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Post by whidbeyislandguy on Jul 5, 2011 16:55:32 GMT -8
This nice little pencil drawing of the Rhody arriving at Clinton is posted on the wall at the family beach cabin on South Whidbey. The artist is listed as R. Davenport (perhaps fort) and is dated '73. I know nothing else about it. I've never seen it for sale elsewhere on the island though but I would love to buy another one for my own place. :-) I have a few of his drawings, and Yes it is Ravenport, It was done by Rolland Davenport Lives in Clinton.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Jul 9, 2011 19:48:03 GMT -8
Once the Kwa class boats are all in service and which ever Kwa class boat takes over for the Rhody, will WSF keep her in reserve for a while or will the for sale signs go up? Since she is limited in where she can sail, I think I know the answer. I just hope she does not end up like her near sister (OLY) or that she has a one way ticket to Mexico!
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Post by BreannaF on Jul 9, 2011 21:49:24 GMT -8
It seems likely that a ferry that currently cannot transport passengers more than a mile from shore would not be useful (at least around here) for taking passengers anywhere. A shame, but reality.
When the time does eventually come, WSF precedent recently (with the passenger ferries and the Steel Electrics) has been to offer the ferries first to any state agency that could use them (unlikely), then offer them to sale to the public. It seems likely that would be the Rhody's fate.
We saw a lot of possible uses discussed for the S/E's and the Kalakala (as well as some BC Ferries) on these forums, and none of them turned out to be economically feasible. Unless whoever has the Olympic wants to store another one, me guess will be scrap...... at some point well into the future.
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 10, 2011 18:27:31 GMT -8
Seeing as how Rhododendron is not going to be around for too much longer, I took the oppourtunity to go for a ride on the venerable old girl on Saturday. I like this ferry. It may be old, but it's got character. Here are a few Rhododendron pics from Saturday: M/V Rhododendron approaching Tahlequah (South Vashon) Rhody's car deck Stairs to car deck Outside passenger deck The passenger cabin Builder's plaque M/V Rhododendron departing Point Defiance, heading back to Tahlequah
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on Jul 24, 2011 11:05:48 GMT -8
It is my opinion that the WSF would do better to keep the Rody around for a while than surplussing it off as soon as the last KdT comes on line.
1. WSF engineers tell me it's in better shape than the Hiyu. 2. The system will still be down 1 boat from 2007 even with the KdT's on line, more if it and the Hiyu are sold off. 3. The Rody is a great back up for Pt. Defiance, and Inter Island, better than the Hiyu. 4. It runs much less expensively than a KdT. 5. It could be temporarily leased out to other users. We need to wait until the fist 144 hits the routes before getting rid of it.
Jim
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Post by rusty on Jul 24, 2011 12:25:09 GMT -8
Might keep her around until they figure out how well a KdT would actually work out at Point Defiance.
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Post by zargoman on Jul 25, 2011 22:31:43 GMT -8
Isn't the Rhody only allowed at Point Defiance though because she can't go very far from shore unless more watertight compartments are added?
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lifc
Voyager
Posts: 471
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Post by lifc on Jul 25, 2011 23:27:59 GMT -8
The Coast Guard rules are within 1 mile of shore, the Inter-Island route is well within that limit. The Hiyu has the same restriction and it is there often. If it had not been restricted, it would likely been assigned to Port Townsend/Keystone in late 2007.
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Post by Barnacle on Jul 26, 2011 4:21:44 GMT -8
The Rhody would also qualify for Southworth-Vashon.
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Post by Kahloke on Sept 8, 2011 7:05:26 GMT -8
We had an incredible sunrise this morning and I just happened to catch Rhody on her morning crossing at just the right moment:
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Post by northwesterner on Sept 8, 2011 19:19:29 GMT -8
stunning!
Thanks for sharing.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Oct 10, 2011 18:43:33 GMT -8
I thought I should direct my comment on the impending retirement of the Rhody here. It has been stated in another thread that maybe WSF will not retire the Rhody right away. There is probably some truth to that since we all need to see how the Chetzy will perform at PT DEF/TALL. Personally I see WSF keeping the Rhody in ready reserve for about 3 months while the Chetzy settles in and if all goes well, the Rhody gets stripped of her usable assets then put up for sale. After all, the Rhody can only be used on her current route or maybe the Inter-Island route in a severe pinch. I for one will try to ride her as much as possible as her days are numbered.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 10, 2011 21:19:16 GMT -8
Rhody's car deck What the heck would they be able to fit in that tiny lane to the right? Motorcycles, I guess, but it's pretty much useless!
