With a tugboat at either end of the ship, The Protector was towed out of the Kirkland Yacht Club Marina yesterday, leaving behind an unencumbered view of Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline beyond.

"Look at how empty it looks," said Lana Starr of Kirkland, as she watched the ship leaving the marina.

"It will seem like something's missing," said Chris Sell of Snoqualmie. "It's been such a landmark here."

The ship was towed out of the marina about 10:40 a.m. as a small crowd gathered on an adjacent pedestrian pier watched.

Some said they were sad to see the ship, a former research vessel with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, leave the marina, which has been its home since 1997. West Water Real Estate Services, which owns the marina, used the 300-foot-long ship as a breakwater to keep waves from smashing into the smaller boats moored there.

The company sold the ship to make room for a permanent breakwater and a 101-slip new marina, to be completed by next spring.

"It blocked so many views," said Finn Hill resident Marianne McGuire of the former Kirkland landmark. "The only good thing about The Protector is you'd occasionally see eagles roosting on the top, looking for fish."

Others were more sentimental as they talked of the ship that had become a landmark for Kirkland's downtown waterfront.

"I loved it. She's a nice-looking ship," said Steve Mace. "I think they should have had a fond farewell party for the ship."

The ship's next home will be Barnacle Point Shipyard in Ballard, where it will be stored for a year and have some work done to it, said Rory Mullen, the shipyard's assistant manager.

Mullen said he could not disclose the ship's new owners nor what kind of work is scheduled for the vessel.

Rachel Tuinstra: 206-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com