Marina Dock Age

Gary Guertin, general manager of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina in Stuart, Fla., and Robin Hicks-Conners, president and CEO of the Martin County Historical Society, host a weekly radio show about local tourism.

When it comes to unique marketing efforts in challenging economic times, Gary Guertin, general manager of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina in Stuart, Fla., has some creative ideas. “People don’t even need to think outside of the box,” he said. “Just throw the box away.”

Guertin’s marketing plan is “ever-changing” and always ready to be flexible when new opportunities present themselves. Last year Guertin started one new venture, which he hopes to continue for quite some time. Every Friday morning, Guertin hosts Talkin’ Tourism, a weekly radio show that focuses on the local, South Florida, and statewide tourism scene. Guertin hosts the show in part because he knows that supporting local tourism is good for a marina’s business.

Embracing tourism

Guertin embraces tourism far beyond its reach at his marina. Harborage Yacht Club & Marina is a member of the area Chamber of Commerce and a partner of VISIT FLORIDA, which is the official tourism industry marketing corporation for the state of Florida. As chairman of the Martin County Tourism Board and a past director of the Treasure Coast Marine Industries Association, Guertin is passionate about “tourism as a whole, in terms of the entire economy.” Guertin also knows how much Harborage depends on tourists bringing their boats to the Treasure Coast area.

By focusing on tourism overall, marine and local businesses can join together to attract tourists to a specific region. “If you can get someone to think about coming to a region first,” Guertin explained, “then, you can get them to come to your place.” Guertin’s personal passion for tourism and his desire to support local tourist attractions led him to start his radio show, which has been on the air for more than a year now.

Talkin’ Tourism

Every Friday at 10 a.m. EST, Guertin hosts Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast. Though the marina sponsors and produces the show, Guertin insists it’s not a Harborage show. For an hour each week, Guertin and his co-host Robin Hicks-Conners, president and CEO of the Martin County Historical Society, talk everything tourism. Although the show is fun and informative week after week, Guertin said this does not come easy. “It takes perseverance and a lot of work to prepare for the radio show,” said Guertin.

Inside the show

From the Captain’s Lounge at Harborage, the show spotlights important tourist destinations and festivals and other events happening in the Treasure Coast area. It also includes an educational element. “In addition to educating local people about the importance of tourism and how it helps the local economy, the show introduces the people that help make tourism happen,” said Guertin. The show sometimes has a fishing spin, including many appearances by sportfishing’s major contending captains, but it’s not entirely marine-industry focused. The show profiles art and culture festivals and invites many local tourism experts such as Doug Noble from the Florida Museum of Natural History and Tom Colucci, executive director of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission. Guertin and Hicks-Conners have also welcomed luxury charter boat businesses, airline owners, Chamber of Commerce executives, local hotel and resort owners, and even a family of sailors stopping at Harborage on their way to the Bahamas. Food tourism, which is big in the area, is often a show topic, said Misti Guertin, of Regan Communications Group, Harborage’s public relations firm.

Blog it

Harborage capitalizes on the marketing potential of the radio show and increases its potential audience via the Internet. The show’s companion, a blog (http://talkintourism.blogspot.com), not only links to a live stream of the show, but it also includes pre- and post-show blogs that are coordinated by Misti Guertin. In addition, fans of the show can view photos on the blog site and see the taping of the show, not just listen. Guertin and Regan also link the many blogs and photos with Facebook and Twitter to further promote the show and ultimately, Harborage Yacht Club & Marina.

Co-opetition

Marinas that don’t have the resources or ability to host a weekly radio show can still capitalize on the concept behind Talkin’ Tourism, which is why Guertin devotes so much of his time to it. He gets excited about tourism. Most importantly, he does more than just his radio show to support it. He joins together local businesses and organizations to bring tourists into an area with the belief that everyone will benefit from these visitors.

Guertin is also no stranger to partnerships or marketing strategies. He partnered with a marina in the Bahamas to produce advertisements geared toward transient boaters. From that, he developed Flahama – a tourism partnership concept that embraces the best of Florida and the best of the Bahamas. Much like his radio show, Flahama supports local tourism and his marina.

