Seattle Press on Line - <i>Virginia V</i> Skims the Waters Once Again

Boating

Boating Opening Day

Virginia V Skims the Waters Once Again

By Jo Bailey and Carl Nyberg

Virginia V passes through the Montlake Cut on her first cruise after major rebuilding. Jo Bailey photo.

Apr 25, 2002 -- Virginia V, the trim, 80-year-old steam-powered vessel that is the last of the Puget Sound Mosquito fleet ships, plied the waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington on April 17. It was the first time in five years she was untied from her moorage at Lake Union Drydock and she looked as beautiful as ever.

The ship has been undergoing a five-year-long restoration project which included complete restoration of the engine, a new Babcock and Wilcox water tube boiler, extensive hull planks and frame replacement, new decking, pilot house and captain's cabin.

Later this spring a rededication ceremony will take place, after she is certified by the Coast Guard.

Captain Dale Pederson, in the wheelhouse of the Virginia V, shows the original ship's wheel and the telegraph used to send instructions to the engineer in the engine room. Before the telegraph, directives to engineers were sent by gongs and jingles. Jo Ba

The vessel, built near Olalla on the Kitsap Peninsula in 1922, is 125 feet long with a 24-foot beam and eight foot draft. She carried passengers and freight around waterfront communities on Puget Sound from 1922 until 1937. She later carried thousands of young Campfire girls to Camp Sealth on Vashon Island.

Dale Peterson is the new skipper of the Virginia V. He was formerly first mate and a relief captain with former skipper John Moss. "This is more than exciting--we've been waiting a long time for this," he said. She carries a crew of eight plus five trainees.

The Virginia Vis powered by a 400 horsepower, triple expansion reciprocating steam engine built by Hefferman Iron Works of Seattle in 1903 for her predecessor, Virginia IV, originally named Tyrus.

Keith Sternberg, left, watches the piston rods on the Virginia V's engine. He remachined all the engine parts. Jo Bailey photo.

Chief engineer Alan Graves, who has been with the boat for 11 years, said it "was thrilling to resurrect the boat. Five years ago the project seemed pretty grim."

Keith Sternberg of Lopez Island worked on the restoring the engine for three years, re-machining every piece in the engine, reboring cylinders and many other time-consuming jobs, which he enjoyed. He then hand fit it all back together.

"I think Virginia's overall condition is now better than it ever was," he said.

Upcoming plans for the Virginia Vinclude visiting many of the communities which were her original whistle stops, participating in festivals and events at waterfront towns and cities, cruises for kids, charters and even onboard weddings.

The vessel is a designated National Historic Landmark, is on the National Register of Historic Sites and is both a Seattle and Tacoma City Landmark.

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!

No comments yet!