After a $5.6 million overhaul, the MV Cathlamet is once again chugging her way back and forth between Mukilteo and Clinton, abeit with a bit more style.

Dry docked Feb. 17 for approximately five months, everything from the passenger cabin seats to the exterior paint job is new and squeaky clean. The boat came back into service in July.

In an interview Thursday, the Cathlamet’s Chief Mate Allen Person said there were many great changes to the ship, both inside and out.

“Literally everything up here — except the doors — is all brand new,” said Person looking around the passenger deck. “It’s nice… we hope to keep it that way.”

Captain Kelly Mitchell, Washington State Ferries’ north region port captain, said the vessel received many behind-the-scene updates to keep it running smoothly.

He said the Cathlamet received new main engines, service generators, vital generators, electrical switchboard upgrades, pilot house control consoles, and steering gear consoles. Also replaced was the steel in the center car deck, the interior of the passenger deck, restroom interiors and fixtures, and a topside paint job to the exterior.

“This is the first time she’s had one,” Mitchell said of the ship’s overhaul.

In the passenger cabin, gone are the heavy chairs that sat at the fore and after observation areas. They have been replaced with new seats, which are bolted to the deck.

All the old beige upholstery is gone as well, replaced with dark and light shades of blue over new cushions on all new benches and seats.

The Cathlamet was built in 1981 and holds approximately 130 cars per trip. The expected life of the improvements is about 20 years.

According to Person, a new marmoleum floor will be easier to keep clean than the old, high-maintenance tile floor, which required frequent cleaning, waxing, buffing and stripping.

“In the long run this is going to be cheaper to maintain the the other floor,” said Person. “It’s easier to take care of.”

Mitchell said while the improvements to the Cathlamet were nice, not to expect the Kittitas to receive the same treatment. He hopes in the future the Kittitas would be replaced by a new, larger vessel as part of WSF’s strategic plan.