Q: I was pleased to read that funding is in place to keep the Balboa Island ferries running. Where will the new ferries be built? We like to take out-of-town visitors to lunch, which include a no-frills cruise.
– Ron Lesovsky, Huntington Beach
A: Excellent choice of fun, Ron.
You reminded Honk to get his family out there soon — it’s been too long for the ol’ gent.
The family-owned company, born in 1919, that carries people, bicycles and cars across Newport Bay is replacing its three ferries with electric-powered ones. As spelled out in a story by reporter Erika I. Ritchie of the Southern California News Group, two public agencies will provide more than $10 million of the estimated $12 million-plus to replace the diesel-powered fleet.
The shipyard that will build the vessels hasn’t been chosen yet, Ron.
“It’s within the realm of possibility there could be a new ferry out here by the end of the year,” Nate Capra, Balboa Island Ferry’s operations manager and now clean-air transition coordinator, told Honk.
But the designing phase, the selected shipyard’s schedule and the supply chain will come into play, so the wait for the first one might be longer.
Capra said the docks will remain the same, and efforts will be made to have the new ferries look, as much as possible, like the current ones: the Admiral (built in 1954), the Captain (’55) and the Commodore (’57). They will even have “smokestacks.”
Balboa Island Ferry plans to keep the public updated on the arrival of the new vessels.
Q: I own a 2019 Ram 1500 pickup truck. It is my personal vehicle, not at all commercial. I noticed on my California vehicle registration renewal notice a weight charge of $154, which is almost as much as the basic registration fee, $171. My other car, a sedan, has no weight charge at all. Why does my personal, noncommercial pickup truck get assessed this extra fee? It’s not heavy compared to something like a Tesla. What’s the reason? How can I get this fixed?
– Larry Voelz, Irvine
A: It’s a good time to remember that Honk is only your modern-day Pony Express rider, Larry — galloping around to ferret out info for his readers.
He doesn’t make the laws.
The state adds that weight fee because of what, in its view, the truck was built for, and not for how it is used.
Pickup trucks are made to move property, California officials say, as opposed to your sedan, which was built to move people.
There are exceptions, such as if there is a permanent camper shell “for human habitation or camping purposes,” the Department of Motor Vehicles says on its website.
Q: Hi Honk: I’ve been curious about freeway exit speed limits. Some exits have a posted 35 MPH with black lettering on a yellow background, while others have the typical black lettering on a white background. Do the black/yellow signs indicate the recommended speed limit, while the black/white indicate mandatory speed limits?
– Rick O’Reilly, Newport Beach
A: Indeed.
HONKIN’ FACT: Under state law, an applicant to become an officer with the California Highway Patrol must be at least 20 years old. The oldest a candidate can be while applying is 35. Base pay starts at $116,040. (Source: the CHP)
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk