M/V DEFIANCE

Name: Defiance  Official Number: 226366 Vessel Call Sign: WE8648  Length: 165' Width: 50' Draft: 13'  Gross Weight:  444 Net Weight: -295;  Propulsion: 2  Fairbanks Morse diesel engines:  Autos:  32 cars  Passengers: 300.  Name taken from Point Defiance, where the ferry originally worked. Drawings courtesy of Johan Iversen.

The Defiance sails into Keystone Harbor in the 1960's.  Photo courtesy of Bill Cotter.

Today, the crossing between Keystone on Whidbey Island and Port Townsend, on the Olympic Peninsula is on the edge of serious changes.   The oddly shaped harbor at Keystone at the present time can only fit the Steel Electric class vessels into the Harbor, and at 80 years old, the Steel E's are at the practical end of their service life.      Washington State Ferries inherited the route when Olympic Ferries Inc, who'd been operating the route since the 1940's, went out of business and ended service in 1974.  The Governor stepped in and ordered WSF to take up the route, which was a vital tourist link in the summer months.      Olympic Ferries had been operating the ferry San Diego on the route for the last few years, since purchasing the boat from the San Diego-Coronado Ferry Company that closed its doors in 1969 after the opening of the Coronado bridge.  Prior to the San Diego taking the over the run, Olympic had been operating their only other ferry--the all wood Defiance, near sister to the Skansonia.      Built in 1927 by the Skansie Brothers Shipyard in Gig Harbor, Washington, the diesel ferry had first opeated from Point Defiance (which is where she got her name) to Point Fosdick and Gig Harbor on the Olympic Peninsula.  Operated by the Washington Navigation Company, which also owned the Skansonia, City of Tacoma, Wollochet and a number of smaller vessels, the ferry worked the southern arm of Puget Sound until the opening of Tacoma Narrows Bridge.  The ferries were idled until the bridge collasped, but by that time the Washington Navigation Company was a memory.  The ferries were leased from the Skansies by the Washington Toll Bridge Authority and went back to work on the route.      With second Tacoma Narrows Bridge opening in 1949 the ferries were idled for good. The Defiance was sold to Olympic Ferries, which had taken over the Keystone route after Black Ball had abandonded the run.      From then on, in the summer months the Defiance made the crossing from Keystone to Port Towsend, running profitably for many years.  In the mid 1950's she also made freight trips into Seattle, supplimenting the service of the Iroquois.      By 1970 Olympic Ferries Inc was looking to replace the Defiance with a vessel that wasn't going to be as costly to maintain.  The San Diego seemed to be the perfect choice so they purchased the ferry and brought her up from San Diego and sold the Defiance in 1973.       The Defiance did not end her career there.  She was converted into a self-propelled dogfish processor and could be seen roaming around the Sound for several years.  She did eventually move to Alaska, and was last homeported in Juneau.  The Coast Guard has a record of her, but lists her as "out of service."      If you have any memories or further information on the old Defiance, please feel free to email me!

The Defiance in Olumpic Ferries Livery.  Olympic Ferries had a particularly nice house flag.                               Courtesy of Johan Iversen.

The Defiance sailing from Keystone Harbor in 1968.  Photo courtesy of Tom Eades.

Perhaps the most well known postcard of the ferry, taken either in the late 1960's or early 1970's.   Author's collection.

The Defiance ended up an odd looking vessel after being converted into a fish processor.  For a time she worked on Puget Sound, but ended up in Alaska..   Author's collection.

Forgotten Ferries Onto the San Diego

The all-wood Defiance seemed an odd choice for an ad for steel; however the ad was talking about the cars and not the ferry. Below, the Defiance at the old Port Townsend dock.  Author's collection..