Fond of commuters’ ferry safety

It’s been more than 50 years since the Balboa Ferry, the service which carries cars over Newport Harbor, closed for more than a day.

Remarkably, the versatile ferry system, which carries more than 1.5 million passengers a year, was closed for a week in the 1950s for the same reason it’s closed today — to replace and repair the wooden automotive and pedestrian walkways that lead residents onto its boats, owner Seymour Beek said.

“The marine environment is very hostile to many compounds, and wood is by no means invincible,” Operations Manager Casey Jones said. “It’s amazingly strong — stronger than some metals — but after decades of exposure to the elements, we want to replace the wood before it becomes brittle.

“Obviously if we’re going to replace an auto ramp and work on the pedestrian ramps, we cannot safely provide transportation,” Jones said.

For now, the peninsula’s residents will have to take the 3-to-5-mile trek up Balboa Boulevard to reach mainland points, though Beek said he hopes services can resume late Friday night should the repairs stay on schedule.

Local historian Gay Wassall-Kelly said she didn’t mind the closure, adding she hoped the down period would help people appreciate what she thought was an excellent service for the harbor.

She can’t remember the last time the ferry closed, but fondly recalls a number of fun memories made possible by the ferry: trips to get root beer floats at Jolly Roger’s, listening to music at a hip Balboa record store and even illegal swims to shore, should she and her friends be a bit short on cash.

“I’ve told Seymour [Beek] that I probably owe him about $3 — the fare back then was 10 cents,” she joked.

Jones sympathized with those who may be inconvenienced by the closure, but that their safety would have to come first.

“We look forward to many more future safe crossings with our customers,” he said.

 Fully operational since 1919

 Sends 1.5 million passengers over Newport Harbor annually.

 Tickets are 50 cents for children, $1 for adults, and $2 for vehicles.

 Distance to Fashion Island via Ferry: 2.5 miles.

 Distance to Fashion Island via Bridges: 6 miles.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.