If you'd want to hear something about your ferry captain-the person responsible for getting you to and from San Francisco safely every day-it's probably that he's very experienced and loves his job.
Allyn Shafer worked for 37 years with California State Parks driving ferries at Angel Island before joining Golden Gate Ferry three years ago as a casual vessel master.
By Matt Larson
Published: August, 2016
If you’d want to hear something about your ferry captain—the person responsible for getting you to and from San Francisco safely every day—it’s probably that he’s very experienced and loves his job. That’s Allyn Shafer, a vessel master for Golden Gate Ferry, who said, “I just can’t be out on the water enough.”
Shafer worked for 37 years with California State Parks driving ferries at Angel Island. Now at about three years with Golden Gate Ferry, he works pretty much whenever he wants as a casual vessel master. “It’s a fun retirement job for me,” he said.
According to Shafer, working for Golden Gate is a breeze compared to his career at Angel Island. “On Angel Island we ran the whole boat program—we did all of the maintenance and the operation,” he said. “At Golden Gate, you show up and drive a boat all day. If something breaks, somebody else gets to fix it!”
Shafer shared some of the benefits of the job. “It’s exciting to drive the fast catamarans,” said Shafer. “You’re going down the Bay at like 40 knots! It’s quite impressive.” Ferry captains are constantly on the lookout for other boats and obstacles in the water, and with that comes some amazing sights. “You’re usually seeing a beautiful sunrise in the morning or a beautiful sunset if you work the evening shift. It’s always beautiful.”
“I just love being out on the water,” he said. “I’ve got my own boat. My wife and I go on yacht club cruises, go up the Delta, just generally hang out on the boat.” The Shafers and their 30-foot Luhrs powerboat have been members of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon for the past 30 years; Shafer was even the commodore there in 2009. The Shafers enjoy going to Tinsley Island, Tower Park and other yacht clubs in the area. Basically, if Shafer’s out on the water, he’s content.
Shafer said that one of the highlights of the job is captaining the baseball runs when the Giants are playing, as it’s always an exciting atmosphere. Usually while the game is in session, the ferry staff work on drills to pass the time. “Sometimes you’ll see us at the ballpark with the firehose going and man-overboard gear deployed.” Shafer said not to be concerned: “We’re running the crew through drills.
Shafer said that the challenges of the job primarily come from the weather conditions of the Bay, but with all the high-tech equipment in the wheelhouse, he believes there’s nothing Golden Gate Ferry’s captains can’t handle. “For 40 years I’ve had my captain’s license,” Shafer said. “So it comes kind of second nature.” In addition to driving ferry boats and his own personal powerboat, Shafer got into sailboating for a little while, he joined some friends on the Baha Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally from San Diego down to Cabo San Lucas, and he worked the America’s Cup race escorting VIPs around the Bay.
Having grown up in Sacramento, Shafer now enjoys living in San Rafael, especially as it’s so close to work. One of the best parts of the job is that sometimes while Shafer is captaining the ship, his wife and son are also on board. “My wife Kim and my son Nick ride the Larkspur ferry every day,” he said. “When I’m working I can say hi!”
Especially with his family on board, Shafer attests that the ferry is the best way to go. “Rather than driving into the city and having to park, it’s just a wonderful way for anybody to commute,” he said. “If I have anything to do in the city I usually try to work it around a ferry ride in. I’m a big proponent of ferry travel.”
