News From Around the Docks

Damages to Recreational
Boats from Hurricane Irene
Could Exceed $500 Million
An early report from Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS),the nation's largest boat owner's group estimates the total damage to recreational boats from South Carolina to Maine could total up to $500 million. The last hurricane to strike the US, Hurricane Ike (2008), was estimated to cause $200 million in damage to recreational boats. Those who hauled vessels ashore in anticipation of the storm were largely spared damage. "We only have five minor claims for boats that were damaged while stored ashore," said Senior Vice President of Marine Insurance Claims Division Carroll Robertson. "The majority of claims we are now seeing are from those who kept their vessels on moorings, which either broke free or were sunk by waves and rains," she added. Irene showed recreational boaters once again that it doesn't take a direct hit to have damage or a sinking. Many inland areas traditionally haven't experienced hurricanes, so some may have been caught off-guard by the ferocity of the wind, waves and flooding. BoatUS has reports that vessel owners, marinas and boat clubs did take significant measures in the days leading up to Irene's arrival coordinating storm preparations, and believes local marinas and marine businesses deserve large credit for their efforts with mitigating further damage.

Boynton Beach Works Toward
Becoming a Destination
Millions of dollars, both public and private, have been divided among docks, piers, sidewalks and high-rise condos in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) started the project in 2006. Executive Director of the CRA, Margee Walsh said, "We're probably 20 percent done. We're at the beginning."
Many business owners are worried that improvements won't come soon enough. Among some of the long-standing businesses having a hard time holding on during this tough economic time is 30-year fixture Splashdown Divers. "Business has been going down steadily for us. There's not much we can do about that, people just don't want to spend their money when they're worried about [what] the stock market is doing," says store Manager Terry Brabham. Bill Orlove, a member of the CRA board said, "This area is going to be redeveloped over the next couple of years. That is going to bring people to this area who may not have heard of us."

Mill Creek Marine Becomes Rhode
Island's First Enclosed Dry Stack Marina
Back on May 21st of this year, Mill Creek Marine (formerly Johnson's Boatyard) celebrated their grand opening on Allen's Harbor at the Quonset Business Park. It houses 72 boats (up to 38 feet long). Plans are in the works to increase capacity to 168.