Security gates to limit Oak Harbor Marina access

Walking the docks at Oak Harbor Marina may become a little more difficult in coming months. The city council recently gave the green light to begin soliciting bids for a new security system. Once installed, access to most of the public facility would be restricted to everyone but boat owners and those who take the time to get a guest pass.

By Justin Burnett • May 24, 2011 4:26 pm
Boat owners at the Oak Harbor Marina walk to their vessels a few minutes before the facility opens to the general public at 8 a.m. A plan is in the works to improve security for boats by installing gates along some of the docks. It’s one of several improvements that will take place over the summer.
Boat owners at the Oak Harbor Marina walk to their vessels a few minutes before the facility opens to the general public at 8 a.m. A plan is in the works to improve security for boats by installing gates along some of the docks. It’s one of several improvements that will take place over the summer.

Walking the docks at Oak Harbor Marina may become a little more difficult in coming months.

The city council recently gave the green light to begin soliciting bids for a new security system. Once installed, access to most of the public facility would be restricted to everyone but boat owners and those who take the time to get a guest pass.

According to Oak Harbor Development Services Director Steve Powers, the marina is one of just two city-owned marinas in the state. And as a public asset, the city has always kept the facility open for general use.

But it’s also filled with private boats, and owners have long worried that their vessels are vulnerable to theft. The new security system, which is not to exceed $45,000 in cost, is an attempt to manage those competing interests.

“What we’re trying to do is maintain that balance,” he said.

The proposal is to install gates at the head of five of the docks (A-E) that finger off from the main walkway. The public would still have access all the way out to the breakwater on “F” dock, which is used for transient moorage.

The public’s general access will be restricted but anyone who wants to walk on secured piers can still do so. They will have to stop by the marina office and pick up a guest card, Harbormaster Chris Sublet said.

Like the cards that will be issued to boat owners, each is programmable and leaves an electronic trail that will tell marina staff where people have been. It’s one of the best parts of the system, he said, because it offers both access and security.

The main gate, which is always left open during regular business hours, will also be updated with the new system. But like its predecessor, it will be left open to allow public access.

“We do not want to scare the public away from the Oak Harbor Marina,” Sublet said.

The new system is one of many recent renovations. Over the past two years, the facility has been upgraded with a new walk-ramp, electrical conduits, and earlier this year, a portion of the marina was dredged.

And more are on the way. The roof along the west side of “C” dock is expected to be replaced this summer. A large section of the roof has been missing since it was destroyed in a windstorm in January of 2010.

Also expected soon is a new marina service boat. The 21-foot bow loading Munson, a Burlington-based aluminum boat builder, will be used as a runabout for staff and as a floating pump-out station.

The service is expected to be popular with marina tenants who live on their boats because it will save them from having to make regular trips to the fixed pump-out station located on the fuel dock near the public boat launch.

According to Sublet, the boat will be powered by twin 60-horsepower Honda outboards and is expected to run about $86,000. It shouldn’t cost the city a dime however, as the marina qualified for a $88,500 clean vessel grant from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

The new boat is expected to arrive and put into service some time next month.