South Whidbey fire boat still in need of a name

The new $500,000, 32-foot marine response catamaran for South Whidbey Fire/EMS needs a name. Originally, the fire protection district hoped it would find some inspiration from school children on South Whidbey. But after a couple of months of a naming contest with only two submissions, Chief Rusty Palmer said the district will look elsewhere.

March 28, 2014 6:20 pm

The new $500,000, 32-foot marine response catamaran for South Whidbey Fire/EMS needs a name.

Originally, the fire protection district hoped it would find some inspiration from school children on South Whidbey. But after a couple of months of a naming contest with only two submissions, Chief Rusty Palmer said the district will look elsewhere.

Palmer said a couple of possible names were submitted at a recent all-district meeting. They hope also to get suggestions from the community.

The boat, manufactured almost entirely in the Freeland shop of North Cross Aluminum, may be in service as soon as April 1.

A recent overheating issue arose, said Palmer, that required the expansion tank for the cooling system be moved closer to the engine.

“We’ve just got to wait until that’s resolved [before it can go into active service],” Palmer said.