The District of Squamish's newly acquired waterfront lot could be the key to Squamish's mooring shortage, says the community's former harbour master.
On Monday (May 13), Tom Bruusgaard sat down with District of Squamish officials in an attempt to promote the idea of building a public dock on municipally owned land abutting the Mamquam Blind Channel.
For years, charter boats have been interested in visiting Squamish, Bruusgaard said, but with nowhere to tie up, that business has been turned away. Squamish's government dock is full, current harbour master Bill McEnery said, noting the wharf has a 30-boat waitlist.
Here is an opportunity to make downtown accessible to boats, Bruusgaard said.
The idea complements the Squamish Downtown Business Association's vision of developing a park with a kayak and paddleboard launch on the four-acre property east of Loggers Lane, Bruusgaard noted. The dock could be constructed to accommodate small and large vessels and pocket cruise ships, he said.
There are a number of marine operators in the Lower Mainland that would love to take on [the Squamish connection], Bruusgaard said.
Building a dock doesn't come cheap, he acknowledged, but summer business, through moorings, can be profitable.
You would have to do what it takes so at least it pays its own way, Bruusgaard said, noting he believes it's possible.
There are municipally run marinas throughout B.C., including docks in Victoria, Nanaimo and Port McNeill, Squamish Coun. Doug Race said. A boater himself, Race said the marina at Port McNeill is jammed during the eight-week summer cruising season.
I would have to think that with marinas these days, with rates going up and up, they have to be making money, he said.
Locally, a municipally owned marina is not out of the question, Race noted. But he queried whether the waterfront lot between Victoria and Main streets is the place to put it. Developers planning to build along the channel already include plans for marinas, Race said. The municipal lot could provide an open space for kayakers and the water in front it is already used by the Squamish Yacht Club for children's sailing lessons, he said, adding if a marina was placed there, it would leave no room for the dingy boats to sail.
The Squamish Oceanfront plans include a 300-boat marina along the Blind Channel, Race noted.
There is a huge demand for marina space throughout the Lower Mainland, he said.