Guertin and Hicks-Conners traveled to Bimini Bay Resort and Marina in the Bahamas for their fourth international remote broadcast.

Harborage also has business partnerships with several marinas in South Florida and the Bahamas. “These are similar properties that share our belief that if we collaborate together, we can get more bang for our buck,” said Misti Guertin. For boaters traveling from one marina to another, these partnerships result in a shared discount that varies from facility to facility and season to season. It often includes coupons for a percentage of dockage or a free night’s stay.

Some of these marinas have also looked to capitalize on the success of the radio show. Most recently, Guertin and Hicks-Conners traveled to Bimini Bay Resort and Marina in the Bahamas for their fourth international remote broadcast.

“Another term that I like, one that my co-host came up with, is co-opetition,” Guertin said, referring to marinas that are essentially in competition with each other but work cooperatively to attract tourists. “Get people focused on your general area, then they can further research what marina best fits their needs.”

Anna Townshend is senior editor of Marina Dock Age. She can be reached by phone at 847/647-2900 ext. 1308 or via e-mail at: atownshend@prestonpub.com.

Black Point Marina in Culter Ridge, Fla., started Friends of Black Point, a group of marina patrons volunteering time to help with marina security.

Like many municipal facilities constrained with tight budgets, Black Point Marina in Cutler Ridge, Fla., is trying to do more with less. With that in mind, Ken Maxwell, dockmaster and park manager at Black Point Park and Marina, initiated a volunteer security program with the marina’s patrons to keep the facility secure.

Black Point Marina has 178 wet slips and dry stack storage for 37 boats and is one of six municipal marinas in Miami-Dade County. Maxwell brought to his marina what the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Dept. had long advocated with its Park Watch program, promoting citizens to be the eyes and ears of the public facilities they enjoy.

Friends of Black Point

With boat thefts and break-ins on the rise the last few years, Black Point Marina needed a cost-effective way to increase security. Although the marina had no major thefts in 2009, Maxwell said this was a simply a matter of luck. He called the move to start a volunteer security program at Black Point “preemptive,” as luck may not always be on the marina’s side.

In December 2009, Maxwell launched the “Friends of Black Point,” with the help of the marina’s yacht club, which opened up its monthly membership meeting to the public. With the help of Jose Clay, the local head volunteer facilitator (a semi-retired, month-to-month visitor, who sincerely wanted to get involved with the program), Maxwell did a 45-minute presentation about the program to 80 attendees. He also introduced representatives from the Miami-Dade Marine Patrol, who will help train volunteers.

The “Friends of Black Point” will establish a schedule with dedicated hours for each volunteer. They will be trained on how to station themselves in the most effective watch areas and to always maintain a passive posture. Most importantly, for their own safety, volunteers should only observe. They should report any unusual or suspicious activities or people to the marina office during the day or to staff security officers at night.

Volunteers interested in the Black Point Marina security program have until the end of January to sign up. Maxwell hopes the program will begin in February. In addition to introducing his program through the Yacht Club and via word-of-mouth as he and his staff walk the docks, Maxwell e-mails his patrons to promote his program and its underlying message – do more with less, but always do it, more or less, safely.

Tips for volunteers

In general, the Miami-Dade Parks and Rec. Dept. asks volunteers to always consider their personal safety first and foremost. When reporting a crime, the Miami-Dade Parks and Rec. Dept. recommends the following:

• Gather all the facts, and write them down.
• Don’t forget to take a second look. More complete information may be worth the delay.
• Make sure you can answer the usual who, what, where, when, and how questions, or as many as you can.
• Details can be important. For instance, reporting that a vehicle had a dented left fender is more useful than simply a vehicle color.

Reporting crimes often means describing suspects. Depending on the situation, take a good look at the suspect. Here is a list of the characteristics to remember:

• sex, race, complexion, and age
• height and weight (if you can estimate) or “build” (large, small, stocky, fat, slender)
• any distinguishing traits on the body (tattoos, glasses, etc.)
• hair, mustache, or beard (color, thick or thin, balding or full)
• clothing (type, color, style – start at the top and work down: hat, coat/shirt, pants, shoes
• method of escape.

