PORT ANGELES — Steve Rodrigues, new owner of the Kalakala, made a passionate plea for community support to save the rusting art deco ferry and prevent him from having to sink it in the Pacific Ocean.
“I could still take it 40 miles out and sink it,” Rodrigues said.
He would then use the silver vessel’s last life preserver to float back to his boat and write a book about his experience and love for the 1935 vessel.
“It’s going to be a sad story when it sinks.”
Before having to resort to that, Rodrigues said, he is trying everything possible to raise donations, selling $20 commemorative coins and Kalakala windows for up to $10,000 in hopes of raising enough money to repair the vessel’s rusting rivets so it can be towed to dry dock for the actual restoration.
Rodrigues also said he has received an offer from private property owners to moor the vessel on 400 feet of Port Angeles waterfront near Red Lion Hotel.
He said it was too soon, however, to give details and name those making the offer.
Cherie Kidd, new director of the Port Angeles Kalakala Alliance, and Bill Zynda, who headed up the movement three years ago to bring the Kalakala to Port Angeles, accompanied Rodrigues who made his presentation to about 20 at Tempest youth center.
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