Parking on WA State Ferries

[Pangaea_Ron]

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.

[Old-Biscuit]

Kayteg1 wrote:

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.

WHAT :H

:S

[xctraveler]

Depends on the ferry ride. River crossings like Mississippi River is a relatively short ride and there is no place to go. Likewise Champlain Ferry (not the Burlington one) is all business. they really don't want you wandering around as the ride is only 20 minutes. Several crossings we have taken are only 5 minutes.

Long haul ferries like the Old Portland ME to Yarmouth NS no one was allowed on the car deck at all during the 11 hour passage. Likewise on the Alaska Marine Highway.

AS for disconnecting the tow'd If I had wanted to pay the perfoot rate for the distance from the coach back bumper to the tow'd front bumper, I was free to do so. Not only did I disconnect the tow'd, I dismounted the towbar as it extended 2 feet from the coach body.

[Executive45]

They do pack em in, but also assist you in disembarking. They had no issue with us exiting the coach but with a front row seat, we simply relaxed with our cups of coffee and enjoyed the trip.

Port Townsend Ferry




And they don't make you unhook the toad.

[Kayteg1]

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.

[Tom_Barb]

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.

[J-Rooster]

I had a mirror break on the Winslow Ferry one time "we slapped mirrors".

[TucsonJim]

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

[lizzie]

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

[Pangaea_Ron]

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.

[Old-Biscuit]

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

[Tom_Barb]

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.

[romore]

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.

[MountainAir05]

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.