What should be the maximum boat size allowed in the Grand Marais marina?
Members of the city’s park board debated the answer to that question during their May 5 meeting. The topic was raised by board member Todd Miller, who said he did some research into the matter, and determined that the Grand Marais standards, which limit boat length to 30 feet, are “very generous.”
Miller said he was not looking for an answer to the question of 36 feet versus 30 feet at that day’s meeting, nor was he seeking a policy change on such short notice. Rather, he said, he simply wanted to present his findings to Rec. Park manager Dave Tersteeg, and let him look over the information and confirm it. If the data proved to be correct, said Miller, perhaps the board could debate it at a future meeting with an eye toward policy change.
Miller said he contacted four marinas located on Lake Superior, and managers at all of them said they allowed moored boats to overhang their slips; the average “overage” is 20 percent. Miller pointed out that the most common boat on Lake Superior is 35 feet long, and if the city were to change its rules to allow larger boats, “we could diversify the service we offer.”
Miller said his research into the issue was prompted by the city’s reconfiguration of its boat slips with the addition of new finger piers, a process now under way. He said his findings indicate that the planned “fairways” — or, aisles between moored vessels — were overly generous for 30-foot boats, and could safely accommodate boats up to 36 or 38 feet. Miller suggested that one side of the marina could be kept with a 30-foot restriction, and the rest increased to at least 36 feet. That way, he said, the Grand Marais marina could “answer the need of the most common boat size on Lake Superior.”
Tersteeg said he really didn’t need a lot of time to look over the figures presented by Miller to confirm that they were accurate. However, the park manager said the wider-than-normal fairways were intentionally designed that way, with extra space. “We decided that we’d rather be safe than sorry,” he said. “It would look bad if the 36-foot boats didn’t fit.”
Tersteeg said Miller is correct that the new marina configuration should be able to accommodate bigger boats — at least on paper — but “we need to see it logistically in the water to be sure.” Besides, said Tersteeg, all of the slips have already been rented for the summer to sub-30-foot boats. Asked by Miller if the city’s 30-foot limit has caused any problems, Tersteeg replied that he hasn’t had to turn anyone away because of it. “No, we haven’t lost any business because of this policy,” he said. “And we’d love to fit 35-foot boats in there, but we want to see the proof first.”
City councilor and park board member Bill Lenz said he agreed with Tersteeg, and preferred to leave the initial marina layout plan in place. “There may be some problems with the new finger piers, and with boats getting in and out. We don’t know,” said Lenz. “I would like to see it stay as is.”
Miller persisted, commenting that he believes the city “has an obligation to the greater boating community… our natural instinct is to rein back based on fear of the unknown.” Miller then asked the board if it would consider granting Tersteeg the authority to accept boats up to 36 feet.
The park manager pointed out that there is no clear-cut policy now in effect, and it would be a good idea if there were one. “We need a policy,” he said. Toward that end, the board decided to list the item on next month’s agenda, when the entire park board can be present and interested members of the public can attend.
In related news, Tersteeg reported that construction of the new finger piers has begun, but the process is taking a long time and it will likely be three to four weeks until the marina is fully operational. “It’s a big project,” he said.
Additionally, Tersteeg noted that all seven of the seasonal moorings (two for guests) have been filled, and the dock space is full for the summer.
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