Oak Harbor marina struggles


May 18, 2012 · Updated 3:35 PM 

While the Port of South Whidbey is working to expand the Langley Marina, the city of Oak Harbor is offering deals to try to fill its struggling marina.

The Oak Harbor City Council passed a resolution Tuesday night to offer special contract pricing and to lower the price of fuel.

Cac Kamak, senior planner and staff representative on the marina advisory committee, made it clear that something has to be done to bring more customers to the city-owned marina. Like many marinas in the state, moorage usage in Oak Harbor sank when the economy floundered. The occupancy rate went from 80 percent in 2009 to the current 56 percent.

Chris Sublet, the interim marina manager, said those with boats over 26 feet will receive 12 months of moorage for the price of 11 months. For a 40-foot boat, that amounts to $234 in savings.

Boats smaller than 26 feet will be eligible for a flat rate of $55 per month. Boats in winter moorage at F dock will get seven months for the price of six.

In addition, the marina is abandoning a complex fuel pricing formula for a flat-rate markup, which will mean lower fuel costs for customers.

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