Merrimac Ferry
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Colsac I |
| Namesake: | Columbia and Sauk counties |
| Builder: | Dubuque, Iowa |
| Launched: | 1924 |
| In service: | 1933 |
| Out of service: | 1963 |
| General characteristics | |
| Propulsion: | Gasoline engine |
| Capacity: | 15 vehicles |
| Name: | Colsac II |
| Builder: | Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wisconsin |
| Cost: | $77,000 |
| Christened: | April 6, 1963 |
| In service: | April 15, 1963 |
| Out of service: | November 4, 2002 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 100 tons |
| Length: | 100 ft (30 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Propulsion: | 1 × diesel engine |
| Capacity: | 12 vehicles |
| Crew: | 1 |
Colsac III, September 2014
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| Name: | Colsac III |
| Builder: | Basic Marine Inc., Escanaba, Michigan |
| Cost: | $2.2 million |
| Yard number: | 116 |
| In service: | May 6, 2003 |
| Identification: | Official number: 1138723 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 153 GT |
| Length: | 105 ft (32 m) o/a |
| Capacity: |
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Merrimac Ferry
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| Location | Wisconsin Highway 113 at the Wisconsin River |
| Nearest city | Merrimac, Wisconsin |
| NRHP Reference # | 74000330 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
The Merrimac Ferry is a ferry that crosses the Wisconsin River between Columbia and Sauk Counties in Wisconsin. Its western point is located near the village of Merrimac on State Highway 113. The eastern point is located in Okee, Wisconsin.
The Merrimac Ferry is both a functional regional crossing and a tourist attraction. There are snack bars at queue areas on either side of the river, and an ice cream stand on the north. It is the state's only free ferry, as well as the only ferry left on the Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System.
The ferry is close to the head of Lake Wisconsin, as well as regional recreation areas, including Devil's Lake and Wisconsin Dells. Peak traffic coincides with the tourist season and weekend getaway schedules.
The ferryboat is named the Colsac III. "Colsac" is a portmanteau of Columbia and Sauk, the two counties connected by the ferry.
The ferry operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but only from April to November. The ferry will often operate into December depending on when the Lake Wisconsin ice becomes too thick to operate the ferry. The ferry winches itself across the river on three submerged cables. A round trip usually takes 14 minutes. Colsac III can hold up to fifteen normal-size cars or trucks, as well as bicycles and pedestrians, and is capable of transporting semi-trailers. The state operates warning signs several miles from the ferry to alert motorists when it is not operating in season, as detours are considerable, and a traffic information system provides drivers with the expected wait time, which can be up to 50 minutes in peak season. Traffic volume can exceed 1200 vehicles daily.
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