feb 23, 2014 15:00:14 GMT -8
Shaw in the snow this morning (23-Feb-2014):  |
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elwha
Oiler (New Member)
I'm always merry when I'm near a ferry!
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Post by elwha on Jun 24, 2014 6:05:21 GMT -8
In the upper right you can sorta see surface streets, probably for the development of the Skyline neighborhood. Barnacle's theory would make sense here.
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elwha
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by elwha on Jun 24, 2014 6:08:24 GMT -8
What was up with the right wingwall in June 2012? I noticed when traveling to Shaw on the Elwha that there was an odd procedure to get to the berth. One of the crew members had to hook a clip on the vessel to a kind of rope that ran along the right wingwall. It also looked like there was some construction centered around the right wingwall. Did anyone else notice anything?
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Post by Barnacle on Jun 24, 2014 17:09:42 GMT -8
What was up with the right wingwall in June 2012? I noticed when traveling to Shaw on the Elwha that there was an odd procedure to get to the berth. One of the crew members had to hook a clip on the vessel to a kind of rope that ran along the right wingwall. It also looked like there was some construction centered around the right wingwall. Did anyone else notice anything? The dock was being overhauled, so the boat was tying up to the wire and pushing ahead on that wire because the other wingwall was torn apart for renovation and couldn't be leaned upon. This procedure is called a "spring-line landing." |
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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 Jul 4, 2014 17:19:34 GMT -8
I have never seen this before but WSF are saying there is no parking in Anacortes. So I take it all the paid parking is full??? Good thing I was not going weekend. Must be busy cause of July 4th.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 4, 2014 17:38:41 GMT -8
I have never seen this before but WSF are saying there is no parking in Anacortes. So I take it all the paid parking is full??? Good thing I was not going weekend. Must be busy cause of July 4th. 4th of July seems to be a bit of a holiday in the USA. And when it falls near a weekend, it's super busy on the super-class ferries from Anacortes. But if you want real tradition, skip Anacortes and go to Anatevka instead. There you will find fun from sunrise to sunset, especially if you are a rich man. Find a matchmaker to link you up with a tour-guide in Anatevka. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 14, 2014 15:37:14 GMT -8
Cormorant in his/her nest, in a dolphin at Anacortes berth #1 - seen from upper wing of Chelan, July 14, 2014 I was right next to it  |
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 16, 2014 21:16:37 GMT -8
I know there are hours of operation for the passenger ticket desk and overhead walkway at Anacortes. Does anyone know if the upper parking lot is closed at a certain time??? If someone were to come off the last arrival at midnight would the lot still be open??? I would think it should be till at least half hour after the last ferry arrives. Just wondering cause I am trying to plan a second trip down to Anacortes towards the end of the summer.
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Post by Barnacle on Jul 17, 2014 4:56:17 GMT -8
I know there are hours of operation for the passenger ticket desk and overhead walkway at Anacortes. Does anyone know if the upper parking lot is closed at a certain time??? If someone were to come off the last arrival at midnight would the lot still be open??? I would think it should be till at least half hour after the last ferry arrives. Just wondering cause I am trying to plan a second trip down to Anacortes towards the end of the summer. I'm not aware of any daily open/closed hours on the upper lot; as far as I know, its closure is a seasonal rather than daily thing (i.e., closed in winter--I'd imagine that hill can't be fun in the snow). At any rate, you'd certainly have enough time to get to your car after the last ferry. |
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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 Jul 17, 2014 17:16:57 GMT -8
I just saw gates down below I thought maybe they close it at night but that's good then. I would probably be going mid week this time so hopefully I could get a spot down below. The Elwha might be the only ship I wont be able to get on with my itinerary. One too many ships to ride down there, lol!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 18, 2014 20:02:45 GMT -8
Isent it gonna be difficult to find a car in the parking lot, if it is this foggy?  - this is Anacotes on a mid-July morning. Summer in the Pacific Northwest.  |
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elwha
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by elwha on Jul 18, 2014 20:13:02 GMT -8
Just a few days ago I passed the Lopez Island terminal and there was some very obvious construction with a barge,tug, and crane on scene. Does anyone know what's happening? I thought the Lopez construction was done already.
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Post by Barnacle on Jul 19, 2014 5:43:52 GMT -8
Just a few days ago I passed the Lopez Island terminal and there was some very obvious construction with a barge,tug, and crane on scene. Does anyone know what's happening? I thought the Lopez construction was done already. Some additional repairs were required. |
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 22, 2014 7:21:11 GMT -8
correct me if I am wrong but the Hyak Kaleetan and Elwha in the San Juans carry 144 cars right??? I think that is what they are listed at. On the Terminal Conditions page where it lists all the sailings and how many spaces left it never shows upcoming sailings being empty for example the 2pm to Friday Harbour at 8:20am shows 129 spaces left. They dont take reservations so I doubt over 10 spaces would be occupied already for the 2pm. Or do not they fill to capacity??? Do you get what I am saying?
