Marina Dock Age

Your News Now (YNN), a regional television company in New York, will be visiting marinas, boat repair facilities and other waterfront areas in the state for a monthly Discover Better Boating series. The television outreach campaign has evolved from the Discover Clean and Safe Boating campaign, started by New York Sea Grant and the Boating Industries Association of Upstate New York (BIA) in 2008.

Boating industry professionals will offer information and tips on such topics as preparing boats for the season, boating safety, the impact of ethanol fuel on boats and getting better gas efficiency in a tight economy.

YNN, based in Syracuse, N.Y., is a 24-hour local news channels, owned and operated by Time Warner Cable nationwide. YNN is available to nearly 600,000 cable subscribers across a 25-county, 15,000-square-mile area.

New York Sea Grant Coastal Recreation and Tourism Specialist Dave White will introduce the monthly “Discover Better Boating” segments. “We are pleased to have the broad pubic reach provided by Your News Now to help educate boaters about how to enjoy New York’s waters cleanly, safely and in an environmentally-friendly way,” said White.

BIA President John Jablonski, owner of The Sailboat Shop in Skaneateles, N.Y., said, “The Boating Industries Association is pleased to help bring this new television initiative to the public because our member businesses are all about making boating more enjoyable on Central New York waterways.”

Following the April 23 launch, the Discover Better Boating segments will run on YNN stations every third Saturday through October.

A measure to encourage local governments and marinas to help clear abandoned boats from state water areas has been approved by lawmakers and is on its way to the governor for approval, according to an April 21 Seattlepi.com report.

The bill, which drew virtually no opposition, is intended to help state authorities deal with what they say is a persistent problem of clearing derelict vessels that sink or fall apart in waterways, potentially causing navigation hazards.

Among other things, the bill states that local governments or marinas that pay to have boats removed are not liable for damages unless the work results in “gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.” It also said ports can be reimbursed by the state for up to 90 percent of removal costs.

The measure cleared the Senate in February, and the House approved it in early April but added language clarifying the criminal penalties for intentionally causing a vessel to sink. The change makes it a misdemeanor to do so without authorization from government authorities.

Lawmakers said, however, that the language wouldn’t make it a criminal offense to sink a boat in order to prevent greater harm to life or property. Another House amendment clarified that the measure applies to state aquatic land. The April 21 vote was to accept the House amendments. The measure now awaits the governor’s signature.

The measures were requested by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which heads up a statewide boat removal program. The agency has said there are about 200 abandoned, deteriorating boats sitting in state waters at any given time, and the numbers haven’t declined despite increased efforts to remove more.

Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, said in floor remarks that the underlying measure “expands an opportunity for marinas to participate in the vessel removal program.”

Abandoned boats can become navigation hazards and if they break up in the water, can cause pollution if there is oil or fuels aboard. The DNR boat removal program is financed by a $2 surcharge on vessel registrations and an additional $1 surcharge temporarily imposed through 2014.

According to a May 3 Three Sheets Northwest report, the boat removal program has removed about 340 derelict and abandoned vessels. In the past, government entities often have taken temporary possession of derelict or abandoned vessels when they pose health or safety threats, but the current law makes it more difficult to hold vessel owners accountable in such situations, according to DNR.

Public entities are not protected from lawsuits like other emergency responders, and DNR said some municipalities have cited that as a reason why they have declined to participate in the vessel removal program.  “That [protection] is in place for nurses and emergency responders. We felt that local agencies deserved the same kind of protection,” said Melissa Ferris, who runs the Derelict Vessel Removal Program.

The bill would also allow marinas to contract with public agencies to remove abandoned boats, not just derelict boats. In many cases, DNR said the only difference between abandoned and derelict boats is whether or not the owner can be found.

With gas prices on the rise, it may not seem like a popular time for boating. However, the Fort Myers Yacht Basin in Fort Myers, Fla., is the busiest it has been in years and that added traffic is trickling down into the city, according to a Mar. 24 WZVN-TV report.

At the Fort Myers Yacht Basin, the average stay for the night costs about $200, and most people there are staying longer than just a single weekend.

“We’ll be cruising somewhere no matter what; the economy isn’t going to stop us,” said boater Keith Wrigley.

But that wasn’t always the attitude of boaters.

“The worst that we had was probably in the neighborhood of a 40-percent vacancy rate at the marina, and that was compounded by the fact that two years previous we had a four-year waiting list just to get into the marina,” said Leif Lustig, dockmaster.

In February, occupancy skyrocketed to rates not seen since 2007, which has benefitted both the marina and the nearby downtown area.

Allison Campbell owns the Franklin Shops downtown and said she saw a lot of foot traffic in her store from the marina in February, especially during events like the Edison Festival of Light.

Along with the events downtown, business owners say the influx of guests coming by both land and sea may be due to a more positive consumer—one who sees a light at the end of the economic tunnel.

“If they’re happy, they’re going to go boating and our business is going to do well. We, in turn, are going to be able to pay our employees. It all works together,” said Lustig.

Marinas International has officially joined forces with Green Earth Technologies, as part of a corporate commitment to promote cleaner marinas and lakes. The management company’s marina facilities in Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas will embrace the use of biodegradable, non-toxic motor oils and cleaning and maintenance products.

