Enetai

The Enetai, polished up and freshly painted for the Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21) in 1962.

ENETAI

CLASS: Enetai Class (re-engined Steel Electric)

BUILT:  1927, General Engineering & Drydock Co., Alameda, CA

FORMER/LATER NAMES: a. Santa Rosa, b. Enetai, c. Santa Rosa

OFFICIAL NUMBER: 226599 CALL SIGN: WA4715

L/B/D:  256 x 66 x 13 GROSS/NET TONS: 1023/695 PASSENGERS/AUTOS: 1500/90 autos

PROPULSION:  Busch-Sulzer diesel, 2800 HP (direct drive) SPEED: 15 knots

NAME TRANSLATION: “Across, on the other side.”

FINAL DISPOSITION: Direct sister to the Nisqually and Quinault.  Returned to San Francisco in 1968 under her original name, Santa Rosa.   Currently headquarters of Hornblower Yachts and a successful banquet/wedding/reception hall.  The Santa Rosa is the sole survivor of the Steel Electric class ferries.

HISTORY

The Santa Rosa was one of the six nearly identical Steel Electric ferries built in 1927.  Her original owners—Northwestern Pacific—was soon absorbed by Southern Pacific-Golden Gate and, like the other ferries in the class, was idled with the opening of the Golden Gate.

PSN purchased the Santa Rosa and her near sisters to expand and modernize the fleet.  The Santa Rosa arrived on Puget Sound August of 1940 and immediately went into the shipyard for reconstruction.  Renamed Enetai, the cabin was expanded and completely rebuilt, and the ferry converted from a double-ended diesel electric to a direct-drive Busch Sulzer single ender. 

Reconfigured specifically for the Bremerton run, the Enetai joined the route in April of 1941 and with a few minor exceptions, she would continue to work the Bremerton run her entire career.

With her running mates, the Kalakala and the Chippewa, the ferry settled into a comfortable schedule that she would maintain for over 25 years. However, just like the Willapa, the Enetai‘s single-ended configuration would end her career on Puget Sound. 

Although she lasted longer than the Willapa (which was taken out of service as soon as the Hyak arrived), once the Yakima took her place on the Bremerton route, the Enetai was sent into retirement. Still, for a time before the Yakima arrived, the ferry enjoyed a quiet “twilight time” while people strolled her decks in the summer sun of 1967.  Taken out of service, the ferry and her sister spent time in Eagle Harbor until the official FOR SALE sign went up.

It was a big deal when the two former Bay ferries came back home. Unfortunately for the Willapa, ex-Fresno she would endure a decades long layup that would result in her dismantling in the 21st century. Enetai, back as Santa Rosa, would have a happier ending. Author’s collection.

Purchased by Donald Clair in 1968 as a replacement for the burned-out Chippewa, she was towed to San Francisco under her old name of Santa Rosa and sat unused until Hornblower Yachts purchased the run-down boat in 1989.

Hornblower Yachts restored the ferry much to her old Southern Pacific look. Her second wheel house was rebuilt, she was painted completely white and the large windows on her car deck were

restored.  They did not restore the original outline of her passenger cabin, however, and she retained the floor plan built into her in 1941.

Text Box: Photo by Matt Masuoka.Available now for large fully catered parties that including dancing and music, the old Santa Rosa, ex-Enetai, proves that old ferries don’t always outlive their usefulness.

A happy retirement. The current headquarters of Hornblower Yachts, and the only survivor of the Steel Electric Class, the Santa Rosa, ex-Enetai basks in the San Francisco sun. Photo courtesy of Matt Masuoka.