To help the “Friends of Black Point” volunteers, the program will develop “cheat sheets,” so volunteers can calmly run down a checklist in the event of a suspected crime.

Added volunteer benefit

Although many marinas face reduced budgets for 2010, a smaller budget at Black Point Marina meant calling on patrons for extra help. “We’re a real family here,” Maxwell said of his marina and its patrons, adding that many of them not only understand the difficult financial situation facing the city, but they also want to help. He adds that his “Friends of Black Point” will help not only with security but also in other little ways, such as cleaning up around the marina while on duty.

Anna Townshend is senior editor of Marina Dock Age. She can be reached by phone at 847/647-2900 ext. 1308 or via e-mail at: atownshend@prestonpub.com.

With occupancy rates plunging to an unprofitable 48 percent in recent years, Alton Marina in Alton, Ill., decided that it was time for drastic action. The city owned marina and its management company decided that the best way for them to reverse the slump in slipholders was by increasing its social offerings. Today, the marina has reached 82 percent occupancy in less than two years, according to a Dec. 7 report on the Web site: www.thetelegraph.com.

Karen Brncic-Baker, the marina’s general manager, said that the marina’s emphasis on hospitality is a three-pronged approach: serving long-term slip holders, being hospitable to transient boaters, and serving the local Alton community with special events and promoting local businesses.

“With the slip holders, it’s all about hospitality,” said Brncic-Baker. She has sponsored frequent socials and added a new picnic pavilion on the upper level of the marina parking lot to accommodate parties and grilling. “We are creating a social environment where we want them to come here, not just filling up slips,” she added.

Brncic-Baker noted that marina customers treat their boats as second homes. “Some people do not go on a vacation. They stay here on their boats and develop friendships here,” she said.

In terms of dealing with transient boaters, the marina seeks to have them spend a day or two longer at the marina by telling them of local events and attractions, such as the National Great Rivers Museum at Melvin Price Locks, and informing them about local restaurants and shops.

“The more information we can give them, the more there is for them to do,” said Brncic-Baker. “Alton Marina is the window to Alton. We have to offer them great hospitality to make them want to stay here.”

And she adds that the marina also works with local businesses and the city to offer events for the local community. For example, she noted that some businesses sponsor downtown block parties, and she has opened the marina to several of them. During the warm weather boating season, there were 19 weekends available to boaters, and the marina either held or co-sponsored events on 17 of them.

The marina has 295 slips, 30 of which are for transients. Of the 265 slips available for long-term rentals, 225 were occupied this past boating season. Brncic-Baker’s goal is 100 percent occupancy.

To obtain more specific information about the social offerings provided by Alton Marina, please call Karen Brncic-Baker at 618/462-9860 or go to the marina’s Web site: www.altonmarina.com.

Jerome A. Koncel is the editor of Marina Dock Age. He can be reached at 847/647-2900, ext. 1309 or via e-mail: jkoncel@marinadockage.com

MDA has already discussed different methods for controlling or eliminating blue-green harmful algae blooms. See “Ugly blue-green algae can harm marine environments” in the December issue.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have long recognized blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) as a Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) because of the effects it can have on people and animals. Blue-green algae has been found worldwide from Brazil to China, and Australia to the U.S. Also, according to CDC, poisonings date back to the 1800s.

Harmful effects of blue-green algae

The decomposition of blue-green algae releases four different toxins that can generally harm the nervous system, the liver, and the gastrointestinal system and increase tumor growth. CDC said these toxins are among the most powerful natural poisons known and found among the oldest fossils on earth. Common health effects with direct contact of high-level concentrations include:

• stomach and intestinal illness (abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting)
• allergic responses (itchy skin, red eyes, blistering, hives, or rash)
• respiratory problems (congestion, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia)
• liver damage
• neurotoxic reactions (tingling fingers and toes or muscle weakness, even paralysis)
• other possible symptoms: earache, agitation, headache, and vertigo.

Sometimes identifying symptoms of exposure in pets is more difficult. Common symptoms in animals include lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, difficulty breathing, or general weakness.