Participating marinas in Kentucky include Burnside Marina and Beaver Creek Resort on Lake Cumberland and Green Turtle Bay Houseboat Rentals on Lake Barkley. Additional locations are Holly Creek Resort and Eagle Cove Resort both on Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee, and Brady Mountain Resort on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas.

“We are always looking for ways to make the outdoor lake and boating experience more enjoyable for families, and we are excited to bring the Clean Marina concept to a higher level at our facilities,” said Marinas International Vice President Mark Stafford. “We firmly believe these new ‘G’ products will help us achieve our goals in this regard.”

Marinas International will utilize G-OIL TC-W3 and 5W-30 motor oils in its fishing, sport boat and houseboat fleets. High on the list of accolades, the TC-W3 is approved by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), while the 5W-30 holds the honor of being the world’s first and only ultimate biodegradable motor oil to be approved by the American Petroleum Institute (API). In addition, Marinas International will use and offer for sale the G-MARINE appearance products that include Boat Wash, Hull & Bottom Cleaner, Fuel Spill Clean-UP!, and Bilge Cleaner. G-MARINE products are made from plant oils and are non-toxic and biodegradable.

To help boat owners save time, effort and the environment, Marinas International will also sell the Green Machine Pressure Washing System that utilizes environment safe, non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners for boats and the removal of mold and mildew.

“We believe that as a leader in the global marina market, we should take a strong leadership stance and position on the green front,” added Stafford. “We have carefully researched this product line and believe it has tremendous potential to positively impact the environment we love. We strongly support the green movement and are pleased to do our part to protect our waterways.”

The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) encourages local marinas to participate in the Stay Local Boat MA Transient Referral Program launched in 2009. This reciprocal program encourages seasonal guests to visit participating destination marinas in exchange for reduced transient dockage rates determined by the number of boats traveling together. For as little as $50 to $150, participating marinas are given a discount card to hand to every customer and logo placement on two websites: www.staylocalboatma.com and www.boatma.com. The latter is highly trafficked, thanks to the fact that MMTA owns the Mass. tide charts.

Designed to promote the concept of “vacationing at home,” the Stay Local Program keeps boating-related tax dollars local while offering much needed economic relief to the thousands of friends and families enjoying Massachusetts waters. It also correlates with the “Massachusetts—It’s All Here” program launched in 2009 by the Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism.

Recreational boating is a critical industry to federal, state and local coffers. According to a 2006 study by the Recreation Marine Center at Michigan State University, just one Boston marina contributes $6 million annually to the local economy through indirect and direct spending. For every $1 spent on transient boating in Massachusetts, $4 is spent in the destination community.

“The Stay Local Program is not only customer friendly, it is competitor friendly. The concept is so simple yet completely original at a time when small businesses of every kind are focused inward to survive,” stated Jack Kent III, MMTA president and owner of Bayside Marine in Duxbury, Mass.

In 2010, the Stay Local Program blossomed to 18 participating facilities located on the north and south shores, Boston Harbor and Cape Cod. Rules and regulations vary by location and blackout dates apply. MMTA welcomes the participation of non-member marinas as well. For cost and other program details visit www.boatma.com or www.staylocalboatma.com.

The Fire Protection Research Foundation, which conducts research in support of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), is looking for partners in the marina and fire protection industries to assist with research to find cost-effective fire protection solutions for dry stack and other indoor boat storage operations, according to an April 1 press release from the Association of Marina Industries (AMI).

At a session during last year’s International Marina Institute’s fall conference, many marina owners discussed the hardships faced in obtaining building and fire department approvals for dry stacks. Some owners have spent thousands of dollars on fire consultants to perform studies to support fire suppression design concepts. Others have been denied projects and occupancies because the local fire jurisdiction could not find recognized standards for fire protection for indoor boat storage facilities. Often the only remedy has been to hire consultants and attorneys to resolve the regulatory issues.

To overcome these challenges, the Foundation proposes to research fire suppression methods for indoor boat storage with the goal of creating a standard for sprinkler and fire suppression requirements that building and fire officials can use. The study’s focus will be on the issues unique to dry stacks, such as water from sprinkler systems collecting in stored boats, which creates a risk of collapse to the overall structural system. Some research has been completed on the boats’ ability to shed water and limit this risk, but additional testing could help resolve the issue for the marina industry.

To conduct this research the Fire Protection Research Foundation is seeking industry support in the form of financial contributions and/or in-kind donations, which may include boats, boat storage rack/facility, boat transport or boat handling.

The total contribution needed for the initial study is $150,000. A larger full-scale test program would cost $750,000.

If you are interested in assisting with this research and helping create a standard for fire suppression in dry stacks, please contact Kathleen Almand, P.E., executive director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation. You can reach her by phone at 617/984-7282, or via e-mail at kalmand@nfpa.org.

Staff at Antelope Point Marina in Page, Ariz., prevented a boat infested with quagga mussels from launching on Lake Powell, according to a Mar. 30 Arizona Daily Sun report.

