BLAINE, Wash. — Officials with the City of Blaine announced yesterday, March 26th, that the Plover, a 32-foot historical passenger ferry, is expected to return to summer service carrying passengers between the north end of Semiahmoo spit and the historic cannery pier in Blaine the beginning of June after a 1-year hiatus due to needed repairs.
The Plover underwent a bi-annual inspection by US Coast Guard Marine Inspectors during September of 2022. According a request for bids to perform needed repairs, “… inspectors found numerous deficiencies including a soft spot in the stem post, one on a plank on the starboard side and one another on a plank on the stern, the garboard seam next to the keel was weeping oil.” The Plover has remained out of the water since while awaiting repairs.
Another significant required repair was the replacing of 16 age/rot damaged frames. This would involve locating and purchasing wood to be cut and milled. The milled pieces would then need to be steamed and bent or laminated in order to fit into positions in the hull.
Moreover, after months of searching for clear vertical grain (CVG) Douglas fir to replank the bow section of the Historic Plover, a breakthrough was achieved. The scarcity of such wood in the Pacific Northwest’s ancient old-growth Douglas fir forests posed a significant challenge. Through effective networking, Gordon Plume was identified as having a substantial stock of old growth in his studio. Gordon agreed to sell 24 pieces measuring 2″ x 6″ x 16′, totaling approximately 350 linear feet of fir – precisely the quantity required for the project. This acquisition significantly enhances our resources for the repairs on the Historic Plover.
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The city’s announcement said, “the lead inspector expressed satisfaction [regarding the repair work] and indicated plans to return in three weeks for further review.”
During Monday’s Blaine City Council meeting, an agreement with Drayton Harbor Maritime to continue to maintain and operate the Plover was approved.
According to the City of Blaine website, Plover was built in 1944 and operated for 20 years as a cannery launch before being converted into a day tug. A 7-year restoration effort to convert the Plover to a passenger ferry was completed in 1996 and the Plover returned to service as a foot ferry. It is the second oldest ferry operating in Washington State.
The Plover has been running the 25-minute channel crossings on weekend schedules between Memorial Day and Labor Day carrying passengers for voluntary donations.
In 2022 the MV Plover had the highest number of passengers in the history of the Historic Plover Ferry, with 7,974 one-way passengers. The two closest years were 2006 with 7,598, and 2015 with 7,463. The MV Plover had 2,161 children passengers and issued a record number of Honorary Captain Certificates at 1,007. City of Blaine
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