Blue-green algae is believed to have killed four dogs this summer from toxic exposure at Elk Creek in Roseburg, Ore., according to a Nov. 6 report from The Oregonian. The dogs went into convulsions after playing in the water and died almost immediately. Laboratory tests revealed in September from the Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed that blue-green algae toxins definitively killed one of the dogs earlier that summer, according to a Sept. 10 (Org.) News-Review report. According to OSU tests, the toxins caused respiratory paralysis and led to death within 20 to 30 minutes.

Recognizing blue-green algae HABs

Cyanobacteria are naturally present microscopic organisms. However, under certain conditions they can form HABs, which occur when the algae begins growing rapidly. Within days a bloom can cause clear water to become cloudy. Soon after that, a water body infiltrated with harmful blue-green algae will exhibit the following characteristics:

foamy, scummy, or mat-like appearance

blue, bright green, brown, red, dark green, or black in color

usually floats to the surface, particularly toward the shoreline, and can be many inches thick

paint-like appearance or greenish yellow sludge appearance resembling pea soup

moldy or musty water smell, as the blue-green algae decomposes and releases toxins

The decomposition of these algae blooms have released phosphorus pollution (show here) ready to flow into Lake Okeechobee in South Florida.

Likely conditions for proliferation and exposure

Certain conditions can jump start blooms, such as:

• warm weather
• little wind
• intense sunlight
• stagnant water
• plentiful nutrients in the water (especially phosphorus and nitrogen)
• large rain events that wash agricultural or residential fertilizers into the water.

Typically, people and their pets are exposed to toxic water through skin contact or breathing air that contains cyanobacteria. Swimming, diving, or waterskiing have a high risk of direct exposure. Even recreational activities out of the water, such as fishing or boating can cause a dangerous exposure. Picnicking or walking on the shoreline even has exposure risks because the blue-green algae toxins can also be airborne. Drinking toxic water brings on the most harmful effects, and boiling water will not remove toxins.

What to do in case of exposure

If people find themselves or their pets in contact with discolored water that has scummy appearance, get out immediately. After direct skin contact, wash with freshwater and soap. Be sure to rinse all swimming suits as the toxins can get trapped in the materials. Wash pets’ fur thoroughly before they start to groom themselves. Ingesting the toxins will produce the worst effects, usually leading to the worst symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention if anyone experiences any of the symptoms described earlier.

Simple suggestions for keeping toxins low

In addition to the chemical and mechanical techniques described in the December issue, these simple practices can help prevent the development of blue-green algae:

• Do not rake leaves or lawn clippings in the water.
• Use phosphorus-free fertilizers, if possible, and keep all fertilizers or chemicals well away from the water.
• Caution boaters about shallow areas where their boat propeller may stir up the lake bottom.
• Maintain a buffer of natural vegetation around the water body to filter incoming pollutants.

A relatively unregulated problem gaining momentum

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also watching this growing HAB. As part of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), every five years, EPA must identify unregulated contaminants on the official Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). In September 2009, EPA published its latest CCL, which included cyanobacteria. Though blue-green algae is not subject to any current proposed regulations, its monitored presence by EPA may eventually require federal regulations under SDWA.

Anna Townshend is assistant editor of Marina Dock Age. She can be reached by phone at 847/647-2900 ext. 1308 or via e-mail at: atownshend@prestonpub.com.

What better way to retain customers than by offering them incentives to stay at your marina. Here’s some tips on what some marinas have done to retain their boaters.

Jefferson Beach Marina in St. Clair Shores, Mich., faced the prospect of dwindling fuel dock sales in the summer of 2008 due to high fuel prices. How could the marina get customers to use the fuel dock for their fillups? Semo Post, the marina’s general manager, came up with this idea: raffle off a 42” high-definition television( HDTV) to any customers who purchased fuel at his dock.

During the boating season of 2008, customers would receive one raffle ticket for every $100 of fuel they purchased at the marina’s fuel dock. If a customer filled up his boat with $500, he received five raffle tickets.

