KALAKALA at a Glance

In this section, you will find a deck-by-deck layout of the magnificent streamlined Kalakala. Click for a larger image.

The Kalakala has five decks available for commercial use. The vessel is 276 feet long and has a beam of 55 feet. The vast square footage, unique layout and design enables a wide variety of activities.

Promenade Deck

The promenade deck was home to the original Kalakala's magnificent Double Horseshoe Café and the Palm Room. But, the cafe will be relocated to the passenger deck instead. The Palm room will be enclosed and the cafe will be renovated as a multi-purpose special event facility. The entire deck can be reserved in advance for; weddings, reunions, anniversaries, birthdays, corporate functions, and many other celebrations.

Passenger Deck

The passenger deck mid-ship will be renovated for the double horseshoe cafe, the fore deck will be reconstructed as a lounge with breakout rooms and grand ballroom, and the aft deck will create an art deco design bar and lounge area instead of the former ladies lounge. This entire deck will be pre released to a local/national restaurant company under a long term lease at no monthly costs in exchange for financing the total cost of all passenger deck interior renovation improvements.

Car Deck (a.k.a. Main Deck)

The car deck contains approximately 10,000 square feet available for immediate long term commercial space leases. An auto museum, gift shop, Black Ball Line and Kalakala museum, and other leases will all be available for long term leases.

Below Main Deck

The Kalakala's unique below deck construction within the hull will be restored to her originally historical design features. The entire hull will be preserved including her exterior original rivets and steel plates. We hope to preserve the hulls exterior by keeping her floating on the water with interior double hull construction techniques while implementing the sandwich plate system patented by Intelligent Engineering located in Oslo, Norway. This work can be accomplished while on the water. The original men's taproom, locker room and showers,3000 HP main and 1600 HP auxiliary Busch-Sulzer engines, crew quarters, and all other features will be preserved and restored to museum quality. This hull is donated to the Kalakala Alliance Foundation via charitable trust.

Wheelhouse / Flying Bridge

The Kalakala's wheelhouse and flying bridge are one of her most distinctive features. The ultimate triumph of form over function created a windswpept streamlined wheelhouse from which the Captain could not see the bow of the vessel!

Vessel Statistics

Original construction: Hull constructed in 1925 as M/V Peralta
Re-construction: Superstructure reconstructed 1934-35 as M/V Kalakala
Overall Length: 276'
Maximum Beam: 55'
Current Length on Load Waterline: 250'
Current Beam Molded at Load Waterline: 53.3'
Depth to Main Deck: 21.3'
Current Estimated Draft: 11.5'
Current Estimated Displacement: 1519 Long Tons
Original Deadweight: 750 Long Tons
Original Speed: 17.5 Knots
Power Plant: 3,000 Horsepower Direct Drive Diesel
Original Capacity: 2,000 Passengers; 100 Cars

The Kalakala's hull is constructed of riveted black iron plates. The superstructure is a combination of riveted and electro-welded steel plate. The Wheelhouse and Flying Bridge are copper plate. Interior walls are steel plate.

All drawings by: Alan W. Nielsen