OLYMPIA — For years, Mike Langford rode the state’s oldest ferries when he came from California to visit family in the San Juan Islands.
And he knew at least two of these Steel Electric-class vessels once carried cars and passengers between San Francisco and Sausalito, where he works as a top city official.
So when Langford heard Washington planned to sell its decades-old and mothballed boats, he inquired about buying one and giving it a Bay area homecoming.
Unfortunately, the asking price proved too high, so Langford and the city of Sausalito won’t be bidding Wednesday when the Steel Electrics go up for sale on eBay.
“We needed more time and money if we were going to try to make it happen,” said Langford, who has pictures on his office wall of the Nisqually and Quinault when they were known as the Mendocino and Redwood Empire, respectively.
The state will put all four of its Steel Electrics up for auction, each with a minimum bid of $350,000. Offers for the Nisqually, Quinault, Illahee and Klickitat will be accepted for 10 days.
Tim McGuigan, director of legal services for the ferry system, said Monday that boats receiving offers of at least $350,000 will be sold. Those that do not will likely be placed on eBay for another 10 days.
As of last week, the state had been contacted by roughly 25 individuals and companies, most of them looking to turn the 81-year-old boats into scrap metal. Washington State Ferries has been told by various maritime experts that each boat could fetch up to $475,000 as scrap.
They also have been informed there may be buyers interested in using the vessels to transport passengers outside the U.S.
Port Townsend officials would like to use one boat as a meeting facility or as a shopping area, while Washington Scuba Alliance leaders want to sink the ferries and convert them into underwater dive attractions. Neither the city nor the nonprofit has yet made an offer.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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