According to information from the National Park Service, the infestation was discovered Mar. 24 during a routine inspection. After staff decontaminated the vessel, it was quarantined for 30 days to ensure that all the infestation was killed.

The boat had previously been moored in a lower Colorado River reservoir, which had been infested with the invasive species. Currently, Lake Powell is considered mussel-free.

In a neighboring state, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reminded boaters and marinas to take precautions to ensure they don’t transport invasive mussels from neighboring states into New Mexico, according to a Mar. 24 agency press release.

Zebra and quagga mussels can cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems, water system facilities and aquatic recreational equipment.

Mussels are prolific breeders and attach themselves to surfaces such as dams, boats and aquatic plants. Mature mussels can attach to watercraft or trailers and mussel larvae can live in water left in boat engines, bilges, live wells and hulls. They then can be transported and spread to other water bodies.

Infestations can lead to potential boating closures in affected waterways.

The spread of the mussels also could leave millions of dollars in damage to water storage and delivery facilities.

Currently, no waterbody in New Mexico is infested. In August 2010, routine tests raised concerns at Sumner Reservoir, but subsequent tests were negative. Monthly testing at Reclamation reservoirs in New Mexico resumed Mar. 24 and will continue through next fall.

Boats need to be cleaned, drained and dried before launching in any body of water. For more information on mussels and how to properly clean boats, visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Friends of the Riverfront (FOR), a Pittsburgh, Pa., nonprofit, reached an agreement to buy the privately owned Aspinwall Marina for $2.3 million and turn the 8-acre site into a waterfront public park along the Allegheny River, according to a Feb. 19 Valley News Dispatch report.

In order to complete the deal, FOR and residents still must rally to raise all the money by Sept. 1, according to Aspinwall resident Susan Crookston, who spearheaded the park proposal.

The riverfront site includes slips for 100 to 140 boats, a boat storage facility, a store and a house. The marina is the only available riverfront property in the borough and surrounding communities, according to Tom Baxter, executive director of Friends of the Riverfront.

“I think the fact that it is for the community and not just for one person or not just one family means a lot to us. A lot of people will benefit,” said Davis Kushon, whose family has owned the marina since 1959.

The sale is part of a $5 million riverfront development project, according to a Feb. 27 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report. The family-owned marina will maintain its operation throughout the sale process and under the new ownership. Existing contracts with boat owners will remain in effect.

Several parcels of land were acquired in the purchase, which FOR plans to use for green infrastructure, open space, riverfront parks and trails. The project is currently in the planning stage, with several years projected before it comes to fruition.

For the second time in 10 years, KKMI Sausalito, LLC was named Northern California Small Industry Facility of the Year by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA), according to a Mar. 8 KKMI press release.

KKMI has operations in Sausalito and Point Richmond and offers comprehensive yacht maintenance services. It has been a leader in the movement to protect San Francisco Bay from toxic industrial waste including the elimination of copper from anti-fouling paints and discharges.

The company’s second location at Clipper Yacht Harbor in Sausalito was completed in October 2010 using low-impact design and eco-friendly construction that involved a thorough cleanup of prior contamination. Today, KKMI in Sausalito is equipped with a stormwater prevention wall, recycling and water filtration systems, and an airborne particulate containment system.

Casey Fitzgerald, CWEA environmental inspector, said innovative efforts in wastewater treatment, stormwater management and pollution prevention showcase KKMI’s commitment to protecting the environment and raising environmental awareness through the development of Best Management Practices and the implementation of low impact building design.

“We apply the same craftsmanship and attention to detail to our customer’s boats as to how we operate our facilities. It is important to our customers, and it is also critical for the health of the Bay that our industry maintains the highest level of environmental compliance,” said Ken Keefe, one of the founding partners of KKMI.

MarineMax Inc., the nation’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, announced a strategic business alliance with Marinas International, one of the largest marina operators in the U.S. with 27 locations across the country, according to Feb. 28 press release.

The business alliance will allow MarineMax access to Marinas International’s marinas and the opportunity to establish sales brokerage offices while supplying Marinas International with increased traffic and occupancy for its more than 15,000 slips.

The sales brokerage offices will primarily focus on listing, marketing and management of brokerage boat sales and will also provide an outlet for new and used boat sales for MarineMax. The first phase of these offices will open in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia and Mississippi. The structure of the alliance is such that the costs to both Marinas International and MarineMax are minimized and tied directly to the success of the operation.

“We are excited to establish this partnership with Marinas International and its team, which has a proven track record in marina management. This strategic business alliance will provide MarineMax with the opportunity to expand our geographic coverage and reach additional customers in areas we have not been,” said William H. McGill, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of MarineMax. “Furthermore, we are excited about potential opportunities to extend our relationship with Marinas International in more of its marinas and explore opportunities for partnerships in service, including utilizing the MarineMax Rewards Club and its partners.”

Stan Johnson, a partner in Marinas International, said, “The alliance with MarineMax creates a unique opportunity for the two dominant players in their respective industry segments with a common customer-centric culture to jointly offer a complete suite of service offerings to marina management by combining our existing marina management expertise with [MarineMax] boat sales and service expertise.”