Docks Committee
Preparations for Opening Day are underway. It’s time for some cleanup and painting and some the projects need preparation steps ahead of “Pride of Queen City.” Ron Stevenson and Wolfgang Werner are teamed to head up some important painting work, but they’ll need some help to make it happen. One important painting project is the end of the covered moorage section of Dock 3. The entire face of that structure needs a face lift to greet our guests and ourselves. You’ll note that the lumber storage rack is nearing completion. We’re waiting for a roof and painting before we get the lumber pile removed from the parking lot. Much thanks to Mitch Garton, Kelly Stocklin, Ron Stevenson, John Alving, and Commodore George for making this project what it is. Well done!
We’re in constant need of dock planking and a few areas are becoming a real concern. Let’s give Chuck Gould and Mitch Garton all the help we can in the next few months.
The new waste oil disposal tank has suffered some unexpected hiccups and delays for which we apologize. The tank will be moved to the location of the previous tank to avoid rain water entering the tank as it has been since it was placed near the laundry room. You are reminded that it is here for waste motor oil only. Progress on moving the tank was stalled when we found the tank loaded with considerable water with outboard gasoline poured on top. We’ve been trying to find some service to dispose of the contaminated contents, but in the mean time the tank is closed. Please: no gasoline. It’s such a hazard and such a huge task to deal with.
Our next scheduled work parties are Saturday’s March 12, April 9, and May 14. 8:30 breakfast with work starting about 9:15. The next committee meetings are: March 22, April 26, and May 24 at 6:00pm. Work parties are on the second Saturday of the month and meetings are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday.
It’s near to spring time and the Army Corps of Engineers will be raising the lake level beginning about now and progressing into June. Please watch your lines, fenders and all moorings on a frequent schedule. Some heavy spring rains can raise the lake level many inches in a day and sometimes a foot over a few days’ time. Lines pulled tight in a vertical direction are a real threat to boats, piers, and people. A terrific amount of energy can be stored in a stretchable poly-line. The forces can and have been enough to rip the end of a finger pier off its mountings here. Cleat mountings and the associated fasteners and frames can be seriously damaged by these forces. Cleats on the vessel and the vessel itself can be badly broken. A large wake through this marina with many tight vertical lines can do a very large amount of damage, as we witnessed a few years back with a fire call next door. Even releasing heavily loaded lines can be a very dangerous process. Cutting them is sometimes the only solution and that is a risky undertaking. Summary? Lines tied in a vertical manner are a real danger.
Instead you are asked to keep lines horizontal and fairly long to serve as springs in your moorage. Lines can keep your boat safely against the dock but always free to move should waves arrive to move it about. Doubling up lines is always a good idea but is especially important for boats that will be left unattended and those moored at the far eastern parts of the marina where the exposure is much greater. Remember that lines, however they are rigged, need long enough sections to stretch and accommodate the motion from changes in lake height or from wave action. If lines can’t do that, more important and expensive parts, not made to stretch and move, will be forced into action. The Docks Chairman doesn’t like that.
Our major repairs contractor should be on site as you read this. The work is scattered around the marina this year and should be completed during the first half of March.
Arthur Mauldin
Docks Chairman, now available at: docks@queencity.org