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 22, 2014 7:32:22 GMT -8
correct me if I am wrong but the Hyak Kaleetan and Elwha in the San Juans carry 144 cars right??? I think that is what they are listed at. On the Terminal Conditions page where it lists all the sailings and how many spaces left it never shows upcoming sailings being empty for example the 2pm to Friday Harbour at 8:20am shows 129 spaces left. They dont take reservations so I doubt over 10 spaces would be occupied already for the 2pm. Or do not they fill to capacity??? Do you get what I am saying? The only factor I can think of that would lower the vehicle capacity this many hours out is the number of oversize vehicles they are predicting to be on that sailing. Large trucks will definitely impact the capacity, so perhaps the 129 figure comes from predictive data based on historical trends for number of talls/oversize vehicles on that particular sailing. I say that because I noticed none of the 144 car ferries show that number on any of the sailings today. On another note, it's Friday Harbor, not Friday Harbour. |
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Post by chokai on Jul 22, 2014 8:25:49 GMT -8
It wouldn't necessarily be historical. If you have an Executive (aka Business account) with WSF you can reserve sailings from Anacortes to the islands not just Sidney.
The capacity also never shows as listed vessel capacity on the terminal waiting conditions. A certain # of spots (usually 3 or 4) are not listed in the online capacity (for example Tokitae lists as 141). They are probably being held for things like emergency vehicles and medical priority. This # could be higher in the San Juan's. If there is more to it or I'm wrong I bet Barnacle knows the dirt. ;-)
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 22, 2014 9:13:41 GMT -8
correct me if I am wrong but the Hyak Kaleetan and Elwha in the San Juans carry 144 cars right??? I think that is what they are listed at. On the Terminal Conditions page where it lists all the sailings and how many spaces left it never shows upcoming sailings being empty for example the 2pm to Friday Harbour at 8:20am shows 129 spaces left. They dont take reservations so I doubt over 10 spaces would be occupied already for the 2pm. Or do not they fill to capacity??? Do you get what I am saying? The only factor I can think of that would lower the vehicle capacity this many hours out is the number of oversize vehicles they are predicting to be on that sailing. Large trucks will definitely impact the capacity, so perhaps the 129 figure comes from predictive data based on historical trends for number of talls/oversize vehicles on that particular sailing. I say that because I noticed none of the 144 car ferries show that number on any of the sailings today. On another note, it's Friday Harbor, not Friday Harbour. It wouldn't necessarily be historical. If you have an Executive (aka Business account) with WSF you can reserve sailings from Anacortes to the islands not just Sidney. The capacity also never shows as listed vessel capacity on the terminal waiting conditions. A certain # of spots (usually 3 or 4) are not listed in the online capacity (for example Tokitae lists as 141). They are probably being held for things like emergency vehicles and medical priority. This # could be higher in the San Juan's. If there is more to it or I'm wrong I bet Barnacle knows the dirt. ;-) You know, I totally forgot about the business accounts with WSF. Thanks for reminding me of that. I'll bet that's it. You get a few commercial rigs per sailing with reservations, and that would certainly reduce the amount of available space. |
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SolDuc
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SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
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Post by SolDuc on Jul 22, 2014 9:16:56 GMT -8
It wouldn't necessarily be historical. If you have an Executive (aka Business account) with WSF you can reserve sailings from Anacortes to the islands not just Sidney. The capacity also never shows as listed vessel capacity on the terminal waiting conditions. A certain # of spots (usually 3 or 4) are not listed in the online capacity (for example Tokitae lists as 141). They are probably being held for things like emergency vehicles and medical priority. This # could be higher in the San Juan's. If there is more to it or I'm wrong I bet Barnacle knows the dirt. ;-) Yes, reservations exist fro commercial vehicles in the San Juans, and some probably reserved some space on that sailing so those spaces are not showing up. And yes, WSF also keeps a few spots left just in case. |
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Post by Barnacle on Jul 22, 2014 16:57:55 GMT -8
correct me if I am wrong but the Hyak Kaleetan and Elwha in the San Juans carry 144 cars right??? I think that is what they are listed at. On the Terminal Conditions page where it lists all the sailings and how many spaces left it never shows upcoming sailings being empty for example the 2pm to Friday Harbour at 8:20am shows 129 spaces left. They dont take reservations so I doubt over 10 spaces would be occupied already for the 2pm. Or do not they fill to capacity??? Do you get what I am saying? They fill to capacity. However, they don't factor a full boat as 144 spaces because of medical priority vehicles, loading problems, etc. that means occasionally we don't get 144 aboard. Usually it's more, but there are odd days like the Saturday following the first Friday of the month (when Saturday is the 2nd through the 8th) where all the great big SUVs come out of the woodwork. We call it "Costco Saturday," in honor of the first weekend day available after payday. But, to address the commercial vehicle question, a 75-foot tractor-trailer rig registers as either a 3.8- or 4-space vehicle, depending on how the reservations are being counted. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 23, 2014 7:47:35 GMT -8
Orcas arrival on Klahowya, on a foggy/sunny morning in the San Juans. July 15, 2014. - we arrived from Friday Harbor via Wasp Passage  |
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