October 31, 2022
Dear PIYC Equity Yacht Members,
This is an update from the Marina Committee on the current plans and activities involved in the Marina recovery efforts.
It has been 30 days since the storm hit us and about three weeks since the insurance adjuster deemed the Marina a total loss. Since that time, we have engaged Bellingham Marine, the manufacturer of the floating docks and original general contractor for the entire Marina, to provide a proposal to rebuild our Marina including all utilities required to bring everything up to current code. We expect to have that proposal in the next 10 days. We have also engaged Orick Marine Construction to demolish our floating docks. That project is well underway and appears to be more than 50% complete. We still have damaged/sunk boats on the west dock to remove and a number of boats on floating docks in the basin which must be relocated.
The path forward:
For the floating docks, the path forward is more straight forward. The Bellingham Marine proposal will include the docks, pilings, utilities etc., and will also include the subcontractors required to complete the job. While Bellingham Marine manufactures the floating dock systems, subcontractors will be required for pilings, utilities, etc. One of the potential subcontractors for the pilings will be Orick Marine Construction, who is doing our demolition, plus one other who is respected in the field. When we first met with Bellingham in early October, we were told the timing for the entire project was likely ten months from when we met. No doubt that is subject to many variables.
For the fixed docks, the path forward is more complicated. Some have observed that many of the pilings look fine and suggest we just fix the electrical systems and get back on the water as fast as possible. While we all share that "rapid-return" objective, there are several issues to be addressed including:
1. The engineering report provided by Turrell Hall & Associates prior to the storm on June 21, 2022, indicated our fixed docks are near or at the end of their useful lives. The brackets connecting the docks to the seawall are corroded and need to be replaced. Many of the dock pilings are at the end of their useful lives. It is likely we could get away with another two to three years, but not more than five.
2. The storm damaged a number of the finger piers which need to be replaced and also lifted or moved a number of pilings. You can see along the west basin walkway the pilings are no longer in a straight line. We have had divers from Bayside Dredging sample a number of pilings. Their findings are consistent with the Turrell Hall report that we are at or near the end of their useful life.
3. The electrical systems of the entire Marina will need to be brought up to code when the floating docks are installed. Early indications based on preliminary discussions with the county and Marina electricians indicate we would likely need to bring the electrical up to current code as part of any repairs we contemplate in the short term. This is not definitive but a consideration in how we proceed to repair what we have.
Aside from the electrical components, the options we have moving forward for the fixed docks are somewhat independent of the floating docks. For example, the chosen contractor to repair or replace the fixed docks can begin independently. The electrical systems can also begin independently but have to be compatible with the overall design or contemplate replacement when the floating docks are installed. As such, we have asked Orick for two proposals. One is to repair what we have, the other to replace what we have. Replacement would also involve raising the fixed docks another foot to be even with the seawall as well as elevating the electrical installations where possible. Options to consider moving forward include:
1. Repair what we have today and bring the electrical systems up to current code when the floating docks are installed.
2. Fix what we have today and attempt to repair the electrical systems based on the old code. This would be a short term solution at very best.
3. Replace the docks we have now and bring all electrical systems up to the current code.
We hope to be able to make these decisions in the next several weeks. Another determining factor is how quickly a selected contractor can begin and also the availability of an electrical sub-contractor as well as the supply of available parts. We should begin to understand the alternatives in earnest as soon as we receive the Bellingham proposal.
We know everyone is eager to understand what the cost of this project will be and what their individual responsibilities are. At this point, it would be premature to project numbers; we are still waiting on insurance, proposals and defining the scope of work. What is important for our Equity Yacht Members to understand is that any short or long term repair or replacement efforts are a shared expense.
Our goal is to get everyone safely back on the water as soon as practicable. We will do our best to keep everyone informed as we move forward and expect to conduct a town hall meeting once we have all of the relevant facts to consider.
While the magnitude of this loss is not what any of us signed up for, the support and constructive ideas from Members are deeply appreciated.
Sincerely,
