Marina Operator International, Spring 1998

Winter Work
by Damian E. Buckley

On the face of it, managing a marina can be a lot of fun. For a few months during the busy season, all the work, or lack of, that you have put into effect during the " off season" winter months will show. The non-cognoscenti often ask me what do you do during the "off season." When I pick myself up off the floor I calmly answer a question with a question—what does a farmer do during the "off season"? Most people seem to relate to farmers and the life that they have. They understand that fields must be cared for in order that crops might grow. They understand that cows still need to be milked during the "off season." They understand that buildings must be painted and maintained. They also understand that chickens lay eggs in the "off season." The assumption that we all have an easy life in the "off season" is only slightly bewildering. What do we do during the "off season"?

There is necessarily a challenge for marina operators because maintenance is the cornerstone of marina safety and long term survival. Maintenance items should be monitored on a daily basis in any case. The marina manager may not be familiar with daily conditions of the facility, nor should he be. However, one should determine the size of the maintenance department in a marina by the size of the facility. In a small marina, the owner/operator/marina manager may even do the maintenance. In a large marina facility, several maintenance personnel will report to a department head. He will report to the marina manager accordingly. A maintenance plan is the basis for all repair work in a marina. If one exists already fine, if not prepare one immediately. Draft a maintenance plan, taking into account that all items regarding maintenance are included in the plan. This should include regular underwater inspections of the docks, pilings, and permanent anchor systems. Although a licensed diver can carry out simple repair work, use a marine diver, accustomed to marina construction. The experienced marine diver will be able to determine if problems exist and will be able to repair them quickly and effectively, preventing possible failure and additional expense. The use of a professional marine diver his will also minimise risk and may decrease insurance rates accordingly.

How do you develop a maintenance plan? Marina Management Services, Inc. has taken over several properties that have suffered from years of deferred maintenance. Demoralised staff and missing documents and procedures long gone have been the norm. Activity in the maintenance department has created a flurry of activity throughout the marina, and spirits soon perk up. In one marina that we manage, we contracted with the dock manufacturer to provide a complete inspection of the marina to determine the state of the docks and their recommendations to fix them. We also obtained up to date dock drawings from them, and a suggested maintenance plan for them. They provided detailed drawings of major components of the dock system such as pilings connections and float construction. With all of this information to hand, we were able to prepare a maintenance plan for the largest portion of the marina property. We also had a magnificent stroke of luck. Weather conditions were such that the water level in the river reached an all time low. With a low tide and high winds, we had the opportunity to see, photograph and video many areas that are covered by water. Those pieces of information have been safely stored for further use. Continue »