Marinas to remain closed to public, but allow for prep work
Boats can be serviced, placed in water, yet remain secured to docks for now
Niagara’s recreational boaters won’t be slipping into the waters of lakes Erie and Ontario or Niagara River any time soon despite a provincial announcement that marinas could begin preparations for the 2020 season. Premier Doug Ford said last Friday marinas could begin servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not be open to the public.
Boats and watercraft must remain secured to a dock until public access is allowed, the government said.
Port Dalhousie Pier Marina’s Nena Donatelli said the provincewide closure will see the privately owned marina take a financial hit this season.
“Fishing charters may not be going in the water at all … they can’t be on their boats and can’t have people on board,” said Donatelli, adding there are at least two dozen charter companies that operate from the marina.
She estimated the marina, built by her father Nino, will see a $60,000 to $70,000 loss this year in transient boater fees alone, adding the number of visiting recreational craft has been growing over the past few years.
Annual fees are one area where the
marina is already taking a hit.
Donatelli said most boaters by now would have paid for their slips for the season. And though some are still securing spots, it’s nowhere near where it would be in a normal year.
Even if recreational boating was allowed tomorrow, it will take at least a month to get the docks at the 550-slip marina ready for use. There are between 450 and 500 boaters who use the marina, with slips left for transient boaters.
“We have to de-winterize the docks … get the hydro and water back on and things like that,” she said, adding people haven’t been able to access their boats to prep them for the season.
Donatelli said in years past boats have been docked as early as mid-April but added that, with the weather this year, the marina would have most likely opened about this time.
In Port Colborne, both the city’s boat launch and Sugarloaf Marina will remain closed and boat owners are still not allowed into the storage yard to work on their boats.
The city did say the provincial announcement means official marine service/mechanic companies can start working on boats if they adhere to applicable guidelines.
A release from the marina said boaters who do not dock in 2020 — due to a late seasonopening, potential occupancy restrictions, COVID-19 fears, or loss of income — will not lose their dock in 2021.
“Everyone from 2019 will have first right of refusal to their dock for 2021. We are also continuing to discuss the options for pro-rated dock fees as well as summer storage fees depending on the start of the season,” it said, adding it will continue to keep everyone updated about marina operations.
The marina is home to 700 docks, with roughly 500 seasonal boaters from across Niagara and beyond. Two hundred docks are open for transient boaters.
Along the Niagara River, the decision to close Miller’s Creek Marina will remain in place, said Niagara Parks Commission chief executive officer David Adames.
“Right now, the board decision is to suspend operations for the marina this year,” he said.
A public boat launch closed at the site since March 31 will reopen if the province considers it safe to operate again.
Four other ramps along Niagara Parkway between Niagara Falls and Fort Erie will be accepting boats if the emergency order in Ontario is lifted or revised to allow this kind of activity, said Adames.
“We’re remaining optimistic that public boat launches will open up,” he said.
Jodee Robins, past-commodore of Bertie Boat Club in Point Abino along Lake Erie, said the facility’s board isn’t making any decisions or preparations until more specific direction comes from the province.
There are about 150 boat slips at the site, as well as a public launch.
“Our gates are closed until the time being,” he said Monday.
But the government saying that marinas can begin preparations for the season does provide a bit of promise that local boaters could be able to enjoy summer 2020 on the water.
“That’s a lot better news than two weeks ago,” said Robins. “We’re optimistic, that’s for sure.”
Town of Fort Erie chief administrative officer Tom Kuchyt said reopening the Crystal Beach boat launch could become a consideration this year.
“At this time, a date has not been selected but discussions are ongoing. It’s likely they will open at the same time as the marinas,” he said.