Forum Discussion

Pangaea_Ron's avatar
Pangaea_Ron
Explorer
Nov 04, 2016

Parking on WA State Ferries

Last weekend we took the Port Townsend to Coupeville ferry, with a reservation and got there early. We like to that because we usually get placed in the front row with a great view.

We were loaded on the left side at the front very close to the upper side bulkhead of the ferry. Before we were off-loaded, a deck hand knocked on my window and said that he had screwed up and placed a car very close to our left rear corner, and that he would help me maneuver. He directed me forward with my front left tire just grazing the mooring cleat as he had me turn slowly to the right, without having my tail swing hit the adjacent car or the upper bulkhead. It was a matter of inches at the front and side. We had two entire lines of vehicles blocked if we failed. I can't imagine the chaos of an entire row of tightly packed cars backing up to clear my escape.

I'll play a more active role in my positioning next time.
Class A
  • MountainAir05's avatar
    MountainAir05
    Explorer II
    Nov 04, 2016
    When you drive on you are in the hands of the Crew. They put you where they want. Never had any damage. Enjoy you trip.
  • romore's avatar
    romore
    Explorer II
    Nov 04, 2016
    He is right, you have no say in your positioning. The concern is weight distribution. We boarded at Coupeville towing our fifth wheel, were placed near the rear. We wanted to go upstairs to enjoy the view but the vehicles were so tightly packed we could not open the doors. Like you, I had to be very careful driving off.
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2016
    The new ferry is not as large as the old ones but the crew tries to load as many cars.

    Always make reservations for the Coupeville to PT run either way.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 04, 2016
    One year when leaving the Outer Banks we made reservations on ferry from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island.

    So we lined up early for the Hatteras to Ocracoke Ferry.
    Arrived WAY early so early in fact that Ferry scheduled prior to our reserved ferry was at dock and starting to load vehicles.

    Asked the Port Master...."what are chances we can get on board now"
    He stated he'd check and disappeared.

    Shortly afterwards we noticed ALL the cars that had already gotten on ferry were backing off and then a loading hand came over and motioned us to board.

    After placing us on deck they then reloaded all the other vehicles.

    Didn't know if we should have felt like VIPs or embarrassed.
    Did enjoy the trip and the earlier than expected start to our travel day

    :B
  • Pangaea_Ron's avatar
    Pangaea_Ron
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2016
    We take the WA state ferries quite often and have many friends in Anacortes that are captains, mates, and deck hands. I liked the good old days when you could get invited up to the wheelhouse. Security and inappropriate behavior have changed all that. . . remember "Elwha on the Rocks".

    I has hired as a summer deck hand 50 years ago for WSF, but chose other available employment without the irregular shifts and large commutes. It would have been interesting summer work.

    I like it when we approach the ticket booth and they say "Hi Ron". They are doing a great job and manage a complex system amazingly well.
  • lizzie's avatar
    lizzie
    Explorer
    Nov 05, 2016
    We made 11 ferry crossing on our trip last summer.They ranged from the Alaska Marine Highway off and on from Prince Rupert to Haines, the crossings on the Dempster Hwy in Northwest Territories, and finally the BC ferries from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy and then back to the mainland. We were towing our TT and had a total length of 49'. I have nothing but admiration for the ferry crews. They were absolutely amazing! lizzie
  • TucsonJim's avatar
    TucsonJim
    Explorer II
    Nov 05, 2016
    romore wrote:
    We wanted to go upstairs to enjoy the view but the vehicles were so tightly packed we could not open the doors.


    On October 20th, 1976, I was in the U.S. Coast Guard and involved with lifesaving activities related to the George Prince ferry disaster. 77 people died that morning when a tanker and the ferry collided. The majority of the people who died were still inside their vehicles when the collision occurred. It was a chilly morning, so people had their windows up. The ferry capsized and the cars were strewn into the Mississippi river. The majority of the 18 survivors were outside of their cars or at least had the windows down and could swim to safety.

    So anytime you're on a ferry boat, I recommend getting out of your car and locating the life jacket storage. If you are crammed in so tightly that you can't get out of your car, at least keep your windows down so you can get out of the car in a disaster.

    Jim
  • J-Rooster's avatar
    J-Rooster
    Explorer
    Nov 05, 2016
    I had a mirror break on the Winslow Ferry one time "we slapped mirrors".
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Nov 05, 2016
    TucsonJim wrote:
    romore wrote:
    We wanted to go upstairs to enjoy the view but the vehicles were so tightly packed we could not open the doors.


    On October 20th, 1976, I was in the U.S. Coast Guard and involved with lifesaving activities related to the George Prince ferry disaster. 77 people died that morning when a tanker and the ferry collided. The majority of the people who died were still inside their vehicles when the collision occurred. It was a chilly morning, so people had their windows up. The ferry capsized and the cars were strewn into the Mississippi river. The majority of the 18 survivors were outside of their cars or at least had the windows down and could swim to safety.

    So anytime you're on a ferry boat, I recommend getting out of your car and locating the life jacket storage. If you are crammed in so tightly that you can't get out of your car, at least keep your windows down so you can get out of the car in a disaster.

    Jim

    I believe that tactic is now against the C/G safety rules.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Nov 05, 2016
    TucsonJim wrote:


    So anytime you're on a ferry boat, I recommend getting out of your car and locating the life jacket storage. If you are crammed in so tightly that you can't get out of your car, at least keep your windows down so you can get out of the car in a disaster.

    Jim


    Than you might start to wonder how many of those drivers had the propane tank open and flame under refrigerator burner?
    It is like 3 years since last time I took ferry to Victoria BC, but I think leaving the vehicle was mandatory?
    They had comfortable decks with panoramic views, no no sense to stay in vehicle anyway.

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