The U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS) has a requirement to rehabilitate the Steam Ferry Boat Eureka so it may continue to serve as a publicly accessible floating museum ship at SAFR and operations, maintenance, and future restoration work are viable for decades to come.

The National Historic Landmark (NHL) Steam Ferryboat Eureka is one of the centerpieces of the six historic ships at SAFR described in the enabling legislation. Docked on the Hyde Street Pier, in her historic location, the Eureka had an important role in the transportation history of the San Francisco Bay area. Built in 1890, the Eureka is the largest historic wooden vessel still floating in the world (299 feet long); the only large wooden-hulled passenger ferry in existence; the only side-paddle ferry afloat today; the only walking beam engine in a floating vessel; the largest walking beam engine vessel in existence (2564 gross tons); and the oldest steamer in the U.S. with original power plant (126 years old).

Scope of work includes:

• The goal of the overall project is to rehabilitate the Steam Ferry Boat Eureka so it may continue to serve as a publicly accessible floating museum ship at SAFR and operations, maintenance, and future restoration work are viable for decades to come
• The hull is considered to be in poor structural condition and will need total replacement or total repair. “In kind” replacement of the total hull assembly is considered to be highly complex because there is not a precise understanding of how much of the original hull is sound, or how concentrated or dispersed damage (rot) may be. Replacement in kind raises concerns about material availability, cost, and long-term maintainability. The owner wishes to consider alternative approaches to repair or replacing the hull, including a different material and method of construction. Any replacement hull must maintain the aesthetic appearance and dimensions of the existing hull.
• The superstructure, including the “car deck” will be repaired and not replaced. If constructability factors require selective demolition (for removals, access, rigging, etc.) the area or areas demolished will be replaced in kind materially and aesthetically. The superstructure will likely require substantial repairs to subcomponents, such as trim, windows, sheathing, and coatings.
• While there are multiple compartments and holds within the hull below the car deck, the priority of the project is to retain the engine / boiler room and the casings that contain the walking beam / A-frame and the smokestack. If the hull is replaced, the engine / boiler room and the steel casing, including their contents: boilers, engine; A-frame, walking beam; piping; valves, engine mounts, wooden ceiling, and the bulkheads would be placed inside the new hull and rendered accessible for future visitors