Crossing Door County’s Death’s Door maritime passageway

WASHINGTON ISLAND (WLUK) — For more than 100 years, the Washington Island Ferry has served as a connection between Washington Island and mainland Door County.

It is a crucial connection not only for people, but also for cargo and supplies.

And with more than 700 year-round residents, that means the ferry has to run all year round.

“Most goods, materials and supplies are temporary,” said Hoyt Purinton, president of the Washington Island Ferry Line. “You may have hours, days or weeks of doing something, whatever it is, that is necessary to sustain life in the island economy. The pressure is not low,” he says with a laugh.

Purinton operates the Washington Island Ferry Line, which has been in his family since the 1940s.

The entire fleet consists of five boats, but only two sail over the winter; the Madonna and Arni J. Richter.

The two largest and newest ferries in their fleet were also designed and engineered to break ice.

It is a great boon to their business; Therefore, they rarely require coast guard assistance in breaking ice.

It’s not just water that poses a danger. Ice buildup from freezer spatter can also cause problems.

“We carry the most valuable cargo there is, which is slippery decks. Even though we use multiple products and try to stay one step ahead, we want to limit the risk,” adds Hoyt.

And there’s a lot more than just sea ice that captains have to contend with.

“Everything. Fog, wind, snow, rain, any weather.”

Captain Erik Foss has been with the Ferry Line since he was in high school in 1980.

He started as a deckhand and has been captain since 1987.

Foss says there’s very little the boats can’t handle on open water, but near shore the weather can really disrupt operations.

“Investing is the most important thing. You have to be very careful because the waves, the wind and the current determine where the boat goes, so you have to pay attention.”

Once in open water, they use a combination of radar and GPS tracking to stay on course in poor visibility. And it can be very low.

“It’s like a kaleidoscope. Because the boat is often moving relatively, the snow will fly in a different direction and the current may push the ice in a different direction,” Hoyt says.

Despite the extreme wind and waves the ferry can experience while crossing Death’s Door, it is estimated that only about 10 trips per year are missed. That’s less than one percent of their total crossings.

It is a testament to the will and commitment of the crew and captains – and their responsibility to an island that depends on them.