The program proved so successful, that Post raffled off four HDTVs during the summer of 2008. With the price of fuel down to a manageable price this past summer, Post discontinued the raffles, but is offering a discount of 10 cents a gallon off the stated fuel price to all marina customers.

Realizing that word-of-mouth advertising is the cheapest and best form of advertising, Post instituted a marina referral program for 2009 and 2010. If a customer refers a boater to the marina and that person stays the whole season, the customer would get $200 in coupons to use for fuel, service, or food at the marina. The amount ($200) would increase as the number of referrals increases.

Bill Munger, owner of Conanicut Marine Services, which operates a marina at Jamestown, R.I., has a long-standing incentive program for his customers. He offers a 10 percent discount on year-round storage rates to all customers who reserve their marina spots by January 15. He also encourages his customers to use his mechanical services by inserting some “marina money” inside every invoice sent to customers. Munger added that one of his most important incentives is free pumpouts for boaters. “It’s not only the right thing to do, but boaters really appreciate it,” said Munger.

Nick McGinty, marina manager at The City Marina in Charleston, S.C., which has the world’s largest single fuel dock, offers transient boaters a fuel discount if they return to the fuel dock. Hoping to attract yachts and megayachts, City Marina has one of the fastest fueling stations in the world, filling these large boats up in minutes instead of hours. The technology and the discounts have allowed City Marina’s fuel dock profits to increase this year over last year.

Jerome A. Koncel is the editor of Marina Dock Age. He can be reached at 847/647-2900, ext. 1309 or via e-mail: jkoncel@marinadockage.com.

Because of the specialized nature of marina insurance, choosing an insurance company requires special considerations. Furthermore, the unstable economy adds even more concerns to that list. This article will discuss some of the most important factors that marinas should consider when choosing an insurance company. 

Marina insurance: a special breed

No two marinas are the same, and each requires specific insurance coverage to fit individual needs. The coverage provided in traditional business insurance policies won’t cover most of a marina’s assets, including its customers’ boats. The marina operation legal liability insurance typically closes the gap between what property and general liability insurance won’t cover.

In addition, marina insurance differs from other types of business insurance because of its specialized market, said Ed Wilmot, Great American Insurance Companies vice president of the Ocean Marine Division. In addition to the gamut of amenities available at marinas, many facilities have other retail businesses, such as restaurants, boat dealerships, even retail shops, all of which require special consideration when choosing insurance.

“That makes it a complex kind of insurance,” said Fred Fazand, vice president of marketing at Universal Managers Inc., a wholesale insurance brokerage firm. Because marinas have so many different kinds of exposures, very few companies specialize in marina insurance, he added.

Mark Yearn, Norman-Spencer national program director for the recreational marine division, added that only a handful of companies have a long-term commitment to the marina industry.

Financial stability

 A long-term commitment to the marina industry begins with a successful track record. In choosing an insurance carrier, marinas should first and foremost check on a company’s financial stability. Wilmot added that marinas should even investigate a company that appears in good financial standing because insurance conglomerates often do more than just insurance. He points to AIG, one of the world’s largest insurance companies, as a prime example. Its recent struggles arose not from its insurance division but from poor decisions made by its investment arms.

Wilmot and Fazand recommend investigating companies through A.M. Best Co. Inc., a credit rating organization serving the financial service industries. Its ratings and analysis assess the financial strength of risk-bearing entities and can help determine if an insurance company is worthy of business. Marina businesses want insurance from a longtime player, said Wilmot. Fazand suggests that marinas should only deal with companies that have an A or A+ rating.

Industry knowledge

Marinas should next consider an insurance company’s specific experience within the marina industry. Because marinas need specialized coverage, which requires specialized knowledge, an insurance company’s experience within the industry becomes very important.

For example, Wilmot said that insurance companies must understand very specific aspects of a marina’s business, such as how a facility stores and loads boats, what equipment it uses, what kind of employee training it provides, and/or what maintenance services it provides.

And insurance companies need firsthand knowledge about how the business works, not just to provide the right coverage but also to give loss prevention advice to its customers. Although an insurance company is there to reimburse losses, it should also provide guidance to prevent claims from happening in the first place. For this reason, marinas should ask: Does an insurance company have a loss prevention specialist who can inspect the facility for liabilities?