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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 Oct 10, 2011 21:30:29 GMT -8
Smart Car??? lol!
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Post by chokai on Oct 10, 2011 22:08:12 GMT -8
I have a old '98 Escort and it fits in there just fine, you could also put all the smaller modern cars (i.e civic, corolla, focus etc in there). You might even fit a Prius although having driven one I can say they are bigger than you'd think. Driver comfort/confidence level is gonna be your issue....
It's still pretty (totally) useless but there is some irony that as the cars are getting smaller nowadays it's going to get more useful and yet she's retiring, kind of a strange set of circumstances.
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Post by Barnacle on Oct 11, 2011 5:47:12 GMT -8
Don't let the stanchions fool you... if I recall correctly, I measured it the last time I was on the boat (about ten years ago) and the outside lane is only about six inches narrower than the other two.
I won't lie, the whole boat is snug. But it can be done.
It does remind me of a story of a friend who worked on the Rhody for years, though... he was loading the boat one day and he was forced to put this little old lady in a big black Cadillac down the outside lane. He was stunned when said little old lady flipped him off.
Turns out she was a regular commuter, and she flipped him off the next day before he assigned her to a lane. Guess where she ended up?
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Post by zargoman on Oct 11, 2011 9:26:25 GMT -8
The KDT boats have that narrow lane on them. Regular cars will fit as long as nobody in the lane next to it (the tall lane) is over the line. Cars will fit, but it can be very difficult to open the door, as there is zero curbing against the wall. The crew down there should have fun with the Chetz...
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 11, 2011 9:30:33 GMT -8
Rhody's car deck What the heck would they be able to fit in that tiny lane to the right? Motorcycles, I guess, but it's pretty much useless! They've put me down that lane with my car which is a mid-size vehicle. It's a tight fit but most passenger cars will fit. Just hope your driver's door isn't next to one of the poles - you'll never get it open.
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Post by Kahloke on Oct 11, 2011 9:33:35 GMT -8
The KDT boats have that narrow lane on them. Regular cars will fit as long as nobody in the lane next to it (the tall lane) is over the line. Cars will fit, but it can be very difficult to open the door, as there is zero curbing against the wall. The crew down there should have fun with the Chetz... I have found that all of the KDT lanes are narrow except for the one outside lane on the other side of the casing. I like it when they put me down that one - lots of room for opening your car door. I guess I should clarify: all of the lanes are the same width, it's the space between the lanes that is narrow except for that outside lane which has the wider ADA path to the elevators.
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Post by chokai on Nov 18, 2011 11:39:12 GMT -8
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Post by zargoman on Nov 21, 2011 8:02:06 GMT -8
I really hope that we see a public event to say "goodbye". As with any older ferryboat, there's gotta be a lot of people that have some good memories.
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Nov 21, 2011 14:49:48 GMT -8
Personally, I would love to see that happen but don"t count on it. We all wanted to see a send off for the Steels, but the State would not allow the public on any decommissioned vessel, let alone pay for some kind of a retirement ceremony. Nope, I think she will be sold for scrap or be sold and rot away somewhere like all our old classics do.
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Post by chokai on Nov 21, 2011 16:29:57 GMT -8
If I recall correctly someone said that the SE's had all had thier COIs revoked which might've complicated things like that. That might not be the case with Rhody. I'd imagine her's is good for a while as the Kennewick's delivery date was far from certain as recent as a year ago.
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Post by Kahloke on Dec 4, 2011 15:34:42 GMT -8
It was a beautiful day down here in the South Sound, so I decided to grab a few photos of Rhododendron at Point Defiance seeing as how she's in her last days of service. Rhododendron approaching Point Defiance Rhododendron at Point Defiance
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Post by dasgeneral on Dec 21, 2011 16:01:47 GMT -8
As much as I may have fond memories about the Rhody, I also continue to get paranoid about ferries precisely because of how the crew unloaded the boat. I can recall on several occasions the crew unloading one side of the Rhody and having the boat continue to tilt further and further to one side, while they continue to unload. I know it's a time issue, but it always made me wonder whether or not one of those times they'd push the boat too far over to one side and capsize the bloody thing.
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