Port views design work options for Boyer Marina docks project

Port of Whitman commissioners last Thursday received a report on design work for the Boyer Park Marina. The design work has been done under a $275,000 grant from the state Recreation & Conservation Office in the Department of Natural Resources.

Designs, analysis and permits will be needed to replace the docks and fuel float at the Boyer Marina. The permit would allow for construction and keep options open for more in the future.

Nels Sultan from the Edmonds office of Mott McDonald, a global engineering company, gave a slide presentation for two alternative plans for construction.

Afterwords, Paul Sorenson from BST Associates in Port Angeles, talked on the market analysis and economic assessment on the marina's use and economic impact.

Deadline for the design completion is Oct. 31, 2019. After the design work, the port can apply for a Recreation and Conservation construction grant to replace or refurbish the docks. The RCO construction grant the port plans to seek is available at a maximum of $1 million.

Work at the Marina could start during the winter of 2020-2021 if the grant is approved.

With its eight docks, Boyer Marina now has slips for 144 boats. Both design plans take out one dock which will reduce the marina's capacity.

Sorenson noted maximum use of boats slips now is 55 percent.

Docks one through seven at the Boyer Marina were put in between 1972 and 1975. Dock eight was installed in 1997, and is in the best condition.

"The whole visual appearance is a problem, even if they are structurally sound," said the Port's Executive Director Joseph Poiré. He noted dock eight is the only dock with ADA access for the handicapped.

Dock seven is in the worst condition with loose piles, dry rot on some of the wood framing, and eroded cement walkways.

The two designs presented Nov. 15 call for a new dock one. Alternate 10 removes dock 2 and leaves docks three through eight as they are.

Alternate 9 includes a new dock two and removes dock three and would cost an estimated $400,000 more than Alternate 10.

Both designs have a pier that connects to an 80-foot ADA accessible ramp, which would be required for the RCO construction grant. The ramp that will lead down and connect to a landing float and new headwalk float which will extend parallel to the parking lot. The headwalk will connect to a new fuel float and a new dock 1.

Docks four through eight would remain under either alternative.

The headwalk could be extended to connect to other docks in the future.

Sorenson reported the analysis and assessment survey received 150 responses from park visitors. The survey indicated that 88 percent of those who used the marina used the boat ramp, 42 percent use the fuel dock. It showed a strong link between those who stay overnight at the the park and those who use the marina.

According to the survey, visitors rated surfacing the docks and gangways as the highest need.

A launch for canoes, kayaks or other hand carried boats, ADA access, and space for personal water craft received lower ratings.