It takes a village … to rescue a West Seattle wildlife raft

(August 2010 photo by Guy Smith)
Another chapter to share in the ongoing saga of Alki’s Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft, first launched in 2008, first mentioned here when we heard from Joy’s husband Guy Smith in 2009, and the subject of some memorable stories since then. Today, Guy shared another one:

Joy’s raft is in dry dock again after an underwater line broke. That’s nothing new, but the way the raft was rescued is quite a story.

We discovered it had broken loose in the late afternoon on Thursday the 12th and located it drifting along about halfway to Duwamish Head. There wasn’t enough daylight left to get a boat and pull it home, so we crossed our fingers and went to dinner with friends. They volunteered to look for it the next day in their boat, but when we got back home at dusk we couldn’t believe our eyes. The raft was tied to a buoy about halfway between the point and the Alki Promenade. How could this have happened?

As near as we can tell, from listening to all the neighbors’ stories and a little guesswork, the raft and buoy were drifting toward Alki Point at about 7:30 pm, on the strong incoming tide when a neighbor, Zack Singer, jumped into his kayak and set out to rescue it. Zack said he was spurred to action when he, Judy, and Linda were sipping cool ones on the patio and Judy said something like “we can’t let that raft get away; we like watching it too much.”

Zack hooked up to the raft and buoy, but the current was too strong and he found himself being pulled south around the point. Luckily, Jack Miller was heading north in his big boat, the “Baltic Sea,” and responded to Zack’s hail.

(Photo by Kyle Udo, added Tuesday morning, courtesy Kyle’s dad Pat Hogan)
Jack hooked up to what he laughingly described as “a pretty unusual sight” and pulled the whole thing around the Point to the first buoy they came to; one of only 3 left on this stretch of beach where a dozen used to be. Zack said it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride; because when Jack took off, the kayak was being pulled backward. Afraid it would flip, he whipped out his knife and cut the kayak loose (instincts from working on tug boats), nicking his finger in the process.

At the new buoy, rope was needed; so Zack paddled to the beach and borrowed a length from Duff Kennedy’s seemingly endless supply. Jack donated a throw-ring float from the Baltic Sea to keep the lines from sinking and tangling. All this action was watched by neighbors on the beach as they shouted encouragement and advice (happy hour was running late that day).

On Saturday, Jerett Kaplan donated his rowboat for retrieving the raft; and it now sits in dry dock, awaiting new parts and a call to the diver. It’s been a nice marine refuge and people along the beach like to watch the birds and seals. Penny Earnest is a Seal Sitter volunteer and sends in daily seal counts. Thanks go to other neighbors who keep watch on the raft and who helped fill in details – Bette Callan, the Hogans, the Warrens, and others; even the unknown owner of the buoy where the raft was temporarily tied. The biggest thanks go to Zack and Jack for their timely action.

Sharon Kennedy related that on Friday, she had watched a mother seal and her pup circle the spot where the raft normally floats; circling for quite a while before they gave up and left. She laughed when she told that she had almost started yelling and pointing to the new location.

17 Replies to "It takes a village ... to rescue a West Seattle wildlife raft"

  • JoB April 16, 2012 (8:46 pm)

    I love this story
    next time someone complains about what a small town West Seattle is.. i am going to think about this story because being a this kind of small town is one of West Seattle’s greatest assets.

  • Mary April 16, 2012 (8:53 pm)

    This is why I love West Seattle! Great neighbors!!

  • Alki Resident April 16, 2012 (9:13 pm)

    Lol,perfect headline for this story.It reminds me of the boy near the ferry dock who always got into some sort of trouble.Everyone always knew about it.

  • enviromaven April 16, 2012 (9:33 pm)

    Lovely story! The wildlife in West Seattle is the best!!! (And the people are pretty great, too :)

  • seewhatsealionsstart April 16, 2012 (9:36 pm)

    How cool is that. Community care and effort-fantastic people!

  • shed22 April 16, 2012 (10:07 pm)

    I would like Mr. Guy Smith to tell many more stories. Please.

  • Jason April 16, 2012 (11:31 pm)

    Ah, that explains why the raft was tied up to the buoy in my backyard! The buoy that it was tied to belongs to Rick Warfield at 3042 Alki, however it is in my backyard at 3043 Alki. Long story. It was nice to have it there while it lasted!

  • WSB April 16, 2012 (11:39 pm)

    So would I! Was very excited to see this in the inbox. – TR

  • resident April 16, 2012 (11:41 pm)

    Im so confused on where this raft is, went, then was found…

    • WSB April 17, 2012 (12:35 am)

      Off the residential area west of Alki Beach Park.

  • grus22 April 17, 2012 (12:58 am)

    Proud to be a W. Seattleite! Great story and from one who makes a point to stop and check out what’s on the raft every time I return from a bike ride, THANK YOU. Respect.

  • Patricia Maguire April 17, 2012 (4:04 am)

    So, is this the raft that rests near where Quisnel’s use to be. Across from Me Kwa Mooks but further south? A friend and I were had lunch Sunday on the benches and were talking about that raft.
    AlkiBeach1950.

    • WSB April 17, 2012 (5:05 am)

      No, that’s Beach Drive, not Alki. This one is usually between Alki Point and the west end of Alki Beach Park.

  • B-squared April 17, 2012 (7:50 am)

    Thanks to all who joined in on the rescue – what a fun story!! It would be wonderful if those who do own buoys off of beach drive and Alki would attached similar rafts to the buoys during the months when they are not using them for boating. These would be fabulous little refuges for seal pups and other wildlife, while providing a viewing opportunities for the non-aquatic among us.

  • alkigirl April 17, 2012 (7:53 am)

    way to go skipper jack! he’s always been ready to lend a hand whenever needed! lucky for the guy in the kayak jack came along!

    i’ve never heard of alki beach being called alki beach park. but i guess it is just that! grew up there as 4th generation and still call it home. mom still lives in the house we grew up in.

    hey….hi trish!!!

  • The Blue Bottle House April 17, 2012 (9:11 am)

    Proud to say we where the cheering Happy Hour crew with the great team work of our life long friend Captain Jack Miller. Yes that is why we love our Alki Point beach neighborhood….So glad we will get the dock back for lots more sea life fun in the Alki sun.

  • huh April 17, 2012 (1:23 pm)

    Would LOVE to get one of those for our community beach. What does something like that cost, anyway? Can we borrow Jack’s boat to install? : )

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