PLOVER - Drayton Harbor Maritime

PLOVER’S ROUTE
Take a voyage back in time aboard the
Historic Motor Vessel PLOVER foot
passenger ferry. Built in 1944 for the Alaska
Packers Association Salmon Cannery at
Semiahmoo in Blaine, Washington.
This nostalgic vessel ferried cannery workers
and townsfolk back and forth across the
mouth of Drayton Harbor between The City
of Blaine and Semiahmoo Spit until 1964.
The Motor Vessel PLOVER has been restored
to its original look and is again plying her
original route, no longer carrying cannery
workers, but tourists, visitors and townsfolk.
The PLOVER is one of the oldest
passenger ferries in Washington
and has the shortest route.
The PLOVER Ferry is now part of Coast
Millennium Trail, Whatcom County’s
contribution to the Pacific Coast Trail.
When completed it will stretch from
Vancouver B.C. to San Diego, CA.
ABOUT THE RIDE
The ferry is certified by the U.S. Coast
Guard to carry 17 passengers and allows
bicycles on a space available basis. Running
time westbound (from Blaine) takes
approximately 20 minutes with views of
Blaine’s working harbor, Semiahmoo Bay,
and the Canadian Coastal Mountain Range,
Point Roberts (U.S.), the Canadian Gulf
Islands, Vancouver Island and the Beautiful
waters of the straight of Georgia. Running
time eastbound is approximately 23 minutes
with views of Drayton Harbor, Mt. Baker,
approximately 150 resident harbor Seals,
a sunken tugboat (tide permitting) Blue
Herons, Caspian Terns, Cormorants,
nesting gulls, Bald Eagles, Osprey Eagles,
and a variety of other waterfowl.
Come Ride The
Historic Plover
Ferry!!
SERVICES
The PLOVER also offers a variety of
charter services. For more information
regarding charters, please contact the
vessel’s master or the Plover Manager,
Captain Richard Sturgill at (360) 332-5742
The PLOVER Ferry’s Official Logo
and Trade Name
PLOVER at Resort Semiahmoo
GENERAL INFORMATION
Function:
Foot Passenger Ferry &
Interpretive Display.
Owner:
City of Blaine
344 H Street
Blaine, WA 98230
PLOVER Manager:
Capt. Richard Sturgill
(360) 332-5742
PLOVER Captain:
Capt. Sam Clemens
Length Overall: 32’
Beam:
9’7”
Draft:
5”
Net Tonnage:
11.0 tons
Hull Construction: 11/4"x4" clear vertical
grain fir and yellow
cedar planking laid over
11/2”x21/2” bent white oak
frames 10” on center.
Power Plant:
Circa 1964 Daggenheim
inline 6 cylinder diesel.
Capacity:
17 passengers: 2 crew
Ride the Historic
Motor Vessel
“PLOVER”
The Motor Vessel PLOVER is owned by
City of Blaine and operated by
Drayton Harbor Maritime, formerly
The Friends of the Plover, trade name:
Alaska Packers Ferry & Steamboat Co.
In June 1997 the National Park Service
listed the Motor Vessel PLOVER on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Only a handful of vessels are listed in this
Register in the State of Washington.
Come experience
the Historic PLOVER Ferry
& Drayton Harbor!
Blaine to Semiahmoo Passenger Ferry
Sailing Schedule
Departs on the hour from the
Blaine Visitor's Dock, Gate II Blaine Harbor.
Passengers boarding MV PLOVER
at Gate II, Blaine Harbor
Drayton Harbor Maritime gratefully
acknowledges the many businesses,
government agencies and individuals
who helped bring about the Motor
Vessel PLOVER’S restoration and
return to service in Drayton Harbor.
Special thanks to the City of Blaine, Port
of Bellingham, Whatcom Maritime
Association, The Friends of the Plover and
“The Plover Beach Gang” for their support,
dedication and hard work in the restoration
and return to service of this local treasure.
MV PLOVER and passengers leaving
Resort Semiahmoo eastbound on an excursion
of Drayton Harbor to view the resident
Harbor Seals, resident waterfowl, a sunken
tugboat, oyster beds and the remains of turnof-the-century waterfront structures on the
way to Gate II landing in Blaine Harbor.
MV PLOVER Ferry Landings:
Gate II, Blaine Harbor Master’s Office
PLOVER Dock, Resort Semiahmoo
For more information
and/or comments, contact:
Blaine Visitor Information Center
728 Peace Portal Drive
Blaine WA 98230
(360) 332-4544
For more information visit us online at:
www.DraytonHarborMaritime.org
Departs on the half-hour from the
Plover Dock at Resort Semiahmoo.
The Ferry operates during the summer months,
beginning on Memorial Day weekend through
Labor Day, including the 4th of July.
Friday & Saturday ~ Noon - 8:00pm
Last sailing westbound at 7:00pm
Last sailing eastbound at 7:30pm
Sunday ~ 10:00am - 6:00pm
Last sailing westbound at 5:00pm
Last sailing eastbound at 5:30pm
Fares: By Donation ~ Round Trip
$5.00 Adults
$1.00 Children
Under 12 years free