The Saturday before the Great American Eclipse, drivers and walk-on travelers alike were upbeat in the face of having nearly half the regular trips canceled on the popular Port Townsend–Coupeville ferry route.

The MV Kennewick was the only ferry running during the weekend, following significant damage caused to its sister boat, the MV Salish, when it ran aground Aug. 8. Damage to the boat’s propellers was caused when it became ensnared in crab pot lines, requiring it to be put into dry dock for repairs.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) spokesperson Ian Sterling said on Monday that the Salish is expected to be out of service “through at least the end of the month.”

Despite a low-tide cancellation of four boats between 6:30 and 8:45 a.m. on Aug. 19, wait lines on either side weren’t long, and walk-on passengers filled the deck, chatting and visiting and even gathering en masse on the bow to look at a whale passing by.

LIKE THE LIFESTYLE

PT’s Andree Vigeant and her husband, Steve Kemper, sat in the ferry line reading library books while waiting to board the 2 p.m. boat.

“We’re heading to Burlington to pick up a car,” said Vigeant. “Saturday was the only day available. There were no reservations available Sunday from the Whidbey end.” Having to wait for reservations is a small price to pay, she noted. “We put up with the ferry schedule because we like the lifestyle here.”

Robert Kline, an Oak Harbor resident who regularly commutes in his work as a vendor that supplies QFC and Safeway, leaned out his window, listening to Vigeant. He said the temporary route reduction makes him remember to make reservations further ahead of time, in this case, reservations made Aug. 16 for a 10 p.m. sailing the following Sunday night.

“I wanted to make it for the Styx tribute concert in Sequim Sunday,” he said.

A Bow-area family returning from a camping trip at Heart O’ the Hills did not make a reservation and were hoping to make the 3:30 p.m. sailing. Instead of running every 45 minutes, as is usual with two boats, sailings were happening every 90 minutes.

“It was hard to make a reservation remotely,” said Doug Booth, while eating lunch with his wife, Vicky Thulman, and daughter Keely. “There were no reservations for Friday or Sunday available.”

“I imagine there could be a big impact in that people are scared off when they hear there’s only one ferry,” added Thurman.

“But we have our books to read,” Booth said. Having the time, he stepped out of his car to proudly show off his vintage-looking travel trailer, a sky blue and white 2008 Serro Scotty, which looks just like the models from the 1960s.

FOUR-HOUR WAIT

One commuter had a hard time of it the weekend before, even though WSF brought the MV Chetzemoka up to run passengers to the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival Aug. 12-13.

“The ferry that Friday was awful,” said Chris Hoffman Hill, public services manager with the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock. Hoffman Hill had hoped to catch a boat on Friday, Aug. 11 without a reservation. “Only reservation holders were allowed on, and I still waited over four hours to get on a boat. I was two and a half hours late to set up for Coupeville Arts Festival. Now I am making my reservations a week ahead to be sure of a space.”

Sterling, public information officer for WSF, said he grew up in Port Townsend and could appreciate people’s frustrations at having only one boat. He asked that those who fish for crab be mindful about where they place their crab pots.

“The propeller shaft was entangled in crab pot lines that worked their way up to a bearing that is in between the watertight part of the ship,” he said. “It’s not clear where it was entangled. It could be there were crab pots by Coupeville. It can be amateurs.

“One way to lose expensive gear is to put it where the boats travel. We’d advise people not to do that. Obviously most people know this. This is the first year I’ve known of where we had this level of damage.”

Sterling said there was another instance of crab pot lines being snarled in a ship’s propeller this summer, in the San Juan Islands.

He said officials also checked the Kennewick’s propeller and didn’t find any crab pot lines.

“You worry about that happening. There are only three boats that can serve Port Townsend,” he said. “The Chetzemoka is serving the Port Defiance route. We were able to move it up the past weekend. Later, it was needed there for the weekly commute in Port Defiance.”

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said owners of lost crabbing gear need to immediately report to 855-542-3935. Meanwhile, Sterling said, it is hoped that the MV Salish will be returned to service by the end of the month.