Price considerations

With the economy plaguing almost every business, many are looking for ways to cut expenses, possibly off insurance. Yearn warns against this, urging marinas to work with a specialized marine insurance carrier. He said that marinas should  not automatically choose the carrier with the lowest price because some companies are coming into the marina market with attractive prices that leave out important coverage. “With the potential to get attracted to a low price, you may be giving up something important in return.” He suggested thoroughly reviewing the coverage and proposals, not just the price. “Know exactly what you’re buying,” he said.

Handling claims

Finally, facilities need to consider a company’s underwriting process. Does it outsource its claims department? Do different underwriters handle individual aspects of the insurance policy, such as fire or fuel spill protection or coverage for docks? If so, this can make the claims process long and arduous, Wilmot said. With just one underwriter, who deals with the entire policy and can see the entire picture, “there’s no finger pointing when you have a claim,” Wilmot said.

Marina’s responsibility

No matter what insurance company a marina chooses, it can always help the claims process by keeping detailed inspection records on a daily basis. “For example, when there’s a trip and fall, the first thing the insurer is going to ask is ‘Was the board broken? When was it last repaired’?” Wilmot explained. In a litigious society, businesses need to protect themselves, and showing due diligence through written records can go a long way in court.

For more information, look for additional coverage on current marina insurance market trends and tips for eliminating unnecessary coverage in the Nov. issue of Marina Dock Age.

Anna Townshend is assistant editor of Marina Dock Age. She can be reached by phone at 847/647-2900 ext. 1308 or via e-mail at: atownshend@prestonpub.com.

Across the country, the weather is heating up, boaters are taking to the waters, and marinas are doing everything in their power to stop the spread of quagga and zebra mussels. The war against the invasive species is taking on many forms, including educational seminars and statewide prevention efforts.

In California, the Department of Boating and Waterways recently completed a series of  seminars to educate boaters about their role in combating aquatic invasive species. The seminars note that the mussels, as well as other invasive species, pose serious environmental and economic threats.

The invasive species are noted for their abilities to take over habitats, alter the chemistry of the water, displace native species, and even transmit diseases that are dangerous to humans.  They are known to clog water delivery systems that can cost billions of dollars to repair. By clinging to boat propellers and hulls, the mussels increase the boat’s fuel consumption. This harms the environment and the economy. Marinas are spending extra money to clean their customers’ boats and protect their infrastructures.

At the California seminars, the Department of Fish and Game teaches boaters how to identify the critters. They also show various techniques to keep the mussels out of both freshwater and saltwater areas. The seminar concludes with a hands-on inspection of a boat, showing participants what they need to look for on their boats and how to properly inspect their watercraft and fishing gear.

In Wyoming, zebra and quagga mussels are absent, but they pose a big worry for state biologists. Their worry is that the invasive species will invade the state’s waters and disrupt the aquatic food chains on many inland lakes and reservoirs.

Because the mussels have had negative impacts on water resources, healthy ecosystems, and recreational equipment, the state’s goal is to prevent their spread. To do this, the state is putting a lot of responsibility on boaters, anglers, recreationists, and marinas.

In early May, state biologists said a potential infestation of zebra mussels was averted when a mechanic at the Buckboard Marina on the Green River inspected a new boat that had been transported from a marina on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. The mechanic found a zebra mussel on the boat’s trim tabs and alerted the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.

The boat was decontaminated with a heated power washer and then voluntarily quarantined.

In Colorado, the threat of zebra and quagga mussels is prompting changes in the way the state allows boat launches at state parks. To combat the spread of these exotic mussels, the state has started inspecting boats before they can be put into the water.

The state is also asking boaters to play a major role in stopping the spread of the invasive species by following these guidelines:
•    Clean the hull of the boat every time it’s used.
•    Drain the water from the boat live well, and ballast tanks.
•    Dry the boat, fishing gear, and equipment every time they’re used.
•    Inspect all exposed surfaces.
•    Remove all plant and animal material.

Have any tips that you would like to share with other marinas? Please e-mail them to jkoncel@marinadockage.com