Commission scuttles idea of marina boat storage

The idea of storing boats in the marina parking lot over winter has been floated for many years, but on Monday the Harbor Commission sank that idea.

“I’ve looked at it,” Harbormaster Dennis Cherny said, but it’s proven to be impractical.

The biggest problem, he said, is getting boats out of the water. The marina doesn’t have the equipment to do this, and it would be expensive to buy it.

“The cost would be tremendous with equipment and personnel,” Cherny said. “I’m not sure the gain would be worth that.”

Even if the marina were to buy a travel lift, there isn’t room to keep it, he added.

Boat haulers typically charge to take boats out of the water and store them, he said, adding that those he has spoken with aren’t interested in removing boats for the marina.

But getting the boats out of the water isn’t the only expense, Cherny told the commission.

The marina would have to buy the stands for the boats and find a place to store them in the off-season.

That’s not something they have the space for, he said, and while they could be moved, that would take additional labor.

“It doesn’t seem to make sense,” Commission Chairman Gerald Gruen said.

The idea of storing boats in the parking lot over winter has been discussed frequently, with proponents noting that the revenue realized could help offset the marina’s costs. 

Storage would be an added service to offer boat owners, they said, and it could provide an attraction for people in the snowy months.

But those opposed to the idea have said the boats would detract from the beauty of the lakefront and could attract vandals.